Tails was piloting the Dash towards the Lost Jungle moon. Wave and Sonic entered the cockpit and Tails glanced at them "I wonder what this cell is like, and how big it is compared to Dawn group" "According to Sally, it's more well-equipped than we were. The remnants of Dawn group are now part of this cell" Sonic answered. G-merl beeped causing Sonic to turn to him "No, Gem. Sally said you're getting an oil bath when we get there, whether you like it or no". They entered the atmosphere and landed at the Mystic Ruins where there were multiple lines of Y-wings. Once they landed Tex walked up to the shuttle and greeted them as they exited the shuttle "Welcome to Lost Jungle Four". Wave smiled "Tex" she punched his arm "Whoa. Easy there" "What, you haven't gotten weak since I've been gone, have you, big guy?". "Where's Sonic?" Sonic asked, "She's on a supply mission. Come on, I'll show you around". Tex took them across the airstrip, Tails was amazed "So many different ships, people". Tex nodded "There are cells gathered here from every corner of the galaxy. And it's still not enough against the Empire" "As long as we can do our part, I'll take what I can get". An alarm goes off and Fang then runs up to them "Tails. You're back" "Fang. What's going on? Where's Sally?" "Well, if you're looking for Sally, there she is". He pointed up and saw multiple ships enter the atmosphere with smoke behind them "Coming in hot with what's left of her squadron". They then heard Sally over commlink "Base One, this is Dawn Leader. Stand by for emergency landings". Fang ran with a group of soldiers "Come on! Move it!". Sally had the fighters dump their fuel. Tails watched "Sonic?" "Don't worry. She's got it". The fighters hit the airstrip and charged across with the bottom scraping on the ground.
Fang and the others helped the pilots out including Sally and Bark. As Sally stepped out G-merl walked up to her and beeped "No, my gizoid didn't make it. What? G-merl!". She petted his head "Boy, I could've used you on this mission, buddy". Bark then ran up to her "Captain, are you alright?" "I'm fine, Bark. I'm glad you all made it down in one piece". Bark sighed sounding guilty "Sorry about the mission. If we just could've…" "This wasn't your fault. Any of yours. Our intel was bad. If you hadn't handled yourselves so courageously, we would have lost everybody". Bark nodded but didn't look entirely convinced "Thanks, Captain" "Now get cleaned up. I want a full assessment of damage to the Y-wings to see what's salvageable" "I've seen worse landings". Sally's eyes opened wide and saw Sonic and the others "Sonic? You're all here. Wave. What about your family on Planet Wisp?". Wave smiled "They'll be fine. Right now, my family here needs me more" "Well, I'm glad to have you. And there's plenty enough work to go around" "Well then, let's get started" Tails said. "A reunion. How nice" they all turned around and saw Infinite, wearing his mask walking towards them "But as Commander Tails suggests, it's time to get to work. Cosmo requests your presence". They entered the command centre where Cosmo, Kali-Ca, and a hologram of Wynmacher were waiting. Cosmo smiled "Captain, I commend your bravery in protecting your fellow pilots" "I just want to know what went wrong out there" "As do I. Senator Wynmacher may be able to shed some light on that for us". Wynmacher nodded "My source in the Senate confirm that the Empire has established a new communications relay in the Apotos system. It greatly expands their command and control throughout the surrounding sectors and enabled them to respond much more quickly to your incursion". Kali-Ca sighed "I hate to admit it, but it appears Harvey's rumours were true" "How does Harvey's ragtag group have better intel than we do?" Fang asked. Infinite crossed his arms "Because Harvey has absolutely no qualms about how he acquires it" "What's he been doing?" Tails asked. "Torturing prisoners" Cosmo said with disgust in her voice. "Now, the question is, what course of action do we take? We can't allow this relay to hamper our missions" Kali-Ca said. Infinite pondered "Perhaps there is another way. If we could somehow tap into this relay, we could use it to monitor Imperial fleet movements and adjust our own operations to avoid them" "Can it be done?" Cosmo asked.
Sally nodded "My crew and I have done plenty of jobs just like it" "Are you confident your ship can get in and out undetected?" Kali-Ca asked. Sally smirked "As much as I can be". Cosmo nodded "You are authorized to proceed". Everyone waled away except for a confused Tails "Wait, what about Emerald Hill?" "Tails, now's not the time" Sally said. Tails turned back to Cosmo "When then. Baron and the others are still waiting. They need our help" "Lieutenant Commander Tails, let's you and I talk for a moment". The others left the room "I am sympathetic to the plight of your people, Tails. Like Emerald Hill, my home planet of Green Gate is suffering at the hands of the Empire. But if we help these two worlds, what of Delphius or Knothole or Xenocanaris? What of the thousands of other worlds who need us? Where do we start". She sighed "I know we promised Emerald Hill help, but Mogul's attack has shown we are not ready for open war. This is a time of difficult choices, sometimes important one". Tails sighed "I… understand. Thank you, Senator". He exited the hanger and saw Sonic meditating just outside of the forest. Tails walked up to him not realising a gizoid was watching. Sonic could hear Tails "You're upset. What is it?" "I… I'm getting overwhelmed". Sonic gestured to a spot next to him "Sit", Tails did so, "Talk to me". Tails thought of what to say "I had never left Emerald Hill before I met you guys. The universe felt so small, so when I joined the Freedom Fighters Emerald Hill was all I was focused on. Now, I'm part of a galactic resistance trying to help every planet. And now my home is getting lost in the shuffle". Sonic nodded in understanding "Find your centre". Tails closes his eyes, and he could hear flickys warbling from the forest. Sonic then sighed "Something else?" "When we were on Waspnosia with Harvey, we didn't always agree with how he did things, but now it seems like he's the only one getting anything done".
Sonic glanced at him "Tails, it's not whether or not we fight, it's-" "It's how we choose to fight that matters. I know, Sonic. I just don't know if we're choosing right". Suddenly the gizoid behind them projected a large hologram of Harvey Who "Members of the Freedom Fighters". Tails turned to him and saw that Harvey looked sickly since they last saw him. "Your losses today stemmed from your leaders' cowardice, their unwillingness to take decisive action against the Empire". Other ran out to watch "All across the galaxy, your people suffer while the leaders of the… Haha, Freedom Fighters refuse to act". Cosmo then walked out to listen "Should I shut it down?" an engineer asked. Cosmo shook her head "No. I want to speak to him". Harvey smiled "Madam Cosmo, I'm honoured" "What is your business here?" "You ignored my warning about Spring Valley relay and paid the price. Now you have confirmation, yet still you refuse to destroy it". Cosmo kept an emotionless expression "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 strategy by a man who ahs proven himself a criminal". Harvey scoffed "The Empire considers both of us criminals. At least I can admit it". Cosmo was disgusted "You target civilians, kill those who surrender, break every rue of engagement! If we degrade ourselves to the Empire's level, what will we become?" "There she is! That's the leader the Freedom Fighters need! Where is that fire, that passion, when your people need it most". Cosmo glared up at him "Fire won't save my people" "I hope, Senator, after you've lost and the Empire reigns over the galaxy unopposed, you will find some comfort in the knowledge that you fought according to your rules". Cosmo glanced at the engineer "That's enough" "What're you afraid of, Senator? The truth?". The engineer turned off the gizoid. Everyone stared at Cosmo "Return to your duties" she told them.
The Hurst was now in lightspeed and the crew were in the common room examining a hologram of the relay tower "The Imperial relay is situated in a field of stone towers on Spring Fields. The Sneak will approach at a high altitude and Tails, Wave and G-merl will rocket-jump down onto the dish to install the repeater spike". Sonic nodded "When you're done, we'll swoop back in below the outpost's sensors to extract you" "Any questions?" Sally asked. Tails awkwardly put his hand up "Shouldn't we take advantage of having control of the relay? Right now, all we'll do is make it easier to sneak around". Sally sighed "You're not seeing the bigger picture. If we destroy the relay, the Empire will just build another one. This way we can use it to stay one step ahead of them" "Yeah but-" "It's not up for discussion, and we have our orders".
Sally was now piloting the Hurst when Sonic entered "You alright?" "Never better" "I don't need to see you to know something's wrong". Sally sighed "Maybe Tails is right. This won't hurt the Empire. And right now, that's all I want. To hurt them the way they keep hurting us. Go straight at them and blow that relay right off the map!". Sonic sat next to her "That's Harvey talking, not you. You're doing the right thing" "I'm not even sure I know what the right thing is anymore". The Hurst jumped out of hyperspace and they saw Spring Fields "Better scramble the Hurst's signature so they won't detect us". Once they entered the atmosphere Wave, Tails and G-merl opened the cargo hold doors. Wave threw him a practice wispon "Remember when I used to want one of these?" Tails said sarcastically. Wave smirked "Just don't stop too early. Sensors might get us" "Better than stopping too late". Wave shrugged "I don't know. Could make some interesting art". The three of them jumped out through the clouds and saw the relay "Passing 2,000 meters! 1,800. 1200 meters. Coming up on us real fast!". Tails was getting concerned with how close the relay was getting "500 meters. Get ready…. NOW!". The two of them used the wispons while G-merl used his jets. The two of them landed on the dish with some force causing them to stumble "Well, that could have gone worse". They then heard G-merl beeping frantically as he slid down the dish and hit the centre "G-merl!". They both ran to him, Tails helped him up "You okay, pal?". G-merl beeped "He's complaining. He must be fine" Wave said.
She then activated her commlink "Naka-Five to Hurst. We made it onto the dish in one piece" "Copy that. Now get to work on that spike. We're on the clock here. Wait… Guys, you've got an Imperial ship headed in your direction". The two of them looked up and saw a cruiser "Let's get moving". "If they see you, this mission's blown" Sonic told them. They got behind part of the dish "They didn't see us. At least I don't think they did. We're good" Tails said. Wave opened up a panel "G-merl, give me a hand". G-merl plugged his arm in "Okay, isolate the secondary comm circuit. Yeah. There, there. Hold it right there. Installing the spike. Got it! We're patched in". They then heard a voice over comm "Spring Fields outpost, this is Marauder requesting clearance to dock" "We must have patched into the main comm circuit by mistake. We're intercepting all incoming transmissions" "Spring Fields outpost, your signal is garbled. Please repeat". Wave tried to fix the problem "G-merl, run a bypass, connect that ship to the outpost commander now!" "G-merl, give me comm control. I've got an idea". G-merl beeped "We don't have time. If someone doesn't respond to them, they're gonna know something's wrong" Wave said. Tails put on a British accent "Uh, Marauder, this is Spring Fields outpost. You weren't schedules to arrive until the next rotation. You're creating a lot of difficulties for us. Maybe come back tomorrow?" "What difficulties? Who is this?". Tails thought for a split second "This is Commander Stone" "Is this some kind of joke? I am Commander Stone, and I demand an explanation immediately". Tails sighed "Typical" he said under his breath. Suddenly the whole thing shook "The Empire's realigning the dish". Tails and Wave slid down "G-merl, switch it back!". They got to the edge and just managed to stop them falling off but then realised the Imperial cruiser was right in front of him. Tails awkwardly. "Hurst, we've been spotted! We're gonna need a pickup, fast!" Wave said, "Copy that. On our way". Wave then threw a handful of prisms to Tails "Are we changing the plan?" "More salvaging" "Works for me. Let's blow this thing". They started running when hatches opened on the dish and troopers climbed out "Way to go, Stone" "I didn't know!". Wave got on her commlink "Sally, we've got troopers over here. We need that pickup now!" "Hod on! We're almost there!". Tails activated his lightsaber and cover Wave "You plant the detonators! I'll hold them off". Wave started placing prisms around the edges of the dish. "G-merl, level out the dish!" Tails yelled. G-merl did so knocking the troopers back. The Hurst appeared and the Imperial cruiser released TIE defenders to intercept "Naka-Five and six, I've got to break off. Hold tight". Tails and Wave ran to the edge of the dish "G-merl, tilt the dish!". The two of them hold on as the dish tilts causing all the troopers fall off.
Sally flew the Hurst through the mountains, Tex tried to shoot down the TIEs "These aren't the normal ones. These are the nasty ones" "Just concentrate your fire. Their shields won't last forever" "I'm starting to believe they can". Sally didn't look worried "They may have better fighters, but we've still got the better pilot" "Would you like a chance to prove that?" Sonic said. Sally nodded "Try me" "Go down into the fog" "I won't be able to see" "You won't have to. I will". Sally sighed "Boy, I must really trust you" "I know you do". Sally flew into the fog completely blind, Sonic concentrated "On my mark, go left, then make a quick right. Now!". Sally did so, "Turn to point three then climb at point five". Sally flew upwards and then dived right down, the TIEs crashed into part of the mountain.
Tails and Wave were waiting when a second shuttle jumped out of hyperspace and attacked the shuttle "Who is that" "I don't know but they're my new favourites. They ran to where the ship was heading, and the doors opened revealing Harvey Who "You guys need a ride? Heads up" he threw torpedoes out onto the dish with charges on it. Tails and Wave seeing this quickly got on the shuttle "G-merl, we're leaving. Let's go!" G-merl flew towards them and landed in the shuttle. They flew away as the charges went off, destroying the dish and the cruiser next to it. Wave sighed "I just wasted my prisms". Harvey smirked "Now that's how you deal with the Empire".
The Hurst arrived and Sally saw he explosion "Did they just…. Tails! Wave! Are you there? Talk to me" "Sally, we're okay". They then heard Harvey "Relax, Captain Sally. I've got them" "Harvey" Sally said with contempt in her voice. She sighed "Hold your position. I'm coming alongside to get my people". The two ships left the atmosphere but a Scarship then appeared "Sorry, Captain. No time. Don't worry. Your kids will be fine with me. Besides, they might enjoy fighting with a real army for a chance". "Harvey, return them to me at once" Sally ordered. "Unless you two have any objections, we're going to leave" Sally assumed he was asking Tails and Wave and since the shuttle then jumped to hyperspace Sally could guess. Tex entered the cockpit "Where're they going?" "I'm not worried about where they're going. I'm worried about who they're going with" they then jumped to hyperspace.
Harvey went to down to talk to Wave and Tails "The words you're looking for are thank you" "We appreciate the save, Harvey" "We turned the worst-case scenario into the best". Tails nervously chuckled "I don't think Sally will see it that way. Technically, we just disobeyed orders by blowing up that relay" "Following orders will only get you so far. Then you have to take control of your destiny". Wave nodded "Yeah, like when we hit the Empire hard on Planet Wisp" "I heard about that. It's exactly why I need your help". Tails was surprised "You need our help?". Harvey showed them a hologram of a space station "This is Tanuki station. I recently acquired intel on a secret Imperial cargo being loaded aboard a civilian freighter there" "What cargo?" Wave asked. "Remember Waspnosia? The Empire wiped out a whole population because they were building something. Something they've hidden away. I've never stopped looking for it". Wave then realized "Dingo mentioned something about what the Empire was building. He didn't say what, but he sounded terrified. What have you heard?" "Just rumours. Whispers. But they all led me to that cargo ship". Wave crossed her arms "So what do you want form us?" "You two and your gizoid are good at infiltrating Imperial bases. And I just saved your lives". Tails stared at him suspiciously "And what happens to the civilians in your plan" "I avoid casualties when I can. No one gets hurt. It's your choice, you can go back to Cosmo and run her errands, or you can help me do something that might matter". Tails and Wave glanced at each other "Well we do owe him one" "Alright". G-merl beeped and Tails smirked "Sorry, Gem. You're outvoted". Harvey chuckled "We might make them into Freedom Fighters yet" he looked back to a rabbit piloting the shuttle.
They arrived at the station and Wave noticed something "Are you sure we're at the right place? This looks like a civilian cargo facility. I don't see any signs of the Empire at all" "That's what they want everyone to think. Hiding it in plain sight. Take us in. Merchant platform". As they did Wave watched the platform that the freighter was heading for "Lot of robots down there. Hey, G-merl, come here. You're gonna need a new pain job".
They entered the hanger and the three of them exited with Tails and Wave wearing their masks. They then heard G-merl beep from the ship "Oh, stop complaining. I kind of like it better than the orange". G-merl walked out now yellow then the shuttle left the hanger. They walked through to the next platform "There's the freighter 2716. And here's our way onboard" Harvey led them to a large cargo container. They jumped on top "Sneaking onboard in a cargo container. We're familiar with this strategy" Tails said as they jumped inside and G-merl started pulling the container. He took it onboard the freighter and it then left the station. Once taken to the cargo hold Wave peaked her head out and then flew out. Tails and Harvey then get out and they meet G-merl. Harvey activated his commlink "The tracker is activated. Keep this channel open. I'll transmit coordinates when we're ready for pickup". They felt the ship jump to hyperspace "The shuttle should be able to chase us". Wave looked around "Well, normal cargo hold. Nothing looks out of the ordinary". Tails however stopped "Wait. Do you hear that. Sounds like singing". Wave took off her mask "I don't hear anything". Harvey walked around a container "These containers are filled with high-quality construction compounds. Materials used to build the Imperial Navy". Wave looked sceptical "These materials could be from Bullet Station or any other planet with shipyards" "Yeah, it's not exactly a secret cargo". Harvey checked a data pad "There are more holds to search". They ran out into a corridor and they saw stormtroopers "Imperial troops aboard a civilian freighter? You might be onto something after all" Wave said. They snuck past the troopers and stopped at a panel "Your gizoid should check the cargo manifest" "You heard him, Gem".
G-merl plugged in and beeped "There's an Imperial military shuttle in Hold 12" "Find out where we're going". G-merl beeped confusing Wave "Tonnis sector? That's just empty space out there. No settlements or stations". Harvey chuckled "The perfect hiding place" "Or just a rendezvous point" Tails suggested. G-merl beeped again "Uh, guys, G-merl says Cargo Bay 17 is a restricted area" "So that's where we go next". They snuck through the ship until reaching the door to the Cargo Bay 17 "G-merl, do your thing". The three of them hid as G-merl beeped loudly. The door opened revealing three confused troopers who stared at the gizoid. G-merl fired an electric ball at one of the troopers causing him to gasp "Ow. Blast that bot!" they ran after G-merl. Once out of the door Harvey jumped out and knocked one of them out. Tails and Wave then fell from the ceiling and took out the other two. They dragged the bodies inside "Gem, keep watch" they closed the door. Wave went up to a container "I think it's this one" "Find out what they're hiding". Wave opened the doors and saw a group of scared people inside "Oh no". Tails ran up and saw "Prisoners" "Who are you?" one of them asked. Wave took off her mask "It's okay. We're here to help". They let them out and Tails turned to Harvey "Your intel came through. We can free these people". Harvey didn't look happy "My intel wasn't about prisoners. The Empire has prisoners all over the galaxy" "We can still help them, Harvey" Tails and Wave threw the troopers into the container. Harvey turned to the prisoners "Why're you here? What do you know about the cargo aboard this vessel?" "Nothing about any cargo, but I did overhear some troopers talking about the Shin system. If there's any special cargo, it probably came from there" a male racoon. Tails came over "The Shin system, huh? Who are you?" "Names Jerod. Was a supervising tech on Mobotropolis' central power generator. Empire tried to hire me away for some secret project, but I didn't want to leave my family. So, they just took me". Harvey crossed his arms "Power technician, hmm?" "Everyone here is a reactor mechanic or power specialist of some kind". Wave pondered "Mmm, doesn't make sense. The Empire wouldn't have all this security just to guard a few techs". Harvey laughed "I agree. There's something else here. There must be". Tails sighed "I believe you, Harvey, but we've got these prisoners out of here" "Use that shuttle your gizoid found" "No, it'll be guarded. We can't put the civilians in the line of fire". Wave had an idea "What about the escape pods and as soon as the freighter drops form hyperspace, they can fly away". G-merl suddenly ran in and beeped "It's a patrol. Everyone back in the container". They apprehensively did so as Tails and the others hid behind the container. Troopers came in and saw the prisoners close the container. The ran and opened the door "Who let you out? Where are the guards?".
They then saw one of the knocked-out troopers on the floor. "Surprise!" Tails and Wave got on either side of them then Harvey stood on top of the container and stunned them both. Harvey then jumped down and ran away "Harvey, wait". Tails turned to G-merl "Gem, get them to the escape pods. We'll take out the hyperdrive". Tails and Wave chased Harvey out of the bay and ran through the corridors when Tails suddenly stopped "Wait!" he stares at a door. "Tails. Engine room is this way" Wave said but Tails took off his helmet "Do you hear that? It's like a song. It's coming from in there". "Can you get us in?" Harvey asked Wave who ran up to the doo panel "That's why I'm here, right?". The door opened revealing a large room with a stone container in the centre surrounded by five death troopers. The troopers said something but their voice was modified by their helmets so they couldn't be understanding. Wave quickly threw a smoke bomb filled the room. Tails charged in with his lightsaber and killed one, but the other troopers still managed to shoot in his direction "They have Infrared". Tails used his lightsaber to block the blasts, but troopers aim was so good that he got shot in the left shoulder "Ah!". He used his other arm to still stop the blasts as Wave threw prisms inside and then shot one with a cyan laser which deflected off all of them managing to kill two of the troopers with the third one running out of the room. the blast however then hit the stone chest. Wave ran in and helped Tails up "You alright?" "I… think so". Wave used her bandanna as a makeshift bandage for his arm "Ow! It's good thing I'm right-handed".
Harvey went over to the chest which began to glow and then disappear. Tails and Wave were shocked to see that a large green crystal was inside "Is that….?" "Yeah. It's a chaos shard" "That must be what I heard singing like the one in my lightsaber did when if found it". Wave was concerned "These crystals store and amplify energy, so one this big is probably unstable. Put your weapons away". Harvey stared at the shard "They're trying to harness the power of this thing. That's why they have the techs, to weaponize it!" "We gotta stop this ship and get the prisoners out of here". Harvey angrily turned to them "No! We need this cargo to reach its destination. We need to find out what the Empire's building" "We can't take the chance the Empire will get this crystal back". Harvey said nothing to this, just silent acknowledgement. Tails stepped forward "You stay here and guard this thing. We'll head to the engine room and stop the ship". Tails and Wave ran out of the room as Harvey watched. They headed for the engine room "There's the hyperdrive override". Wave said as she stood in front of a control console "Prepping to drop the ship out of hyperspace. Three, two-" "Ah!". Tails was suddenly stunned by Harvey who entered the room. Wave put her hands up "Harvey, no!". Harvey stunned her "I've come too far to give up the quest. I must learn the secrets of my enemy. And today, I will".
In the crystal room the doors were blown open and the death trooper with normal trooper ran in, but the shard was gone. The death trooper activated his commlink "We've retaken Hold Six, Captain. The cargo is gone". The captain sounded angry "Gone? Commander, if anything happens to that crystal-" "It's both our heads. Where are the Freedom Fighters?" "But we've lost contact with the engine room".
Wave woke up and saw Harvey standing next to the shard talking into his commlink "We're going to the Tonnis sector. Dock at the hatch near the starboard engines. I'll meet you". Wave tried to move but her wrists were restrained behind her back "Tails, wake up. Harvey turned on us". Tails sat up and stared at Harvey "You shot me!" "I stunned you. Waspnosia was only the beginning. The materials, the power technician, the crystal, it all adds up to what the Empire's building. We have to ride this ship to the end, to those empty coordinates in the Tonnid sector. I know that's where we'll find this… This super weapon!". Wave stood up "There's no guarantee anything will be there. If it even exists. But I guarantee you the Empire will have reinforcements waiting". Tails nodded "I thought we were on the same side" "The difference between us, Tails, is this. I will do whatever it takes to be victor" "Why did you bring the shard in here, Harvey?". Harvey turned to it "Like you said. We can't allow it to remain in the Empire's hands". An alarm suddenly went off "Coming out of hyperspace". Harvey ran over to the console "This is it. We're here" "I hope this was worth it" Tails said. Harvey checked the outside surveillance and saw a Scarship in front of them "It's only a Scarship. The Empire's big secret isn't here" Wave said. Harvey shook his head "No. It has to be here. It has to be".
His commlink activated "Our ride's here. The Scarship won't fire with the crystal on board. Are you coming?" "And leave the prisoners" "This is war, Tail". Harvey walked away but Tails stopped him "What about doing what's right? Isn't that what this was is about?". Harvey angrily turned to him "What is right!? Let me ask you this. What would you do to save your world? It's too late for me. My world is gone. I lost everything. And once you do, you can see things clearly and you understand what's at stake". Tails shook his head "But we do still have something, Harvey. The people on this ship. I just want to help them. They need us!" "That's your choice. Tails. But I suggest you hurry. Because this is what I'm willing to do". He Ignited Tails' lightsaber, "What're you doing?" Wave asked. Harvey walked up to one of the engines and slashed across it "You said these shards are unstable". Energy was released and was absorbed by the shard "You're turning it into a bomb?" "I won't let the Empire use it, so you better get off this ship". Two troopers ran in, but the energy released form the shard hit and disintegrated them. "Harvey, let us out of here!". Harvey unlocked their restraints "Last chance, Tails". Tails glared at him "You fight your war. We'll fight ours". Harvey nodded and threw him back his lightsaber "Farewell friend. I hope we meet again". He ran out of the room and on the other side the death trooper ordered his men to abandon ship. Tails turned to Wave "Can you stop this" "It'll just keep absorbing power until it discharges. And trust me, we don't want to be anywhere close when that happens, which won't be long". They both ran out of the engine room Tails got on his commlink "G-merl, are you there?". G-merl beeped "Never mind that/ Call Sally and tell her we're in the Tonnis sector. Then jam all communications and get the prisoners to that shuttle. Don't worry about the guards".
G-merl and the prisoners were in the hanger hiding with the shuttle in front of them with two guards "Can we go back to the container now" Jerod said. G-merl grabbed his ear, beeped, and then let him go. He walked up to the guards "Hey, where do you think you're going? Stop right there". Jerod and the others walked out "Apologies, sir, but, um, this gizoid was ordered to evacuate us" "We have our orders. This ship is being held for the commander". G-merl grabbed one trooper and shocked him. He then punched the other in the face knocking them out. The prisoners ran inside when suddenly the death trooper arrived "It's the prisoners". Tails and Wave then entered from a different door. Tails charged forward and used his good arm to ignite his lightsaber. The dark trooper fired but Tails managed to dodge them this time and kicked the trooper back. He and Wave then ran into the shuttle which took off and exited the hanger. Wave flew it towards the Scarship, "What're you doing?" "We don't have time for hyperspace. I'm putting the Scarship between us and that crystal". She flew around the Scarship and behind them the freighter suddenly exploded in a burst of green energy destroying the Scarship, but the shockwave was still catching up with the shuttle "Full power to the shields! Hang on!". It hit the ship disabling it "Great. We're dead in space". Tails sat back in his chair and sighed but he then saw the Hurst jump out of hyperspace in front of them "I think we're still going to be dead".
Sally, Sonic and Tex saw the shuttle from the cockpit "What did they do now?" "They can't go anywhere without blowing something up". They saw Tails waving from the shuttle and Wave had her face in her hands.
Later Sally was in the cargo hold talking to the Jarod "As soon as we can plot a course, we'll take you back to your home planets" Actually, we've all decided to enlist in your cause. We figured if the Empire valued our skills, they'd be better put to work serving the Freedom Fighters". Sally smiled "I'm sure Command will be grateful for your commitment. Thank you". Meanwhile Sonic had just been told about the freighter cargo "Uh, I don't like the sound of this chaos shard. It's the second one we prevented the Empire form getting their hands on" "Harvey seemed convinced that they're trying to weaponize it somehow. Is that even possible?". Sonic pondered "Hmm… At that scale? I don't know". Tails walked up to them "What if Harvey's right? And the Empire is already on the verge of winning a war most of the Freedom Fighters doesn't believe has already begun?". Sonic and Wave didn't have an answer to this.