Chapter 2 …New Recruits
Recruitment? How did Hera get stuck with this job again? She was a general in the Rebel Alliance! Not some errand runner!
Hera was sitting alone in the cockpit of the Ghost as she asked herself these questions. The Ghost was currently docked with General Rieekan's Nebulan-B frigate. Without a base, the Rebellion was limited to sitting in their fleets. This left Hera with nothing but empty space and her own thoughts.
Hera, of course, already knew the answer to the questions she was asking herself. She paused for a moment in the silence and listened closely for any sounds of movement or stirring. She had programmed the internal comm to act as a baby monitor. If Jacen woke early from his nap, Hera could hear him from almost anywhere on the ship. So far, he was still asleep, but Hera knew that he would wake as soon as the Ghost released its airlock. It was as if the child demanded to be in the cockpit if there was any action. Fortunately, hyperspace had a calming effect on the baby boy. There were times when Hera was tempted to make a jump into hyperspace just to get the little one to fall asleep.
It was because of little Jacen Syndulla that Hera was taking this easier assignment. As much as she hated to admit it, the others were right. Jacen needed his mother and needed her alive; especially since his father was…gone.
Hera returned her attention to the data screen in front of her. She was searching through various databases to look for potential recruits. Currently she was looking at known criminals. She immediately disqualified anyone with a connection to Black Sun or the Hutts. Among the criminals Hera personally knew she couldn't find anyone. She didn't trust Azmorigan. Plus, he had a tendency to claim that he owned Hera. Vizago and Hondo had made a profitable investment in hauling cargo to and from Lothal since the Empire wouldn't officially allow trade to the recently liberated planet.
Zeb came into the Ghost's cockpit. Hera turned to him and asked, "Have you found any possible candidates? Or is your luck as bad as mine."
"No, nothing yet," said Zeb. "General Rieekan is requesting permission to come on board. We could ask him. He might have an idea or two."
"By all means, bring the General on board." The Rebellion had not yet developed a ranking system to differentiate different levels of general. Thus, technically Hera and Carlist Rieekan were the same rank. But Rieekan was a Clone Wars veteran, and he had held the general rank in the Rebellion for longer than Hera. He also had more ships, weapons, and personnel under his command. So, Hera deferred to him.
Hera stood from her pilot's chair and followed Zeb to the Ghost's common room. Zeb left for the airlock and soon returned with their guest. The experienced human general came into the common room. He spoke as a man efficient in his use of words. "General Syndulla."
"General Rieekan," replied Hera. "What can I do for you?"
"I appreciate the plans you submitted. Many of them are bold."
"We need to be bold if we are to sway the galaxy to our side," retorted Hera.
"That makes tactical sense." Rieekan bowed his head. "But it's harder now that we know how far the Empire will go in retaliation."
"I'm sorry for your loss," said Hera with just enough sympathy in her voice to show her sincerity but not enough to pander the General. "I don't how I would feel if it had been Ryloth instead of Alderaan."
"Your words are appreciated, General," said the Alderaanian survivor. Then he changed the subject. "I am told that you are going on a recruiting mission."
"That is correct, General. My crew believes that I should stay out of danger since I am a single mother of an infant."
"It is difficult to lose you as a fighter, General," said Rieekan. "But we must take care of those dearest to us. Otherwise, this Rebellion is pointless."
"Agreed, General. But when we're needed, the Ghost will be there."
"That is good to know," said Rieekan. "I wanted to suggest a possible recruit for you."
"I'm listening," said Hera.
"She's the granddaughter of a friend of mine who was a fellow soldier in the Clone Wars. After the War he and his son took upon themselves the more pacifistic mindset that most on Alderaan held. But his granddaughter disagreed. The disagreement was so sharp that she left home. Ironically, that saved her life."
"Do you know where she is?" asked Hera.
"This is her last known location on Garel." Rieekan handed Hera a data card. "I haven't heard from her in over a year. I tried to recruit her in the past, but her father and grandfather wouldn't allow it. Now they are gone, and she has no one."
Hera understood the concept of a new family. The Ghost crew had become her family after she had left Ryloth. Although she and her father later reconciled, she was still connected deeply to her family in the Rebellion. "We will do what we can."
"Thank you, Syndulla." Rieekan stood to leave but turned back. "If you come across any pilots, let me know. We are trying to rebuild Red Squadron."
"I will do that," said Hera. And General Rieekan left the Ghost.
Kallus joined Hera and Zeb. Rex and Chopper came behind him. "At least we have a place to start," said Kallus.
"I'm glad," said Hera. "Sitting still was beginning to wear on me." Hera handed the data card to Chopper. "Plug these coordinates into the navicomputer, and get the Ghost ready to jump," Hera told the droid.
"General?" spoke Rex. "With your permission, I would like to take the Phantom for another possible recruit."
"Can it wait until after we've checked on General Rieekan's recruit?"
"Unfortunately, no," said Rex. "I don't know where she will be the day after tomorrow. It's kind of hard to find her except on Empire Day."
"Empire Day?" Empire Day was the annual celebration of the day when the Clone Wars ended and Chancellor Palpatine declared himself Emperor. "Who is this woman?" asked Hera.
"A Clone Wars veteran. She trained and led a company of about three hundred soldiers. That is if she is who I think she is," said Rex.
"We could use trainers and leaders," said Hera. "The Phantom is yours. Take Kallus with you. Meet us at the rendezvous when you're done." Rex and Kallus took the back hallway towards the Phantom. The Phantom II was an old Separatist shuttle that had been converted to be an auxiliary craft for the Ghost. It was docked between the Ghost's rear engines.
Hera went into the Ghost's cockpit and started the preflight sequences while Chopper programmed the hyperdrive. Just after she had detached the Ghost from the frigate, she received Rex's request to depart. She gave him permission to detach, and the monitor confirmed that the Phantom was away. She then turned the Ghost in the right direction and pulled the hyperdrive lever. The stars streaked by as the Ghost entered hyperspace.
Almost on que, Hera heard Jacen crying over the internal comm/baby monitor. "Chopper, take over, I'm going to get Jacen." Hera smiled as she stood from her pilot's chair. Jacen wasn't the only one ready for another adventure.
Kallus walked beside Rex down the streets of an Outer Rim planet. Like many other such worlds this planet was occupied by the Empire. Mildly useful for its mining resources, the Empire wanted to make sure it was firmly in its grasp. It was not unlike Lothal.
A banner was hung over a store front. Kallus didn't need to read it to know what it said. "Empire Day! I can't believe I used to participate in parades on this day."
"Parades are nice," said Rex. "Almost makes you forget there is a War going on. I once marched in a parade on Coruscant. It was to show the fair people of the capital that the Republic had firm control of the War. I was just a shiny back then, and I believed it."
"Hard to imagine you as ever being a rookie," said Kallus.
"Had to happen to all of us," replied Rex. "But even then, I was older and higher ranked than most of my fellow clones. I was from one of the early batches." Kallus still found it hard to fathom the vastly different experience the clone next to him had growing up.
Kallus looked around. "The Empire seems to be putting more effort than normal this year," he observed.
"The first Empire Day since their defeat at Yavin? I imagine they have a bit of a PR problem to address." Rex chuckled a bit. "Don't want the galaxy to see the Empire as weak. I bet we'll be treated to a full military parade."
"That could backfire," said Kallus. "Remind me to tell you about the Empire Day celebration on Lothal that the Spectre group spoiled."
"Give me the short version," requested Rex.
"Experiment TIE fighter on display, and some explosives concocted by our Mandalorian friend."
Rex chuckled again. "I bet the Empire was in for a piece of art they hadn't intended."
They were nearing their destination, the spaceport on Garel. The Phoenix group had once hidden their ships there back before they had found Chopper Base. Somewhere on that planet was a young Alderaanian woman who had lost everyone she knew to the Empire. Hera was going there to find her, and perhaps introduce her to a new family.
Chopper rolled into the cockpit, and Hera's silence was broken by the droid's well-meaning yet cantankerous noises. "Why are you asking me if we're almost there? You're the navigation droid?" Chopper released an angry growl. "Plug in!" said Hera. "I have to wake up Jacen." The child had fallen back to sleep once they had entered hyperspace. With such a long nap, he would be well rested.
When Hera reached her quarters, she found that Jacen was already awake. He was laying with his back towards the door and playing with his feet when Hera arrived. He rolled over and squealed as he saw his mommy. Hera often wondered if he could sense her present through the Force. If he was anything like his father, Hera knew the odds were high.
Hera took Jacen into the cockpit with her and secured him in his seat. Zeb joined them just as Hera pulled the Ghost out of hyperspace. "How big do you think the Imperial presence is here?" asked the Lasat.
"Big enough to be a problem," said Hera. "With the Seventh Fleet decimated at Lothal, the Empire hasn't reestablished their might here. But they keep an eye on things." To make sure she was taking all precautions, Hera scrambled the Ghost's signature. Now they would just blend in with the rest of the of the light freighters. Hera received her landing permit and brought the Ghost to a hanger bay. "Let's go. We have to meet our informant."
Hera left the Ghost carrying baby Jacen. Zeb and Chopper joined her. They walked to a local diner with outdoor seating and sat down. Soon they were joined by a young woman. She wore a wildly colorful cloak and hidden underneath an equally wild suit of armor. "Sabine," Hera extended her free arm in a hug.
"Hera." Sabine Wren put both arms around Hera, and she could feel the other woman's Mandalorian armor. "It is so good to see you." Sabine then played with Jacen's nose with her finger. "And you too, little pilot. Although, I question bringing a child on a mission."
"As opposed to leaving him alone on the Ghost?" asked Hera. "Besides, he helps me blend in. No one would suspect a mother and child as Rebel operatives."
"You hear that, Spectre 7, you're already part of the team," said Sabine.
"Have you been able to find out anything on our friend?" asked Hera.
"No," said Sabine. "I've only been on planet for a couple of hours. It took me almost as long to get here as you. I have to make four different jumps to disguise my starting location."
Hera nodded her understanding. "The Empire probably watches all traffic between Garel and Lothal." Although the two planets were in neighboring systems, Hera and her team had recently liberated Lothal from Imperial control. Garel was not yet so fortunate.
"They watch the hyperspace lanes like mynock," agreed Sabine. "Can you tell me the name of our friend now?"
"You know I couldn't trust it over the comm," said Hera. "Her name is Cara Dune."
"With nothing but a name, this might be like finding a needle in a haystack."
"We have to try. This woman has lost her home world; she's lost everything."
"I know how that feels," said Sabine. Like Hera, Sabine had left her home world on unfriendly terms. But at least both of them had been able to reconcile. Cara Dune would not have that opportunity. "Let's begin our search."
"Agreed," said Hera. "Zeb, you and Chopper see what you can learn from the city's central computer. Sabine and I will ask around."
Chopper made a growling noise. Zeb looked down on him. "Yeah, well I not happy to be paired with you either. Now get going, you bucket of bolts." The odd pair of the Lasat and the old astromech left.
Hera put Jacen in the little hover-stroller pod that was programmed to follow Hera around. Then she and Sabine went about asking various shop owners and other public people. Most didn't know this Cara Dune. The few that did said they hadn't seen her in a while. They were having no luck.
After an hour of no success, they stopped for a break. It was then that Sabine asked Hera. "So, you're a recruiter now? Was this your idea?"
"Yeah, it was my idea," answered Hera. "You do recall that it was Kanan and I that recruited you."
"Oh, I remember," said Sabine. "I just thought such work was beneath you, General." Sabine's use of Hera's rank was to prove her point. When Hera had first met Sabine, she hadn't interested in much beyond the Spectre group of Rebels. But in recent years Hera had become a leading part of the Rebel Alliance.
"It wasn't exactly my top choice," said Hera. "Everyone teamed up against me to convince me I should take less dangerous missions for Jacen's sake." Hera pointed the baby in the carrier pod.
"Well, they're not wrong," said Sabine. "You know my invitation is always open."
"I know," said Hera. "But I am not going to wait out this War on Lothal."
"You might not be waiting it out. The War may very well return to Lothal," said Sabine. "All is quiet for now, but we never know when the Empire might return." Sabine had stayed behind to defend Lothal from Imperial attack. She had said it was her duty to Ezra, who had risked all to free the planet. Hera understood, but she missed her companion.
"How are things on Lothal?" asked Hera. While her duty was to the whole Rebellion and to freeing the whole galaxy, a part of Hera's heart would always been with Lothal. It was there that she had met Ezra, and it was there that Kanan…
Thankfully, Sabine interrupted Hera's sad thoughts. "Things are going well. In a month we will hold our first elections."
"Elections! In a former Imperial world? That's great news, Sabine," said Hera.
"So far Ryder Azadi is running unopposed for governor."
"Do you have any competition for your position, Defense Minister Wren?" asked Hera.
"No," said Sabine, shrugging off her official title. "My position is an appointed one. Since it was Ryder who appointed me and he looks to be officially elected, I think my job is secure, for now. That may change as Lothal begins to mold its own government in the coming years."
"Lothal is lucky to have you defending it," said Hera. "Speaking of recruiting. I was wondering if anyone on Lothal was interested in joining the Rebellion."
Sabine frowned. "You're asking me to give up some of my people. The Empire could be back any day. I can't spare anyone."
"I'm sorry, but I have to ask."
"I will ask around," conceded Sabine. "I might ask Wolffe if he knows anyone from his Clone Wars days."
"Is Wolffe still your military advisor?" asked Hera as she remembered the old clone commander with the cybernetic eye.
"Yeah, he wanted to put his experience to work, yet avoid the War at large," said Sabine. "He's currently trying to form a new Wolfpack."
"I will appreciate any help, Sabine," said Hera. Then she added, "And if the Empire returns, let me know. I don't want to see Lothal return to Imperial hands."
"Don't worry, I will," said Sabine.
Hera's commlink beeped. "Let's see if Zeb and Chopper had better luck than we did?" Hera lifted the commlink to her mouth. "This is Spectres 2 and 5, go ahead."
"Spectre 4, here," said Zeb. "Spectre 3 has found our target."
"He found her in the city's central computer? That's great!" said Hera.
"Uhh, no," said Zeb. Hera could tell by his voice and his reluctance to speak that bad news was coming. "He didn't find her in the city's computer, but in the local Imperial database."
"Where is she?" asked Hera.
"It's not good, Spectre 2."
Rex led Kallus to a bar. "This is where you're meeting your recruit?"
"Yeah," said Rex. "Although 'meeting' is a strong word. I happen to know she will likely be here. But this is not a prearranged meeting. It's more like a cold call."
"Great," said Kallus in a sarcastic voice. "I knew the Rebels often fly by the seat of their pants, but I had hoped you would be more prepared." Rex knew the former Imperial agent would miss the disciple of Imperial service. Rex certainly missed the Grand Army of the Republic, but things change.
Rex shrugged his shoulders. "I had an unconventional general. I learned to roll with the punches."
"How exactly do you know that this woman will be here?"
"She's here every year on Empire Day. Or so says my source."
"Your source?"
"One of the men from Yavin Base. He spent a night with her."
"Spent a night?" asked Kallus.
Rex quickly clarified. "No, no, not like that! He spent a night in an Imperial holding cell. She was a fellow inmate. He got arrested on suspicion of Rebel activity. He was, of course, guilty. His cell used Empire Day activity to steal some valuable equipment. The local military police were holding him there for transfer to an Imperial base. But a covert team smuggled him out that night."
"Did they rescue your recruit as well?" asked Kallus.
"No. She was not involved. She was arrested on disorderly conduct."
"Disorderly conduct?" asked Kallus with concern.
"Yeah…we might not be catching her at her best, but this is the only time I know where to find her." Rex put his arm around Kallus' shoulder. "Come on inside. I'll buy you a drink."
Rex led Kallus into the bar. It was mostly abandoned, since it was only afternoon, but there were a few patrons. Rex approached the bar. "An ale for my friend and I." He flipped the bartender a credit.
The bartender was a red skinned Jablogian. "I don't recognize you. Are you from off planet?"
"We're here for the Empire Day activities. I hear the light show in the evening is something to see," said Rex.
"That it is," replied the bartender. "I just hope nothing bad happens this year." The bartender left to tend to another customer.
"He seems on edge," observed Rex.
"As you said earlier," spoke Kallus. "It is the first Empire Day since the Battle of Yavin and the destruction of Alderaan. There are many in the galaxy who have taken a negative view on the Empire of late."
"For once I hope no one causes them trouble," replied Rex. "I would like to get our recruit and get out of here cleanly."
"Speaking of which, have you found her?" asked Kallus.
"End of the bar; white hair," answered Rex without turning that direction. Rex had spotted her from the moment he had walked in. Kallus very subtly looked in the woman's direction. "Her? I thought we would be getting someone younger."
"It's not easy finding young Clone Wars veterans these days. But she's not as old as she looks."
"Another!" shouted the woman loudly and boisterously as she slammed her glass on the bar. It was likely that she had already had a few drinks, reasoned Rex. The woman seemed to have already lost control of her volume level.
The bartender approached the woman. "Are you sure, Kat? Now might be a good time to stop."
Rex watched as the woman grabbed the bartender by his shirt and pulled him near. "I will stop when I say I stop." She released him. "Or when I pass out. Whichever comes first."
The bartender refilled her glass, and the women lifted it and proclaimed loudly. "Happy Empire Day!" Then took a big drink of the neon blue liquid. Rex felt himself deflate a bit. She was drinking her pain.
Apparently, Kallus wasn't impressed. The former Imperial agent stopped the bartender and asked, "What's with her?"
"She works here in town, a brilliant programmer and normally a subdued woman. But every Empire Day she comes here and drinks until she's plastered drunk. She's been doing it for twenty straight years."
Kallus gave Rex a questioning look. Rex shrugged his shoulders. Kallus gave the woman another scan. "There might be more to her than first appears."
The bartender put his flimsy arm on Kallus' shoulder. "Don't try it, my friend. She's a mean drunk. She nearly killed a man four years ago. Stopped just short of blasting him in the head. I don't want to have to clean your dead body off my floor. That's the last thing I need on Empire Day, especially this year. With what's rumored to have happen at Yavin, the Imperials might not be in a good mood."
The bartender walked away. Kallus turned towards Rex. "This is your recruit?"
"She was one of the best," insisted Rex. "I will just have to have a little chat with her."
"According to the bartender, that might be a lethal conversation."
"Don't worry. She and I go way back."
Rex got up off his barstool and walked around the bar. He studied the woman for a bit. He noticed her hand trembling. What had she experienced at the end of the Clone Wars? Rex feared it was not good.
The woman Rex remembered had tattoos on her face. The tattoos were unique to her, and she had added them to give her a greater sense of identity, just as many of Rex's brothers had done. But now Rex could see that she had removed the tattoos. Thus, Rex couldn't be absolutely positive that she was who he thought she was. But the bartender had used the name 'Kat,' and Rex's gut told him that he was right.
The lack of tattoos was not the only major change. The woman's hair had gone almost completely white. Only a few traces remained of her dark hair. But the same thing had happened to Rex, who was now bald with a thick white beard. This was to be expected for people like him and her.
Just as Rex was about to approach, the woman raised her glass in an invisible toast. Then she drained it and shouted, "Another!"
Rex walked forward and took the barstool next to her. Just as she was about to turn and face him, Rex spoke, "What's your poison, soldier?"
The woman drew a concealed weapon, an old Republic issued blaster pistol. She pointed the blaster at him in such a way that only he would have seen it, partially concealed by her body. Her voice came out almost like a hiss, "Clone."
"Yeah, good to see you too, Sis."
"I'm no one's sister," snapped the woman.
"You're wrong," said Rex, and he knew exactly who this woman was. Lieutenant Kat, birth number: FC-011, female clone, accomplished veteran of the Clone Wars, and leader of the all-female Divergent Company.
"Why are you here?" asked Kat as she returned her blaster to its concealment.
"Can't a brother visit one of his sisters?" The term sister was correct. Although a mistake by the Kaminoan cloners, Kat and her sisters were the female genetic equivalent to Rex and his clone brothers.
"Just like that, out of the blue?"
"Well, to be honest, I wasn't looking for you until I heard the rumors of a woman who comes to the same bar every Empire Day to get drunk. It only took a few descriptions before I figured out who you were. We meet once, you know. On Ringo Vinda. I fought with the 501st under General Skywalker. The name's Rex."
"Kat."
"I remember, Lieutenant."
"I'm not a lieutenant!" snapped Kat.
"Fair enough," said Rex.
"Why are you here, Rex? And don't tell me that you've come just to see a familiar face."
"No, that's not why I'm here. Or at least not the only reason I'm here." Rex leaned closer to Kat and lowered his voice. "Tell me, have heard some of the recent events? Maybe something about the Yavin system?"
"The Empire lost some new toy, a weapon of sorts I presume," said Kat dismissively.
"It was a weapon alright. The one that destroyed Alderaan."
Kat's body tightened and her fists clenched. Rex knew that he had her attention. Nonetheless, she still answered dismissively. "What has that to do with us? Our fighting days are over; our war is done."
"That's what I once thought. But I was wrong." Rex paused as a bar patron walked within ear shot. He waited until that person had left before continuing. "But now I am fighting a war that I have chosen and for a cause I believe in. I want to offer you the same chance."
"No!" said Kat forcefully, but then she lowered her voice. "I can't. You don't want me."
Rex couldn't disagree more. "I've read your tactics, and I was there at Ringo Vinda when you suggested the winning strategy. The unconventional approach of Divergent Company is exactly the kind strategy that we need."
"You don't understand…" Kat was almost shaking.
"I understand better than anyone…" replied Rex.
Without warning Kat lashed out. She grabbed Rex by the shirt and pulled him close, right into her face. Then in a voice that chilled Rex to his bones she spoke. "I killed my general! I shot her right in the head!" Kat made a gun with her fingers and pointed to her own head. Then she let go of Rex and dropped her hand. "I…I…I couldn't stop myself. I don't understand it. But it was me. I did it!" Now Rex could see that Kat was definitely shaking.
Rex felt her pain stab through him. He knew exactly what Kat was saying. She had carried out Order 66. The order that was built into every clone. One that forced so many of Rex's brothers to kill the very Jedi who befriended them and saw them as persons when nobody else did. Rex had hoped that his sisters had been spared that experience.
Rex put his hand on Kat's shoulder. "It wasn't your fault."
"How can you say that?" The old soldier had tears falling out of her eyes. She was scarred in a way few would understand. While part of Rex told him that she shouldn't be brought into another war, another part knew that he had to help her.
"Because I know something you don't," said Rex, answering Kat's question. She needed to learn the truth; she deserved the truth. "The Emperor had an organic chip installed in each and every one of us. It made us follow his orders with absolutely no questions. One of my dear friends figured it out before any of us did. His name was Fives. Nobody believed him, and he went crazy right before he was killed. I now suspect that he was silenced by the Emperor. But when the order came, I remembered Fives, and I knew what was going on. With the help of a friend, I had my chip removed."
Rex took a moment to mentally thank Fives and Commander Ahsoka Tano. If not for them, it could have been him here at this bar, trying to drink his life away. They had saved him, and Rex felt the need to help others like him.
"I found a few more of our brothers and got their chips removed." Rex pointed to a scar on his head. "We became free. Free to make our own choices. I only wish I could have done the same for the rest of my brothers…and sisters. I can't go back, but I can offer it to you now. I know how to remove the chip; how to free you."
"Free me? Free me for what?" Kat was still putting up a defense, but Rex could see the hope rise in her.
Rex pointed towards the bar. "Free you to drink your life away." Then he clenched his fist and looked Kat in the eye. "Or free you to fight."
"And why would I fight?" This time the question wasn't defiant, but genuinely curious.
"To pay back the Emperor," said Rex with energy. "To pay back the man who took away in a single day all that you had fought so hard to gain."
"You can take this chip out? What happened that day will never happen again?" asked Kat.
"That's right," said Rex.
"And I can pay the Emperor back for all he has taken from me?"
"Well, probably not in person," admitted Rex as he pulled back a bit on his sale's pitch. But then he made another attempt. "But the Empire he used us to build," Rex jabbed his thumb into his chest. "To that we can do some real damage."
Kat pulled back in thought. Rex watched anxiously. This was the moment of decision. Would she accept Rex's offer, or would she send him away? Kat looked up at Rex and asked, "Where do I sign up?"
Rex released a sigh of relief. "You just did. Welcome to the Rebellion, Sis."
"Arrested?!" said Hera. "Cara Dune has been arrested?"
"Probably on some trumped-up charge," said Sabine. "The Empire cannot have survivors of Alderaan making negative claims about them."
"Uh," said Zeb in his telltale hesitant voice. "The charges were not trumped-up."
"What do you mean, Zeb?" asked Hera. On Zeb's advice they had returned to the Ghost. Perhaps it was to have a more private conversation, but Hera suspected that Zeb was trying to delay his bad news.
"The charges are multiple accounts of terrorism, assault on an Imperial facility, killing multiple stormtroopers, and the murder of an Imperial officer."
Hera shook her head. "What did she do?"
The question was more rhetorical than actual, but Zeb answered anyway. "She assaulted two storm troopers without a weapon. She then stole their blasters and ambushed the reinforcements. And she killed the officer with her bare hands."
"Then she got captured," finished Sabine.
"If this Imperial version of the story is true, then she's quite the fighter," insisted Zeb. "Perhaps the kind of person we need." Hera could hear a bit of insincerity in Zeb's enthusiasm. There was something else he was not telling her.
Sabine must have noticed too. "Zeb, where is she being held?"
Chopper answered in a series of beeps and boops. Hera translated, "She's been taken off planet? Where, Chopper?"
Chopper activated his holographic projector and highlighted a world on a star chart. "That's an Imperial high security detention facility," said Sabine. "If they deliver her there, we will need a fleet to break her out."
"Then we need to get her out in transit before they deliver her to the detention facility," said Hera with determination. If she could help this woman who had lost everything, then Hera would do so.
"Are you sure that is worth the risk?" asked Zeb.
"There's no one else to rescue her," said Hera. "No one else to fight for her, to care for her. We are all she has, even if she doesn't know it yet. Are you with me?"
Chopper beeped enthusiastically.
Zeb also answered. "I'm in."
"So am I," said Sabine.
"You would come with us?" Hera turned to the Mandalorian woman. "What about your ship?"
"I'll have someone pick it up. Besides, I've missed working with all of you."
"Alright," declared Hera. "Zeb, send the Phantom new rendezvous coordinates. Let's begin this jail break."
