A Scarship flew right over the capital of Emerald Hill and released a shuttle. The shuttle flew towards the main Imperial complex where a group of troopers were standing at attention. Infinite, Angelica and Zik walked up to the shuttle as the ramp opened and Finitevus walked out towards them. Angelica bowed her head "Grand Moff Finitevus. I am honoured by your visit to Emerald Hill" "My visit is hardly an honour, Minister". He walked past them "I admit I was surprised to learn you were coming" Angelica said as they followed him. Finitevus didn't look at them as he spoke "And I, too, have been surprised by what's been happening on your little backwater world" "If you are referring to the insurgents, I-".
Finitevus stopped and turned to them "In the absence of Governor Nephthys, you have had a single simple objective, Minister, to protect the Empire's industrial interests here. Interests which are vital to our expansion throughout the Outer Zones. But instead of protecting those interests you have allowed a cell of insurgents to flourish right under your nose. Am I correct?". Angelica said nothing so Finitevus turned to the jackal "And Agent Infinite, have you just stood idly by while this rabble have attacked our men, destroyed our property and disrupted our trade?" "I have exhausted every resource to capture them, sir. This group has proven to be quite elusive". Angelica nodded "It's said their leader is a Shinobi". Finitevus rolled his eyes "Ah, yes. Let us not forget the sudden appearance of a Shinobi, as if leaping from the pages of ancient history. A shame we don't have someone who specializes in dealing with them, otherwise our problem would be solved" He glanced at Zik who said nothing. "Minister, have you ever met a Shinobi?", Angelica nervously looked down "No, I-" "I actually knew the Shinobi, not from the pages of folklore or children's tales, but as flesh and blood and do you know what happened to them?". He took a step closer to her which made her back away "Well, there were rumours-" "They died. Every last one of them. So you see, this criminal cannot be what he claims to be, and I shall prove it".
Sonic, Wave and Tails were on Extreme gear being chased by troopers and a transport "Aren't we going to wrong way?" "We don't want to lead them back to the ship. Follow me". The raced through a small town, Wave went down a different street as the troopers followed her but crashed while turning a corner. Sonic and Tails went in a different direction with another trooper, Sonic quickly turned around and shit him dead before Wave returned next to them. Another trooper appeared in front of them bit Tails then took out his lightsaber and fired a stun blast at him, he flew past the and crashed right into another trooper taking him out as well. Ave laughed "You're finally getting the hang of this. There's hope for you yet".
They returned to the Hurst and entered the common room which was dark as Sally, Tex and G-merl were watching a hologram of Moritori Rex. A voice not seen in the recording said "Senator Rex, now that you've recommitted yourself to the Empire, will your followers do the same?". Rex nodded "Most will, Alton. These were good people who simply wanted to make the Empire a better place, peacefully. But I'm afraid these insurgents have twisted my message into something violent and frightening". The hologram showed the Hurst crew "Of course, I can't abide that. So, I'm personally offering a reward for their capture". Tex banged his fist against the table "Shut it off". Sally happily did so "Still makes me sick to think that Rex is working for the Empire". Sonic pondered "Well, I have a plan that might just even the score. If Rex can do it, we can do it, too". Tex scoffed "What, we're gonna send out some kind of inspirational type message?" "Exactly" Sonic answered with a smirk surprising Tex. "Um, I don't get it" Wave said, Tails agreed "Yeah. We can't just send out a signal. The Empire would track us in a second". "Not if the signal comes from one of its own towers" Sonic said. Tails stared at him "You wan to take control of an Imperial Communications tower, which is pretty us impossible, and then you want to use it to send a message out to Emerald Hill". Sonic smirked "Not just Emerald Hill. One of those bid towers can reach a few systems. We'll say what the Empire never says, the truth. We have to let people know what it's really like out here".
Slate and Zomom entered an office where Finitevus was sitting at a desk with Angelica, Infinite and Zik standing next to him "Gentlemen. Sit" he told them. They both silently sat next to each other opposite Finitevus "I understand you have experience dealing with these insurgents" "Oh, yes, sir" Slate answered. Zik casually walked around the desk and stood behind the two of them. Finitevus continued "And your efforts have been less than successful?". Slate stammered as he answered "Well, I… I wouldn't say…" "Commandant, if your efforts had been successful, we would not be having this little chat. Now, when was the last activity reported?". Zomom finally spoke up "Sir, we, uh, responded personally to an attack last night in one of the outlying towns" "And the details of this attack". Slate quickly answered "Uh, nothing of note. The insurgents stole some supplied and escaped on Extreme Gear. No casualties" "Ah, but you see, Commandant, there is something of note in that report, no casualties. Your cell of insurgents is more principled than others". Zomom raised his head in curiosity "Others, sir? You mean there are other cells?" "Cells, factions, tribes. Call them what you will". He stood up as he continued "They lack the one thing that would make them a credible threat to the Empire, unity. While your cell seems uninterested in violence, it does present a specific threat, the Shinobi".
Slate nodded "We have encountered him, sir, and he lives up to their reputation" "Oh, I doubt that very much. But I am not concerned with his skills as a warrior. I am concerned with what he represents". Finitevus moved around the desk and stood in front of Slate and Zomom who looked to the floor. "Or perhaps I should say, I am concerned by what you allow him to represent by failing to stop him. Hope. There are whispers of this alleged Shinobi in the streets. In time, such whispers might spark belief in something other that the strength and security of the Empire". Finitevus looked to Zik who nodded and took out his lightsaber. Finitevus turned his back to the two men "And that, gentlemen, is something I cannot have". Infinite and Angelica stared at the two men wondering what was about to happen. Zik ignited his lightsabers on both ends so they were right behind the two men's necks. Slate and Zomom realised their fate right before it happened. Complete terror entered their eyes before Zik moved forward removing their heads. Infinite and Angelica were both shocked and disgusted by the sight, the former was glad to be wearing a mask. Finitevus stared at both of them coldly "Make no mistake. From now on, failure will have consequences. Agent Infinite, you will dispatch probe bots to every knows location of insurgent activity on Emerald Hill. We will discover the whereabouts of these criminals and we will make examples of them".
Sonic, Tails and Wave were lying on an arch over a street staring at a large tower "There it is. The Empire's main communications tower on Emerald Hill. It routes comm from every Imperial operation on the planet, including the Empire's HoloNet broadcasts". Wave used her mask to examine the area "I got bucketheads on the perimeter and at least three anti-ship batteries around the base. Not an easy trip to the front door". Tails shrugged "Well. let's be optimistic. What do once we get to the door?" "Well, I could upload a data spike into the central computer and have that transmitter operational in, I don't know, five minutes?". Sonic turned to her "Three minutes would be better" "Hey, five is already pushing it. You can have it good, or you can have it fast" "Alright. Scan us a holomap and let's get out of here". A transport suddenly drove under them and released a probe bot. Wave watched it, "Does it see us?" Tails asked, "You'll know when it does. Because we'll be dead". Sonic looked down at their Extreme Gear "We won't be able to get down there without being seen". Tails watched the field just off the streets and saw a small cheetah crawling through the grass. Tails held out his hand and concentrated as best he could, Sonic watched as the cheetah poked it's head out of the grass. The cheetah ran towards the probe and jumped onto its eye. It clawed at it and being blind the probe crashed to the ground. Wave stood up "I could have blasted it and gotten that result". Sonic looked proud "Yeah but this is more covert. Good thinking, apprentice". Wave rolled her eyes under her mask "Okay, it's touching when you two bond, but I'm betting that probe has friends so let's move it". They went down and got on the boards, but they didn't realise the probe was still working and spotted them leave.
Infinite entered Finitevus' office "Governor, one of our probes seems to have found something". Finitevus gestured for him to come in and Infinite handed him a disc. He plugged it into his holo-unit and it showed the probe's footage "We believe these are the speeder bikes responsible for the rebel activity near Blitz. It was taken from outside the main communications tower". Finitevus nodded "A perfect target for these criminals" "We can't risk losing the tower. We should reinforce security" "No. Let them believe they still possess the element of surprise. Lure them in, and awe shall be waiting" "As you wish" Infinite left the room. Finitevus glanced at Zik "Inquisitor, I am giving you the opportunity to redeem yourself. Do not disappoint me. And remember, I want this Shinobi alive" "Your faith will be rewarded".
G-merl, Tails, Wave and Sally were in the common room working on a small machine "If it works, we should be able to use this to transmit directly through the tower". Sonic entered "How we doing?" "Well, G-merl has the spike. We get him into the tower, and he can upload it right into the computer core from any terminal" Wave answered. G-merl beeped and Tex glared at him "Stop complaining, bolt-brain. You have the easy job". Sonic stared at G-merl "What's the range of this spike?" "As long as the tower is transmitting, we're good to go. Everyone will hear what we say. Well, anyone who's listening". Sally nodded "Then I'll spirit you away in the Sneak". Sonic noticed that Tails wasn't saying anything "Tails, let's take a walk". Tails left the room with Sonic without looking at him. They both eft the ship "What's on your mind?" "I'm… I'm not sure we should go through with this". Sonic was surprised by this "Tails, you are up to this. I know you are" "I know that's what you want to think. But… I". Sonic saw a great deal of shame on Tail's face "I'm not my parents. And I lost them. I don't want to lose you guys too. Not over this" "Hey. All of us have lost things. And we will take more losses before this is over. But we can't let that stop us from taking risks. We have to move forward. And when the time comes, we have to be ready to sacrifice for something bigger". Tails sighed "That sounds good, but it's not easy" "It's not easy for me either. My Master tried to show me, but I don't think I ever understood it until now, trying to teach it to you. I guess you and I are learning these things together". Tails reluctantly nodded and Sonic put his hand reassuringly on his shoulder.
At the tower, a group of stormtroopers at the door. They then heard a noise and saw Wave coming down the street on a board with a red crate being dragged behind her. She turned the board, so the crate was launched towards one of the cannons destroying it. She fired at the troopers as Tex appeared at another gun and took it over. He promptly killed the remaining troopers. Sonic and Tails arrived on boards, the latter was carrying G-merl behind it. They all entered the tower. The made it to a control room "Okay, Wave, three minutes" Sonic said pressing a button to stop an alarm going off. G-merl installed the spike into a computer terminal. Sonic was staring at the terminal and looked shocked "What? They're here? That's impossible". Tails and Sonic ran outside and saw three transport ships heading towards them "Wave, we've got targets incoming. Let's move!" "You said I'd get three minutes" "Well now you get one. So, hurry up!". Tex got on the anti-aircraft gun and fired on the ships destroying one. Sonic got on his commlink "Naka-One to Hurst. We're gonna change our pickup" "Not a good idea, Naka-One" "Plans changing. Just get your eyes on the sky. We'll meet you up there" "Copy that". The spike finished and G-merl removed it "Okay, I got a signal. It worked. Let's go" Wave said.
Tex saw ground transport coming and ran back to the others. Wave ran out but Sonic turned her around "Not this way. Back inside" "Are you crazy?". Sonic directed them all "Take the lift. Sally will meet you at the top" "Wait. What about you?" Tails asked stopping, "I'll take the next one". Tex pushed Tails "Let's go". Sonic ignited his lightsaber "Tails. I'll be right behind you". Tails stopped but saw Sonic close the door. The transports stopped and released troopers along with Infinite "Now this is familiar situation" "Same situation, same ending. You lose" "I don't think so". Zik jumped out of one of the transports in front of Sonic who upon seeing him destroyed the door control panel sealing it. The others made it to the top of the tower, Tails looked over the railing to try and spot Sonic, but another transport rose up to their level and three stormtroopers fired on them. Zik watched this from the ground "What did you hope to gain by coming here?" "You're clever. Figure it out". He lunged at Zik who blocked it. The two fought and this time Sonic held his own much better "You've been practicing" "Nice of you to notice" "There's someone who wants to meet you. If you surrender now, he might let your friends live". Sonic deactivated his lightsaber, "Unexpected" Zik said, "You'll find we're full of surprises". The Sneak suddenly flew in destroying the transport at the top of the tower and flew towards the others. Tails looked down and saw Sonic continuing his fight but then getting pushed against the wall with the Force "Sonic!". Sally arrived and everyone jumped on but the transports starting firing on the shuttle. Sonic saw this and activated his commlink "Naka-Two, get out of here!" "Not an option, Sonic" "No, time, Sally. Go!". The shuttle stayed where it was for a few moments before flying away. Zik dropped him to the ground and put his lightsaber to Sonic's throat who smirked "Looks like I have time to meet your friend after all".
That morning a transport arrived at the tower where Zik was waiting with a restrained Sonic. Finitevus stepped out of the transport and Zik handed him Sonic's lightsaber "Well done, Inquisitor. These are the results I expect. So, you are the Shinobi in question". Sonic glared defiantly at him "Whatever you want from me, you won't get it". Infinite then walked out of the tower "Sir, we have a problem. It appears the insurgents have gained control of the tower's transmitter". He took out a commlink and Sonic was pleased to hear Tails' voice "We have been called criminals, but we are not. We are freedom fighters, fighting for the people, fighting for you".
In the Hurst everyone was in the common room as Tails spoke into the machine they built "I'm not that old, but I remember a time when things were better on Emerald Hill. Maybe not great, but never like this".
In all the cities and villages citizens and troopers alike listened to the message "See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families and your freedom. It's only going to get worse unless we stand up and fight back". In a town circle even a single lemur Imperial pilot holding a blaster was listening "It won't be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can't back down just because we're afraid. That's when we need to stand tallest. That's what my parents taught me. That's what my new family helped me remember".
Sonic was now on the flying transport with Finitevus, Zik and Infinite. He watched as two fighters fired missiles towards the tower. He turned to Finitevus shocked but all he got was a cold expression. Tails' message continued "Stand up together. Because that's when we're strongest, as one". The missiles hit the tower causing it to collapse "You do not know what it takes to win a war. But I do" Finitevus said.
Tails heard the static, he sighed "Was it worth it? You think anybody heard?". Sally smiled "I have a feeling they did" "This isn't over" Tails said determined. Sally shared his expression "No it isn't".