The Hurst was flying slowly through space. Sally and Wave were both in the cockpit freezing "Wave, fuel status?" ".05. We're almost down to fumes". Sally sighed and activated the PA system "Sorry, guys. Have to divert more power from the thermal subsystems. Reducing heat to two percent". Sonic was in the top turret drinking something warm "Our intel on this fuel source better be solid. I'm losing feeling in my fingers" "Saw the report myself. Somewhere in this belt, the Mining Guild's been refining Coulzon-36 for the Empire". G-merl entered the cockpit and gave Wave a pad "Whoa. One shipment of that stuff could fuel us and all of Dawn Squadron for a full cycle" "Empire is scheduled to pick up their shipment today. We just have to get there and find it first". G-merl beeped and Wave shook her head "The asteroid field is scrambling our sensors". Tails was in the front turret "I've got nothing here" "Albright, everyone. Just keep your eyes peeled for that refinery". Tails rested his head when he suddenly jumped up "Does anyone else hear that". It started getting louder it was a screeching insectoid noise. Sonic looked around "I don't see anything out here. What's it sound like?" "It's, it's hard to describe.
A screech but there's also a whooshing sound. How can you not hear it? It's all around us" "Tails, there's nothing to hear. Wave, check the scanners again". Wave's eyes opened wide "Uh, don't have to. Look". They all stared out and saw massive yellow and white moths flying towards them "Whoa". Sally gasped "Brace yourselves!". The wasps flew past with some of them hitting the ship "What in bloody blaze are those?" Tex yelled. Sally tried to avoid them "Murasia Moths. They'll rip the hull apart. Prepare to fire. We gotta drive them back" "No, don't shoot! They'll pass. We can't waste power fighting these things" Sonic yelled. Wave watched them "We should just get out of their way" "We either run into them or the asteroids. Take your pick" "Try flying with them instead of against them". Sally turned the ship around and followed the moths "I think they're calming down. I'm not hearing them" Tails said. Sally checked the console "Ok, we're low on fuel, surrounded by asteroids and caught in a swarm of moths. Any suggestions?". Tex was in the rear gun "Are we shooting them or not?". Sally shook her head "No. These things tear starships apart. We don't want to provoke them". Tails was staring amazed at a moth near him. He closed his eyes and held out his hand. He suddenly backed away "Uh, something's upsetting it". Sonic looked around from his turret and saw something "Guys, we got two TIEs. I need a better angle". The TIEs got closer, and they saw that they were yellow. Sally spun the ship allowing Sonic to shoot down one of the TIEs. Wave watched them "Those are modified. They're not Imperial" "Well, they're acting like it". Tails had the final TIE in his sights, but his turret didn't fire "Sally, I lost my cannons" "Rerouting auxiliary power from the Sneak. The TIE started firing at them "Sally!".
The turret lit up and Tails quickly fired destroying it. He sighed in relief. Wave turned to Sally "Those fighters were Mining Guild" "They must be from the refinery. You think you can track where they came from" "Maybe. Give me a minute". Sonic entered "I guess it's a good thing we didn't waste energy shooting at the moths" "Don't get smart, Sonic" Sally said. Tails watched the moths and they started to screech "Something's happening. The moths are turning around. I think we should follow them" "Following them is the last thing we should do. Wave, did you find out where the fighters came from yet?". Wave nodded "I did" "Good. What's our heading?". Wave smirked "Follow the moths" "What?" "Yeah, I hate to tell you this, but the moths are heading right where I calculated those fighters came from". Sonic leaned forward in his chair smirking "That's so interesting". Sally sighed "Alright. I guess for now we follow the moths". Tails climbed up "Hey. For what it's worth, I've got a good feeling about this". That didn't see to help Sally as she powered up the engines "Go check your cabins. Make sure everything is witched off. We've got save every little bit of fuel". Sonic and Wave left and stopped "Tex from entering "Come on, big guy" "But it's colder back there". Tails remained the cockpit watching the moths "I never imagined there were creature in deep space". Sally smiled "When I was young, I was told amazing stories of creatures that lived in the stars, travelled between the worlds. Old pilots said it was the moths who inspired us to jump from systems to systems. But I don't believe it. The moths are dangerous. They wander into hyperspace lanes, crash into ships. I've lost more than one friend that way". Tails nodded "Well, maybe the don't realise they're putting people in danger. Maybe it's like Sonic says, you know. They just do what they do" "Right now, as long as the don't come between me and my mission". Tails shrugged "Fair enough".
The moths led them to a planetoid "Scanners a picking up an energy source from that" "You think it's the refinery" "We're about to find out". They approached the planetoid and saw a large structure over a blue lake "There it is. The refinery" "I wonder why the moths are headed that way" "Works out for us. Between them and all thee asteroid the Mining Guild will never see us coming". Tex forced the doors to the cockpit and let the others in "Automatic doors aren't that useful". Sally nodded "I've rationed what energy we have left" "What's your next move?" Sonic asked. Sally cloaked the ship's signature "I want to get a secure position to plan our attack. Wave, Gem, ready a short, controlled burst from the engines. In three, two, one. Now!". The engines activated for a moment, and they drifted towards the refinery near the moths which were forming a circle. Sally landed the ship on an asteroid. Tex looked out at the refinery "Ok. So how exactly are we gonna pull off this raid with our limited resources?". Wave used her mask to zoom in on the refinery "Give me a second. I've got more fighters. That's not good. Anti-hip cannon, also not good. But… aha. I see the Empire's shipment. Ok, lots of guards around but I think we can drop down there scoop it up and go".
Sally shook her head "Forget the scoop job. We have just barely enough fuel to get down there. We'll have to land" "Refuel on the platform? They'll blast us to bits. We need a diversion" Tex said. Wave kept looking "I've got one. The gas in that pool is unrefined clouzon-36. Highly explosive in its pure form. We drop in a few charges the blast will provide all the diversion we need". Tails used his binoculars and saw a few moths get close to the refinery. The guns fired at them driving them off. Sonic nodded to Wave "In the chaos, we grab the fuel". Sally agreed "And that huge fireball will destroy the Empire's ability to refine more. I like it. Tails, you hear the plan?" "Yeah, sure. Uh, they're using the cannon to shoot the moths. Why would they bother?". Wave glanced at him "Speaking of, how do we get past that gun undetected?". Sonic stepped forward "We jump. We're in the upper atmosphere. We can glide in on the catwalk. With all the moths around we can probably slip by unseen". Tex crossed his arms "Sound like a dangerous plan" "Don't worry, buddy. You're staying here" "Oh. Well, sounds like a good plan to me". They left but Tails continued to watch the moths "Them and the gas are connected. Uh, guys" "Not now, Tails. You've gotta prep for the mission" "But I think the moths want the fuel". Sally shrugged "Well, so do we. Ge going".
The group were in the cargo hold "Wave, do you have the helmet I lent you?". Wave held a stormtrooper helmet which was now painted annoying Sonic "What? You said you just wanted to look at it" "I did. And it looked bad". They all put helmets on "I think it looks great" Tails joked. The doors opened "Wait. We're not taking the Sneak?" "You know, you should really pay more attention" "Well, how're we getting down there?". Wave shrug "We jump". They all did and descended towards the refinery. They suddenly noticed that the moths were following on either side of him "Wow" "Stay focused". Wave holds onto G-merl who activates his rockets slowing her down. Sonic uses the Force to slow him down and he land as well. Tails tries the same thing, but it doesn't work. He started to panic and covered his face as he approached the ground. Sonic caught him and dropped him down gently. Tails took a breath "I'm gonna need to work on that" "I'm gonna make sure you do… Look out". Sonic got in front of him and ignited his lightsaber. And blocked a shot from a Guildsman who wore a green jumpsuit and a yellow mask "So much for a stealth mission. Wave. Toss those detonators" "I'm on it". Wave armed two grenades but "No! Don't!". Tails grabs them "Tails, are you crazy!?" "WE can't blow up the gas!". Wave rolled her eyes "Don't tell me this is about the moths!" "It is". Tails attached the bombs to his belt and leaped forward. He killed one guildsman with his lightsaber and then pushed the other one off and he fell screaming down the pit. Sonic ran over to them "Okay. Explain yourself" "Ok. The gas and the moths are connected. We can't blow up the gas without hurting them". Wave looked to Sonic who sighed "Fine. I trust your instincts. Get on that cannon and cover us". Tails ran over but Wave looked sceptical "What exactly are we doing?" "We're going to secure the landing zone".
Tex and Sally were watching from the cockpit of the Hurst "Uh oh. There's no explosion. How come there's no explosion?". Sally got on her commlink "Wave, what's going on?" "We're improvising, again. Sonic and I are securing the landing zone while Tails covers us with the cannon". Sally sighed "Who changed the plan?" "The moths changed the plan". Sally groaned in frustration "Not the moths again. Are you sure you can secure the landing platform? Once I start heading down there, I can't turn back" "Sally, if you're looking for a guarantee, you are on the wrong mission. We'll contact you when the platform is clear". Tex rolled his eyes "Next time, let's not waste time with a plan".
Sonic, Wave and G-merl took cover behind crates as a guard above tried to shoot down at them. Wave shot at more guards as Sonic activated his commlink "Where's my cover fire?" "Working on it!". Tails turns the cannons and round and shoots at the guard above them. Tails then fires at the others making sure not to hit the fuel when he heard the moths screech. Wave didn't see any more guards "Sally, you better get down here. You landing zone is temporarily secure" "Then it's a good thing we're here". The Hurst landed on the platform. Tails was watching the moths dive into the fuel "Naka-Six, do you copy?" "Sonic, I figured it out. You're not gonna believe this" "I believe I need more cover fire!". More guards were coming, Tails quickly got back on the cannon "Right, sorry". One of the guards fired at him hitting the cannon. It exploded making Tails stumble back and off the platform into the fuel below. G-merl and Wave were pushing the cannisters onto the hip as Tex and Sonic gave them cover fire. Sally activated the ships turret and fired up at the guards. She then aw that TIEs were coming "I thought you said the landing platform was secure" "Temporarily. I said temporarily secure". Tex moved one of the cannisters to the side of the ship "Refuel commencing". Sonic heard the Ties and leaped up on top of the Hurst. He ignited his lightsaber and deflected the shots "We've got fighters. Tails. Tails, where are you?".
Tails was lying unconscious on top of one of the moths "Tails, come in!". Tails started to wake up, but he couldn't breathe. He then realised he wasn't wearing his helmet. He started to cough and wheeze "Help, help me". He started to feel fear coming from the moth "No. We want to help you. Let us help you". The moths screeched as Tails began to lose consciousness. Another moth flew up next to them and it had Tails' helmet on its back. The moth Tails was on dropped him on the other and he reached for the helmet. He put it on and took a deep breath "Thanks".
The others were surrounded by guards and TIE "Surrender, thieves. You are at our mercy". Sonic sighed "I can't believe we're gonna lose to these guys". He then heard Tails "Sonic, don't worry. We'll be right there" "We?". Dozens of moths suddenly flue out of the fuel pit with Tails riding the lead one. The Guildsman fired up at them. The Ties fired but all the shots had no effect. The moths crashed into the TIEs destroying them. Tex and Wave took advantage of the distraction to finish fuelling the ship and loading the cannisters. They all ran inside, and Sally took off. Sonic stayed on the roof and covered them. Tails pointed his lightsaber at the refinery. The moths flew towards it and started tearing it apart and eating the Guildsman. The Hurst stopped and Tails jumped on top with Sonic. He then petted the moth before it flew away.
Sonic and Tails entered the cockpit "It wasn't like anything I've ever experienced. I could see what they were thinking" "You must have established a deep connection to them" "I could see they need gas to breathe and travel. The crater wasn't their home, just one stop on a long journey". Sally looked out and watched the moths "I have to admit, without the help of them, we never would have gotten off the ground again". The moths' wings suddenly started to glow blue. Sally eyes opened wide "Can it be?" the moths suddenly jumped to lightspeed "It is true. They can travel through hyperspace". Sonic laughed "Time we got a move on too" "How about we follow the moths?".