Chapter VI
"Who do you think called the air raid?" the woman angrily counters her partners wanting to dismiss Ahsoka as a spy. The woman also seems to not care that Ahsoka is completely within earshot, "The Empire does this all the time. They recruit - and force - people to be spies for them. Ashla as she calls herself, is another one of them. She called for the airstrike!"
The unknown man takes his hat and mask off revealing his chiseled face and buzzed blonde hair. "Shila," he says, "if she was a spy wouldn't you think she would have a tracker on her? You searched her bag and found nothing. And if she did have a tracker, the Empire would be blasting our front door down the moment we got here."
Shila, Ahsoka takes a mental note of the woman's name.
"You're so naive Callan." Shila argues, "You all are. Say what you want about her. But don't come to me saying I didn't warn you when she kill's us in our sleep." Shila storms off down another corridor in the cave.
Ahsoka can tell whoever these people are, they must have spent the last year secretly making their own hideout. The hideout was constructed in a cave along the side of a mountain. It reminds Ahsoka lot about the one Keaden, Miara, and she used on Raada. This cave however breaks off into different corridors that leads to separate rooms. The room Ahsoka is in is clearly their makeshift hanger, a manually opened steel door was built into the cave. The outside of the door is camouflaged in great detail, Ahsoka couldn't even see it on the ride there - not that she really could anyway with Zallar in front of her. The mystery man Ashoka found out to be Callan, rolls his eyes and walks down a different tunnel.
"Don't mind her," the man says with an accent as he walks up to her, "She doesn't trust people easy."
"So I've noticed." Ahsoka says.
"My names Cassian, Cassian Andor."
Cassian reaches out to shake Ahsoka's hand. Ahsoka smiles and shakes it, she also needlessly said her alias name again. Ahsoka takes a better look at Cassian to see that his face is covered with dark stubble that matches the color of his hair. His once white tunic under his leather coat is dirty, so much so that it matches his dark pants that are tucked into his boots. He has pads covering his knees, they too are filthy with mud. A holster carrying his blaster is strapped to the side of his leg.
"Well then." Cassian gestures to his comrades, "The Rodian there is Ondar." Ondar sits on a crate up against the wall as he cleans his blaster, he barely looks up at them. "And the walking carpet over there is-" Zallar growls at Cassian's comparison of him.
"Zallar." Ahsoka finishes, "I heard his name at the Cantina last night. Who are all of you?"
Cassian laughs, "Isn't it obvious? We're the Rebellion - or, er, at least a part of it."
Ahsoka knows Bail has been trying to gather recruits for his rebellion across the galaxy. However, he never told her about anyone in the Tunka Sector, nor does she have any records of anyone. Cassian seems to favor Ashla out of everyone else, Ahsoka thinks she might be able to use that to her advantage.
She smiles and says, "So this is just a part of the Rebellion? Where's the rest?"
"I don't know if I should be answering that right now, I'm sorry to say."
"I want to be a part of the Rebellion. Plus you've already told me there's more of you, Cassian."
Cassian sighs knowing she is right. "Well, I'll tell you there are more of us in numerous sectors across the galaxy, sectors with people who want to see the Empire burn. We call ourselves 'Hord's Rebellion'."
"And Callan is leader of the Rebellion?" Ahsoka plays dumb, she possibly knows more than anyone how factions and a chain of command works based on her experience.
"No. He's just the leader of our faction, he takes orders from the Rebellions leader. But I can't really tell you who that is until we get to know more about you."
Ahsoka has never heard of 'Hord's Rebellion', but she has a feeling their leader isn't Bail Organa. Ahsoka will have to discuss it with Bail herself, but first she has to find a way off Thakwaa and away from the group without raising alarm.
"Are you hungry?" Cassian asks, "We got some ration packs if you are."
"I am a bit famished." Ahsoka says, "I also got a few questions to ask."
"Very well, right this way."
Cassian leads Ahsoka to their little supply room where there are crates of rations, droid and speeder parts, as well as munitions - a strange combination put together. Cassian takes out two ration packs from a crate and gives one to Ahsoka as they both pull up a crate to sit on and face each other. They open each others packs as they talk each about each other's lives before the Empire. Ahsoka of course lies about most of it or tells a similar story to hers, but she does not reveal that she was a Jedi.
Ahsoka doesn't want to go too far in her past, so she tries to change the topic by asking: "Will Shila ever give me back my blaster?"
Cassian tries not to choke on his bread as he laughs a little, "She'll give it back I'm sure, once she starts to trust you."
Ahsoka swallows a piece of her nutrients bar, "What's her story? How does she know so much about the Empire?" She asks hoping not to be stepping over a line.
"She doesn't talk about it much, but I can tell you what I know. She use to be on the Empires side, I'm not sure what she did for them, but she knows a lot about vehicles and equipment. My guess is that she was an engineer or something along those lines."
"Why did she decide to fight against them?"
"Don't know, but I'm sure it has something to do with Callan. You might not have guessed it, but they kind of have a thing for each other."
Ahsoka recalls how she pushed through her to get on Callans speeder before her, "I had a feeling," she says.
Ondar sticks his green head into the supply room and says, "You might want to see this."
Ahsoka and Cassian put their rations down before following Ondar through the tunnel. The Rodian guides them through the twists and bends of the cave until it opens up into what appears to be a control room. A holotable sits in the middle of the room, a rack full of blaster rifles line the wall, and a few chests sit up to the walls. However, one wall isn't a part of the caves natural rock, it's made of steel and has a long narrow slit going across it that looks outside into the plains. Ahsoka can also see Tunka City in the distance.
Callan, Shila, and Zallar stand around the holotable and wait for them.
"The Imp's just broadcasted a notice through the HoloNet on Thakwaa." Callan says as he activates the table.
The eight-spoked roundel that symbolizes the Galactic Empire appears on the holotable and a voice is heard while captions in Thakaease translate. "Citizens of Thakwaa are advised to be alert for six fugitives responsible for the attack on an Imperial patrol today. Three of the fugitives have been described as humans, two males and one female. Another, a Thakwaash wearing a pilots jacket and is suspected to be fluent in Basic. A male Rodian with green complection. Finally, a female Togruta. Be advised that these individuals have been deemed violent and extremely dangerous, please notify Imperial authorities if they are spotted."
The message pauses before continuing, "This is also a planetary notice that all commerce and commercial travel on and off world have been temporarily suspended until the six fugitives are arrested. The Empire would like to thank you for your cooperation."
As soon as the transmission ends, the familiar sound of speaderbikes can be heard outside. Shila cautiously looks out the viewport of the makeshift bunker and sees four Stormtroopers mounted on speeders racing through the tallgrass and past their cave network.
"They've sent out recon troops." Shila says with concern in her voice, "They know were somewhere outside the city."
Ondar waves his hand acting like the troopers are no big deal, "They'd have to look pretty hard to find us. We got this place pretty well hidden."
Shila rolls her eyes, "That's what recon troopers do, Ondar. They look real hard for the little details. They may have missed us now, but it's only a matter of time until they find us."
Cassian grabs a pair of binoculars off a crate and walks up next to Shila. He looks out onto the plains through the binoculars and scans the entire plain until he sees Tunka City. Cassian zooms the optics in the direction of the airfield and his jaw drops.
"We got bigger problems." is all he says.
Callan steps up beside Cassian and takes the binoculars so he can see for himself. "That's not good." he says, "There's a Star Destroyer hovering over the airfield."
Cassian grabs a rifle from off the rack and slings it across his back.
"I'll go take a closer look." he says as he straps an ammo belt across his waist.
Ahsoka sees this as an opportunity to be alone with Cassian.
"I'll go too."
Shila shoots Ahsoka a glare that feels to pierce through her, "Absolutely not. I don't trust
you being alone with Cassian."
Cassian stares down Shila, amazed that she thinks he can't handle himself.
"Ashla will be find Shila," Cassian assures, "I can't explain it, but I feel like I can trust her."
Ahsoka can almost hear Shila gritting her teeth. Shila takes a deep breath before calmly saying, "Fine, but your taking Zallar. If your trust doesn't go so far as you think, you'll have a Thakwaash at your side."
"Fine by me," Zallar says, "I was going to volunteer to go look anyway."
Cassian nods, "Then it's settled. Ashla, Zallar, and I will go survey the Star Destroyer. Hopefully we can find out what it's doing here."
"It's the Empire," Callan says, "Whatever it is, it won't be good."
Ahsoka is hesitant to say it, "If I'm going to help, I'm going to need my weapon."
Shila puts her hand on Ahsoka's blaster that is still hooked to her side. She looks at Cassian who is eyeing her as if saying, give it to her. Shila takes it off her belt and reluctantly tosses it to Ahsoka. Ahsoka takes it and rests it in it's holster at her side.
Cassian leads Zallar and Ahsoka out of the control room and to the hanger. Shila not once take her eyes off Ahsoka, nor does her suspicions of her lighten.
The three hunker down in a brush just outside the city limits. Ahsoka and Cassian lay on their stomachs to remain concealed in the tallgrass while Zallar watches for another recon patrol behind a tree and bush.
Cassian pushes aside the blades of grass to see through his binoculars. Ahsoka asks to see through them too although she doesn't need them to know what's happening on the airfield. Through the binoculars Ahsoka watches transport shuttles launching from the Star Destroyers hanger. Each shuttle transporting walkers, transports for ground forces, and more Stormtroopers.
"That's a lot of Imp's." Zallar says.
"All this to take out us?" Cassian questions, "Why would they mobilize that many troops?"
Ahsoka has a feeling she knows why, and she doesn't like it.
"I don't know."