"I have a bad feeling about this," Denz said as he co-piloted the GX1 Short Hauler named the Stargazer.
"You always say that," Lee, now eighteen, had become an exceptional pilot. He sat in the captain's chair monitoring their course. "Perhaps it's all those spice rolls you eat."
"Don't mention spice rolls. I haven't had a decent one since Chopper Base, or Lothal for that matter. Hmm remember minced loth-rat pies?" he groaned. The two had finally put their differences aside and could even be considered friends.
Two years ago, Chopper Base had been compromised. It was by luck the majority of rebels had made it out alive and relocated to other cells throughout the galaxy. Lee, Rya, Denz, and Jules had formed a crew and traveled between bases at Senator Organa's request. It was a big responsibility for Rya who had been made a Lieutenant. Lee did admit he preferred life on-planet, but the Stargazer had become something he hadn't had in a while: a home.
"Bridger was from Lothal," Lee mentioned. The two lothalites hadn't crossed paths much, as the Ghost crew was frequently on missions for the Rebel Alliance. But he did get a chance to say hello and speak about their anxiousness for the alliance to help Lothal.
"The wizard's apprentice?" Denz asked.
"Jedi, you nerfherder," Jules said as she entered the cockpit.
"Same difference," Denz rolled his eyes. The two did not get along.
"Who's this Gerrera guy Rya needs to talk with?" Lee asked to change the subject. Last thing he wanted to deal with before a mission was an argument. Even if the mission was only diplomatic he didn't want to cause any distractions for Rya.
"You don't know who Saw Gerrera is?" Denz said in disbelief. "And you call yourself a rebel."
"He's from Onderon. He's pretty much the first rebel," Jules explained. "Been fighting for his people since the Old Republic. He was the leader of the Partisans until his crew was ambushed on Geonosis. I think the group is still active. People think he's responsible for the assassination of Moff Panaka."
"Sounds like someone's got a crush," Denz teased. Jules shot him a dirty look. "What?! Why would you go through all the trouble of learning all that?"
"It's called research you bantha fodder!" Jules snapped. "Don't you think we should know something about the individual we're about to ambush?"
"We're not going to ambush anyone," Rya said entering the cockpit. "Saw Gerrera is a brave man, an intelligent fighter…but his methods are becoming more violent, and extreme."
"Are those your words or Bail's?" Jules mocked. She respected Rya but she sometimes found her too cautious for the rebellion.
"Breha's actually," Rya sharply said.
"I forgot you royals like to stick together," Jules crossed her arms and pouted.
"I'm not a royal," Rya corrected.
"Then stop acting like a princess, Lieutenant," she growled.
"Enough," Lee interjected. "We're in range. We're landing in five minutes."
"Where are we?" Denz asked, revealing he had not been paying any attention to their course.
"The Jalindi system. Bail received intel on a new relay being used by the Empire. Mon authorized the Ghost crew to proceed with a mission but she wants me to have a word with Saw on his intel extraction practices."
"What for tips?" Jules muttered. "She could use a few tips. Might move things along."
"Look," Rya raised her voice. "Gerrera is undoubtedly a help to the rebellion but his tactics are aggressive and he is to be considered dangerous. We need to keep sharp and stick together."
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Denz repeated as they approached an abandoned campsite.
"You said that already," Jules remarked in annoyance with her blaster at ready.
"These are the coordinates Bail gave me," Rya said puzzled.
"You sure we were invited?" Lee asked, reaching for his blaster sensing and uneasiness in the air.
"You most certainly were not," Saw Gerrera said, pointing his blaster at Lee's head as his crew surrounded the four rebels. "Bail made a grave mistake sending his spies to investigate me."
"We're not here to spy on you," Rya spoke, raising her hands and motioning for her crew to surrender. "We're here to talk."
"Talk," Saw scoffed. "That's all you rebels do nowadays, is talk. Well while you're wasting your breath on so called diplomacy people are dying all over the galaxy."
"I know," Rya acknowledged. "Three of us are from Lothal. Jules here is from Ryloth. We are well aware of what the Empire is capable of."
"Bail is sly," Saw chuckled. "Sending in children of occupied planets to lower my guard. Well I've been in this fight for too long to take any chances. Bind their hands and bring them to the briefing room."
Moments later the four were on their knees with their hands bound behind their backs. Two guards watched over them as they waited for what Saw would do with them.
"I thought he was on our side," Lee whispered to Rya.
"He is," she said. "But I think with everything he's been through perhaps he's become overly suspicious."
"Ya think?" Jules commented.
"Quiet!" the guard yelled.
"Thanks man. I've been trying to shut her up since we were en route," Denz joked with the guard who kicked him in response. "Ouch!"
"So you are Rya Dax," Saw entered the room. "You're one of the top spies in Bail's Intelligence Network and a Lieutenant."
"I am," she said. "This is Lee Tersu our captain, Denz Loncak our co-pilot, and Jules Roy our sharp shooter."
"Why are you here?" Saw asked defensively.
"I was sent to speak with you about your intel practices," Rya began. She had to be very careful with her words. She had been studying Saw Gerrera for the last week and had discovered that while he was instrumental to the rebellion and its military operations, there were lines he had no problem crossing. She needed to protect her crew. "Your intel is always on point. We've suffered some losses with other information. Bail thought you could help us."
"Help you?" Saw repeated. "What do you call this?"
"Please, the Phoenix Squadron took a hit today because of bad intel," Rya pleaded. "We're all fighting for the same cause. We want to stop the Empire."
"I wouldn't call what you're doing fighting," Saw waved over a guard. "Notify the droid I am ready to broadcast."
Saw cleared his throat and began to speak into a hologram transmitter:
"Members of the Alliance to restore the Republic. Your losses today stems from your leader's cowardness. Their unwillingness to take decisive action against the Empire. All across the galaxy your people suffer while the leaders of this ha ha 'rebellion' refuse to act. Madam Senator. I'm honored."
"What is your business here?" Mon Mothma's voice echoed through the transmission.
"You ignored my warning about the Jalindi relay and paid the price. Now you have confirmation yet still refuse to destroy it."
"So long as our allies in the senate have hope of a peaceful resolution to this conflict, I will not risk–"
"If you continue to allow this war to be fought on the Empire's terms, not yours, you are going to lose."
" I will not be lectured on military strategies by a man who has proven himself a criminal."
"The Empire considers us both criminals. At least I act like one."
"You target civilians! Kill those who surrender. Break every rule of engagement! If we degrade ourselves to the empire's level what will we become?!"
"There she is! There's the leader the rebellion needs. Where is that fire? That passion when your people need it most? I hope senator, after you lost and the Empire reigns over the galaxy unopposed, you will find some comfort in the knowledge that you fought according to the rules. What are you afraid of Senator? The truth?"
The transmission cut out. Rya looked at her crew determined to get them out of this situation.
"Seems I struck a nerve," Saw laughed. "These politicians will get us nowhere, as well as their spies."
"Neither will tyranny," Lee spoke. "When I was a boy my father asked me to make a promise. To never lose hope and to never comply with the Empire."
"And where is your father now, boy?" Saw asked.
"He's dead," Lee said strongly. "And I'm not a boy. My childhood was robbed of me the moment the Empire took my home. I know what it's like to live in fear. I did for so many years until I lost everything. The rebels are the ones that taught me how to fight, though it may not seem like much to you, there are alternatives to fighting and we need to take them whenever we can in order to keep hope alive."
"Well put Captain," He raised his hand causing the guards to release their bindings. "But that day is not today. If your crew wishes to leave unharmed, you will help me in exchange for your safe departure."
"That seems fair," Lee stood and looked at his crew. Who knew what Saw was going to ask of them, but it was worth a shot.
"Proton bombs!"Rya exclaimed. "Do you realize what Mon and Bail would say if they knew their intelligence members were supplying weapons to an extremist?"
"Do they need to know?" Lee suggested cautiously. He knew what Saw was asking them to do went against what Rya had been instructed to do. But at the same time he knew they needed to do whatever it took to get off the Jalindia Moon. "I mean we could just not mention it to them."
"Lee, you give that man those bombs and we're responsible for whatever he does with them," she said sternly.
"Why don't we ask him what he intends to do?" Denz asked. Jules rolled her eyes. "Got a problem?"
"It's Saw Gerrera nerfherder," she muttered. "You can't just ask him, 'Hey Saw, what you gunna do with the proton bombs we boosted for you?'"
"I plan on using them to destroy the Jalinia relay," Saw said entering the circle of rebels. Jules was startled and backed away from him.
"Hera and her crew are attempting to tap into the relay at Mon's command," Rya said. "You do that and they could be killed."
"The Ghost crew has always been able to take care of themselves," Saw assured her. "But I'll keep a look out for them."
"That's not very reassuring," Rya said. "We need to stay on the same page if we are to defeat the Empire as a strong united front. The Old Republic use to command–"
"The old ways are done. You can either adapt and survive, or die with the past," Saw interrupted her.
"Rya is concerned with protecting our soldiers," Lee explained.
"I can speak for myself Lee," Rya said sharply and approached Saw. She was about a foot shorter than him but was unfazed by the difference in their sizes. "I know we're at war, whether you believe me or not. But we are not the do not have an endless supply of troopers. I want to protect the ones we have. So they can see the day we bring the Empire to its knees. If I can do that with the least amount of bloodshed I'm going to. But don't for one moment think I won't do what needs to be done. That's why I'm the Lieutenant."
"Very well, Lieutenant," Saw said and handed over a blaster to Rya. "Let's see what you got."
"Two Bucketheads on watch," Lee spoke through his comlink as he looked through his monoculars from a lookout point. "We'll need a diversion."
"I can take care of that," Jules responded and peeked around the corner of the shed the proton bombs were in.
"Wait for my signal," Rya interjected, peering through her own set of monoculars next to Lee. "We may be able to boost the cargo during guard change."
"Copy," Denz responded as he leaned over Jules to get a look at the guards. She elbowed him in the gut for him to back up.
"We good?" Lee asked.
"What?" Rya was puzzled by the question but didn't look up at him.
"I wasn't trying to speak for you back there," Lee explained. "I know this new position is a lot for you and you're doing great. Just want you to know you don't have to do it alone. I'm here for you."
"I know," she said as she looked at him smiling. It was true, her new position as Lieutenant came with a lot of stress. Rya was not only in charge of missions, but responsible for others' lives now. She feared if she made one mistake someone would get hurt. "They're changing. Quickly!"
"On it," Jules said and rushed to the locked door. She began to pick the lock. "Would you keep watch?!"
"That's what I'm doing. What? Did you think I was looking at you?" Denz retorted. He caught sight of the new pair of stormtroopers headed their way. "Hurry up."
"I can't get it," Jules struggled with the lock. She then took her blaster out, "Forget this!"
PEW! PEW!
"Over there! Stop them!" a stormtrooper yelled and opened fire. Jules busted the doors open as Denz returned fire.
"Stop shooting! There are proton bombs here!" Denz yelled at them.
"Call for backup," the other trooper ordered his partner. "They're stealing the weapons."
PEW! PEW!
Lee drove down in a cargo speeder with Rya firing out of the passenger side killing both troopers.
"Load it up," Rya commanded as she held her blaster at the ready. "They probably sent a distress signal."
"Saw's going to be happy about this," Denz said securing the bombs to in the speeder.
"No one should find joy in weapons of destruction," Rya said.
"Have you told any Mandalorians that?" Jules mocked. "Weapons are part of their religion."
"Enough chatter," Lee said "You heard the Lieutenant. Let's get going before this turns into a familiar party we don't want to be at."
"Thank you Lieutenant and to your crew. It seems there is hope for the rebellion still," Saw said to them.
"As always Saw, Bail is grateful to you."She shook his hand. "May the force be with you."
"Good luck," Lee said, lingering behind his crew who were walking away. "Thank you for everything you're doing. It certainly makes a difference. Especially to someone like me. I think if more people knew what you faced everyday, perhaps they wouldn't feel so hopeless. Or at least that's what I think as a Lothalite."
"These have been hard years. We've lost comrades, friends, family...to the Empire. Dark times. And yet the fire still burns. Hope still burns. We are not lost yet. For the cause, Tersu."Saw said, handing him some thermal charges.
"For the cause," Lee said and put them in his vest. He knew they would come in handy. He saluted Gerrera and turned to catch up with Rya and the others. Things were escalating quickly.