Imperial walkers were marching across the city streets on Emerald Hill. Sonic, Tails and G-merl were watching them from the roof of a building. Tails used his binoculars to see the Imperial base "Look at all those ships. Baron said it was bad, but this is worse than bad". He sighed "Emerald Hill is my home, Sonic. I can't stand seeing it like this" "So let's do something about it" "If only Baron would hurry up and get here". G-merl beeped ad pointed at the outskirts of the city. Tails looked through the binoculars and saw Baron on a speeder speeding away from troopers on Extreme Gear "I see. He's been spotted". Baron entered the city "Hurry! Get on!". Tails, G-merl and Sonic jumped down onto the speeder. Baron turned around and went straight for a walker. Sonic and Tails went to each side of the speeder, ignited their lightsabers and cut off both legs causing it to fall. Baron chuckled as they exited the city "Sure is good to have you back on Emerald Hill" "I think you're the only one who feels that way". The two troopers kept chasing them, but Baron didn't look worried "Wait for it". The board suddenly blew up allowing the group to escape. Tails was staring confused "What just happened?" "Those boards come from the Imperial factory. I have people on the inside who build them to break". Sonic turned to them "You've infiltrated the assembly line? I'm impressed" "That's the perfect cover to do some serious damage". Baron smirked "I wish I could take credit. Idea came from an old friend of yours".
They arrived at rock formation where a group of people were waiting. Tails got of the speeder and recognised an old fox "Mr Barney". Barney smiled in surprise "Miles? I hardly recognise you. You're taller" "It's good to see you". Baron walked up to the two of them "We've got stuff to do. Tell them your plan". Tails nodded "Dawn Squadron is enlisting help from another cell to take out the Imperial factory here on Emerald Hill" "An attack?". Barney's wife and Ben they knew were behind him and seemed happy "Finally" "At last". Sonic stepped forward "The attack will happen soon, hopefully. It depends on what we learn while we're here" "Our contact, O'Brian, said the Empire's building a new type of weapon. If we knew where it was, the other cells might agree to attack sooner than later". Barney pondered "They did just tighten security around section A-2, transferred their best workers over there. That must be why they had to recruit us to their labour force" "Can you get us inside?" Sonic asked. "Well, I don't know. Do you have any manufacturing experience?" "Uh, not really" Tails answered. Baron chuckled "Then you'll fit right in".
The three of them entered the factory wearing orange work suits and masks with a painted G-merl following them. The entered a large room where walkers and TIEs were being manufactured. They stood in a line of other workers. Nephthys and Infinite entered "Agent Infinite, make sure the workers are all presented and accounted for" "Yes, Governor". Infinite stood in front of the worker "Look sharp. This factory is being honoured by a surprise visit form Imperial High Command". Mogul then entered with his hands behind his back "Thank you for the introduction, Agent Infinite. My visit is not an honour, however but an investigation. Vehicles assembled in this factory malfunction at a rate far higher than that of others. I believe poor craftmanship is to blame and it has cost your Empire troops and missions. This will not be tolerated". He stopped in front Barney "Worker 5473. You were pressed into the Empire's service". Barney his fear and nodded "Yes, sir. After losing my farm" "Do you stand by your work?" "I do". Mogul looked up at a board "This 624-AVA is the last board you personally inspected and assembled. Please demonstrate for me how quickly it can be achieved full speed". Barney took the board and placed in on a platform that held in in place hovering right above it. Tails watched nervously as Barney stood on top of the board and they could hear the boards propulsion powering up. There was smoke coming out of it "Something's wrong, it's overheating. I have to shut it down". Mogul watched coldly and took out a control pad "No. The demonstration is not yet over".
He pressed a button, and the board suddenly went to full power causing Barney to panic "I can't stop it!". The board suddenly blew up taking Barney with it much to the shock of Barney. Infinite looked away but Nephthys smirked. Mogul turned to the other workers "Now that I have your attention, know this. Whatever you build here you will test personally. He brushed some burnt fox fur off his shoulder "I expect you malfunction rate to drop substantially". Sonic had to hold Tails back. "See to it that no one leaves or enters the facility. I wish to inspect the line for sabotage" Mogul told the zebra officer in charge of the factory. He turned to the troopers "Hold them here. The factory is on full lockdown". Sonic subtly activated his commlink "Baron, get word to Sally. We're trapped inside and need help" "They've already jammed the comms" Tails said. "Workers, form two lines. Prepare for verification and questioning" the officer said. They all lined up "Present your identification card for examination". Sonic leaned in close to Tails "Better get lost before they take a closer look at our IDs" "Gem, get their attention". G-merl ran over to one of the platforms and activated the board. It flew out and crashed into a wall "Gizoid! What is the matter with you!? Report to maintenance!". Sonic and Tails ran through the halls of the factory "Now's our chance to find out what the Empire's up to". Sonic nodded "From what Barney said, section A-2 is a good place to start" "Not dressed like this. The workers on lockdown, remember?". They ran into two stormtroopers "Hey. You two weren't dismissed". Sonic and Tails immediately punched the two of them out cold.
Mogul, Nephthys and Infinite re-entered the factory "Grand Admiral Mogul, you don't think the Freedom Fighters have infiltrated section A-3 as well, do you? The secrecy of that project is-". Mogul nodded "Is imperative. Whish is why I've ordered anyone attempting to enter the area without my personal code to be terminated on sight. You should not have compromised security here by hiring locals" "This factory has quotas to meet". Infinite pondered "I can question the workers, but I won't know if they're lying without more information about this new project". Nephthys glared at him "All you need to know is that the Admiral has a new fighter initiative here" "A new fighter? Difficult to see how one small ship will change much". Mogul turned to him "Agent, victory and defeat are often determined by the smallest detail. For example, take this walker". He gestured to one standing next to them, Mogul then looked to a beetle "Is this your work?" "Yes, sir. I oversaw its construction" "Have the walker step forward". Infinite used the control pad to make the walker step forward. It did but then suddenly collapsed forward. The troopers then seized the scared beetle "No, no. It wasn't that one. It was the one next to it!".
At Gizoid Base Sally, Tex, Wave and Bristles "The factory's on full lockdown. Communication is jammed. I can't reach Tails or Sonic. The new Imperial in charge is pretty thorough. Didn't catch his name, but I hear he's a mammoth". Sally leaned against the holo-unit "Grand Admiral Mogul" "My team will attack the Imperial compound's east gate. It's the weakest point, so this Mogul might expect it. But at least it'll keep his eyes off the factory for a bit".
Sonic and Tails were with G-merl "How is it I'm blind and yet I still feel worse with this thing on" Sonic said. The hid at a wall and saw a black gizoid walk towards a door being guarded by two troopers "Halt. I need your clearance code". The gizoid handed them a card which the trooper used to open the door "Code checks out. Proceed". Tails turned to Sonic "Hey, if we can get G-merl one of those we can get him inside. Then all he has to do is find the design database and download everything". Sonic nodded "Yeah. Now we just have to find one of those gizoids". They then turned to see G-merl speaking to another gizoid. Sonic smiled under his helmet "Hey This is a restricted area. I need to see your clearance code". The gizoid handed him a card right before G-merl shocked it causing it to fall to the floor. Sonic handed it to G-merl "Make it quick, Gem". G-merl went up to the door and handed them the code and he was allowed in. He entered a control centre and plugged into a console".
Mogul was in his office examining holograms of graffiti Wave has painted, and images of the Hurst crew. Infinite and the officer entered "Sir?" "lieutenant, what can you tell me about this?" "Uh… It looks like a section of the retaining wall, sir". Mogul nodded "Ah. Agent Infinite?" "It's the mark of Dawn Squadron. Symbolizing the hope that the light will return. Showing their dominant to victory". Mogul smiled "It is that and more. I've seen it everywhere, marking territory. It is a commitment, but to this world specifically. These Freedom Fighters have an attachment to this place and will always return. So, have you found more subversives?". The officer cleared his throat "Actually, sir. We… lost some. Two workers went missing after your speech. We found their uniforms" "I'm confident we will locate them once we issue an alert". Mogul shook his head "No, I think not. The defectors will have new disguises by now. They'll hide as technicians or troopers to gather data and escape" "So you think they're more than just saboteurs?" "Indeed, I do, Agent Infinite. They're after information likely heading to section A-2. Secure it".
Sonic and Tails were still waiting "Uh, what's taking him so long?" "What're you doing here?". They turned and saw three troopers walk towards them "Uh, we're on guard duty, sir" "And what exactly are you guarding?" "We go where we're ordered, sir" Tails answered. The lead trooper walked towards them "This is highly irregular. What's your operating number?". G-merl then walked out right past them "Wait. Is this section B-17?" "A-2". Tails sighed "I told you we were in the wrong section. Sorry, Commander. We're new transfers". They started waking away "Halt!" the trooper ordered. Tails, Sonic and G-merl then started running and stopped at a lift "This might get messy". The door opened revealing Infinite "You two. Come with e to secure the perimeter" they entered the lift and the doors closed right before the troopers stopped them. Infinite removed his mask and was about to say something but Soni pinned him against the wall "Listen to me. I'm O'Brian". Tails scoffed "Yeah, right. You want us to believe that?" "By the light of Emerald Hill's moons". Sonic let go and took off his helmet "You've got to be kidding me?" "Your friend Tex trusted me on the ice moon. I saved Wave Voyance at the fighter academy, and now I'm trying to save you. But you have to trust me". G-merl beeped "See, your gizoid trusts me" "Yeah, that's not a good thing" Tails said. Sonic sighed "Fine. You wanna help us so badly? We need to get a signal to our friends" "Then we'll have to move quickly".
In a control room Infinite stumbled in with his blaster out "Watch out! It's the Freedom Fighters!". Sonic and Tails entered and used the Force to knock everyone out except for Infinite who was pushed against the wall "You could've warned me you were going to do that" "Where's the fun in that". He stood up "Your gizoid can open your commlinks from this port. I'll provide the access codes". G-merl beeped surprising Infinite "This gizoid of yours is quite efficient". G-merl beeped again "We appreciate you" Tails said defensively. Sonic managed to activate his commlink "Baron, it's Sonic. You there?" "Closer than you think. We're about to it the east gate give you a chance to escape. You'll need to move if you want to make it out" "We will. Thanks". Infinite put his mask back on "Make for the east vehicle pool. You'll find a walker there you can escape in. Now, I just have to make this look convincing". Tails nodded "Okay" he used the Force to push Infinite back into the wall "Tails!" "What? That was convincing" "Yeah, but I was gonna do it". They left the room as Tails shrugged "Well, if he's one of us now, you'll get your chance".
Mogul was in his office with Nephthys "An unlicensed gizoid accessed the computer in section A-2. I can only assume that they have acquired my plans. But something has changed. They should have attempted to escape via the factory by now" "Maybe they realize they're trapped". Mogul sat at his desk "More likely they have found an unexpected ally. Or perhaps an expected one" "I'm not sure I follow" "The will attempted a different means of escape. And we must adapt our strategy accordingly". The commlink activated "Yes?" "Grand Admiral, there is a small of band of Freedom Fighters attacking the east gate. I've deployed to walkers. Should I send back up" "Yes, lieutenant. Let's play their game".
Tails, Sonic and G-merl were smirking while inside a walker "You think we'll fit right in" "I just hope this is one of the good walkers". They walked out onto the street and saw Baron with his group coming in on a speeder with rocket launchers. They walked up next to a tall four-legged Egg-walker which suddenly turned to them "What. Infinite set us up" "Maybe. We'll figure it out later. Now get to cover!". They used the other walker as cover when they heard Baron "Sonic, Tails. Is that you" "Yes! And we could use a pickup" the they were hit "Soon would be good". The walked they were suing as cover suddenly knelt down and started crushing them. Tails and Sonic ignited their lightsabers and cut through the roof. Outside Baron is watching when the walker Tails and Sonic were in suddenly exploded. Baron watched in shock but then suddenly the walker stood up and fired on the other destroying it. Baron watched in confusion as the top hatch of the walker opened revealing Tex and Sonic. Baron started laughing as they took the speeder closer and the two Shinobi and G-merl jumped down "I thought you were in the smaller one?" "We were. But this one was roomier". Baron's face then dropped "Barney?" "He didn't make it" Tails said regrettably. Barney's wife lowered her head solemnly "We've got to go" Baron said. They raced away from the factory.
Back at gizoid base Wave was examining the data Sonic sent "I think I almost got it decrypted". A hologram of a strange fighter, Sally stared at it "I've never seen an Imperial fighter like that. Wave, talk to me" "Looks like some new kind of TIE interceptor, but this one has shields". Sally was taken aback "If they're actually building these in numbers, our pilots won't stand a chance". Sonic sighed "And neither will the Freedom Fighters" "How'd you get past Mogul with these plans? Someone's losing more than their job for that". Sonic nodded "I guess we can thank Agent Infinite. He knew O'Brian's secret code phrase" "Wait, wait. Infinite is O'Brian? How?" Wave asked in surprise. Tex laughed nervously "I must've recruited him. You know, accidently" "You mean when you were stuck on that ice moon with him?" Tails asked. Tex nodded "Yeah, well. We didn't kill each other. So, I guess we're friends now?". Sally looked sceptical "Still, we'll use the caution with our new friend until we're sure we know what game he's playing".
Mogul was staring at the Dawn symbol again with Infinite and Nephthys "Agent Infinite, I read your report. Several troopers confirmed your encounter with the Shinobi. It was very helpful. You know, after analysing their escape, it's clear to me they had help from within our Imperial ranks". Nephthys was surprised by this "The Freedom Fighters have a mole? Then all personnel must be interrogated. This spy must be found!" "Patience, Governor. Actin out of emotion will not serve us here. We must wait and watch. And when we find our spy, and we will find them, we shall turn them from an obstacle to an asset. Wouldn't you agree, Agent Infinite?". Infinite nodded "Your strategy is without flaw, Grand Admiral. As always".