Chapter XII
(Two days latter)
"Gotta admit, it's kinda nice not having Shila around." Zallar jokingly states as he reclines on a makeshift sofa.
"No one to hear argue." Ondar agrees as he throws in his cards at a game of Pazaak with Cassian on the holotable.
Suddenly the familiar sound of a speeder gets louder outside, it's getting closer. Cassian carefully moves towards the gap in the mountainside to see outside. At the base of the mountain, not far below the control room, three Imperial recon troopers stop to investigate the mountainside.
Cassian doesn't take his eyes of their white armor. "Recon troops, three of them. They're searching the mountain."
He looks back at Zallar and Ondar who listen attentively. Zallar sits up and places his blaster rifle in his lap, Ondar puts the rest of his cards down and reaches for his blaster pistol.
"Zallar, move to the top post, Ondar to the hanger access door. Be ready in case things get ugly."
"Right." Zallar and Ondar almost say in unison.
The two break away from the control center to do as Cassian ordered. Cassian, grabs his a280 blaster rifle that's been set to the sniper setting. Through the blasters scope, Cassian watches the troopers move up the mountain.
The troopers get closer and closer to the control center's natural looking rock wall. The patches of tall grass that grow up the mountain, brushes against the troopers boots as small pebbles clatter down the mountainside. The troopers are close enough for Cassian to easily hit them at point blank range, one of them climb up beside the viewport, however the trooper hasn't noticed Cassian - yet.
Cassian rests his rifle against the wall and reaches for his blaster pistol, knowing that the sniper configuration will not help at this range. However, as Cassian quietly pulls his blaster out, he bumps the rifle causing it to fall and hit the stone floor with a tremendous clatter. Everything goes still for a moment before Cassian looks back up through the viewport to see a trooper staring right at him. Out of impulse, Cassian raises his blaster and shoots the trooper square in the face through the viewport. The troopers carcass flies backwards and falls down the mountain.
His fellow troopers reacts by running - or falling - down the mountain. Zallar rises from the tallgrass on top of the ridge and fires down on the troopers. One of the troopers gets to his speeder and starts to take off before Zallar blasts it's engine, causing the speeder to go haywire before violently throwing the trooper off into a tree. The last trooper jumps on the bike and starts to take off into the plains towards Tunka City.
Cassian grabs his sniper rifle and sprints to hanger and through the access door with Ondar at his side. He kneels down with the rifle and aims downrange, he looks through the scope and spots the trooper.
"Three hundred yards." Ondar says.
Cassian takes two deep breaths and aligns the crosshairs to lead the trooper.
"Five hundred."
Cassian rests his finger on the trigger and exhales another deep breath, letting all the air escape his lungs.
"Seven hundred. Cassian?"
Cassian gently squeezes the trigger until the shot startles him. He lets go of the trigger as the bolt flies down range. The trooper almost becomes impossible to see in the distance, but Cassian watches through the scope as the bolt strikes him in the back - a perfect shot. The trooper slumps forward and falls off the bike before it crashes into a thicket just outside the city.
Zallar climbs down the mountainside and stands beside Cassian and Ondar. He smiles at Cassian.
"Nice shot."
However, Cassian simply shrugs off the compliment, knowing there are bigger problems to worry about. "We got bigger problems now. Once that patrol doesn't check in, the Empire will send out a larger search party, possibly with armor."
Ondar groans, "In that case, we better hope Ashla's friend can help, and soon."
(Three hours later)
High Admiral Vince stares up through the skylight of the airfields control center at the
underside of the Star Destroyer. Surveillance and traffic control crews work at their computers along the walls. The control hub door opens to a captain who walks up beside Admiral Vince, he renders a solute before returning to attention.
"High Admiral, a recon patrol was sent earlier to search the ridges west of the city, they have not reported in since."
Vince rubs his chin with his forefinger, his left hand resting in the small of his back, clenches in distraught.
"Get me Grand Admiral Thrawn."
A moment later, the holotable built into the control console at the base of the panoramic window comes to life. The image of Grand Admiral Thrawn's upper torso is projected, Thrawn's arms are crossed and his face emotionless.
"I trust you have information for me, Admiral?"
Admiral Vince straightens himself up as he gets closer to the hologram.
"Yes, Grand Admiral. A recon patrol has gone missing outside of the city, they were sent to search the western ridges."
"Likely theses rebels position has been discovered, knowing they couldn't allow the patrol to return to base, they killed them. But in doing so, they have exposed their position. Admiral, do not allow any ship off world without my consent, including Imperial craft."
"Grand Admiral?"
"Some of the rebels have slipped your grasp by stealing an Imperial freighter and transmitting the proper clearance codes. Likely it was their leadership who stole she ship."
Vince's eyebrows furrow, "How can you be sure it was their leadership?"
"It would be in the best interest for a such a small group of rebels as these ones are to remain hidden at all costs, at least until they have amassed a larger force. Therefore, no leader would allow their subordinates to expose their position as these rebels have, their leadership is offworld. Secondly, for security matters it is likely that few within a group this small would know of the location to where their reinforcements are found, thus is further evidence that their leadership has left the planet."
"Then, why were they not destroyed, Grand Admiral?"
"Simple, rebels will not leave their friends behind. It must not be their desire to abandon Thakwaa, therefore they will be returning with larger numbers. On their return, it is then we will attack and dismantle their rebellion."
Admiral Vince sees the logic in Thrawn's plan and in awe of his uncanny skill of tactical observation. Vince can't help but crave to learn more of the Grand Admiral's plan.
"But why ground Imperial craft, Sir?"
A small grin creeps across Thrawn's face, "If their leadership was capable of stealing an Imperial freighter and get offworld, then we will prevent any escape for their followers, further forcing their return. I assure you Admiral, rebels do not leave their allies behind."
"Understood, Grand Admiral."
"Ready an assault force with heavy armor units to await my command and arrival."
"Arrival, Sir?"
"Of course, Admiral. The galaxy is watching these rebels and I will be there to show the result of defying the Galactic Empire and our Emperor."