The Hurst was coming up on Lost Jungle moon. Tails was sleeping in his chair while the others were working but suddenly "No!" he fell out of the chair. Everyone turned to him "Tails, what's wrong?" Sonic asked. Tails got back up "I saw… I saw Ben. I heard Baron. I think they're in trouble". Sonic sighed "We've talked about this, Tails. It's just your anxiety about to Emerald Hill". Tails stood up "No! Sonic, something's happened. I could hear it so clearly. They're suffering". Sally looked guilty "Everyone is suffering, Tails. You need to be patient". Tails sat back in his chair and held his head.
The Hurst landed on the airstrip of the base. Tails walked out and was met by Erskin "Commander Tails. Senator Cosmo has requested your presence". The crew went to the command centre where Cosmo showed them a projection of Baron "We received this transmission two days ago". She started the message "The Empire is beginning trials on a new version of its TIE defender. Intel from our spies in the capital reveals the upgraded fighter is" the message ended. Tails looked to Cosmo "What happened?" "Beauregard Rabbot's transmission from Emerald was cut off, and we haven't been able to contact him since. I have witnessed the threat of the TIE defender first-hand. If there's been a new development with these new fighters, the Freedom Fighters need to know. I also know how important Emerald Hill is to you, Commander Tails. I'm looking for volunteers". "When do I leave?" Tails asked quickly but Sally put her hand on his shoulder "When do we leave? We're all going" the others stood next to him. Cosmo had a blank expression "I understand, Captain. Your squad does work well together, but by all reports, the occupation of Emerald Hill has become a complete lockdown. Even if you make it in, there's no guarantee we can extract you if things go wrong". Tails wasn't deterred "I've had a long time to think about this. We'll get that intel, but I'm going home to help my people. Which means I'm there to stay".
The Hurst arrived at a large familiar ship. Infinite entered the bridge still wearing his mask "This friend of yours, Shellbreaker, is a criminal. He can't be trusted" "Yeah, we used to say that about you" Wave answered. Tails turned to them "Shellbreaker has a legitimate business on Emerald Hill now" "And who told that?" "Manic". Sally sighed "Tails" "Trust me. Shellbreaker will get us through the Empire's blockade. He needs the money". Tails went to the airlock as the ship docked. The door opened and Shellbreaker stepped out "Do you have them?" "Come see for yourself". Tails leads him to the cargo hold where there were multiple small cages with creatures inside. Shellbreaker looked happy "I can't believe it. You actually found some" "Smuggle us through the blockade with your Imperial permits and the puffer pigs are all yours". Shell breaker laughed "Monkey Khan made a fortune with these rare beauties. The Mining Guild pays a very inflated price for them".
Fang was standing next to Tex watching the others carrying the pigs to Shellbreaker's ship "So, you're not gonna help?" "Uh-uh. I'm not allowed near the filthy beasts. I scare them. Apparently, there's something wrong with my face". Fang smirked "At least yours is real" "What is that, clone humour?". Fang ignored him and headed to the cockpit where Sally was talking to Infinite "You're in command of the Hurst now. Take care of her. I will want her back". She left and Infinite sat in the pilot's seat "To think all the times I chased this ship, all the trouble it caused me. And now I'm in command of it". Fang scoffed "You? Oh, no, no. She was talking to me" "Why would she give the ship to you? I've commanded Scarships" "Well, I'd say you'd answered your own question then". Infinite reluctantly moved to the other seat and let Fang sit down.
Shellbreaker's ship was now in hyperspace with the Hurst crew inside. G-merl entered the bridge and saw the others now dressed as villagers. He beeped "What's wrong with my hat?" Tex asked, "What'd you mean ridiculous?" Tails added. Shellbreaker took them out of lightspeed, and they saw Emerald Hill surrounded by Scarships. Tails however saw that the planet was covered in smoke and there were fires "Look at the sky. Sonic, what've they done?". Shellbreaker looked slightly sympathetic "Your home isn't exactly the place you remember, kid. Better prepare yourself". They then heard a voice "Supply ship, we have a lock. Transmit clearance codes". Shellbreaker sighed "The things I do for money" he pressed a button on his console. "Clearance is granted. You are approved for landing". They entered the atmosphere and could barley see due to the orange clouds. They eventually got below them, and Tails was shocked to see the ground baron "They've burned it. All of it". Two TIEs then appeared concerning Sally "What're they doing here? You said you had Imperial permits" "The permits are good. Its standard procedure to have a TIE fighter escort. Sometime". Tex glared at him "How can it be standard procedure sometimes? How many times has this happened to you?" "Well, this is the first time". They made it to a small village and landed. Once they did, they saw a squad of troopers and a lock "Gravity locks and a search crew? Must have scanned us on the way in" "If they don't find us, they have nothing. Stall them, Shellbreaker" Tails said as they left the cockpit.
Shellbreaker waited in the cockpit when troopers and an officer entered "Hands up". Shellbreaker did so "There must be some kind of mistake". In the hold Tails was releasing the pig while Tex was hiding at the door "Ready, Tex?" "Yeah. Let me put on my useful face". The pigs slowly walk out of the hold and once they do Tex growls at the pigs causing them to run. They blew up and rolled down the hall. They hit the troopers in the hall causing the ones on the bridge to run out. Shellbreaker ran out and saw the others escaping in the distraction. He was about to follow but then saw one of the pigs "Come on, little piggy. Come on, you little money maker" a baster then hit the back of his head causing him to sigh. The others made it into the city with G-merl now carrying a box "He went back for the pigs didn't he" "Yeah, but if anyone can weasel his way out of trouble, its him" Sonic said. Tails pondered "I think we should start at Ben's. He'll know how to reach Baron" "If's he still there" Tex said. Sally nodded "We'll split up. You, Wave and G-merl head for Ben's. Make contact with Baron. Sonic, Tex, and I will get us a transport".
Tails, Wave and G-merl walked past a wall where there were wanted posters "Hey, why are they using old images of me. I don't even look like that anymore" "That's a good thing, Tails". They walked past a large sign showing stormtroopers "Serve your purpose. Serve the Empire. Protect Emerald Hill and yourself, report insurgent activity. Loyalty is obedience". They then saw two stormtroopers talking to couple "You're out past curfew. Let's see some identification". Tails and Wave looked to each other before just walking past the couple. They made it to the bar "The Empire wouldn't do anything to Ben. The people wouldn't stand for it" "You sure about that?" "It was the one place on all of Emerald Hill where you actually felt the Empire wouldn't exist. They entered and saw that it there were troopers and officers inside with Imperial paraphernalia on the wall and to the surprise of Tails there was a different bartender "I think they exist now" "Let's just back out. Casually". They turned around but they saw a trooper talking to G-merl "I thought I saw two citizens walk this way. You see anything?" G-merl beeped. "Any other ideas?" Wave asked, "Let's get something to drink". They walked back inside "I meant good ideas. Are you trying to get us caught?" "If we walked in and walked out, it would have been suspicious. It's not like anyone's gonna recognise us". They sat at the bar and Wave saw a holographic image an Imperia pilots who Tails recognised "Um, he might" "Erazor Djinn" "Correct". They then realised the bartender was Erazor "Your eyes do not deceive you, young man. It is true. I am the vaunted Imperial Ace, Erazor Djinn". He gave them both drinks and Tails acted surprised "Oh… wow" "Gosh, what's an amazing pilot like you doing here?". Erazor seemed to like the attention "This establishment belongs to me now. Well, the Empire, of course. I've been entrusted to run it. We don't get many civilians in here anymore. You. You look familiar" he said to Tails. Tails tried to act casual "I used to come her when it was called Ben's" a behind them seemed to be listening. Erazor answered "I guess you haven't heard then, a few days ago there was a raid on a suspected insurgent cell. The ISB caught Ben trying to help them escape" "He was captured?" "Captured and executed". It took everything it had to stop form showing his anger.
Sonic and Sally were walking through the streets "It's like a ghost town here. Everyone's hiding" "Everyone's afraid. And they've got every reason to be". They kept walking when Sonic stopped "Something's coming. Get back" he pulls Sally into an alley just before troopers turned the corner. Once they passed Sonic chuckled "I just realized, it's been a while since we've spent some time alone" "And when we do, it's in situations like this". Sonic's face dropped slightly "I wish… I could see you". Sally smiled and removed the lenses covering his eyes "You could always see me". The two were about to kiss when the commlink activated "I found the speeders" Tex said. "How many?" Sally asked, "Um, all of them, I think. Been confiscated by the Empire. Kind of convenient actually" "Any storm troopers?". Tex sighed "I said convenient, not perfect" "We better get moving". Sally walked out as Sonic put his lenses back on "Yeah. Gotta get moving" he sighed and followed her.
Erazor was continuing "A shame about Ben. A lot of the pilots liked coming here but a traitor is a traitor, and they must be dealt with". Wave didn't need the Force to know what Tails was feeling "Uh, we should go. Thanks for the drink, Djinn". She led Tails away "Hey, will you get a hold of yourself?" "Okay, okay" "Hey, troopers, stop them" Erazor ordered. The troopers got in front of them "Hold it right there, citizen" "What's the problem". The then Tangle walked up to them "Brad, old buddy, I been looking all over for you! Did you forget to pay for your drinks?" "Oh! I… U thought they were on the house" "Nah, it's on me". She went over to the bar and placed rings down "This should cover my friends' drinks. Keep the change" "Well, that's very generous of you and I didn't get your name". Tangle walked away "That's okay. Come on, Brad. Everyone's waiting to see you. Let's not keep them waiting" she led them outside. She then turned to Tails "Welcome home, Tails" "Hey, Tangle. It's been a while, hasn't it?" "Yeah. You saved my life. This is my chance to return the favour. Baron kept sending me here in hopes that you'd show up". She took out a pad "I'll try to contact someone for pickup" "Don't worry. We got it covered" they then heard an explosion in the distance. A speeder then came up to them carrying Sally, Sonic and Tex "Get in now!". "You weren't kidding" Tangle said as the three of them got in. Suddenly two transports appeared in front of them "Get out" everyone did before the transports fired destroying the speeder. "This way!" Tangle yelled, she led them down to the cantina, but two troopers came out. Tails quickly moved out of the way "OH my god! There're insurgents out there. They just blew up a speeder" they ran past, and the group casually entered the bar. Tex then closed the door and smashed the panel locking it. They ran into the back room and Tangle opened a large floor hatch "Ben ran smuggler tunnels throughout the town" "G-merl, scan the system and find us an exit" Sally said. G-merl jumped down and the others followed "Oh, I hate sewers" Tex said.
They ran through the tunnels "My beacon should tell Baron when to pick us up". They stopped at a junction and Tails opened the box G-merl was holding "So much for disguises". He threw them all their weapons when suddenly a probe bot appeared and fired at them then "Another one behind us!" Tails said. They managed to shoot them both "They'll have transmitted our position. We need to split up" Sonic said before going with Tangle, Sally and G-merl. They made it to a ladder hatch "Is this the right way?" "I… I don't know. I'll go take a look". Tangle climbs up but the hatch suddenly opens revealing troopers "That's a no" Sonic pulls her back down and they continue running. The others were getting chased by a probe "I hate these things" Tex said before smashing it against the wall. "Pease tell me you know a way out of here. Didn't you grow up in the sewers?" Tex asked. Tails angrily turned to him "I'm from the city" "What's the difference?" "Everything's different, Tex. It's all changed and this. This is my fault! I'm the one who pushed us to go back. I never thought it's this bad". Wave was about to comfort him "Tails-" "Harvey's right. I didn't wanna believe him. Emerald Hill's gone. We already lost". Wave shook her head "Hey, we haven't lost. Forget Harvey. You said as long as we're together, we've got a chance" "At least we'll go down fighting" Tex said. Wave then noticed something "Wait" she lit her torch and saw the Dawn symbol on the wall "That's my symbol" "Yeah. Baron knows that. Maybe he left a trail for us to follow". Wave then noticed an arrow next to it "This way". They followed the symbol until meeting a squad of troopers "I think we took a wrong turn". They were about to turn back but Sally and the others arrived "We're cut off".
Tails and Sonic covered both side "We were following these symbols, but we don't know where they went" "Looks like they led us into a trap" Sonic said. G-merl then looked up and saw a hatch above them with the symbol on it. He beeped "Somebody get up there!" Sally said. Tails nodded, jumped up and released the ladder. He then jumped back down, how do we know there aren't stormtroopers up there?" Wave asked. "We already know they're down here" Sonic answered. The two Shinobi gave cover as the others climbed up and they then followed. Wave was about to open the hatch but then it opened on its own revealing a smiling Baron "Welcome home. Now get moving". They all climbed out, the sun was now out, and they were in the middle of a street just outside of the village. They got in a shuttle that quickly took off. They all sat down, exhausted "Thanks for coming, Baron" Tails said, "Least I could do. You came back here for us". Tails then saw the pilot of the shuttle was Barney's wife. Baron sat next to her "Wasn't sure my message to the Freedom Fighters even got through" "It did. Cosmo sent us to help and get intel on the TIE defender" "I'll brief you at the camp. We need to plan an attack on the TIE defender factory as soon as the rest of your forces arrive". Tails lowered his head guiltily "Uh, Baron, there won't be anyone else coming. It's just us". Baron turned to him "Wait, I don't understand. Just you?". Tex sighed "The Empire has Emerald Hill locked down tight. How are we gonna do this?". A small smile formed on Tails' face "This how we started. Small. With a few people standing together. We've done it before. We can do it again". Baron smirked "Nice speech. Well, we'll get a look at the new fighter tomorrow. Then we'll see if you still feel the same about our chances".