Contact: - So it's true. A model of superdroide active tactician. -

Icarus: - I see that you are not surprised by that. -

Contact: - Not as much as when they gave me the news. But hey... let's leave the formalities for later. We must leave immediately. -

Icarus: - I agree. Foxley,looters from here -

Foxley: - En marcha. -

The clone and the droid headed to the cockpit, while the restaccommodated the cargo to leave. Using the same codes, they managed to pass border control, and within a few seconds they jumped into hyperspace, heading to an uncrowded mid-rim world: Kergans. And once the course was set, Icarus returned with the rest to begin planning.

Zeb: - Looks like we're ready. And good? What's the plan? -

Without wasting time, the contact placed a device in the center of the room, which projected theholoprojection of a complete plan of a military installation located on that planet. The level of detail was such that it was even possible to determine the number of soldiers inside and outside the fortress.

Contact: - This is the planetary defense fortress ofKergans. Fifty thousand soldiers. Five thousand officers. one thousand TIE fighters and two hundred AT-ST walkers. The most important control point in the sector. -

Numa: - It's not going to be a simple goal. What do you think, General?... General? -

However, Icarus did not answer anything, because it seemed that they were computing something else. Although everyone looked with curiosity because the droid did not look away from one of the Twi'leks present.

Icarus: - May I know why Hera Syndulla is on board the ship? -

Zeb: - He came with us... Right? -

Icarus: - Cham Syndulla did not inform me anything about it. -

Hera: - I thought an extra pair of hands would be helpful. And Chopper wants to help too. - He said in response to the droid's beeps.

Icarus: - I assume this was... a sudden decision... Your father will not be very happy when he finds out about this, Miss Syndulla. -

Hera: - Well... That will be problems for later... Now we have to focus onKergans... ¿No? -

The droid could only shake his head at the young men's recklessness. Although it was not the first time that she had faced this dilemma, since Numa herself sometimes used to get into situations as problematic as this one.

Icarus: - I guess there is no other option. Returning to Ryloth at this point would compromise the operation. Contact, please continue. -

Zeb: - Do we really have to call him that all the time? Don't you have a name or something similar? -

Contact: - That information is not necessary. -

The lasat was not very friendly with his attitude, but the Contact simply ignored his attitude, and set about explaining the plan.

(Map of Cartagena, 1766)

Contact: - Our goal is to reach the database and be able to obtain all the information about the Empire that we can. Military power. Economic power... Everything. Nothing is worthless. The fortress is located northwest of the city, divided by large bodies of water. The only entrance is the bridge that connects to the city, which they use to supply the garrison with provisions. -

Numa: - We must assume that it will be well guarded. -

Contact: - It's but that. The bridge has defense systems and barriers so strong that they would be able to stop a tank. These marks on the walls are strong anti-aircraft systems, so entering through the air is practically suicide. -

Zeb: - And what is that? Right in the middle. -

Contact: - The fortress is divided into two sections by an artificial canal. The southern sector covers the personnel rest area, as well as warehouses and small ammunition depots. But our objective is in the northern section. Just here. - He said while pointing to the blue square on the map.

Numa: - We have to cross half a fortress and two high security bridges to get there. It's very risky. -

Zeb: - And what about the channel? Can't we get there easier by sailing? -

Contact: - The canal has a large number of mines and an electrification system. Apparently some smugglers thought the same as you, and took measures to prevent it. -

Zeb: - We are out of options. We will need to divert attention elsewhere. -

Contact: - That's where you come in. -

Icarus: - A division of our forces and trained commanders will launch a decoy attack to the northeast. The Imperials will use their northern wall to defend the position, and will mobilize all their forces there. Leaving a minimum behind to defend key points. Enough so that we can break through enemy lines with a minimum of resistance. -

Contact: - Inside the fortress we have an ally. So we can count on your help to avoid some problems. -

Zeb: - Well... It seems like a reasonable plan. -

Contact: - We have been planning this for six months. Nothing can go wrong. In town we have a few others waiting for our arrival, so everything should be ready by the time we land. -

Icarus: - There's just something that doesn'tachievement match this plan. -

Hera: - What is it about? -

Icarus: - Those boxes they brought. Are they some kind of weapon? -

Zeb: - Oh... A good missile launcher would be very useful when the action starts. -He said excitedly.

Contact: - They are weapons... But we are not going to use them that way. -

To his surprise, the strange man opened one of the boxes, revealing an artifact inside that definitely took everyone by surprise.

Zeb: - A shield? -

Contact: - Correct. - He responded with some enthusiasm. - A simple piece of arsenal of the Gungan people, but with great historical value. This particular shield participated on the front lines during the Battle of Naboo when the Separatist Alliance attempted to take control of the planet. -

Zeb: - Well... It will survive a couple of shots before falling into pieces. -

Contact: - What are you talking about? This gem of a collection will not accompany us to the front... It is a collection. -

Numa: - Wait wait... Did you make us bring those pieces of junk for nothing? -

Contact: - Don't say that. These pieces have a value that none of youthey can see. Furthermore, Zeltron's elite have... particular interest in these artifacts. -

Zeb: - Can I know what you're talking about? -

Icarus: - I see. So that's your alibi. -

Everyone looked at the droid in confusion, although Contact himself smiled knowing that the droid had noticed his trap card.

Hera: - Alibi? What kind of alibi? -

Icarus: - You approach politicians and people of interest with these artifacts. That explains how you know the place so well. -

Contact: - I see that you are very insightful. Well yes. A certain antiquities-loving politician did not limit himself to giving me details on a long night of drinking when I showed him several collectible pieces. Think what a little alcohol is capable of doing. -

Icarus: - Surprising... Without a doubt. -

The trip would take a couple of Earth hours, so those present would use that time to rest and be ready for their arrival. Foxley eventually abandoned the controls and went to sleep, leaving Icarus to pilot the ship, which he could do remotely while poring over all the information he had on the ship.Kelgran.

Culture, history, language... Any information can be useful, especially knowing about thezeltron, a species native to that planet. Not being the head of a mission caused him some concern, so he had to make up for it with as much information and backup plans as possible. Then, a small noise from the cargo hold caught his attention.

Taking advantage of the fact that most of them were sleeping, Icarus prepared to go to the back of the ship, where he saw the Contact organizing some of the artifacts he brought with him. A good opportunity to know who he had as an ally. Something that he did not like very much, because not knowing his motivations, he was not able to predict how he would behave when the situation reached a critical point.

Icarus: - A carbine blaster GALLAR-15. They are quite difficult to get these days. -

Contact: - Ah... I see you have good taste. Since the tragedy of Mandalore with those criminals it has been very difficult to obtain one of these in good condition. And the Mandalorians would do anything to get it back. -

Icarus: - In that case... Isn't it risky to have one? -

Contact: - Only if you don't know how to use it. - He responded with particular insight.

Icarus: - You are a mystery. I could even bet it's not even in the imperial archives. -

Contact: - Well... One must be discreet to do what I do. -

Icarus: - And what exactly do you do? -

Contact: - The same as everyone on this ship... Make the Empire bleed. -

Icarus: - Strong words without a doubt. Isn't it more subtle to say that he fights for justice... or some noble cause? -

Contact: - Call it whatever you want. Words are not going to change facts. -

Icarus: - Believe me... Words can change facts a lot. -

The man looked up, and focused on the droid's optical sensors, as if trying to discover the purpose behind all this conversation. Of course, reading something deadpan from a functional piece of metal was impossible.

Contact: - And what would be that big difference? You call yourselves Separatist remnants, but in the end you are just another attempt at resistance like the hundreds scattered across the galaxy. -

Icarus: - It is possible... However, it is not the same for the rest of the galaxy. -

Contact: - I guess it will have to be less enigmatic. I can't imagine where he's going with all this. -

Icarus: - The answer is as simple as it is terrifying. - That word caught the man's interest. - As long as the Empire continues to fight against a stronghold of its former enemies, the war zone will always remain a battlefield. However, when fighting a rebellion, the measures are usually more... drastic. -

Contact: - Do you mean...? -

Icarus: - Fighting against an enemy is not the same as fighting against your own people... The latter tends to be more... bloodthirsty and cruel... That blaster you carry is a perfect example of my idea, when Mandalore fell into its grip. own civil war. -

Those words left the man thinking for a while. Apparently, Icarus had torn into a wound that had not healed, and the way he pressed his hand against the weapon said a lot about his emotional state. Icarus even considered that this Contact had some kind of relationship with the Mandalorian people. But that thought was only a theory, since I had no way to prove it.