A Rebel's Destiny

Chapter 20 Route A

The crew stood around the holoprojector ready for the briefing "Hey. We heard the supply run to Teralov failed?" Ezra asked as Sam popped out of her pocket dimension ready for briefing as Geralt look to Hera and nodded his shell "it gets worse. We lost the entire escort of A-wings. Six pilots and the transport's entire crew." Hera explained "how many is that this month? At this rate, there's not going to be anyone left to fly for the Rebellion." Geralt explained with a sigh "fortunately, I have been working on a solution with the help of Fulcrum." Sato said making the hunter raise a brow "Ahsoka?" Sam asked looking towards her guardian "no. Fulcrum's a code name we give to our secret informants. It was her idea. There are other fulcrum agents. She was among them." Hera explained making the hunter nod as they projected the message "I have information that may help you replace your stable of pilots. There are imperial cadets at the Skystrike Academy who wish to defect to the rebels. I do not know their names but they will require some assistance to escape I suggest you move quickly, before the empire discovers their intentions. Fulcrum out." The man on the message said "this is enough to act on." Sato said making the crew nod "the mission is yours, Sabine. We've arranged to insert you and Ezra into a squad of new cadets headed tor Skystrike. AP-5 will prepare fake credentials." Hera said the two looked to each other and smirked "let's go then." Ezra said with a smirk Sabine did the same.

Timeskip

As the two landed the saw a couple troopers, a droid and an officer checking I.D's wearing the sleek black armor Ezra felt naked without his weapons but he still went along at least until Sabine's card malfunctioned "there seems to be a problem with your credentials, cadet. Security." The officer said as the mando held up her hands "wait! That, um... that happens from time to time. Can I see it?" She said the officer looked skeptical but complied "yeah, these new ID cards can be temperamental." She said taking off her helmet giving a blow to the card and quick rub on her shirt the hunter held back a chuckle seeing this "now try it?" She asked handing it back the officer inserted it in the Astromech which made a series of short rapid beeps before confirming the card "proceed." He said as she collected the card "thank you." She said walking forward before turning seeing the hunter give the man the card and get confirmed on the first try he looked towards her probably smirking beneath his helm she rolled her eyes.

Timeskip

The two found themselves in a formation while a man talked "listen carefully, cadets. You are here because the empire sees the potential in you to join the ranks of its most elite pilots. Most if you will fail. Whatever you have achieved before means nothing. Here, only the best survive. Prepare yourselves. Your first combat training will begin at 0600. Squadron dismissed!" The instructor said making the cadets and two spies fall out of the formation The two made their way to the bunks the hunter taking the top while she took the bottom waiting for the first training mission.

A little later

The two spies were in their respective TIE fighters "this is TIE SS-3-6 on patrol at .149, awaiting wingman." Sabine said as Ezra answered "copy that, 3-6. This is TIE SS-2-5. Call me the Red Baron, what's your name cadet?" Ezra asked with a smirk knowing she was probably rolling her eyes "I'm Ria Talla."  She replied with a sarcastic tone in her voice "don't break protocol. Comm numbers only." The instructor said sternly making the hunter scoff "copy that, command." Ezra said as the instructor began the training "comscan is tracking rebel ships entering sector 2. Move to intercept." He said "if only he knew." Sam said via her neural link with the hunter "Acknowledge. Let's go, 3-6." Ezra said with a smirk on his face turning his ship towards the aforementioned sector "right behind you, 2-5." Sabine said as she followed close by "you have anything 3-6?" Ezra asked looking around "mm, nothing yet. Wait. There they are! Four ships coming in at .847." Sabine informed making the hunter make a noise of acknowledgment "I see 'em. Y-wings. Heavy shields and turret guns. Command, how should we proceed?" Ezra asked warming up his hands "eliminate all targets." The instructor said as the hunter grabbed the controls as the Y-wings flew past Ezra cracked his neck as they made a quick U-turn "they're splitting up, 3-6." The hunter notified "circling around to .4." Sabine said as she made her behind two of them "I've got these two." She informed as she fired at the two bombers who dodged and weaved until she blew one up she saw Ezra come in from a angle as he fired she saw the playful hunter barrel roll in good fun taking down his two bombers "nice shot, 3-6." Ezra said hearing the mando scoff "oh, one more and we're even, 2-5." She said destroying her last bomber "3-6 and 2-5, proceed to the transmitted coordinates and destroy the rebel vessel located there." The instructor informed "yes, Sir." Ezra said as he followed Sabine closely when they came across the vessel "huh, no power readings. It's disabled." Sabine informed as a voice came over the comm "please, do not fire! We surrender! We're heavily damaged and have wounded aboard! Repeat, we surrender!" The voice said making the two weary even if it was fake "destroy the vessel as ordered." The instructor said making Sabine shake her head "but imperial protocol is to board the..." she started "destroy the vessel as ordered, 3-6!" The man yelled "is breaking protocol part of the test?" She said under her breath "what was that, 3-6?" The instructor asked making the hunter chuckle under the helm "um, comm malfunction, Sir." Ezra said as the comm crackled "hold on. New target coming in at .17." The instructor said the two looked up seeing a large ship "look out!" Sabine yelled as the hunter was shot out of the sky the mando saw the TIE he was piloting blow up the ship got closer and she noticed it was The Ghost before the same happened with Sabine's ship. She opened her eyes and found herself in the sim pod "simulation complete. Cadets, exit your pods. Report for debriefing." The instructor said as the three pods opened up and the two spies exited walking towards the table "what kind of rebel ship was that? That was no transport." Sabine said annoyed as the hunter rolled his shoulder and put his hands on the table next to him was a brown haired kid who looked to the two.