Captured! Returning from a perilous
assignment in the Outer Zones, Shinobi
Master Edmund the Echidna's cruiser has
fallen under attack and been boarded.
Seeking vital information he carries
about secret hyperspace lanes called
the Route 280, Separatist forces
have taken him alive.
Now the Shinobi are preparing a stealth
mission into the heart of Separatist
space in an effort to rescue Master
Edmund from the deadly prison known
as the Citadel...
Espio, Shadow and Rob were in the war room with Armand, Mighty, Ray and a hologram of Fang. Rob showed a hologram of a citadel "This is their most isolated and impenetrable detention facility. No one has ever escape". "There's a first time for everything" Shadow said confidently "Their security has prevented our probes from obtaining recent reconnaissance, so we've been force to construct a crude map based on data from the archives" Rob finished. Espio nodded "Since the data is extremely old, the map will be difficult to rely on. We're basically going in blind". Fang stepped forward "Beg your pardon, General, but how do we know Master Edmund is still alive?" "The Separatists won't dare kill Master Edmund until they have what they need" Espio answered. Rob nodded "Route 280 is as valuable to them as it is to us. It ravels into the heart of the Separatists and Republic home worlds. Whoever holds this information will be able to tip the scale of this war in their favour".
Later the three Shinobi were walking through the temple "Based on the archive schematics, we've narrowed it down to three possible locations they could be holding him at" Rob said. Espio nodded "My greatest concern is infiltrating their outer security. The life-form scanners will no be easy to fool". Shadow smirked "I've thought about that", "Master. I'm sorry I'm late. I just heard about the briefing" Amy ran up to them. She smiled "We're going to rescue Master Edmund", Shadow stopped, and Rob stared at him "You two have much to discuss" he and a smirking Espio walked away. "Amy, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but you won't be coming along on this one" "Not coming? But you're breaking into the Citadel. No one's ever done it" she said defensively. "The Citadel wasn't designed to hold common criminals. It was created to hold Shinobi if any of us lost our way. It's not a place for an apprentice". She sighed in frustration "You're just being protective again. That's not fair. How am I supposed to learn if you won't let me share the risk?". "This isn't a mission for learning. You either do or die. That's not a risk I'm willing to share" he walked away from her.
Emerl was walking towards a shuttle with an Omega, Gamma, and an Egg pawn. Orbot was at the shuttle and saw them "Ah! Emerl, behind you. You're being followed by badniks!". Emerl beeped "These are your troops? What do you mean they've been reprogrammed?". Gamma stepped forward and saluted Emerl "We are awaiting your word, Commander", Emerl beeped "You heard him. Move out". The badniks entered the shuttle and Orbot glared at Emerl "Don't start getting a high opinion of yourself" he said before walking away. Not far away the clones were getting ready "We're trusting badniks to get us into the Citadel?" Mighty said with contempt. Armand turned to him "It's the only way. We're flying right into the heart of Separatist territory. Badniks won't be detected". Espio and Shadow went to the shuttle "Emerl, make sure they don't stray from the flight plan" the latter said. Omega came up and saluted "It's all under control, sir" "Th-Thank you" Shadow felt so weird casually talking to a badnik. Amy went up to Rob who was preparing his fighter "Master Rob, may I speak with you?" "What is it, Amy?" he asked. "It's about the mission. Master Shadow doesn't want me to go" "That is his choice". Amy sighed and sat on the fighter "I know, but I think he's being overly protective. He's picking and choosing which assignments I can be a part of" "He is your master" "Yes, but it's not for him to decide when and how I should put my life in danger. That should be my choice", Rob stared at her thinking to himself.
The Shinobi and clones were walking towards a black and orange machine "I've never been carbon-frozen before, General" Fang said to Shadow "It's the first time for us too". Espio looked concerned at the machine "This is your idea? Carbon freezing", Shadow smirked "Hey, you wanted to shield us from the life-forms scanners". Mighty walked around the machine "Are, uh, we sure this thing is safe? I don't wanna end up a wall decoration", Ray sniggered at his friends fear "We'll be fine. The gizoid's gonna unfreeze us when we arrive". They all stepped on different platform and a group of engineers started the machine up.
The Separatist shuttle jumped out of hyperspace in front of a purple planet with only half of it intact. The planet was surrounded my Egg Carriers. Emerl and the badniks were in the cockpit when the commlink activated "Citadel command is trying to contact us" Gamma said. Emerl beeped and Omega leaned into a microphone "This is shuttle 30123 requesting access to Citadel Prison" "What is your cargo?". Omega turned to Emerl who beeped "Uh, supplies and frozen rations" "Do not deviate until we have confirmation". Gamma checked the instruments "They're scanning us for life-forms" they waited a few minutes until "You may proceed". The shuttle entered the planet's atmosphere and landed on the side of the gorge above a lava river. The badniks removed slabs from the ship which had our frozen heroes inside. The slabs were stood up and Emerl unfroze them all.
Everyone walked out disoriented "Hey, Snips" Shadow said to Amy "Hey, Master", Shadow then realised who he was talking to. Espio glanced at her "I must have carbon sickness because I swear that's Amy" "Your eyes are fine. It's Amy's hearing that needs help". Amy acted innocent "I received orders to join the team I thought you knew" "Orders? From who?" Shadow asked her. "I discussed it with Master Rob. I wanted to tell you but you were already in carbonite", Shadow crossed his arms "Well, I gave you a specific order not to come". She smirked "If there's one thing I've learned from you, Master, it's that following direct orders isn't always the best way to solve a problem". Espio was enjoying this "I see your new teaching method is to do as I say, not as I do. Welcome aboard, Amy".
Later the clones got all their equipment ready and were heading out "Emerl, guard the shuttle. We'll contact you when we're ready to take off" Shadow said before following. They followed a path which eventually led them toward the Citadel, Shadow takes out binoculars. Shadow sees an entry point on a rock wall next to the Citadel "I see it". Espio opened a backpack "The wind is to strong for jetpacks. We'll have to use ascension cables" "I don't think so. The wall under it is covered with electro mines. There's no where to put a grappling hook at that height and if we hit one of those the mission's over". Fang examined the wall "We could free-climb it".
They were all making their way up the wall avoiding the electric arcs between the mines "You hanging in there, Snips?" "Couldn't be better". Espio made it to the entry point but then saw Omegas and Gammas, he hid and gave a gesture for the others to stop. The badniks looked around before going back inside but a shield then covered the door. Espio sighed and looked down to Shadow "They locked the door. It's ray-shielded" "Ray-shielded? That wasn't in the plan" "Well it's in the plan now?". Amy looked up above the entry point "There's a ventilation shaft there" "We know but they're far to small for us to gain access" "Too small for you, maybe but I think I can squeeze through". Espio looked down to Shadow "Well, we hadn't counted on Amy being here. Perhaps she's right", Shadow nodded to his apprentice. Amy climbed up and entered the vent, they waited a minute when the shields turned off and Amy walked out. The others started climbing up "See, I can handle myself after all" Amy said smugly to Shadow who just walked past. Mighty was helping the last clone, a goat but his foot slipped, and he fell back. "Charger!" Mighty yelled as the goat screamed and hit one of the mines which shocked him. An alarm blared "Everyone, inside!" Espio yelled. They entered the corridors of the facility and cautiously advanced forward. Amy looked around a corner and saw Egg Pawns marching past. Once clear they all moved forward when they saw a wall of electricity heading towards them "Go, go!". They ran and reached a turn, but a sloth clone didn't make it in time, and he got caught by the wall killing him. "We have to keep moving" Espio said calmly.
An elderly echidna with a grey beard was being suspended in the air with a Metal in front of him with an electric staff. The Metal shocked the echidna with the staff be a menacing looking medical robot stepped forward "You're weakening, Master Edmund. You decide when the pain will stop. Just give me the information". Edmund stared at him defiantly "No robot will ever break me" "Then say goodbye to your eyes". The robot reached his bladed hand towards the Shinobi's face when the door behind him opened revealing Mighty and Ray. They quickly shot all the badniks in the room then entered with the others. Shadow freed Edmund and helped him down. He looked drained "Master Edmund, are you alright?" Espio asked him, "Uh. What took you guys so long? he joked. Shadow glanced at Espio "I think it's safe to say they didn't break him", Edmund stood up "It takes more than they got to break me, young Shadow". Espio gave him a lightsaber "Do you have the coordinates for the Route 280?" "Yes, but I only know half. My captain has the other half. When we were boarded, I erased the computers and had both of us memorize part of the intel. That way in the small chance that they broke me I wouldn't be able to give them all the information". "Where is your captain?" Shadow asked, "Being held with the other officers, I assume".
The group were now traveling through a hallway when a group of Metals appeared in front and behind them. The Shinobi got on either side to cover the troopers who fired on the advancing Metals. They easily destroyed them all "We need to keep moving!" Espio told them before they started running. Suddenly they all heard a strange noise before a magnet on the roof pulled up all their weapons. Shadow's right hand pulled him up too and once it touched the magnet, he was shocked "Master!" Amy yelled. An intercom activated "You fools! I hope you enjoyed the reunion with your fellow Shinobi because you're going to be my guests for a very long time" they were surrounded by more Metals. Espio and Edmund tried to push them back, but they stayed where they were "They're magnetised" Espio said. The clones tried to fight the Metals but were pushed back. Shadow tried to reach for his lightsaber. He was shocked again but was able to activate it and destroy the emitters. The blasters fell back down, the clones picked them up and shot the Metals. Mighty helped Shadow up "Are you alright, sir?" "Yeah, let's get out of here".
They made it to the detention centre and opened one of the cells. It was full of more clones and a white echidna wearing a black cape "General" he said when he saw Edmund. "Captain Finitevus" Edmund replied, "I never thought I'd see you again and you brought friends" he said acknowledging the other Shinobi. "This is General Espio and General Shadow", Finitevus didn't give them much attention "Now that you've found us how do you expect to get is out? If this fortress is on lockdown escape will be impossible". Espio pondered "What if we split up. My team will create a diversion while Shadow leads the others away. That way if one of us is capture then the enemy will only have half the information". Finitevus looked sceptical "General Espio, I think its best if we stay together. A stronger force will do better at protecting the information" "I agree with Espio, Captain. I'll goo with him, you go with Shadow".
A short time later a pink Zeti arrived at the cell with a group of Metals but it was empty "They escaped, sir" one of the metals said. The zeti glared at him before turning to another "Please show him what happens when we use that word" the Metal then shot his brother in the head. A Pawn then arrived "Commander Zazz, they've been spotted heading for the upper levels" "They must be trying to steal a transport. Seal the landing platform and send all battalions to their positions. I want them alive".
Shadow and his group were in a corridor as he was examining one of the walls. He cut a hole through it revealing a path inside a large tunnel system. They all climbed through and Amy scouted ahead "The tunnel's clear!" "Good, Espio's leading them to the upper levels. Things seem to be going as planned". Finitevus didn't look confident "I still don't believe this is the right move" "Trust me, Captain, we'll be fine" Shadow replied as he walked away. Finitevus stared at him sceptically "I reserve my trust for those who take action, General Shadow". Shadow stopped "Then let me remind you that your free because of us and I reserve my trust for those understand gratitude, Captain Finitevus", Finitevus surprisingly smirked at this as they all started following Amy through the tunnel.