The Hurst was hiding inside a junk field. In the cockpit the crew except for Sonic were listening to a hologram of an imperial officer "In zero-ten, I will discuss the dramatic events transpiring in your Imperial-" it was cut off. Tex leaned back in his chair "Hope we're not going to be hiding in this can forever. There's only so much Holo-Net I can take". Tails shrugged "Well, I'd say they're late, but we don't even know when they're supposed to show up or who we're meeting". Sally turned to them "Whoever they are, Senator Wynmacher wants them to get where they're going, and he's trusting us to get them fuel" "If he trusts us, why is he keeping us in the dark?" "You know as much as I do". Tails rolled his eyes "No wonder Sonic went for the supply run". The projection of the officer then reappeared "Imperial Senator Cosmo of Green Gate has shocked the Senate with her treasonous remarks against Emperor Solaris". Cosmo then appeared "I name the Emperor himself for ordering the brutal attacks on the people of Ghorman. Their peaceful world is one of the countless systems helpless against his oppressive rule. This massacre is proof that our self-appointed Emperor is little more than a lying executioner, imposing his tyranny under the pretence of security. We cannot allow this evil to stand". Tails was impressed "Wow!" "I'm surprised she's still breathing. Lady's got guts" Tex said.
Suddenly a red light flashed, and they saw a ship jump out of hyperspace "Maybe that's our contact". Sally looked suspicious "I don't think so. G-merl, scan". Tex looked out of the window and recognised the ship "Oh, no" "What?" "It's a probe. It's the same model that brought that infiltrator to the base. We need to blast it before it spots us". Sally nodded "Tails, get in the nose gun, but hold your fire. We don't want to attract attention if we can avoid it. I'll power down so it can't scan us. Sorry, but that includes you, G-merl". Tex happily switched the gizoid off. The saw the pod open revealing a robot identical to Heavy "Nobody move". It flew over them "I don't think it see's us" "I'll be convinced when it leaves". It suddenly turned around "It must be scanning for life signs" "Well that's just great. We can't shoot it with the power down". Sally put her hands over the console "Tails, be ready" "Just tell me when". The probe shined a light over the Hurst "Now!". Sally powered up the ship and detached from the wreckage. The probe tried to get away and Tails tried to shoot it down "I can't get a clean shot". Suddenly a large ship came out of hyperspace "Whoa. What's that" "Never mind them. Focus on the probe". Tails fired again and managed to hit the engine of the probe destroying it. They then heard a voice over the commlink "Dawn Leader, this is Gold Squadron. We catch you at a bad time?". Sally sighed in relief "Sorry about that, Gold Squadron. Close call with an Imperial probe" "Were you detected?" "Chances are high, it called for reinforcements". There was a pause then "Begin fuelling immediately. We need to get out of here before the Empire arrives".
The Hurst was now docked with the cruiser and the three of them were waiting at the airlock. A monkey then entered with a fox pilot. The monkey salted "Captain Acorn. I'm Erskin Semaj, Senatorial attaché. And this is Captain Vander, he leads Gold Squadron". Sally saluted them both "This is Tails and Tex and G-merl". Tails saluted "So what're you transporting?" "Please understand, due to security concerns, your crew will not be allowed to board our vessel". Sally nodded in understanding "Well, you're all welcome aboard ours. Let's get you refuelling".
The group were in the cargo hold with fighters docking underneath for refuelling. The next one docked and a female rabbit climbed out and stared at Tails "We've heard a lot about you, Dawn Squadron" "You have?" "Yeah. You blew up the comm tower on Emerald Hill and Finitevus' Scarship". Tex shrugged "Well, the tower wasn't us, but the Scarship, guilty as charged" he smiled proudly. The rabbit however stared disapprovingly "You might think tice before you pull another stunt like that. The Imperials have tightened security throughout the entire Outer Zones as a result. You're making things harder for all of us". Vander entered "Let's have this argument another time. Your little encounter may have jeopardized this mission". Tex turned to him "Oh, you mean the probe. What did you expect us to do?" "It would have been prudent to avoid detection, as ordered. This assignment is extremely sensitive". Tails was getting frustrated "Yeah? Well, maybe you should have given us a few more details instead of being so sensitive about your assignment". G-merl beeped causing the rabbit to scoff "Did your gizoid just insult us?" "Don't take it personal. He insults everybody". Sally entered "My crew did the best we could, but you didn't give us much information to go on". Erskin sighed "Look, that probe, it was probably looking for us, specifically. We are carrying cargo highly valuable to the Freedom Fighters, and desperately wanted by the Empire".
An alarm then went off "We have incoming!". An Imperial cruiser arrived and released a squad of TIEs. "Gold Leader, we have enemy contact. Imperial cruiser and fighters" Vander heard over his commlink "Move to intercept. I'm on my way". The ship suddenly shook causing the rabbit to hit her head "Gold-Two is down" "Tex, get her to medical, and then get on the guns". Tails turned to Vander "What about her ship. You'll need all the fire power you can get" "You got someone who can fly it" "Yeah me". Vander looked sceptical and turned to Sally "He can do it". Vander nodded, Tails jumped onto the fighter and took a nervous breath "Just remember what I taught you" Sally said just before Tails detached from the Hurst. Tex saw the transport was damaged "We need to detach from the transport or we're all going down". Sally ran into the cockpit with G-merl "Gem, release the fuel pods now!". G-merl plugged into the console and did so but then beeped "The hatch for the cruiser is jammed? We'll have to detach it manually. Come on". Tails flew in with Gold Squadron and tired to defend the cruisers. Sally ran to the airlock "Transport's lost shields" "Get everyone off the transport and on the Hurst, now" Sally said as she opened a panel in the wall. The door then opened and Erskin entered with Cosmo "Let us be of assistance, Captain". Sally stopped what she was doing "Senator Cosmo?" "Proper introductions will have to wait I'm afraid" "Right. If you could help my gizoid, I'll get us out of here". Sally ran back to the cockpit as Cosmo continued to the work she started in the wall. Gold Squadron fired ion canons at the cruiser disabling their shields. Cosmo pulled a lever detaching the Hurst from the cruiser "Detach complete". Gold Squadron did a final run on the cruiser destroying it before following the Hurst in escape to hyperspace.
Tex entered the common room where everyone was except for Tails. Sally stood up "Senator Cosmo, this is my crew. Tex of Sand Blast, and out there in one of your bombers, Tails, also know as Miles Prower". Cosmo nodded "I know of young Mr Prower, and I thank you, Captain Tex". They then heard Tails over the commlink "We saw your speech on the Holo-net. You really let the Emperor have it" "I only wish words had more of an impact". Erskin stepped forward "Senator, let's forget this mission and get you back to a proper hiding place". Cosmo shook her head with a determined face "No hiding. My presence at the meeting is not optional". Sally was surprised "You mean the meeting?". Cosmo nodded and put her hand on Erskin's shoulder "Erskin, I trust them to get me there. We're in the process of building an alliance, uniting the various cells across the galaxy. My challenge to the Emperor was a call to stand against the Empire. My hope is, all who answer it will see that they are not alone. I must be there to meet them". Erskin nodded "Her involvement has been a secret, but the Empire will be attempting to track any ship that tries to leave this system". Sally pondered "I know a way to sneak you out of the sector. Senator, we'll get you to that meeting". Cosmo turned to Erskin "Give them the coordinates to the Lost Hex".
Mogul was in a Command centre with Nephthys and Naugus. The three of them were staring at a hologram of Cosmo's cruiser "The cruiser squadron defended their transport vigorously, but we thwarted their attempt to refuel. A scan of the vessel before it was destroyed revealed no cargo aboard, and only a small crew". Mogul pondered "Their cargo was something prized, a certain Senator, I suspect.". Nephthys nodded "Senator Cosmo? Her capture is a priority. If se escaped aboard the Hurst, where is she now?" "Not where you'd expect. Captain Acorn will be creative in avoiding your blockades. She will brave the unlikeliest path to transport her passenger out of the sector. There at the Archeon pass, a favourite of Outer Zones smugglers". Naugus looked sceptical "Through the nebula?". Nephthys nodded "our capitol ships can't follow her". Mogul smirks "Precisely. So, I've readied my new prototype and our best pilots to hunt down and capture this rogue Senator". Nephthys smirked "Grand Admiral, allow me the honour of silencing her" "Very well, Governor. Take Admiral Naugus to the far side of the nebula and wait there. When our fighters flush the Freedom Fighters out into the open, you'll be in position to capture Senator Cosmo alive. She could be our key to locating the true Freedom Fighter fleet" "As you wish, Grand Admiral".
Sally was alone in the cockpit when Cosmo entered with drinks "Sometimes I envy pilots like you, traveling through the stars. You can always leave your problems far behind you". Sally smiled as she was handed one of the drinks "Can't imagine you running from your problems". Cosmo sat down in the other seat "I've spent my life in the Senate trying to do good, to preserve the rights of the people" "And we are grateful". Cosmo sighed "Little good it's done. The Emperor has crushed freedom over the years, bit by bit. I've opposed him where I could, but I've begun to see that the fight cannot be won in the Senate". Sally nodded "The stakes are a bit higher out here on the front lines. Instead of being outvoted, you're outgunned" "Life or death. It's a new experience, being on the run. But if that's what it takes". Sally smiled "Whatever it takes the Freedom Fighters are worth it". They all jumped out of hyperspace and flew towards the nebula but suddenly an Imperial cruiser and a now completed TIE defender appeared. Vander saw this on his scanner "Since when do TIEs have hyperdrive?". Tails saw it "Oh no" they then heard a voice over commlink "Attention, Freedom Fighters, this is Commander T.W Barker of the Imperial Navy. You are harbouring a traitor to the Empire. Surrender immediately". Tails waited then "Gold Three and Four, send him our reply". Tails watched two Y-wings head towards Barker "Get out of there, both of you. I know that ship. It's a prototype TIE defender. It's armed with heavy cannons and shields". The Y-wings fired but did nothing and were quickly destroyed. Tails then heard Sally "Close formation! We might lose them in the nebula" "Stay on the Hurst, Tight. Disable proton torpedoes. They might ignite the gas". They entered the nebula with the defender chasing them. Tex tried to shoot it with the turret "Those shields are too strong". "He's got a lock" Gold Five said before she moved in the way of the blast getting destroyed. Tails sighed "It's just us now" "They're too fast. We can't outrun them" "Stay tight. We're going in close to that forming star" Sally told them. They powered up their shields to maximum and flew close to the star. All the ships started to burn up including the Defender "Sally" Tails said. Parts of the ship started to melt but then the Defender retreated "He'll be back. And that star took its toll. We're losing power" "We'll hold off the defender while you get the Senator out of here". Tails then heard Vander "He's right. Go now. We've got this".
The Hurst flew out of the nebula but then saw two Scarships. Sally quickly got to work "Gem, get me emergency power" she turned the ship in the other direction and went at top speed. They then heard a familiar voice "This is Governor Nephthys. You have been charged with treason against the Empire. Now submit or be destroyed". Cosmo sighed "Very well". Sally stared at her in surprise before turning off the commlink "She'll never keep her word" "I know. I'm stalling her while you figure out a plan". G-merl beeped "I'll take what I can get. Keep working" Sally said.
Tails and Vander were in a dogfight with the Defender "Gold Leader, I'm bringing him right to you. Be ready with that ion cannon". Tails flew towards Vander "Wait…. Fire!". Vander fired and the ion blast hit the defender throwing it off course "We should go after him" "I like your enthusiasm, kid. But we gotta get back to the Hurst".
Nephthys scoffed "That is an impressive list of demands, Senator" "You must understand I cannot allow others to pay the price for my actions". G-merl beeped to Sally "Charging the hyperdrive. Just another few moment" she whispered. "Your requests are denied, Senator. Prepare to be boarded". The ship suddenly shook "Tractor beam. Gem, divert all power to the engines". They were still not able to get away "Sally, what's the plan?" Tex yelled, "We're not going to be able to break free. I'm sorry, Senator. I'm going to have to shut her down".
Tails and Vander flew out of the nebula behind the Scarship's "Sally, do you read me?" "Tails, I'm afraid I've got some bad news". "Kid, charge your ion cannon and arm your proton torpedoes". Tails was getting ready when he heard Sally "Proton Torpedoes. Negative. Fire at the nebula" "Understood Dawn leader. We're going in". Tails had a very bad feeling in the pit of his stomach as he and Vander dropped the torpedoes into the nebula before flying towards the Hurst. The gas ignited and released a blast towards the Scarships badly damaging them and freeing the Hurst. They all quickly jumped to hyperspace escaping the Scarships.
They arrived near the Lost Hex and the Y-wings docked with the Hurst. Tails and Vander entered the common room where the others were waiting "Dawn Leader, that was some of the best fighting I've ever seen" "I could say the same, Gold Leader". The rabbit pilot smiled at Tails "Kid, you can fly in my squadron any day". Tails very quickly shook his head "No thanks. I'm plan to stay on my from now on". Erskin entered "We're coming up on the rendezvous point. Ready transmit, Senator" "Let's just hope someone's listening". They all went to the cockpit and Cosmo stood in front of G-merl who started to record her "This is Senator Cosmo. I've been called a traitor for speaking out against the Galactic Senate, a Senate manipulated by the sinister tactics of the Emperor". Her voice was heard from multiple corners of the galaxy, Senator Wynmacher ships, Emerald Hills streets including Baron, Bristles' ship, Gizoid Base. "For too long, I've watched the heavy hand of the Empire strangle our liberties, stifling our freedoms in the name of ensuring our safety. No longer. Despite Imperial threats, despite the Emperor himself, I have no far as I take new action. For I am not alone. Beginning today, we stand together as allies. I hereby resign from the Senate to fight for you. Not from the distant halls of politics, but from the front lines. We will not rest until we bring an end to the Empire, until we restore our Republic. Are you with me?". They looked out the window and waited for something to happen. Suddenly dozens of ships jumped out of hyperspace form all different planets "They came" Tails said. Cosmo smiled "These, my friends, these are our Freedom Fighters".