"Agent Kallus, I've exhausted every resource to find information about the rebels, but there is nothing to be found!" Minister Maketh Tua says. "What more does Governor Tarkin expect?"
"He expects Lothal to be punished, Minister Tua. These rebels demolished his own Star Destroyer. He takes that somewhat personally."
"Well, I've doubled patrols, set up checkpoints, and established curfews. I honestly don't know what else to do," Tua says.
"Perhaps that is the problem. You lack imagination, Minister, when it comes to producing results," a new presence says, causing the other two to start shivering.
"L-Lord Vader, with all due respect, you and Governor Tarkin are asking for miracles. If the rebels have left Lothal, then-" Minister Tua says, but is interrupted.
"If the rebels have left, we must draw them back. And if they are here, we must draw them out. We will squeeze Lothal until someone reveals the whereabouts of these traitors," Vader says.
He has arrived right in front of Tua and looks down at her. She has begun to force herself not to have her teeth chatter.
"I-I'm sorry, my lord. I am m-merely a public official. I have no experience w-with such brutal ta-tactics." Minister Tua says.
"You can explain that to Governor Tarkin when you visit him."
"Visit him?"
"He expects you to account for your failure tomorrow," Vader says and leaves the room.
"But-but I am needed here, I couldn't possibly leave!" Tua says, realising what this means for her.
"Not to worry, Minister. Lord Vader and I will manage in your absence." Agent Kallus says and closes the door behind him.
Vader walks through the halls, with Agent Kallus following along. Shortly after arriving on Lothal, Kallus was assigned to report directly to the Sith Lord and has been enjoying his position thus far. He was enjoying the seemingly rising station and power, even if that wasn't the case.
"I believe your plan will go as intended, Lord Vader. The Minister will certainly make her move and contact the rebels, now that she fears for her life." Agent Kallus says.
"Fear is a weapon, Agent Kallus. You would do well to remember it," Vader says and then walks into his room, closing the door before Kallus can enter.
*beep beep*
"What is it?" Vader asks.
[The mission has gone well, Master. The device has been retrieved as you intended.]
"Good. You have done well, apprentice. The time is near, for your final tests to be taken."
[As you say, Master.]
The time for Vader's apprentice to 'graduate' was coming near. He had trained him for years now, and it was time for him to do what he was created to do.
.
On board the Phoenix Cell, the Spectres, as Kanan, Ezra and their little band are now called, have returned after their mission.
"You and your crew have proven invaluable to our fleet, Captain Syndulla. The fuel acquired in your convoy attacks has helped keep us one step ahead of Imperial patrols."
"Thank you, Commander Sato. I'm just sorry our intel about shield generators being on that shipment was wrong."
"Perhaps with your next attack, Hera." The person some believe is most vital says.
Ahsoka Tano has emerged from hiding and revealed herself to Kanan and Ezra. But they are not the only ones who are glad that she has returned. Her training as a Jedi will prove to be most valuable to the Rebel cause. The droid enters the command room and tells them about a message he received.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"An incoming transmission. Who from, Chop? Ah, why don't you just play it?" Kanan says.
"Uh, Chopper, cloak us with a one-way transmission," Hera says.
[I can't see you, but I can hear you, my friends. The time is short, and there's someone here desperate to speak with you. I told her I couldn't find you, but she wouldn't take no for an answer. She says she needs your help.]
The friend of the rebels moves away and a woman comes into view.
"Minister Tua?!"
"Oh, we can't trust her. She's an Imperial."
[Please, I beg you. Listen to my request.]
"What is it you want, Minister?" Hera asks.
[My life is in danger. I need you to give me safe passage off Lothal.]
"You're not really considering this?"
"Quiet!" Hera commands.
[I assure you, my intentions are sincere. To prove it, I will trade secret Imperial information.]
The rebels are suspicious. It is improbable that someone who stood on the Empire's side would just defect to the rebel cause like this.
"You're defecting from the Empire?" Sabine, the rebel's Mandalorian, asks.
[Yes, I am.]
"She's telling the truth," Ezra says, probing her feelings. "I-I can sense her fear. Great fear."
"Yeah, but of what?" Kanan asks.
...
"So what have you got to trade?" Hera asks.
[A list of rebel sympathisers on Lothal and other nearby systems.]
"How come these sympathisers haven't been arrested?" Commander Sato asks.
[Some have powerful friends in the Senate. Imperial Command watches them, but can do nothing. Or at least that's how it used to be. The situation has... changed.]
"How so?"
[Someone has arrived who doesn't care for such protocol... the Supreme Commander. He is also the reason I'm here now. He moves methodically and executes sympathisers, no matter their station, or he simply imprisons them to force the Senators to comply. I know you need allies, but if you don't hurry, there will be none left when he is finished. If you get me off Lothal, I will give you the list.]
"The Supreme Commander is on Lothal? What could he want?"
"I think it's obvious he's looking for us."
[Indeed. I know it is dangerous, but if no one helps them, nothing will be left.]
The rebels think about this. But none of them like this.
"We shouldn't even consider this."
"It's obviously a trap."
[There's something else. I've discovered the true reason the Empire came to Lothal.]
"We know that one. The Empire has a factory, and they're stripping the planet's resources to fuel it."
[No. There's another reason, known only to a few and ordered by the Emperor himself.]
Again, they start to discuss this amongst themselves. However, it is the youngest member who finally decides it.
"We have to do this," Ezra says.
"I agree," Ahsoka says.
"So do I," Kanan as well.
"All right, if Commander Sato approves of this mission."
"I believe it is worth the risk," Sato says.
"Minister, we'll get you out. Send us your coordinates."
[Thank you.]
So the rebels get ready. Only the Spectres are to go through with this mission, to protect the rest of the rebel cell. They know that this might be a trap, but they understand the importance of the mission. After getting all of their gear, they board a Star Commuter 2000 shuttle and leave their other ship, Ghost, behind. They assume that the Empire might be able to track it after the battle over Mustafar.
"So, what's the plan?" Kanan asks.
"Okay, so Minister Tua is scheduled to meet with Governor Tarkin tomorrow. She leaves Lothal via shuttle at 1800. We wait at the hangar, steal the shuttle and take her to safety," Ezra reveals his plan.
"I hope you're sure about this."
"After all the trouble she's caused us, I wonder why we should help her."
"Because that's what we do. We help those who can't help themselves," Ezra says. "Plus, her list will help us out."
As their shuttle passes the controls, the two Jedi suddenly feel something.
"Do you feel that?" the Padawan asks.
"Yeah, this..."
"... so cold."
A cold shudder runs down their backs, warning them of what's to come, but they don't listen to it. They make the mistake of not listening to their most basic instinct, fear, which should get them to run away. Instead, they make their way through the bays furtively, trying to reach Bay 23, where the Minister is meant to leave from. They make it to the rendezvous point, but see quite a few stormtroopers guarding the shuttle. They are also a bit wary of the number of Star Destroyers cruising above Lothal, which is none. That's unusual.
"We got company."
"What kind?"
"Urgh, Agent Kallus."
Minister Tua arrives with Agent Kallus at the shuttle.
"Thank you, Agent Kallus. But there was no need for an escort," the Minister says, trying not to give anything away.
"Lord Vader asked me to make sure you reached the shuttle safely. You can never be too careful about security these days."
"HEY!"
*PEW PEW*
The rebels seize this opportunity to launch an attack. They engage the troopers and Agent Kallus in a fight. Minister Tua hides with them behind a few crates, shielding them from the enemy fire. But they need to hurry.
"Minister, run for the shuttle, we'll cover for you."
"Right," she says and starts to run towards the shuttle.
The others follow her. Kanan, Ezra and Hera make it to the shuttle and take flight immediately. Sabine Wren runs along the rooftops and then jumps into the shuttle as if it flies by.
"We need to get out of here, NOW!" Hera shouts and takes the wheel.
She shoots into the air, trying to get away from the scene of the crime. They contact Zeb and their droid Chopper, who stayed behind on the Star Commuter 2000.
"Zeb, get out of there as quickly as you can. Any second now, we'll be swarmed by TIE fighters."
[beepbooo brropbaap]
"Chopper? Where is Zeb?!" Hera asks.
[deeeeBAAbbot]
"Never mind, get out of there as fast as possible. We'll take this chance to leave now."
"Oh, thank you all so much. I was worried, I was going to die for a second there," Minister Tua says, relieved.
"You're welcome. Now, how about you tell us about those rebel sympathisers?" Kanan asks with a grin on his face, thinking that everything went well.
"Well, you see-- kkaakk... ack..."
"Minister?"
"Minister Tua!!!"
All of them watch the minister being choked by an invisible hand. They look in shock as she struggles to get any air into her lungs and looks at them in fear.
"Kanan, do something!"
"W-what? I can't-"
*Crack*
"No!"
*BOOOM*
"We're hit!"
An All-Terrain Defence Pod shoots down the shuttle, which crashes into the city streets, damaging buildings and even killing a few people.
"Hold on!"
*CRABOOOM*
*cough cough*
"We need to leave. Now!"
"Chopper, where are you? We could use an evac right now!" Hera calls into her comms.
[We're on foot, Hera. Troopers got to us, and we had to abandon the Commuter. Where are you headed?]
"We don't know yet, Zeb. I'll contact you later."
[Understood.]
.
In the Imperial Complex, Vader looks out at the city. He receives a transmission from Agent Kallus.
"Everything has happened as you predicted, Lord Vader. We have recovered Minister Tua's corpse," Kallus reports.
"Now, inform the populace that rebel assassins hide in their midst. Lock down the spaceport and make it known that any ship attempting to leave will be destroyed."
[Right away.]
Darth Vader looks out at the city. His original plan was intricate and well thought out, but it lacked the psychological trauma he wanted to inflict upon the rebels. They were weak and, at this point in time, a pathetic band of misfits fighting against the Empire. They would need to grow, as he had a use for them. Soon, his apprentice was ready, and he would send him out to fulfil what he wanted.