The Hurst jumped out of hyperspace near Higashi. Fang opened a channel "Hurst to Worm Base, do you copy?". They then heard Karl's voice "This is Worm Base. Hurst, proceed to coordinates 6-7-8-2". They entered the atmosphere and saw an Imperial walker carrying a landing platform on its back where Karl was waiting. He brought Fang, Sally, and Infinite inside where Konor and Bunnie was waiting. "We were expecting you last rotation" Karl said. "I had trouble escaping Emerald Hill. The Empire's blockade is tougher thana ever" Sally answered regretfully. They then realised Manic, and Bart were at the back of the room "That would be no problem for me". Sally looked disappointed "Manic, I see you got my message". He stood up and bowed "At your service. And mine too, of course". Bunnie smirked "He wasn't hard to find. He talks a lot for a smuggler" "Pirate. That's pirate, my dear. So much more romantic than a smug…. That word… Ugh, never mind". As they were talking Infinite looked to Karl "Hey, uh, sorry about the walker by the way". Karl shrugged "Eh, you pretty much gave us a better one". Infinite nodded "Alright. I guess it's time we discussed the mission" "Of course". Manic said as he stood in front of them all "But with such an odd collection of characters, I'm curious, how are we going to split the profits? Are we stealing? Liberating?". Karl crossed his arms "Freedom Command never sent a briefing". Fang put his hand on his shoulder "That's because, old friend, this mission isn't for the Freedom Fighters". Sally nodded "We are liberating his home, and we need your help. All of you" "Against a planet of Imperials? General, those are difficult odds" Karl said. Manic nodded "I agree. But that boy has spirit! He reminds me of the time when there was still something you could believe in" "The Shinobi" Bunnie said. Karl sighed "We followed them into battle many times". Konor smirked "Well, how about one more time, eh?" he laughed. Sally looked hopeful "So you're in?". Manic nodded "Madam, for that boy, there' nothing I would not do".
On Emerald Hill near the base Tails was meditating when Wave walked up behind him "Tails, you okay?". Tails opened his eyes "Something's changed. Something's happening" "What's wrong?" "I have to talk to Sally". They headed back to the base where the crawler they captured was parked and being loaded with supplies. They headed to the Command Centre and they met Shellbreaker "Tails, I have General Acorn". They entered and saw G-merl projecting a hologram of Sally in front of the others. She turned to Tails "Tails, what's the emergency?" "We need to act right now if we're gonna take the Capital from the Empire" "Your plan is crazy enough as it is. What's the rush?" Tex said. Tails looked serious "I had a vision. The Emperor is sending Mogul back to Emerald Hill. It's now or never". Baron crossed his arms "Then it's never. We won't stand a chance. We already tried and failed. Our best hope is lay low, reorganise and rebuild" "Baron, you have to trust me". Baron shook his head "Tails, we need an army to take the city. Look around. I don't see an army" "We don't need an army. We just need one person".
Nephthys was in her office with an officer in front of her. She angrily banged her fist against her desk "Well?" "We've scanned the outer reaches and we found the remains of several small encampments but no signs of the insurgents' current whereabouts". She sighed in frustration "Mogul will return soon, and if I do not have the Freedom Fighters, I will be executed. But before that happens to me, do you know what I will do to you for failing?". The officer hid his fear "I will commit more troops to the search". He left the room as another officer entered "Governor, you have received an incoming transmission on an old pre-Imperial frequency" "Hmm. Put it through". A hologram of Baron appeared "Hello, Nephthys" "Beauregard Rabbot. This is a bold move" "I do what I have to do to survive". Nephthys scoffed "Barely. That strategy didn't help you keep office" "And yet here I am, alive, to offer you something you can't resist. The Freedom Fighters, all of them". Nephthys sat back in her chair "You're betraying them? Why?" "They can't win, and I don't want to end up back in an Imperial prison… Or worse". She rolled her eyes "Ugh. You want amnesty?" "Yes. In return, I give you Prower, Acorn and the rest of them" "This I cowardly, even for you". He sighed sounding guilty "Do we have a deal, Governor?". Nephthys took a moment and then "Send me your coordinate".
Wave and Tails were walking through the base when they saw Chaos in the distance "What is this connection you have with them? I've never understood it" Wave asked. Tails shrugged "I can't explain it. Sometimes the connection is strong, and sometimes I'm just on my own" "Well, if your plan's going to work, let's hope whatever you feel is there when you need it". Tails looked nervous "Mmm, it has been so far". They suddenly heard an engine humming "Do you hear that?" Wave asked. They ran to the command centre "Tex, they're coming!". They saw five gunships coming towards them and fired on the crawler. The group took cover and fired on the jet troopers the gunships were releasing. Tails gave them cover, "I'll handle them" Wave said before flying up. Tangle got on a gun turret and managed to drive the gunships back. Three more gunships landed on the ground and released Reala and more troopers. Wave killed two jet troopers before destroying one of the gunships with a fireball. Tails was fighting two troopers "G-merl! Warn Sally that we're under attack!". He then saw Reala, he lunged over killed the two troopers with him but Reala then tackled him down to a lower platform.
Sally and Infinite were in the cockpit "Just received a transmission from G-merl. They're under attack" they heard Fang say from the nose turret. Sally got ready "Coming up on Emerald Hill. Get ready to power down". The moment they jumped out of hyperspace all the power went off and the Imperial blockade didn't see them "I don't think we were detected" "Manic, time to join the Freedom Fighters" Sally said. Manic pressed something on the console "Very good. Move us to these coordinates" "That's a hyperspace lane, Manic" "Technically it is just outside a hyperspace lane. We shall wait there for a cargo ship to arrive". Infinite stared at him "Are you mad? It'll crash into us!" "This is the risk you take when you are a pirate. You do want to get through the blockade, yes? You want to help Infinite, yes? Then you must listen to Manic. I have done this many times and have only been struck". He took a moment to count with his hands "I… I have done this many times!".
Wave jumped into one gunship, killed the troopers, threw a red prism inside, and then jumped out into another one. The prism blew up behind her as she kicked a trooper out and flew away as a jet trooper chased her. Tails was fighting Reala, he managed to push him back with the Force and picked up the electric staff. Reala lunged at him but Tails hit him in the face with the staff knocking him off the platform, but he grabbed the staff as he did. He screamed and he fell but managed to grab onto the wall and started climbing back up. Tex was leading the soldiers on the crawler, he picked up one of the turrets and fired on one of the gunships trying to land destroying it. Two more tried, Tex fired but ran out of ammo. He quickly threw the turret hitting two trooper and he then took out his sword and fired on the others. Tails then jumped on the crawler and gave them cover.
Fang looked concerned "Listen, we can't just sit here. Who knows how long Tails can hold out down there?". Manic was calm "Patience, patience, my friends. The Empire runs shipments all the time". They then heard an alarm "Here come one now". A large ship jumped out behind them "You see? What did I tell you?". The others quickly got to work and latched the Hurst on the ship "I admire your crew's efficiency, but you must not power up the ship until the last moment or-" "Or we'll be detected. I know. Fang, stand by on the magnetic clamp" "On it". They got close to the ship "Now", Fang activated the clamp and they attached to the ship. They then heard a transmission "Cargo Freighter EF-75, stand by for code authentication". They slowly moved past the blockade "Freighter EF-75, you are cleared to proceed". Manic cheered "Once again, Manic come through! No need to thank me" he exited the cockpit as the others rolled their eyes. Sally looked to Infinite "As soon as we enter the atmosphere, I'll give Tails the signal".
The group were getting surrounded "There's too many!" Tex said. Baron was at the cave and saw Reala run past, but he didn't do anything to stop him. Shellbreaker shot two troopers "I'm beginning to regret the day I met you, Tails!" "Day's not over yet, Shellbreaker". A gunship carrying Nephthys fired rockets at the crawler "Incoming!". The crawler started to collapse "Going down! Abandon ship!" Tails ordered. They all ran as the troopers got onto the gunships to escape. Tails and Tex were the last to jump off the crawler, they only just grabbed onto the edge and pulled themselves up but saw that the others were on their knees with a group of troopers behind them. Reala was behind Wave with his staff to her throat "Drop your weapons". Tails and Tex did so without hesitation and two troopers moved toward them. Reala got on his commlink "The base is secure, Governor. And we have the boy". They got pushed over to the others and then saw the gunships landing. The lead one opened revealing a pleased Nephthys "Miles Prower, Wave Voyance, Tex the Lizard, and Beauregard Rabbot. Stand up my old friend". She walked out of the gunship with more troopers "I thank you for helping me to bring peace to Emerald Hill". The others looked to Baron "You betrayed us?" Wave said as Baron stood up. He stared coldly at them "it's like I said. We were never going to win without an army".
Nephthys smirked "A wise choice". Tails surprisingly also smirked "We wouldn't have been able to fool Mogul, but you?" "Well, looks like we both took a gamble today. But I won". Tails' wrist device activated, and he looked to Baron "Do you want to tell her or should I" "Oh, I've been waiting years for this. Getting you to come all the way out here was part of our plan". Nephthys scoffed "For all the good it did you. Your little band of Freedom Fighters ends right now" suddenly they heard an engine hum and the gunship behind her blew up. The Hurst arrived and fired on the troopers and gunships. The doors opened and Infinite and the clones jumped out helping the others. "G-merl, jam their transmissions!" Wave said. The Hurst started taking fire and had to fall back. Tails and the others were getting pushed back by the troopers "Fall back to the cave!". They all ran inside, Nephthys watched "They're trapped. Bring me Prower. Eliminate the rest". Reala led the troopers inside, he saw Tails standing in the middle of the cavern with his eyes closed "Where is your army now, Shinobi?". A pair of green eyes suddenly appeared behind Tails confusing Reala. Tails opened his eyes and ignited his lightsaber revealing three Chaos'. They charged and attacked Reala and the troopers. They ran out of the cave carrying Reala as the troopers ran past Nephthys. Reala was thrown over the edge of the cliff as the troopers started getting massacred. Tails and the others ran out and saw the gunships now being chased by the Hurst.
Manic was on the turret trying to shoot down the gun. He missed "Hey, Bart. Be productive". Bart used the other turret and managed to shoot them down. He cheered making Manic rolled his eyes "Yes. Yes, you perform well when I pull your strings". Sally hit the other gunship with he wing of the Hurst destroying it.
Konor grinned at the sight of the Chaos and went over to Karl "Hey, Karl, can you believe it?" "What?" "The Chaos'! You got your Chaos squad back!". Karl laughed "Yeah, they fight just like the boys". The remaining troopers were surrounded and surrendered". A Chaos then appeared carrying Nephthys who he threw to the ground "Don't let them kill me! Please!" she said terrified. Tails handed Baron handcuffs "Why don't you do the honours, governor-to-governor?" "Tails, it would be my pleasure".
The Hurst hand landed just outside the base and the group greeted them. Sally smiled at Tails "You did it. Somehow, you actually did it" "I couldn't have without you. All of you". Manic stepped forward "So true, my young friends. You're welcome. So, I, uh… I guess the fight is won and we can all get paid and go home now?" "I wish it were over, but it's not. Not until we chase the Empire from Emerald Hill and show the galaxy that for all their power, they can be defeated".