Chapter Text
‘Saving others means putting yourself at risk. It’s still worth the while. Always.’
“Tech, Wrecker, you are with me. Let’s take care of that signal before the Empire realises what’s going on down here.”
Hunter, Tech and Wrecker were riding the rickety hover bike across the dusty land. Trying to beat the odds and getting to the crash site in time to disable the imperial transport ship sending out the distress call. That of course being the case, unless they were already too late.
Pushing the old bike to the limit only hoping it would hold together for the trip over.
“We are closing in on the location.” Tech was scanning their progress on his datapad. “Should be just over that ridge.” Hunter was on the controls while Wrecker having manned the middle seat as per usual.
“Roger that.” Hunter sped up the bike pushing the pedal to the metal through their last stretch.
It took only a hop and a skip as the trio reached the shipwreck. Half buried in the sands it looked like a ghost from the past. Broken down to bits and taken over by the land around.
“The signal is stronger here.” Tech told the other two after taking more scans. “I cannot be certain, but it just might be that the signal has not managed to penetrate the upper atmosphere because of the constant magnetic storms sweeping over the planet”
“Let’s just hope you’re right Tech.” Hunter could feel the storms in the distance even now despite the front clearly moving away from their location. “Can you find us a way to get inside?” Hunter glanced around and it looked like the airlocks were buried somewhere deep.
Tech was checking his scan results. “There is an emergency hatch at the aft we can use.” Tech pointed at the direction of the entrance.
“Alright. Let’s go then!” Hunter was already moving followed by Tech and Wrecker finding the doorway without too much effort.
As they reached the inside of the ship it was dark and dank and filled with sand. Moving around there proved to be rather difficult.
“The signal is emanating from the cockpit. We need to get in there.” Tech pointed out.
Hunter glanced at the narrow way they needed to get through. “Wrecker, you stay here while Tech and I will make our way to the bow of the remnants of the ship.
Wrecker gave him an okay sign as the two started their way towards the cockpit. Having to duck not only the various hanging parts of the ship itself but also moving over small dunes of sand being built inside of the craft, nature having taken over it for the most part by now.
But the two managed to get into the bow with some effort and Tech finding the communications console which was still powered up.
“This is it.”
“Can you disable it?”
“I can.”
Tech got to work. Pulling out several panels and soon enough the whole system died down.
“It’s done?”
“Yes. But, I still cannot be certain if the Empire received the signal or not.”
Hunter nodded as there was no time for speculation. If the Empire had received the distress call, they needed to figure out a way to protect the children who had decided to stay on the planet and continued mining for their own benefit for a change.
“Let’s get back.” Hunter told Tech.
They reached Wrecker soon enough.
“Wrecker, you still have those charges with you?” Hunter asked.
“Yeah. Why?”
“Let’s blow this wreckage up.” Hunter had decided not to chance it. Destroying the evidence was their best bet. Even if the signal had already gotten out. But the less there was for the Empire to find, the better.
“Will do!”
Wrecker placed the explosives as the three of them vacated the ship. As they reached a safe distance away from it Wrecker pushed the button.
“Boom!”
“Alright, let’s get back to the mine. We need to figure out a defensive measure in case the Empire decides to show up.”