A few days after that (and after a very pleasant bath where Chloe helped Penny and Ashley get the batter that had managed to get baked into their fur, despite the Protect protecting them from heat, the same way it does against fire type moves) While Penny was busy Ashley climbed into Chloe's bag, finding it different from Penny's due to orientation. Penny and her own bags were horizontal, while Chloe's bag was vertical, thus if Ashley wanted to see at all she had to look up at the sky. She could see some strands of Chloe's hair larger then she was, but the rest was out of her view. So while Chloe rode Miraidon to the Team Star Fire base, Ashley burrowed into the small blanket put in the bag for that reason, muffling the sounds, while she took a nap.
When she was let out she saw a man that looked familiar heading away, and the base behind them.
"Who was that?" Ashley asked, finding him familiar, but only seeing his back could not place him.
"That was Clive," Chloe said, "I'm pretty sure he is related to Director Clavell, except younger, and with a strange hairdo. But he asked to help, and Cassiopeia is having him scope out the base as support."
"Right," Ashley agreed as they approached the base.
"Whoa, whoa, you can't be here. This base belongs to Team Star. If you don't clear out real quick-like, I'll hafta come at you in self defense. You get me?" the guard grunt said.
"We're not turning back!" Ashley said.
"Well, all right! Time for me to self-defense the snot right outta ya!" the grunt said sending out Houndour while Ashley smirked and sent out Meowscarada, which would normally be a bad idea, but this Meowscarada knew both Brick Break and Chilling Water from TM'S, both moves were super effective. Combined with the higher level and it was an easy win. "I defended myself all right… but it wasn't enough! Man, you're crazy strong… wait… are you those kids who declared war on Team Star?"
"That's right!" Chloe agreed.
"Whoa," the grunt said surprised. "Thanks for the terrible news! 'Scuse it while I book it back to the rest of my crew! Hasta la Vistaaaaaar! "
"Heeey! Chloe! Ashley!" Clive called walking up, and seeing he did look younger then Director Clavell, but definitely related to him. "Cassiopeia had me scope out the base, I thought I'd come give you some backup now that I'm through, but seems you're all set."
"Foo! Fwoom!" a voice called.
"Wha-?" Clive said as a Charcedet showed up.
"Foo! Fwoo!" It said.
"Is that… you, Charlos?" Clive asked as Charlos agreed. "I thought so! What are you doing here?"
"Is this Pokémon yours?" Chloe asked.
"This is Charlos the Charcedet," Clive explained.
"Fwoom!" Charlos agreed.
"He's one of the Pokémon the academy takes care of within its grounds," Clive explained as Ashley remembered where she got her Charcedet, before Charlos ran off. "Ah! Charlos, wait! He ran off… It looks like he may have some connection to Team Star's Fire Crew… I'd better chase after him. Don't worry-I'll regroup with you soon enough! You two press ahead I to the base!"
With that Clive ran off as Cassiopeia called.
"I see you dealt with the grunt standing guard," she said, "nice work. Stationed inside that base is Team Star's Fire over-the Schedar Squad. Their boss, Mela, is the best all-rounder of the team. She fixes any and every problem thrown her way, though her methods are… heavy handed. Our declaration of war must have made her blood boil. I bet even now, her grunts are hard at work inside the base, trying to keep her fury under control. That means your best move is to take down all the grunts nice and quick. Once there's no one left to help Mela keep her cool, she should come out to confront you. Ring the Bell on the gates once you're ready to kick off this phase of the operation. Time to wipe the Schedar Squad off the map!"
With that they headed to the gate where Ashley looked at Chloe.
"Hey Chloe?" Ashley asked.
"Yes Ashley?" Chloe responded.
"Can you use me as your Pokémon in this fight?" Ashley asked, "I want to help stop them personally."
"Sure!" Chloe agreed as they rung the doorbell, and discovered they could only use them first three Pokémon in the party, so Ashley could not join in while acting as Chloe's Pokémon while Chloe chose Ashley, Skeledirge and Pawmot, as her pokemon. This was called a Star Barrage.
"Heads up gang!" a grunt said over the intercom. Some pumped-up kids have wandered in thinking they can raid our base! Clearly they don't know who they are messing with. Let's teach them a lesson she won't forget! To our unwanted guests-if youmcan defeat 30 of our Pokémon in the next 10 minutes our boss might just honor you with an appearance!"
With that they began, fighting the Torkoal, Houndour, Growlithe, and Charcedet used by the grunts.
"Our defenses are breached… It's all up to the boss now!" a grunt said, as the boss drove out on a floating vehicle.
"So you're the dopes who picked a fight with Team Star… I dunno why you'd do something so stupid and I don't challenged us, so we'll beat you down. That's all there is to it. Prepare to get messed up," Mela said, sending out Torkoal to look down on them.
Ashley used Dig to dodge Flame Wheel and knock out Torkoal finding out she was a much higher level, before paling when she found out the car was a Pokémon as well. Luckily it was just as vulnerable to Dig.
"Ugh. Is this really how it's gonna end? What a hassle…" Mela said, "I burned through everything' I had… and now I've sputtered out. Guess this is where it ends… Ashley really let us have it. Beatin' me in battle is a huge deal. So here-take this star. adge and be proud of yourself! While I'm at it you can have this TM too. Not like I'm gonna use it. Youngot what you came for. Now leave me alone."
"Okay," Chloe said, seeing she was sad, but not knowing how to help, they left as Clive and Charlos approached Mela.
As they left the base, Cassiopeia called.
"Ashley, Chloe… It's me," she said, "It seems Mela no longer carries her Star Badge, the symbol of her status as a boss… she gave it to you, did she? Now that there's no boss to lead them, the rest of the Schedar Squad shouldn't last long… … …Oh, Mela… sorry. Got caught up in my thoughts for a second. Now, about your reward. I'll transfer some LP over to your phone, as promised. In any case. You did such a good job you deserve an extra reward. Someone from my supply unit will be along shortly to give you extra materials for making TM'S. I think you know them."
"Do we know them?" Chloe asked.
"I wonder who it is," Ashley said.
"It's me," Penny said, walking up with a bag of materials. "I'm good with machines and hacking and stuff, so I agreed to help Operation Starfall before I met you in the supply unit. I actually just finished gathering more supplies for you, since I knew you could do it. Cassiopeia told me you'll get more rewards each time you take out one of Team Star's bases. I have full confidence in you two so while you take down the bases I'll be gathering your reward."
"Thank you," Ashley said, nuzzling Penny, before both of them climbed in Chloe's bag and returned to the Academy.