The rebels enter the building, with Rex in the lead. Rex spots two ceiling mounted turrets ahead, and signals the rebels to stop.
"Hold here. Two turrets up ahead. We need to take them out, general." Rex says.
"Alright. Wolffe, you're up." Hera says.
"Copy." Commander Wolffe says, as he readies his rocket launcher. Once the clone is ready, he fires a rocket at the closest turret, destroying it.
"Zeb, take out the other one!" Hera says.
"On it!" Zeb says. He fires his bo rifle at the second turret, destroying it after a few hits.
"You'd figure there'd be some guards in here. We've made enough racket by now." Rex says.
"Either there aren't very many prisoners here, or there's no one here, and this is a trap." Zeb says.
"We've got four more corridors like this one, and a total of twenty cells for a building this size. There should be twelve more turrets. Even if there are no guards, we still have to deal with the automated defenses." Kallus says.
"Is there some kind of control room where we can disable the turrets?" Hera asks.
"Straight ahead, all the way to the back. We'll have two more turrets that we'll have to deal with on the way." Kallus says.
"Let's get to that control room! Rex, lead the way!" Hera says.
"Copy, general." Rex says. The rebels make their way to the control room, taking out the two turrets in their path.
Upon reaching the entrance to the control room, the group stops.
"General, that door is likely sealed, but I should be able to bypass it." Kallus says.
"Alright, Kallus. Go ahead. We'll cover you." Hera says.
"Understood." Kallus says. He approaches the access panel next to the door, and removes the cover. After several seconds of tampering with the electronics, the door opens, and the rebels are met by two stormtroopers, who are unable to react fast enough, and find themselves shot by Rex and Zeb.
The rebels enter the control room, and encounter an officer, along with three more stormtroopers, who are quickly dealt with.
"Zeb, Wolffe, stand guard in case any more Imperials show up. Kallus, shut down the turrets, and find out if Jyn Erso is actually here!" Hera says.
"On it, general." Kallus says as he heads for a console. After nearly a minute, he says "Turrets are offline. Checking prison records now."
"Zeb, Wolffe, anything?" Hera asks.
"Not a thing. Must not be anymore guards here." Zeb answers.
"General!" Kallus says. Hera approaches the console.
"What is it, Kallus?" Hera asks.
"It looks like Jyn Erso is here. According to records, she's been here since two days after the mission to Scarif. She's also the only prisoner here, and has been held in an isolation cell since the Empire executed the other prisoners about a month ago. Apparently Miss Erso led a prisoner rebellion, and killed several guards, along with the prison warden." Kallus says.
"Find out which cell she's in, so we can get her out of here." Hera says.
"On it." Kallus says. After searching for about a minute, he says "Erso's in cell sixteen. I can unlock the door from here."
"Do it, then, let's go get her." Hera says.
"Done." Kallus says.
"Alright, everyone, Jyn Erso is here, in cell sixteen. Kallus will lead the way. Let's go." Hera says. The rebels leave the control room, with Kallus in the lead.
The rebels reach the entrance to Jyn's cell, and stop.
"This is it, cell sixteen." Kallus says.
"Thank you, Kallus. You said it's an isolation cell." Hera says.
"That's right. In Imperial prisons, those held in isolation cells are allowed no contact with other prisoners, and are often tortured repeatedly. Sometimes, they even become test subjects for medical experiments." Kallus says.
"No one deserves that." Hera says, as she approaches the cell door.
"We should be cautious, general. Miss Erso could be drugged, and might attack us if she's delirious." Kallus says.
"Okay, Kallus. What would you suggest?" Hera asks.
"We all go in, and if she tries to fight us, we sedate her, and carry her out." Kallus says.
"I don't like it, but you're right. We need to get her out of here fast, in case more Imperials show up. Everyone, follow me." Hera says. She walks into the cell, followed by the other rebels.
Inside the cell, Jyn is lying in her bunk, badly beaten, and dressed in a prisoner jumpsuit.
Ah, the rebels arrive at last. I knew that they would easily dispatch the minimal forces remaining here. Now, I shall feign ignorance of my surroundings, and earn their sympathy. Compassion is a weakness, and I shall exploit it. Jyn thinks, as she senses Hera approaching her.
"Jyn Erso? Can you hear me?" Hera asks, as she stops next to the apparently sleeping Jyn, who suddenly opens her eyes, and looks at Hera.
General Hera Syndulla! We meet at last! I have heard much about you! Now, it's time to play the part of tortured and delirious prisoner! Jyn thinks.
"Cassian. Get...to the dish. Transmit...the plans. I'll...stay with K2...and...hold off the death troopers." Jyn says.
"She's obviously delirious." Zeb says.
You have no idea, Garazeb Orrelios! Jyn thinks.
"I wonder if she even knows what happened to her team." Hera says.
Of course I know, General Syndulla! Pathetic fools, all of them! Jyn thinks.
"I know...Cassian. I can...take care of myself. Go." Jyn says.
"Kallus, you better sedate her. We'll carry her back to the Ghost." Hera says.
"Understood." Kallus says.
The traitor, Kallus. What a disgrace! You will drown in your own blood for what you have done to the Empire! Yes, sedate me, and take me to your new base. I would very much like to see it! I'll tell the Emperor all about it! Jyn thinks, as Kallus injects her with a sedative. Within seconds, she falls asleep, or at least appears to.
"She's out, general." Kallus says.
Perhaps not completely, former agent! A mere sedative is no match for the power of the dark side! Jyn thinks.
"Alright, Zeb, she's all yours." Hera says. Zeb approaches the bunk, and easily picks up Jyn.
Kriffing hell that...damned awful stench! Haven't you lasat vermin ever heard of bathing? Jyn thinks.
"Karabast! She's heavier than she looks!" Zeb says.
Insults already? You will pay for that, animal filth! Jyn thinks.
"She probably has shock braces under her clothes. They're basically arm and leg armor, but designed to deliver electric shocks." Kallus says.
"Of course, now you tell me!" Zeb says.
"Barbarians! She looks like she's been through hell." Hera says sadly, as she touches Jyn's bloodied face.
Been through hell? My dear general, I am hell! In time, you will know it! Jyn thinks.
"We'll get her back to base, general. The medics will fix her up, and she'll be good as new." Rex says.
"I hope so. Let's move out!" Hera says. She exits the cell, followed by the other rebels.
Next chapter: Darth Thana finds herself on the new rebel base, and is forced to once again play the part of 'Jyn Erso', the former outlaw turned rebel hero...