Chapter IX
"I believe I know someone who can help us." Ahsoka says to the group who is gathered around the holotable in the control room. "I just need help getting off Thakwaa to contact him."
Shila squints her eyes and scrunches her eyebrows as she becomes suspicious of Ashla's contact, "And who is him? A friend?"
"I can't say who he is, but yes. He knows some people that may be able to help us get the Empire off Thakwaa. I can't contact him while on the planet, the Empire will be scanning for transmissions."
"Couldn't you scrambled the message frequency?" Ondar asks.
Ahsoka frowns aware of the dangers in doing that, "I could, the Empire may not be able to find where the message is going, but that that wouldn't stop them from tracing it back to us."
"What if we sent the transmission from within Tunka City?" Cassian suggests, "We could send the message out and get out before the Stormtroopers arrive."
Zallar grumbles, "Unlikely. That Star Destroyer has likely blocked all public and private frequencies within the city limits. We could try to hack into their system, but by the time we get in they will have noticed and we will be arrested."
Ahsoka shakes her head, her blue and white lekkus shake with her head, "No, that's too risky and there's no guarantee I'll get the transmission through." Ahsoka looks at each person knowing how dangerous their plotting is, but she looks primarily at Shila who she fears is starting to doubt her again. "The only way I can get help is by meeting my friend in person."
"I see how it is." Shila sarcastically smiles, "You go get off Thakwaa to meet with your 'friend' and leave us for the Empire. Right when we all started to trust you."
Ahsoka can tell Shila is furious to the thought of her leaving them, but she knows it's not true.
"No, Shila. Truth be told, you all play an important role in this. Specifically I need yours and Callan's help to get off Thakwaa, and during my mission." Ahsoka watches Shila's tension slightly ease - slightly.
Shila thinks for a second and agrees to at least listen to Ashla, "What do you have in mind?"
Ahsoka smiles to Shila's willingness to listen, "The Empire is moving supplies from their fleet onto Thakwaa. We also already know that all commercial and commerce travel on and off world is prohibited, only the Empire has passage to airfields and shipping ports. If we can get an Imperial shuttle we-"
"Steal an Imperial shuttle?"
Callan shoots Shila an icy look, "Shila."
Ahsoka continues, "A freighter to be specific. If we can steal a freighter we can bypass the Imperial fleet."
Shila knows the plan would work, but there is one problem. "We can't just fly a freighter past the fleet. The fact that it's an Imperial ship doesn't matter, it might get us past the TIE fighters, but not the fleet. Without the proper clearance codes those Star Destroyers will blow us to stardust."
"That's where you and Callan come in."
Ahsoka reaches into her bag that's still hanging at her side and pulls out the code cylinder. She holds it out for Shila to see, and she appears less impressed as Callan first did. "An Imp's code cylinder. That explains the bumped up security, they've been searching for you."
Ahsoka goes on to explain her plan, "Shila I need you to use this cylinder to access Imperial documents, shipping logs, and clearance codes to get past the fleet."
Shila takes a deep breath, "Alright, first, why the shipping logs?"
"So we can coordinate a freighter that will already be going off Thakwaa."
"Second, the only way to access those kind of documents is through an Imperial computer. How exactly are we going to get to an Imperial terminal?"
Ahsoka looks at Callan expecting him to explain what he told her earlier, he nods catching her drift. "The Empire has been moving supplies to the shipping port nearby. That port is bound to have a terminal that can access all those things, and they would have a freighter to borrow. We just have to get in."
"That's suicide." Shila argues, "There's no way the Imp's would just let civilians walk onto the airfield, civilians that are wanted might I add."
Ahsoka nods knowing that's true, but she also knows there are other ways of getting in. "They wouldn't allow civilians onto the airfield, but anyone employed by the Empire like a Stormtrooper and armor specialist would be another story."
Callan and Shila look at each other before looking back at Ahsoka. The others think amongst themselves as it's strange to hear Ashla mention Callan and Shila's past, for someone who has just been included into their group of rebels is profound. Their history is something that even they track lightly knowing how much impacts them.
"We still have our armor." Callan finally breaks the silence, "It's sitting in a crate just collecting dust these last few years. We can get into the port, find the terminal to access the documents, and download them onto a holodisk."
Shila agrees, "We may only have one shot at this, the Empire will know about us not long after we download the documents. We will have to steal the freighter too."
"Good." Ahsoka says before turning the holotable on and showing a map of Thakwaa. She points at a large airfield with many hangers surrounding it just west of the hideout. "There's the shipping port, you should be able to find a terminal in the control hub located in front of the airfield."
The control hub flashes red.
"Once you have the holodisk and the freighter, fly to the plains on the eastern side of Tanka City. You will find me and my ship waiting for pick up."
"Won't that be suspicious?" Shila questions, "An Imperial freighter lands in the plains within minutes of leaving the port?"
Ahsoka crosses her arms and thinks, "You will have to come up with some kind of reason for the abrupt landing. Say the thuruster's coolant pumps have started leaking or that the landing gears suspension lift has malfunctioned and must be repaired before entering hyperspace."
"Understood. But what are we going to say about carrying a ship not registered by the Empire?"
"Likely the fleets capitol ship will ask once we get out of Thakwaa's orbit. If they do, we'll tell them it's to be impounded offworld."
"Then it is settled." Callan says, "We will launch the mission tomorrow after the first recon patrol goes by." Callan reaches for his belt and takes off a comlink before tossing it to Ahsoka. "Have the comlink on you, we will notify you once we have the freighter."
Thakwaa's second sun rises over the plains and it's morning glow shines on the armor of the four recon troops of the first patrol speeding by. Shila and Callan stand at the hanger door next to their speeders, Ondar and Cassian work to pry open the hangar doors to let in the morning air and warmth.
Ahsoka walks up to Shila and Callan outfitted in their Imperial uniforms. If she hadn't known to who they are, she'd easily mistake them for actual Imp's. Shila ignores Ahsoka as she walks up to Callan, Ahsoka feels that Shila doesn't really want to talk right now. Callan takes off his helmet upon seeing Ashla.
"You know I always hated Imperial armor, I could hardly ever see in this helmet. Nothing like Republic armor, clone gear was always a higher quality."
Ahsoka raises an eyebrow, puzzled by Callan. "That armor was only issued to clones during the Clone War, how did you get it?"
Callan goes quiet and puts his helmet back on, "A story for another time maybe." He turns around and gets on his speeder when Ahsoka stops him.
"May the Force be with you."
Though his face is hidden under the mask, Ahsoka can tell Callan is smiling.
Callan and Shila leave their speeders hidden from ports security. Zallar and Cassian will be making a couple trips under the night cover to get them back. Zallar, Cassian, and Ondar agreed to stay behind and guard the base while Shila, Callan, and Ashla get off Thakwaa.
The two Stormtroopers standing guard of the control center pay no attention to the trooper and armor specialist approaching. Shila steps up to the doors control panel and inserts Ashla's code cylinder to open the door, the doors mechanics process the code cylinder. The guards look over their shoulder to see Callan.
"How you doing?" Callan stupidly says.
The troopers shake their heads and return to their duties, ignoring Callan.
The door opens to allow Shila and Callan to enter. Shila quickly swipes the code cylinder and follows Callan. Callan snaps to attention as two officers pass by, but they don't even look at him as the guards outside did. Shila waits for them to get out of earshot before facing Callan.
"Now where are we going to find the control hub?" Shila asks.
"If it's as I think it is. It would be found overlooking the airfield, let's get to the second level and go from there."
"Right."
Callan and Shila find an elevator to the second level. They walk through the Imperial halls avoiding eye contact with troopers and officers. Every now and then a black astromech droid goes by tending to its duties. They turn a corner and see down the hall on the left side is a door, presumably to the control center.
"It's going to be guarded." Shila points out, "We'd be questioned the moment a Stormtrooper tries to access the terminal."
Callan and Shila step off to the side of the hall, acting like they are pulling security. "We'll need to get rid of them, or at least thin them out. If we can create a distraction that would require reinforcements, we may have a shot."
An idea comes to Shila, "If I can get to maintenance, I can override the stations power generator. The blast will get the attention of security thinking that it was an attack, but will appear to be simple engine failure."
"But that will cut the power and I would be unable to access the data archives. Plus and the whole airfield would go under lockdown."
"Not necessarily, emergency power will be used until the generator can go back online, you will still be able to access the terminal. The airfields wiring will be in the maintenance room, I can sever the alarms connection to the airfield. The base will receive the warning, but airfield will never know."
Callan goes quiet for a moment, "You scare me sometimes."
Shila takes that as a compliment before focusing back on the task at hand. "Right, I'll get the maintenance room, I saw it on the way here. You just listen for the blast then hurry to the control center to get reinforcements, take out the officers, and download the data on this holodisk." Shila pulls out the disk and hands it to Callan.
"What about you? How are you going to get out before reinforcements get there?"
"There's always an emergency exit, I'll meet you on the airfield."
"Got it, let's go."
Shila walks off back towards the elevator to execute her part of the plan.
The maintenance room is relatively empty, only a couple engineer crews of three monitor and maintain the engines. One of the crew leaders stops her, wondering what she is doing. Shila tells him that command ordered her to inspect the crews productivity, and if she is kept from doing her task then the crew can take it up with command. With Shila's threat of Imperial judgement, crew leader simply shuts his mouth and let Shila pass.
Shila looks over her shoulder to make sure no one is watching, then ducks behind the airfields power generator. She takes off her helmet and lifts the floor panel to find the wiring underneath. Thankfully, Shila has enough experience with electric work to be able to identify which wire is for the alarms.
She moves aside the various colored wiring until she finds a thick red wire with a black stripe running along it. She pinches the wire and traces it until she finds its connection to a small breaker that breaks the connection into two separate directions. Each wire has a label on the breaker that reads where the connection leads to, one being the base and the other the airfield. She flips the airfields switch to off, keeping the control center from alerting forces on the airfield.
Shila carefully and quietly rests the panel back over the wiring, and in the corner of her eye, she sees something near her. She looks up and her heart stops when she sees the Imperial astromech watching her closely. Shila quickly tries to think of a lie to keep the droid from alerting security.
Shila becomes tense and demands, "You, droid. There is a short in the control hubs killswitch to the bases main generator. I'm going to need you to divert power from the emergency reservoir while I inspect the wirings connection to the generator."
The droid chirps as it moves towards the power generators terminal to do as Shila ordered. Shila takes a breath, relieved and shocked that the rouse worked. The generator hums to a stop as the droid taps into the emergency power supply. Shila walks up to the the deactivated generator, sets her helmet down beside her, and opens the service hatch to inch the upper half of her body inside.
The space is cramped, there is barely enough room for a male, or a Stormtrooper that is. However Shila is small enough to have enough room to work. She tries not to laugh as she thinks of what it would be like if Ashla tried to do this, she'd probably get her montrals stuck in the tightly spaced electro-reception rods. Shila misses the thought of working on generators, or even piecing together how they work.
This generator in particular has a cluster of six long electro-reception rods that run down the middle of the holo carbon friction cylinders. When in operation, the cylinders spin very fast and rub it's carbon liner on a rod, also made out of carbon, and creates friction. The electricity generated by the friction is attracted to the electro-reception rods and sends it into an amplifier that's spherical in shape. A small gap stands between the amplifier and a magnetic plate connected to many different coils that release the electricity throughout the base.
If Shila can disconnect the magnetic plate from the coils, the amplifier will not be able emmit the generated electricity. Without the amplifier being able to release the energy, electricity will build up until it overloads to the point it blows up the generator. Shila takes her wrench and disconnects each coil from the plate until she able to take it off with ease. She sets the plate under the coils before crawling back out of the service hatch, she shuts it before the astromech is able to get a good look inside.
"That should do it. Resume power from the generator."
The droid complies and the generator starts to hum again. Shila knows it won't be long before the amplifier overloads, so she quickly moves to the exit while trying not to get the engineer crews attention. She takes cover along the hallway wall outside of the maintenance room, she can hear the generators amplifier start to sputter and crack. The engineer crews yell to get out the emergency exit right before the amplifier blows, sending high volts of electricity pulsing through the room. The crews are able to get out before the blast, but the astromech wasn't so lucky, it's circuits fry by the sudden shock.
Once Shila rules it is safe enough, she moves back into the room and towards the emergency exit.
The lights go out for a second to leave the hallways pitch black before the red glow of the emergency lights flicker on.
That must be the signal, Callan thinks to himself.
Callan hurries down the hall and into the dimly red lit control room. Four Stormtroopers stand guard along the walls while two officers stand on the raised platform before the viewport of the airfield.
Callan tries to portray a panicked Stormtrooper, "Sir! There's been an explosion in the generator room!"
The commanding officer looks bewildered as he scans the room.
"All personnel to the generator room! Sound the alarm!"
The officer turns and activates the alarm's, the base erupts with the sound of sirens.
Callan thinks, I hope Shila disabled the airfield alarms.
The Stormtroopers standing guard turn and run out of the control hub, Callan stays by the door acting like he is going to take up the rear. Right as the last trooper leaves, Callan switches his blaster to stun and in two swift moves he stuns the officers - they didn't see it coming. The officers fall to the ground and moan on impact.
Callan runs up to the computer panels and rests his helmet down on the ground. He finds the computer terminal and inserts the code cylinder. Under the terminal is the insert for the holodisk, Callan puts it in and starts to access the Imperial data archives. He watches the screen closely for anything that would be of interest. The clearance codes suddenly appear on the screen in bold green letters, Callan downloads the info on the disk. The shipment logs come next ranging from the Tunka Sector to the Lothal Sector, Callan downloads the records as he notices there is an empty freighter scheduled to leave in fifteen minutes off platform D-8.
Right as Callan is about to eject the holodisk and retrieve the code cylinder, something else pops up on the screen that gets his attention. The screen shows a cluster of documents containing information about the Imperial fleet over Thakwaa. Callan thinks to himself that the data could come in handy later so he downloads them as well. With all the information gathered on the holodisk, he ejects it and takes the cylinder.
Callan about drops the cylinder and disk when he looks out the windows and sees an AT-AT positioned at the end of the airfield. He knows that that walker will have no problem grounding a freighter from taking off.
"We need to go, now."
Callan grabs his helmet, deactivates the alarm, and hurries out of the control hub to meet with Shila outside.