0ABY: Outer Rim Space
What was there to know about the planet Etheron? It wasn't a listed planet, remote out in the unknown regions of space not far from the expanse region. There was no viable hyperspace route to get there, so Cassian worked with Bodhi for hours in order to navigate a reasonably straight forward pathway there. Jyn was going over the planet's details with Sefla in the lower deck, trying to pinpoint the perfect landing zone if they were fortunate enough to make it that far. The planet itself was listed as a wet, humid jungle planet frequented by severe electrical storms. No listed life forms worth mentioning with no additional resources, except for the rumour of kyber crystals.
"If this planet is being mined, then the chances of a destroyer in orbit will be high," Sefla said while he held the datapad. "We could be spotted exiting hyperspace."
"We'll take our chances," Jyn replied. "Is there nothing indicating a base of some sort?"
"None," he replied. "If there is anything down there, it could just be a mining facility."
"Let's hope that's all there is," Jyn murmured.
Sefla eyed Jyn. "I'm surprised Lieutenant Rook hasn't heard of Etheron, given he was a cargo pilot transporting kyber."
Jyn returned his steady gaze. "He exported kyber from Jedha; nowhere else."
"Sorry. I just have a bad feeling about this planet," he went on. "I don't get why they would keep an unremarkable planet out of the standard mapping systems."
"Maybe there's more kyber than they want people to know?" Jyn guessed. "Or maybe there is something else going on."
"Hopefully nothing too shady," Sefla replied dryly. "I guess we'll have a clearer idea once we scan the planet from orbit."
Cassian sat in the co-pilot seat next to Bodhi watching the blue lights of the hyper lane. They would be arriving in six hours. He should take that time to get some rest, but every time he closed his eyes Scarif would replay before him. He kept hearing K-2's last words over the comm in the Citadel Tower. Then he was falling, failing Jyn. He could still see her clearly as she stood facing Krennic, pistol raised at her, ready to take her life. The sight had motivated his legs to move quicker, to reach her in time.
Bodhi shifted next to him, leaning his pilot chair back in order to rest. Cassian kept his chair straight, not prepared to allow his memories to take hold. It's why he had to keep himself busy; reminiscing was never a good idea. It made his mind foggy. Everything he had done was for the rebellion. He had accepted that over the years and constantly reminded himself that his actions, while evil, were still good. At least he hadn't been a criminal like Jyn. He chastised himself for thinking that, knowing her life had been equally – if not at times worse – than his. She had done what she needed to survive, and while her past actions were questionable to him, he respected her.
Cassian turned at the sound of Jyn coming up the ladder. He quickly faced forward, not wanting to catch her eyes. He heard her come closer, then into his peripheral view as she stood behind Bodhi's chair.
"How long?" she asked.
"Six hours or so," Bodhi replied. "I'll make a call when we are an hour out."
Jyn nodded. "We'll need a plan... or plans. Who knows what we will find?"
"It could very well be abandoned," Bodhi replied. "I remember seeing a list of kyber mined planets over the years and Etheron was never on it."
"Could mean anything," Cassian added. "Jyn is right, though. We will need a strategy in place for anything that may come our way."
He felt Jyn staring at him, and he felt the pull to return her gaze. He resisted, choosing to fiddle with the controls on the panel in front of him.
"I'm gonna get some sleep," she said. "You coming, Cassian?"
Cassian jumped at her question, feeling both her eyes and Bodhi's on him. He quickly turned to her, schooling his features to remain calm. "What?"
Jyn raised her brows as if it were obvious. "Are you coming back with me to our bunks?"
"N-no," he stammered. "I'll stay here."
"You can go," Bodhi said. "I'm fine on my own."
"I prefer to stay, just in case anything happens."
He wasn't looking at Jyn, but he could feel her eyes rolling. "Suit yourself. Don't know how you guys can sleep in those chairs."
Hearing the door shut firmly behind her, Cassian visibly relaxed.
"You okay?" Bodhi asked quizzically.
"Yeah, just tired." Why he had acted that way, Cassian could not give anyone let alone himself an explanation.
Bodhi removed his goggles as he leaned back and closed his eyes. "I'm gonna try and get some shut-eye."
Bodhi was no K-2, and that saddened Cassian. He missed his droid companion more than he let on. He refused to show his emotional side to the team. They needed him to be strong, confident; their leader. A true intelligence officer never allows their emotions to compromise the mission. While K-2 had been his best friend; a sole companion for two years, Cassian new the droid would not want him to falter. He closed his eyes trying to picture K-2; various assignments they had done together and the times where the droid had rescued Cassian and helped him to safety. Cassian could not have asked for a better friend. His heart ached, remembering he would never hear K-2's sarcastic, robotic voice again. This is why intelligence officers rarely formed attachments. It allowed the mind to wonder.
Speaking of wondering minds, Cassian's turned to Jyn and how the moment her presence in his life had turned it upside down. He would always be loyal to the rebellion. He would always perform his tasks as a spy; an assassin. However, Jyn had showed him a new way of approaching matters. She had acted with such selflessness of Jedha, with such ferocity in taking down those troopers. She could have run, found Saw on her own or even left Jedha. She had tried as much on Wobani and he had half expected her to try on Jedha. She stayed, going as far as to shield him from an explosion and had his back the whole time. She had even taken a stance between K-2 and Baze, something that had shocked even K-2. She was always surprising him. Cassian prided himself in being able to read people better than most; a trait he learned over the years by his mentor. He thought he had Jyn read out like the file they had on her; a criminal, untrustworthy, a deserter of the rebellion and a troublemaker. A criminal and troublemaker she had been, yes. But she was no deserter and definitely trustworthy. Maybe this was why he couldn't shake her from his thoughts. It had to be the logical reasoning.
Cassian opened his eyes and inhaled deeply. He had half a mind to return to his bunk, if not only to be close to Jyn. She had been sleeping with her door open; she had mentioned the confined space of having a door closed reminded her of being in a cave. He hadn't understood her meaning completely. She was cryptic like that, never revealing too much about her past. Cassian could relate. He couldn't remember a time when he felt comfortable talking about himself personally to another. He doubted he ever would.
...
4ABY: Hosnian Prime
Jyn sat at her desk, seeing the green light flicker of a new message on the screen. It was from Cassian. The moment she saw it her heart jolted. Concern and relief mixed together causing a wave of nausea to flow over her. Kalei was sleeping on the nursery; Jyn finally becoming more relaxed with the idea of her daughter sleeping in another room. Jyn had the apartment to herself. Nydo had gone to acquire the weekly shopping.
Jyn
I cannot say where I am on Coruscant, or whom I am working with. All I can say is that we are entrenched in a rebel held sector. The civil war has been bad here. Worse than I initially thought. We are working with imperial defectors and useful citizens to take control of sectors still held by stormtroopers. It appears the odds are in our favour. We are slowly pushing back against the remnants of the empire. They know their hold is temporary and their days numbered. I have received word from command that I am to be relieved in nine days. If all goes according to plan, I shall be home just in time to make our journey to Chandrila. If not, then I will meet you there.
I cannot communicate more. I think of you often. I miss you and Kalei more than I dare say aloud here.
General Andor
Jyn released a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding. Hearing from Cassian had lifted her anxiety. It was brief and to the point. She had expected no more from the lifelong spy. Relieved in nine days would have him home two days prior to their scheduled departure for Chandrila. He was cutting it close. She would have to pack for him as well as Kalei. Was this what life as a wife and mother felt like? Jyn bought up their travel itinerary. They were to leave on a shuttle scheduled to depart during the morning. Great, she thought. It would leave little time to dawdle. Hopefully Kalei wouldn't be too fussy that day.
Jyn's time alone on Hosnian Prime had been hard. After Leia had left, Jyn found herself taking day trips out into the city and surrounding areas with Kalei in order to explore her new home. It was a large, populous city that had various spacious parklands with playgrounds. The closest parkland was a five minute walk down the road, making it an ideal spot for Jyn to take Kalei when she was older. At almost two months, Kalei had started to become more alert; tracking movements with her eyes (especially Jyn's movements) and gripping objects much tighter. It was these small things that Jyn had etched into her mind, absorbing everything her daughter did. Part of her feared she would be pulled back into the war, that the remaining imperial forces were greater than they initially thought. She felt she had to memories even the smallest of things.
Jyn bought up a new message screen. She desperately wanted to reply to Cassian, though she knew better not to. Instead she decided to it best to contact Bodhi.
We will be arriving on schedule. Leia has organised for us to stay with Han on her private estate in Hanna City. Cassian is not entirely sure if he will be home in time, but says he will meet us there if need be. I am looking forward to seeing you and everyone else again. That and I cannot wait to get off this kriffin' planet for a while. I didn't know it was possible for an entire planet to give me cabin fever.
Jyn
Packing was simple enough. Leia had assured her that most of what they would need would already be on Chandrila. She just needed to pack clothes and any equipment needed for Kalei. Jyn had decided to wear a dress to the wedding. She was still getting used to wearing dresses, even though she had a more fashionable sense these days; dresses were few in her collection. Over the years working for the alliance, Jyn could count on her fingers the amount of times she had worn a dress; notably her wedding day, along with a few missions and the attendance of a funeral. The dress Jyn had chosen to wear for Bodhi's wedding was simple; a white underlay with a transparent shift the colour of a soft sunset. While it was simple, it was fancier than her wedding dress had been.
After stuffing a duffle bag full of her clothes, she threw a few of Cassian's shirts in along with his best jacket. Packing for Kalei had required Jyn to make a list of everything she would need to bring. By the time she had finished and had Kalei fed, Jyn relaxed on the sofa, Kalei resting on her chest as she watched the holonews. No more imperial propaganda filled the news feeds. She was hoping to hear of any news concerning the civil war on Coruscant. Cassian couldn't talk about it while he was there, and though she knew he would be fine, she was anxious for any insight. Having a baby and being grounded from work had Jyn feeling out of the loop. No one told her much these days and it started to become a factor that grinded a gear in the back of her mind.
Jyn stroked Kalei's soft hair, wishing she could fall asleep as easily as her daughter. While Scarif no longer played on her mind as frequently as before, she still dreamed of her father dying in her arms and the shot that killed her mother. It had been so long and yet still her mind persisted on torturing her with these events. Kalei huffed in her sleep, shifting her face to the side, mouth open. The resentment that had kindled within Jyn as a child concerning her mother – something that had been stirred by Kenna – caused Jyn a great deal of guilt. She understood better now why her mother went back for her father. Staring at Kalei, she wondered if she could do what her mother had done. Cassian was nothing like her father. Had Jyn chosen him over their daughter, she was sure he would have looked at her with a rage to rival her own. The main reason he had been hesitant over her pregnancy had been the outcome of both their childhoods. He feared history would repeat itself.
Coming up, civilians caught in the crossfire between imperial sympathisers and resistant fighters on Coruscant. Given exclusive footage, we will show you what life has become on what was once the heart of the galaxy for justice.
Jyn carefully shifted to get a better view of the screen. No matter what could happen to Cassian in the future, Jyn would choose Kalei.
...
0ABY: Etheron
Arriving into orbit of this mysterious planet had come with ease. There were no obvious imperial forces in orbit, nor were there any imperial movement on the planet. This made Jyn believe the planet had been abandoned or mined to depletion. Cassian, however, had other ideas.
"There is still an imperial base down there and it's fully intact," he said after running a full scan of the planet. "They would never abandon a facility without destroying it first."
"It could just be a mining operation," Bodhi said, half shrugging.
Cassian shook his head. "The scans indicated the base is far too large to just be a mining operation."
"What else could it be?" Jyn asked, brushing her shoulder against his as they leaned over the screen.
He turned to her, close enough for his breath to warm her cheek. "I have no idea."
"Only way we're going to find out is if we go down there," Sefla said from behind them. "The men are gearing up. We'll be ready when you are."
"Gear up for a trek," Cassian said. "The base has been built in the middle of a narrow valley. We're gonna have to hike our way there. Good four hour trek if we're lucky."
"Four hours," Bodhi said eyes wide.
Jyn grimaced as she saw what Cassian was referring to. "The base is in the thick of the jungle. We won't be able to land the shuttle anywhere near it. Closest would be here." Jyn pointed to a clearing near a lake northwest of the base.
Cassian moved to the co-pilots seat. "Let's get us down first."
Jyn grabbed her bag from her bunk before making her way down into the lower deck where the rest of Rogue One was packing. Rostok handed her a canteen filled with water along with a torch.
"Chances are we won't make it back to the shuttle before nightfall," he said. "Planet's rotation is only fifteen hours."
It was raining lightly as they landed, causing everyone to place their raincoats on. Bodhi and Tonc were to remain on the shuttle. Everyone else was geared up wearing helmets, except for Cassian and Jyn who wore water-resistant hats. The humidity of the planet hit them as soon as the shuttle's ramp lowered. Jyn felt sticky beneath her clothing; being dressed heavily along with a backpack didn't help. A bird cooed in the distance and the trees rustled in the thick air. The air was so heavy that Jyn had to adjust a moment in order to breathe properly.
"Bodhi, keep in contact," Cassian said after he surveyed their surroundings. "We're heading out. Looks like there's a trail south of our position."
"Copy that," Bodhi replied over the comm.
They walked in single formation, Cassian leading with his rifle slung over his shoulder. Jyn walked behind, the others following. The trail was narrow and poorly made. They had guessed it had been walked by the imperials when they occupied the planet. No other intelligent life seemed to inhabit the immediate area. All they could hear was the whistling of birds above them. The terrain was rocky and the trees so tall you had to tilt your head far back in order to see the tree line. Dark blue vines wound their way up the trees, oozing a clear liquid that smelled of antiseptic.
After what seemed an eternity, Cassian halted checking his scanner. Jyn moved up to his side. "What is it?"
"Trail's gone dead," he replied.
Jyn looked ahead and saw the trail end abruptly. There were no more tracks, just and endless view of tree trunks and moss covered rocks.
"How far out are we?" she asked, scanning the area around her.
"We've still got two and a half hours left." Cassian rummaged through his bag to retrieve to quadnocs. He surveyed the environment, finally pausing at an area south-east of their position. He handed the quadnocs to Jyn. "Looks like a building ahead."
Jyn looked through a quadnocs and saw the faint outline of what appeared to be a structure It wasn't the main facility, but it was a start. She lowered the quadnocs, handing them back to Cassian.
"We didn't pick it up on the scanner," she said.
"Probably because of how covered it is by the tree line," Cassian replied. He turned to their men. "Rest time is over. There's something ahead we're going to check out."
The building was small and in poor condition. The roof had broken apart in one quarter, allowing the blue vines to slither down inside. The door had been left ajar revealing nothing but darkness inside. Cassian opened the door the rest of the way, feeling for the light switch. Upon finding it, he turned to the others.
"Powers out."
"Doesn't seem to be a generator nearby," Sefla said, moving to the side of the building.
"Watch the perimeter," Cassian said, gesturing with his head for Jyn to follow him inside.
The light coming in from the roof was all they could use to see. It was one room with one wall line with a long bench and chairs. The screens had been cracked. Jyn and Cassian turned their torches on. Jyn took the left side of the room, noticing the wall lines with several blaster shots.
"Cassian," she said, shining her torch on the wall. "Something happened here."
Cassian stood closely behind her, a habit he had developed back on Jedha. "Look." He flashed his torch on the floor.
Jyn turned her gaze to the ground before them. Specks of what appeared to be blood were strewn across the floor. She turned to Cassian. "Wildlife maybe?"
Cassian frowned in thought. "Maybe. We should keep moving."
Their discovery had left everyone starting to feel on edge. The best conclusion they could come up with was wildlife, unless the imperials had been attacked by pirates, which was more unlikely.
They had to trek their way through uncharted terrain to the main facility. Jyn was doing her best to keep her breath steady by the time they reached it. She had never been more relieved to see an imperial base in view. Her heart was racing from the amount of exercise and energy needed in order to hike the distance. She could tell everyone else was in the same condition.
Basteran and Rostok sat down on a large rock at the front of the base while Sefla set up sensors around the perimeter. Cassian was observing the front entrance which was tightly sealed. Jyn leaned against the wall, trying her best not to drink what remained of her water. For the hundredth time today, she wiped the sweat from her brow with her sleeve.
"Front entrance panel is fried," Cassian said to her. "Looks like it has been shot at."
"To keep something out or in?" Jyn asked warily. She was actually joking about their talk on the unknown wildlife, but something in Cassian's eyes made her worry. "What?"
Cassian shook his head. "Nothing. We're gonna have to blow our way in."
They took cover behind the rock as they blew down the front entrance with two explosives. Like the small building they had found earlier, they were met with darkness. The front entrance turned to an immediate left or right corridor.
"Sefla," Cassian started, "Stay here, keep vigil. Rostok and Basteran take the left and keep in radio contact. Jyn and I will take the right."
Jyn turned on her comm. "Bodhi, we've reached the main facility and are going in."
Through the static she heard him reply. "Copy that. We have noticed some movement in the tree lines in the same vicinity you're in."
Jyn and Cassian's eyes locked. "Say again."
"The tree canopy has been moving like something is making its way through it," Bodhi replied.
"That can't be," Sefla said. "We haven't come across any evidence of something that big living here."
They all looked around them, trying to pick up the slightest movement in the trees. There was nothing amiss.
"Let's move," Cassian finally said. "Sefla, stay close to the entrance. We won't be long."
With their torches on, Cassian and Jyn walked side by side down the dark corridor. The air felt thicker than it had been in the jungle. What was worse for Jyn was the silence. It was so silent it felt everything around her was weighing down. She focused on Cassian's steady breaths and the sound of their footsteps. The corridor led them down almost a hundred meters before coming to a closed door. Cassian yanked at the handle, trying to slide it open. The door shifted, starting to open. Getting her foot in the door, Jyn helped Cassian slide it open. They had found what appeared to be an observation room. A large, semi-circle room lined with glass windows overlooking a dome. The room was utterly trashed; chairs overturned and all the control panels fried. Jyn shone her torch out the window, looking into the dome.
"Cassian." She gestured him over. "Looks like we found the mining operation."
Below them was a large abandoned mining operation that spanned down deep into the planets crust. Mined kyber crystals lay strewn across the dirt as if left in haste.
"What happened here?" Jyn asked.
"I don't know," Cassian replied. He shone his torch at the panels in front of them. "Check to see if we can salvage anything from their systems."
"Major, do you copy?" Rostok's voice came over the comm.
"I'm here, what is it?"
"We've found their mess hall, quarters and armoury. Looks like there was a fight here, though we haven't come across any bodies."
"We found the mining facility," Cassian replied. "Looks like it has been abandoned for some time. We're going to try and hack into their systems. Do another sweep of the area and return back to Sefla. We need to find anything to figure out what happened here."
Jyn flinched as sparks flew out from a panel she had been working on. She sucked her finger, before attempting to turn on the screen. It worked.
"Nice," Cassian said, placing a nearby chair upright. He got another for Jyn and they sat down together. "See if you can bring up any logs."
The screen was fuzzy; lines kept streaming horizontally making it difficult for them to read. "I don't see any logs," she said, trying her best to navigate through the jumbled system. "This looks like a list of the kyber they had exported."
Cassian leaned closer to the screen in order to read it properly. "Last export was five months ago."
"See if you can find any messages the transmitted off world."
"Cassian, can you hear me?" Bodhi's voice echoed through the room.
"I'm here," Cassian replied, still looking at the screen.
"It's getting dark out here and... well I thought you might want to know that there is... glowing lights in the jungle. They're moving."
"Could just be the plant life," Jyn murmured. "Or the birds."
"I only mention it because it's glowing exactly where the tree lines have been moving."
"Major Andor, do you copy," Sefla's voice rang over the comm.
"What is it?"
"Sun is setting and I can see... glowing in the trees. Its blue and its moving towards us."
"Make sure the sensors are on and move inside." Cassian paused. "Rostok and Basteran, do you copy?"
"We're here," Rostok replied. "Making our way back to Sefla."
"Meet him at the front entrance and make your way to us," Cassian said.
"Copy that."
"Bodhi, is there anything happening around the shuttle?" Cassian asked.
"Negative," Bodhi replied.
"Keep the ramp up and the lights low," Cassian continued. "We're going to stay at the facility until morning."
Jyn tugged on Cassian's raincoat. "I found their last transmission. It was sent a few days after their last kyber export."
"Bring it up."
It was a voice recording a young man.
This is lieutenant Colonel Cata of the Etheron Mining Base. We have come under attack by unknown assailants that appear to be native to this world. I request an immediate evacuation of the planet or reinforcements. I cannot say what they are, except they attack only at night. They are not nocturnal, however. We have lost a third of our men already... I do not know why they are attacking or what they look like. My men... they claim to see nothing before their comrades are killed. They are phantom killers. I am waiting for orders. Signing off.
It was deadly silent as Jyn and Cassian slowly made eye contact.
"Hey."
They both jumped at the sound of Basteran, followed by the others, entering the room.
"Report," Cassian said. He was on full alert. Jyn was eyeing the great hole the mining operation had left exposed.
"Nothing to report, sir," Basteran replied. "All is quiet."
"Base was attacked," Cassian told them. "You can listen to the message yourselves. Whatever killed them is most likely still out there."
Jyn narrowed her eyes, thinking she could see a faint glow from the hole. She ignored the replay the message, turning her torch off. She blinked rapidly, adjusting her eyes to the darkness. The faint glow was gone.
"So what's the plan?" Rostok asked.
"We can stay here for the night," Cassian replied. "There appears to be only one entrance into this room. Two at a time for watch duty. Hopefully it'll be an uneventful night." He turned to Jyn who was still examining the mining facility keenly. "Hey."
She snapped her attention to him. "What did this?"
"I have no idea," Cassian replied softly. "Wild animals are the safest bet."
Jyn frowned. "You really think wild animals could take down an entire imperial facility?"
Cassian un-slung his rifle, placing it on the desk next to him with a thud. "Anything is possible in this galaxy."
"I'll take the first watch," she declared. Un-holstering her blaster, she dragged her chair to the doorway. She began to shut it with difficulty. Cassian had followed his rifle in his hand. Placing it down, he helped her close the door. "I'll stay with you."
"Thanks," she murmured. "We should leave first thing."
"I agree," Cassian replied. "We've completed our objective. I doubt the empire will return to mine for more kyber here."
With the door closed, Jyn settled into her chair with her blaster resting on her lap. She had a really bad feeling about this planet. She didn't think wild animal had done this.