Tangle and Baron's other Freedom Fighter have been brought to the new mountain base. Wave was trying to fix a transmitter as Sonic and Tails were waiting "This was all we could scrounge up. What do you think?" Tails asked. Wave didn't look hopeful "I can boost the power, but not enough to overcome the Empire's jamming signal. They're blocking all non-Imperial transmissions" "We have to find a way to make contact with Sally". Baron crossed his arms "If she made it past the blockade" "She made it. And she'll convince Freedom command to launch an attack. We need to be ready to help". Baron looked sceptical "Help? Look, I want to fight, but the Empire's got thousands of troops. We are hiding in a cave with no ships, no supplies, and a couple of blasters" "We've done a lot more with a lot less. There's a way, and we'll find it" Tails said. The transmitter then squealed "I can't make contact outside the planet, but I'm picking up something transmitting nearby" "How close?" "Close enough to take a look".
They all went out in a speeder and came across a large crawler spewing fire to the ground "It's an ore crawler". Tails got on his binoculars "I think I saw some of those burning through the grasslands up north" "Yeah. They strip rake the surface for raw materials to feed the Imperial factory". Tails was saddened by this "They've burned it all the way down here? That's halfway across the planet". Tex smirked "Yeah, but that ship might be just what we need". Wave used her mask and saw something at the top of the crawler "You might be more right that you know, Tex. That crawler is equipped with a long-ranger communications array. I'm sure it can reach Sally".
Sally was in the command centre with the Freedom Fighter leaders examining the defender schematics. Kali-Ca started "Based upon data provided by Captain Acorn, the TIE defender Elite possesses speed, weapons, and shields superior to any fighter in our fleet" "Can we destroy it?" Cosmo asked. Kali-Ca didn't look hopeful "In single ship-to-ship combat, unlikely. Our analysts have yet to find a weakness in its design". Sally pondered "If we can fight them then it's imperative, we prevent it from being mass-produced. I request permission to lead an attack squadron back to Emerald Hill to destroy that factory". A hologram of Wynmacher looked to Sally "Consider the Empire's defences and our limited attack capability, I'm not sure now is the right time" "We can't afford to wait. I have a group standing by on the ground ready to aid any mission" "What about the blockade and Admiral Mogul?". Cosmo stepped closer to Sally "Your evidence is persuasive, Captain, but we'll need time to discuss further action. Perhaps it's best you wait outside". Sally and G-merl reluctantly left the room.
The group used the speeder to keep up with the crawler "Wave, you're up" Sonic said. Wave used her wispon to fly up and looked around "I've got movement". She saw robots patrolling the crawler "Yep, Mining Guild security robots". She landed behind one on a walkway and fired and used her wrist rings to fire an electric blast at the robot disabling it. She then threw it over the walkway. The speeder then flew up and everyone jumped out except for Baron. Another robot appeared but Wave shot it with a laser destroying it. The group made it to the control room of the crawler and saw a blue world wearing a red shirt. He was sleeping when Tex grabbed him waking him up "Hello, there" Tails said. The wolf struggle and glared at him "Pirate scum" he said in a raspy voice before pressing a button on his wrist setting off an alarm and the crawler stopped. "Wave, shut off that alarm" Sonic said. Wave sat down at the console and tried her best. The wolf managed to break free, but Tails quickly punched out cold "Stick around, Captain". Tex picked him back up and Wave managed to disable the alarm. Tails then grabbed the wrist device from the wolf and smashed it angering him "Do you have any idea who you're messing with?" "The Mining Guild, we know". The crawlers commlink activated "Guild control to Crawler 413-24. You've activated your distress beacon and ceased output. Is there a problem? Do you copy? Over".
The wolf laughed "Ha! You're done, thieving scoundrels". Tails sighed and went over to the console, "Be my guest" Wave said as she moved out of the way. Tails held his throat and mimicked the wolf's voice "Sorry. The crawler has malfunctioned". The wolf gasped "Is that what I sound like?". Wave and Sonic both sighed, "Is this Operator 94-34? You sound different". Tails tried to think "Uh, I'm sick" "Pirates! Help!" the world yelled before Tex covered his mouth. "Crawler 413-24, repeat" "Sorry. Engine flare. Part of malfunction. We're fixing it". The wolf struggled "Liars! Liars!" Tex then hit him over the head knocking him out. "We are sending a technical crew over to assist. Standby" "Uh, negative, control. We can make repairs ourselves. Do you copy? Over". Tail sighed and turned off the microphone before coughing "That… could have… gone better" "I thought it was pretty good" Tex said. Sonic stepped forward "Just make sure the captain stays quiet, and let's get to work. We don't have much time". Wave went back to the console "Well, this comm unit's older than I thought. It may take a while to boost this thing's power enough to beam out a long-range transmission. That's weird. Someone activated the inter-vehicle comm. There's a signal coming from the rear section of the crawler". Sonic stepped forward "Tex and I will check it out. As soon as Wave gets that comm working, contact Sally. And watch him" he pointed to the wolf who Tex dropped before the two of them left the room".
Sonic and Tex entered the engine room at the rear section of the crawler. Sonic checked the lower section with his pistole read. He started to hear steps and then "Please don't hurt us". People peaked their heads out from behind the machinery "Slaves?". Sonic took his hand away from his pistol "It's alright. I'm not with the Mining Guild. You're safe". All the slaves came out and then "Finally! My friends have come to rescue me". Sonic recognised that voice "Shellbreaker?". Shellbreaker put his arm around Sonic's shoulders "I told the others how the Empire banished me to this monstrosity for helping you Freedom Fighters. But I knew you would not leave here to rot" "Uh… Right! Right". Shellbreaker laughed "I told them the foreman would be no match for a Shinobi" "Forman". Sonic then heard a guard behind him, he quickly turned and ignited his lightsaber "Let's hope you're right". The lizard guard used an electric whip to pull the lightsaber away. It then wrapped around Sonic and was shocked before falling to the ground. The guard was about to kill him but Tex fired from a walkway above them "Drop the whip and step away from my friend, you knuckle brained lizard". The guard jumped onto the walkway and the two grappled.
Tails and Wave were working "Is that thing working yet?" "I've made the modifications, but I need to encrypt our message so that the Empire doesn't trace the signal back to Freedom command". "Get of my bridge. I'll have you crushed into extraction waste" they turned and saw that the wolf was awake. Wave rolled his eyes "Can't you keep him quite?" "Ain't nothing gonna shut me up!". Tails grabbed him and walked towards the cupboard "Hey! You can't put me in there. I know people!". Tails threw him in "Yeah, well, if you see any of them in there, tell them I said hi". He closed the door but he then heard the wolf laughing "You got a big surprise coming" "Maybe we should check on Sonic and Tex?" Wave said. Tails sat down "I'm sure they're fine".
Tex and the guard's fight made it outside they seemed equally matched but then Sonic ran out. Tex and the guard both fell of the walkway and both held onto the edge. Tex kicked the guard off causing him to fall to his death. Tex was about to lose is grip but Sonic grabbed his hand. He pulled him up with some struggle "You're really, really heavy". As he stood up they both heard cheering and saw it was coming from the slaves on a lower walkway "Those are my friends" Shellbreaker said.
Sally and G-merl were waiting outside the command centre when Cosmo came out "Still no decision". Sally sighed "They don't trust me" "It isn't that. The TIE defender isn't our only problem. The Empire has some new plan as evidenced by Protocol 13". Sally didn't understand "Never heard of it" "It is the immediate evacuation of all Imperial personnel from an occupied planet" "An order like that should only confirm our worst fears. And we're too afraid to do anything about it". Sally walked back into the command centre which Wynmacher noticed "Captain Acorn, this is a closed-door-" "Senator, if I may. I know the odds are against this attack's success. But if that fighter goes into production, our squadrons will not stand a chance. I believe it's a risk worth taking. And whether we fail or succeed, at least our actions will show the Empire and the galaxy that we will not stand down, that we will not be broken by fear, that we are strong, united by our courage. Now is the time to strike".
Tails walked out and saw Sonic and Tex helping the slaves "What is this?". Shellbreaker turned to them "Freedom!" "Shellbreaker? I don't believe it". Shellbreaker's face dropped "What? Oh! Now I see. You didn't come here to rescue me. Betrayed! Oh, I knew I should've given you up!". Sonic sighed "Yeah, well, we're here now" "And we are rescuing you" Tails added. Their commlink activated "Guy, get up here". Everyone ran into the control room where Wave was staring at something in the difference "I've got two targets closing fast. They're not Mining Guild vehicle. It's the Empire". Tex crossed his arms "It's not too late to abandon ship" "We still need to contact Sally". Tails had an idea "This crawler is valuable. It has long-range communication, and we can use it for our attack" "It's unarmed. No match for those gunships". They then heard something over the comm-unit "Mining Guild vessel, transmit security code now". Sonic turned to Tails "If you have a plan now is the time to share it" "Tex, get the slaves on deck. Show the Empire everything is under control". Tex was surprised "Me, a slave master" "Just put the helmet on". Tex reluctantly took a helmet off a shelf along with a whip. "Shellbreaker, into the Captain's chair" "No! Stay out of my chair!" they heard the wolf yell. Shellbreaker sat in the chair and nervously "I hope this works".
He activated the microphone "Uh, this is the captain. Uh, 93-94. How may I help you?" "The Mining Guild reported a security alert for this vessel". Wave looked sceptical "Hey, you sure Shellbreaker won't turn us in to save himself?" "Too late now" Tails said. Shell breaker continued "We're having a maintenance issue and lost our security codes, but everything is under control" "Scoundrels, all of them!". Tex nodded and opened the cupboard and started punching the wolf. "Repeat that, Captain" "I was yelling at my slaves! They were being insolent!". Tex walked back out and left the unconscious wolf in the cupboard. "Prepare to be boarded" "No, no, no. That is unnecessary. I am trying to run an operation here". He and Tex then headed outside with the slaves as the two Imperial ships landed. Tex pushed one of the slaves "What're you looking at? Get working!". Troopers stepped out of the ships "Squad Two, sweep the lower decks. The rest of you, with me". Shellbreaker followed the ones going into the control room "I told you everything is under control. I'll have to report this intrusion to the Mining Guild" "Step aside, Captain". Shellbreaker shrugged and sat down "Alright, let me show you our output data logs. They aren't nearly as boring as you would think". Tails and Sonic was watching them form inside one of the cupboards before looking to the other one "All we need is that lizard to start flapping his mouth again". Shellbreaker continued "This should only take a few hours" "You may have that kind of time, but we do not. Get this crawler operational" "Of course. I was just going to do that". The troopers went back to their transports and took off. Tails walked out "Nice work, Shellbreaker. You haven't lost your game" "Like Mother said, once a scoundrel, always a scoundrel". Tails went to check the other cupboard and saw that the wolf was loose. Instead of getting angry he just sighed in annoyance "Sonic, Captain 93-94 is loose". Wave got back on the unit "Guys, I think I've got it. Transmitting to Sally now" she pressed a button and the unit started to spark. She hit it in frustration "It's lost power?" "I told you not to mess with me. You may have duped those Imperial suckers, but you won't fool the Mining Guild. Patch me through to the Empire or I will destroy this crawler, you pirate scum!". Tex checked the cupboard and saw that the wolf got through the vents "He could be anywhere". Wave checked the transmitter "His target will be the main reactor core in the refinery". Sonic and Tex ran out and headed for the reactor room but the door was locked. Sonic got on his commlink "I can't get through. The doors are magnetically sealed" "Well, then we need someone capable of navigating those ventilation shafts".
Wave was staring at Tails "Oh, no, no, no. I am not going in there" "It's a ventilation shaft. It's what you do". Shellbreaker nodded "If I can fool the Empire, then you can climb into the shaft". Tails sighed before climbing into the shaft and Wave guided him through. He eventually fell through a drop, but he guessed it was the right way "Ow!" he said clutching his head as he continued. He eventually made it to the refinery "I'm here. Looks like they shut down the reactor" "Okay, to turn them back on, find the primary power console. It should be across from the furnace". Tails went across the walkway and found the console "Found it". He got to work when he suddenly got jumped from behind. The wolf started punching him, but Tails managed to elbow him in the stomach knocking him off. He turned and saw the wolf stumble back into the furnace. Tails stared in shock for a moment "Um, Wave, I don't think the wolf's gonna be an issue anymore".
The group were now waiting at the top of the crawler when Baron arrived. Sonic smirked "We made a believe out of you yet, Baron?" "You're getting there, Sonic". Wave walked out of the control room "Well, I beamed our signal to Freedom Command. Now we just wait for a reply". Tex grinned "I guess this crawler belongs to us. Maybe we are pirates after all" "At least these plains have been spared. For now". Shellbreaker hit his back "That is not all you spared. I know you did not come here to rescue me, but I am grateful all the same" "We're grateful to you, Shellbreaker, for not turning us in". Tails then turned to the other slaves "You're all free now. But we could use your help to fight the Empire on Emerald Hill". The group seemed enthusiastic "We shall fight with the lizard". Shellbreaker looked to Tails "As for this vessel, it is obviously in need of a new captain" "I think I know just the pirate for the job". Wave led the others into the room "Guy, receiving transmission" "Happy to hear from you guys. And good timing, Freedom Command has authorized the attack. Fighters are being fuelled and bombers loaded". A huge grin formed on Tails' face "The attack. It's happening?" "We're launching our assault on the next rotation. I told Cosmo you'll coordinate the ground assault" "You can count on us".