Chapter Text
The Rebel base on Yavin IV hummed with constant activity: technicians running between platforms, droids carrying crates, pilots arguing loudly near the hangars.
But aboard the Ghost, the atmosphere was different.
Tenser. More focused.
Zeb entered the holotable room first, crossing his arms.
“I hope this meeting is worth the nap I had to skip.”
Moments later, Rex arrived with his calm, disciplined stride, followed by Kallus, silent as ever, his eyes already scanning the room for details.
Hera was waiting for them.
She activated the holoprojector in the center of the table. A blue star map flickered to life.
“Thanks for coming so quickly.”
Zeb tilted his head. “When Hera calls, you answer.”
Rex gave a small smile. Kallus simply nodded.
Hera zoomed in on a sector near Corellia, highlighting a single planet.
“Senator Organa has approved a new mission. And this time… it’s just the four of us.”
Zeb narrowed his eyes. “Just us?”
“Kanan, Ezra and the others are still on Mandalore with Sabine,” Hera explained calmly. “They won’t be back in time.”
Rex leaned forward slightly. “So what do we know about this place?”
The projection shifted. Fragmented data appeared: encrypted lines, Imperial symbols, corrupted files.
“One of Fulcrum’s agents sent us a report. There’s an Imperial base on this planet… one that doesn’t officially exist.”
Kallus studied the data carefully. “Typical of secret installations.”
“Exactly,” Hera continued. “Slaves, political prisoners, and civilians are being sent there. Officially for ‘industrial labor.’ But in reality… no one knows what they’re building.”
Zeb let out a low growl. “I really don’t like the sound of that.”
“Shipment records are encrypted, information in official databases is almost nonexistent, and security appears discreet… but it’s actually everywhere,” Hera added. “Whatever they’re working on, the Empire wants it hidden.”
Rex crossed his arms. “So the plan is to get in and find out what’s really going on.”
Hera nodded. “Our mission is to gather as much information as possible, infiltrate the base and, if the opportunity presents itself… sabotage it and extract the prisoners.”
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then Zeb lightly slammed a fist on the table. “Now that’s a mission I can get behind.”
Rex allowed himself a faint smile. “Yeah.”
Hera turned to Rex and Kallus. “You two know Imperial protocols better than anyone here. You’ll be essential on the ground. You’ll guide the team once we’re on the planet.”
Kallus nodded slowly. “I know how they think. And I know where they make mistakes.”
Rex added, “And if there’s a way in, we’ll find it.”
Hera finally shut off the holoprojector. “Good. Then there’s nothing left to do but leave.”
She turned toward the door. “I’ll head to the cockpit to set our course.”
Then she looked back at the others. “You three get some rest in your cabins. When we arrive, we’ll need everyone at their best.”
Zeb stretched. “Captain’s orders. You hear that, old soldier?”
Rex gave a small smirk. “Yeah. And this time, it’s probably a good idea to listen.”
Kallus said nothing, but as he left the room, his gaze was already distant — as if the mission had begun the moment Hera said the word Empire.
HOURS LATER.
Hyperspace streamed past the Ghost’s viewport like a river of endless light.
In the cockpit, Hera was slightly reclined in her seat. Her hands still rested near the controls, eyes closed. She wasn’t really asleep… just dozing, lulled by the steady hum of the engines.
A sharp, sudden noise behind her made her jolt.
Hera’s eyes snapped open as she turned toward the cockpit entrance.
Zeb stood in the doorway, one hand still on the door, the other half raised as if he were already apologizing.
“Uh… sorry, Hera. I didn’t mean to—”
Hera blinked once, then let out a quiet breath.
“It’s okay, Zeb. No harm done.”
Zeb stepped inside more quietly than usual, scratching the back of his neck.
“Did I wake you?”
“A little,” Hera replied with a faint smile. Then she studied him more closely. “Can’t sleep?”
Zeb hesitated. He leaned against one of the cockpit walls, his gaze drifting toward the stretched stars of hyperspace.
“It’s just… not a normal mission.”
Hera said nothing, giving him space.
“Usually everyone’s there,” Zeb went on. “Ezra, Kanan, Sabine, Chopper…”
He paused.
“This time it’s just you, me, Rex and…”
His voice caught slightly.
Hera lifted her gaze to him. “…Kallus.”
Zeb nodded, but still didn’t look at her.
Hera watched him for a moment, then spoke calmly. “You still don’t trust him? After everything he’s done for the Rebellion?”
Zeb shook his head immediately, firmly. “No! I mean— I do trust him!” he said quickly, almost too quickly. “Really. I’d say the same thing if he were here listening.”
And it was clear he meant it.
But then his voice softened. “It’s just that… I don’t know.”
Hera turned slightly toward him. “Is there anything else I should know about Kallus?”
Zeb hesitated again. Then he shook his head.
“No. We’re… friends now,” he said quietly. “And what happened on Geonosis…”
He grimaced. “They’re just stupid thoughts. I don’t want to talk about it.”
Hera watched him for a long moment, then nodded. She wouldn’t push him.
Without a word, she took her thermos of hot meiloorun tea from the side compartment and gently shook it in front of him.
Zeb looked at her, then smiled. A small smile, but a genuine one.
“Thanks, Hera.”
He sat down beside her. For a while, neither of them spoke.
Just the hum of the engines, the warmth of the thermos passing from hand to hand… and hyperspace flowing endlessly in front of them.
A few hours later, hyperspace collapsed in a flash of light, and the Ghost dropped back into realspace.
The planet stretched out before them: gray, scarred by vast industrial zones visible even from orbit. Around it, like silent sentinels, several Imperial Star Destroyers patrolled the space.
Hera didn’t blink.
“Nothing unusual,” she murmured to herself. “It is one of the Empire’s most important routes, after all.”
Behind her, Zeb, Rex, and Kallus sat in the rear seats, silent, watching the scene beyond the viewport.
Moments later, the communicator crackled to life.
“Unidentified transport, this is Imperial control. Identify yourselves and transmit your authorization codes.”
Hera didn’t hesitate. Her voice remained calm, professional.
“This is cargo HT-771. Transmitting codes now.”
Her fingers moved swiftly over the controls. The falsified codes were sent into the Imperial network.
A few seconds of silence followed.
Then the reply came.
“Codes verified. You are assigned landing platform D-12. Follow the designated corridor.”
Hera nodded, even though she knew they couldn’t see her.
“Copy that.”
Behind her, the tension eased slightly.
Kallus rose from his seat. “I’m going to change,” he said simply.
Rex gave him a glance, then stood as well. “Me too.”
Zeb followed them without another word.
Hera remained alone in the cockpit, guiding the Ghost along the assigned landing corridor. Imperial ships, cargo vessels, civilian transports… everything moved with cold, controlled precision.
She brought the ship down onto platform D-12 with her usual grace.
The engines powered down with a low hiss.
When she stood and reached the main compartment, the other three were already there.
For a moment, she barely recognized them.
No armor. No uniforms.
Just anonymous civilian clothes—worn, practical. Simple trousers, neutral jackets, dull colors. The kind of clothing that never drew attention, anywhere in the galaxy.
Rex looked like a tired old worker.
Zeb, hood up and shoulders hunched, appeared surprisingly… ordinary.
Kallus had messier hair, a more closed posture, a face that could blend into a crowd of thousands.
Hera studied them for a moment, then nodded with quiet approval.
“Good work.”
She grabbed her bag and headed toward her cabin.
When she returned a few minutes later, she too had changed: simple clothes, muted tones, her lekku partially hidden.
Just another civilian. Invisible.
Exactly as it should be.
They exchanged a silent look.
The real mission was about to begin.
The city streets were alive with movement.
Tall buildings rose along the avenues, their metal facades lit by flickering holographic signs. Between the streets lay crowded markets, food stalls, small shops packed with secondhand goods, used droids, mechanical parts.
For many civilians, it was simply another ordinary day under the Empire.
The team walked through the crowd without drawing attention.
Zeb kept his hood low, shoulders hunched.
Kallus observed everything carefully, but without the rigid bearing he once had.
Hera moved with calm confidence.
Rex walked beside them with the steady stride of someone who knew this kind of environment well.
They stopped at the corner of a small square, near a dirty fountain and a stall selling steaming drinks. The surrounding crowd provided perfect cover.
Rex spoke first, his voice low.
“The factory isn’t far. I’d say… less than two kilometers from here.”
Zeb glanced in the indicated direction.
“Then we could head there now.”
Hera shook her head slightly.
“No. That wouldn’t be wise,” she said calmly. “Not without a plan. And not without preparing first.”
Kallus was silent for a moment, then spoke.
“We could do this.”
The others turned toward him.
“We find a hotel near the factory. We keep a low profile, observe the movement.”
He paused briefly.
“In the meantime, one of us meets Fulcrum and gets the necessary information. Tomorrow morning… we plan the infiltration.”
Hera studied him, then nodded.
“It’s a good plan.”
Rex didn’t hesitate.
“I’ll go meet Fulcrum.”
Hera turned to him. “You’re sure?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “I know how to move around Imperials. And I know how to recognize a cover.”
Hera nodded and stepped closer, lowering her voice even more.
“Alright. Listen carefully.”
She quickly gave him the details. “He’s an Imperial assault trooper captain. Regular shifts, nothing suspicious in the official reports. You’ll find him at the end of his shift, behind the northern logistics depot. Alone. In secret.”
Rex listened without interrupting, then nodded.
“Understood.”
He adjusted his hood and disappeared into the crowd without drawing attention.
Hera watched him go for a moment, then turned to the other two.
“Come on. Let’s find a hotel.”
Zeb gave a short nod.
Kallus moved to walk beside her.
It was almost evening when Hera, Zeb, and Kallus stopped in front of the hotel.
The building was tall and narrow, with a flickering neon sign. The facade showed clear signs of age, and the entrance didn’t exactly inspire confidence…
but it wasn’t the worst place they could have found.
Kallus looked up at the structure, then at the other two.
“Is this alright?”
Zeb studied the hotel for a moment, then shrugged.
“I’ve slept in worse places.”
Hera nodded. “It’ll do.”
They went inside.
The lobby was sparsely occupied: a few travelers sitting on worn couches, a service droid moving slowly across the polished floor, and a reception desk lit by a yellowish glow.
Kallus stopped and gestured toward the counter.
“I’ll get the rooms.”
Hera nodded, then added, “Rex probably won’t make it back in time. Just get the rooms for the three of us.”
“Understood.”
Kallus headed for the reception desk.
Zeb dropped onto a bench near the wall with a sigh, and Hera sat beside him.
For a moment, they were silent. Then Zeb shook his head.
“You know, I still can’t believe it.”
Hera tilted her head slightly. “Believe what?”
“That one of the bucketheads is actually a Fulcrum agent,” he said. “An Imperial stormtrooper.”
Hera gave a faint smile.
“You’d be surprised how many of our agents come from the Empire.”
Zeb looked at her. “Really?”
“Officers, engineers, technicians…” she said calmly. “Someone who saw something they shouldn’t have. People who realized too late what they were truly serving.”
She paused.
“And yes… even stormtroopers.”
Zeb grew thoughtful, staring ahead.
“Guess that… makes sense.”
Just then, Kallus returned to them.
He was holding two electronic keycards.
He stopped in front of Hera and handed her one.
“There were only two rooms left,” he explained. “Zeb and I can share one.”
He said it plainly, practically. As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Hera took the key without hesitation.
“Alright. Thank you.”
But as she did, she noticed something.
A tiny detail.
A barely perceptible tension in Zeb’s shoulders.
A brief moment of hesitation.
Then nothing.
Someone less attentive would have missed it.
Hera did not.
She said nothing.
Instead, she gave a small, calm smile and gestured toward the elevators.
“I think we should head to our rooms,” she said gently. “Get some rest, try to relax… and wait for Rex to return.”
She looked at both of them.
“Then we’ll plan the infiltration into the factory.”
Zeb nodded.
Kallus did the same.
CITY BAR, 22:00
The bar was old, lit by warm, flickering lights. The air was thick with smoke and the sharp smell of metal and industrial oil.
Just another place, for just another kind of people.
Rex sat at a table near the wall, an Ithorian beer in his hand. He drank it slowly, looking like a tired worker who had just finished a long evening shift.
It was a good cover.
But behind that relaxed expression, his senses were razor-sharp.
He listened to everything.
Fragments of conversations drifted from nearby tables:
complaints about long shifts, low pay, harsh supervisors.
Some talked about the factory… but nothing truly useful. Just rumors, frustration, and speculation.
Rex focused on a conversation at a nearby table, trying to catch something more specific.
That was why he didn’t immediately notice the presence beside him.
A mistake.
And he realized it instantly.
Too distracted, he scolded himself.
The man’s voice came low and casual.
“By the light of Lothal’s moons.”
Rex didn’t react at once. Then he slowly turned his head.
The man sitting next to him looked about forty.
Sharp features, a hard, angular face.
Black hair, shaved on the sides and slicked back neatly.
His gaze was alert. Too alert.
Rex studied him for a moment.
“Are you Fulcrum?” he asked quietly.
The man gave a faint half-smile.
“What do you think?”
Only then did Rex notice his clothing more clearly: a wide brown coat, too heavy for the climate.
Beneath it, barely visible, the unmistakable shape of Imperial stormtrooper armor.
The man gestured toward the bar and ordered a drink.
Then, casually—like he was just paying—he slid an electronic card onto the table.
Engraved on it was the symbol of the Empire.
“Everything I managed to get is on there,” he said softly.
“Guard shifts. Security rotations. Camera placements. And a layout of the first levels of the factory.”
Rex didn’t look away.
“Nothing else?”
The man shook his head.
“I’m not an officer. My access is limited.”
A pause.
“I’m sorry.”
Rex picked up the card slowly.
“It’s more than you think.”
He met the man’s eyes. “We’ll make it work.”
The man studied him for a moment.
“You’re taking a big risk.”
Rex nodded. “So are you.”
Silence settled between them.
Then the man lowered his gaze slightly.
“I can’t keep working for something this… evil,” he said quietly.
“Only later did I understand what the Empire truly is.”
His fingers tightened briefly around his glass.
“A corrupted, violent, cruel machine.”
He looked back at Rex.
“And I refuse to be part of it.”
Rex didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
He stood up slowly.
“You’re doing the right thing.”
He turned to leave.
Behind him, the man’s voice stopped him one last time.
“Be careful.”
Rex didn’t turn around.
He simply gave a small nod… and disappeared into the crowd, the card safely hidden inside his jacket.
ZEB AND KALLUS' HOTEL ROOM, 00:30
The hotel room was small, but clean.
Two single beds, a narrow wardrobe, a small table by the window, and an even smaller bathroom.
Zeb and Kallus had spent the last half hour putting away the few things they had brought, carefully hiding their weapons in the false bottoms of their bags and making sure nothing suspicious was left in sight.
Kallus finally walked over to the door and activated the “Do Not Disturb” lock. A small red light lit up on the external panel.
“Good,” he said quietly. “At least no one will come asking unnecessary questions.”
Zeb nodded from the edge of the bed.
There was a brief silence before Kallus cleared his throat.
“May I… take the shower first?”
Zeb looked up, surprised.
“You didn’t need to ask,” he said. “You could’ve just gone.”
Kallus hesitated for a moment, then added with a faint smile:
“It’s just that… on Yavin I showered after you. And when I finished, I was covered in purple fur.”
Zeb blinked, then sighed.
“Sorry.”
Kallus let out a soft, genuine laugh.
“Don’t worry. I’ll survive.”
He grabbed his towel and headed for the bathroom. “I won’t be long.”
The door closed.
Zeb stayed seated on the bed, hands resting on his knees, staring at the floor.
Why did he always act like this when Kallus was around?
He shook his head slightly, as if trying to chase the thought away.
After a while, the sound of running water stopped. The bathroom door opened again.
Kallus stepped out, drying his hair with the towel. He was wearing only a simple tank top and boxers—nothing deliberate, nothing meant to draw attention.
Just… normal.
Zeb looked up—and froze for a brief second.
Then he quickly looked away, feeling an unexpected warmth rise to his cheeks.
Kallus didn’t seem to notice.
He sat down on his bed and said calmly,
“I know it’s a bit cold… but I prefer sleeping like this. It’s more comfortable.”
He paused briefly.
“When I was with the Empire, I couldn’t allow myself that.”
Zeb didn’t answer right away.
Kallus glanced at him, slightly puzzled, then simply added:
“Anyway, the bathroom’s free.”
That brought Zeb back to himself.
He stood up quickly, grabbed his things from his bag.
“Y-yeah. Thanks,” he muttered.
Kallus gave a small nod.
Zeb slipped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him, resting his forehead against it for a moment.
Breathe.
Focus.
It’s just a mission.
Outside, in the room, Kallus lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling—unaware of the thoughts he had just left behind the closed door.
Rex arrived at the hotel around 01:00.
The corridor was quiet, lit by dim, flickering lights. He knocked softly on Hera’s door in the agreed pattern. A moment later, it slid open.
Inside, the whole team gathered in Hera’s room.
Kallus had already changed back into his civilian clothes.
Rex stepped forward and handed a small datachip to Hera.
“Got it from Fulcrum.”
Hera nodded and inserted it into the holoprojector on the table. The device hummed to life, projecting flickering blue images:
factory corridors, security checkpoints, camera angles, guard rotations, basic schematics.
Everyone leaned in, studying the information in silence.
After a moment, Hera straightened.
“So,” she said calmly, “how do you suggest we proceed?”
Kallus folded his arms, thoughtful.
“With this data, infiltration should be relatively easy.”
He gestured toward the projection.
“Hera could pass as a slave or prisoner without difficulty. Nearly a third of the workforce here is Twi’lek.”
Hera’s expression didn’t change, but her jaw tightened slightly.
Kallus continued, glancing at Zeb.
“Zeb would attract too much attention… but we could disguise him as a shift supervisor. Or even a slaver.”
Zeb grunted, clearly not thrilled by the idea, but he didn’t object.
Kallus then looked at Rex.
“Rex and I will disguise ourselves as stormtroopers. That will give us freedom to move through most sectors without raising suspicion.”
Zeb crossed his arms.
“Alright. And once we’re inside?”
Rex answered simply, almost with a shrug.
“We improvise.”
Hera frowned slightly.
“That’s not exactly reassuring.”
She looked back at the projection. “Won’t they ask for documents? ID codes? Anything like that?”
Kallus shook his head.
“There will be hundreds of workers inside that facility. It’s impossible to verify all of them.”
He paused.
“The Empire believes that overwhelming military presence is enough to keep everyone under control.”
Silence followed.
Hera studied the rotating hologram one last time. Then she powered down the projector.
“Alright,” she said quietly. “We move in the morning.”
She looked at each of them in turn.
“For now, get some sleep. We’ll need clear heads.”
No one argued.
One by one, they stood and left the room, the plan heavy in their thoughts.
Tomorrow, they would step straight into the heart of the Empire’s machine.