After landing on Karthon, Dad and I sat on the ship while Cara had gone to get Mayfeld. Boba and Fennec were keeping watch outside.

I was pacing back and forth as Dad looked at me.

Dad: Keep pacing like that and you're gonna wear out the floor.

Y/n: Not in the mood for laughs right now, Dad.

Dad: Y/n, what's going on?

Y/n: I just can't stop thinking about what they could be doing to Grogu.

Dad stands up and holds my shoulders.

Dad: Don't focus on that. Right now, let's focus on what our mission is for the time being.

Fennec: (from outside) They're here!

Dad: Come on.

Y/n: Right. Thanks, Dad.

As we came down the ramp, Mayfeld was looking at Boba, chuckling.

Mayfeld: You know, for a second I thought you looked like a couple of other guys.

He then spots us as we continue down the ramp and looks as though his heart fell into his stomach.

Dad: Mayfeld.

Mayfeld: Hey, Mando. (looks at me) Kid.

I cross my arms as Mayfeld's raises his.

Mayfeld: Sorry, sorry. Y/N. Been a while. So, what, d'you guys come here to kill me?

Cara: All you need to know is I bent a lot of rules to bring you along.

Mayfeld: Why am I so lucky?

Cara: Because you're Imperial.

Mayfeld: Hey, that was a long time ago, all right?

Y/n: You still know your clearances and protocols, right?

Everyone starts walking into the Slave 1 as I gesture for Mayfeld to go.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

As we sat down, Dad explains everything to Mayfeld.

Dad: We need the coordinates for Moff Gideon's light cruiser.

Mayfeld: Moff Gideon? (chuckles dryly) Yeah, forget it. Just take me back to the scrapyard. I'm not doin' that.

Y/n: They took the baby.

Mayfeld: The little green guy? I thought you said he was just a pet?

Y/n: Obviously, I was lying.

Mayfeld: So... I help you guys get him back, you let me go?

Cara: That's not how this works.

Mayfeld: Well, then what's in it for me?

Cara: You get a better view.

Zero then slides down from the cockpit and looks at Mayfeld.

Zero: Hello, Mayfeld.

Mayfeld: Zero?! I thought you were scrapped!

Zero: Technically, I was. Until Master Y/n brought me back and reprogrammed me.

Mayfeld: (to Dad and I) I thought you guys hated droids?

Y/n: We had a couple life-changing experiences, now drop it. You gonna start being useful or not, Imp?

Mayfeld glares at me, before sighing.

Mayfeld: ... All right, but here's the thing: I can't get those coordinates unless I have access to an internal Imperial terminal. I think there's one on Morak.

Dad: Morak? There's nothing on Morak.

Mayfeld: It's a secret Imperial mining hub, okay? If you can get me in there, I can get you the coordinates.

Dad taps the comm.

Dad: Fett, punch in the coordinates to Morak.

Boba: (over comm) Copy that.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

After arriving outside the atmosphere, Boba pulls a holographic image of the hub.

Boba: I did an initial scan of the planet. This is what you're talking about, right?

Mayfeld: Yeah, that's the refinery right there.

Fennec: Wonder what they're refining in there.

Y/n: Knowing the Empire, it's never anything good.

Boba: Looks like rhydonium. Highly volatile and explosive.

Mayfeld: Yeah, kinda like these two, huh? (nods at us)

Everyone looks at Mayfeld as he loses his smirk.

Boba: They have anti-aircraft cannons protecting it.

Fennec: And a platoon of security forces.

Dad: So we go in quiet. Let's go get a closer look.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

We all watch from a jungle ledge as Imperial Juggernaut carriers drive down dirt roads.

Mayfeld: I'm not gonna need long inside, so once I get the coordinates, you guys gotta me the hell outta there.

Boba: You get to the roof. I'll drop in and pull you out.

Cara: All right. Mayfeld and I will swap out for the drivers in the tunnel.

Mayfeld: As much as I'd like to take a road trip with Rebel Dropper here, that's not gonna work.

Y/n: How so?

Mayfeld: Well, because these Remnant bases are set up and run by ex-ISB. If you get scanned and your genetic signature shows up on any New Republic register, you're gonna be detected, and it's guns out.

Cara: You sure do know a lot about Imperial Remnants.

Mayfeld: If you wanna accuse me of something, then just say it.

Dad: We don't have time for this. Fennec will go.

Fennec: No, I'm wanted by the ISB. I'll trip the alarm, too.

Y/n: (sighs) Boba?

Boba: Let's just say they might recognize my face.

Mayfeld: Great. So it's me going in alone.

Cara: No way. The minute he gets inside, he'll tip 'em off. He'll be a hero.

Mayfeld: Hey, this wasn't my idea. I'm doing you guys a favor.

Cara: Deal's off. I'm taking him back.

I kneel down at the edge and activate my thermal vision, watching another Juggernaut go by. Two Tank Troopers and a Combat Driver were inside, which meant all these tanks had to carry three.

Y/n: Dad and I will go.

Dad: What?

Mayfeld: Hey, I may be good at fast talking, but I don't think I can explain away two guys in Mando suits to Imperial guards. So, unless either of you guys are gonna take off your helmets, I'm going in alone. Or say goodbye to your little green friend.

Y/n: The tanks carry two troopers and a Combat Driver. You're not going in alone. But neither of us are gonna show our faces.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Another Juggernaut drives through the tunnel and Dad, Cara, Mayfeld, and I jump down from the top of the tunnel and land on top of the last cart.

Cara hops in and drops all three Imperial without a sweat and I nudge Dad.

Y/n: She's so your type.

Later, Dad and I walk out of the tunnel in our disguises.

(OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW WHICH ARMOR IS YOURS)

Mayfeld: (laughs) Hoho, look at this! The shame! Now, that right there is worth the price of admission.

Y/n: Yeah, well it must feel nostalgic for you.

Mayfeld rolls his eyes as we stop and look at Cara.

Cara: Wish I could say it looked good on you boys, but I'd be lying.

Dad: Just be sure you take out the rooftop gunners, or we're never getting out of here.

Cara: We got you.

Dad and I then hand her our bags holding our armors.

Dad: Please keep these safe.

Cara: I will.

Mayfeld: Hey guys, still on the clock here.

Y/n: Quit ruining my ship, would ya?

Cara leaves as Dad and I climb in the Juggernaut.

Mayfeld: What would they say on Mandalore?

Y/n: What would the Empire think about having one of their sharpshooters back?

Mayfeld huffs and puts on his helmet, before looking at the controls. I lean my arms against the back of their chairs.

Mayfeld: All right, what do we got here? Power coil, motivator...

The Juggernaut roars to life.

Mayfeld: Ah, there we go. There we go!

Mayfeld pushes the lever, making the Juggernaut jerked forward and I fall flat on my back from how hard it moved forward.

Mayfeld: (snickers) Whoops, sorry kid! Hehehe....

I groan, standing up and lean against Dad's chair.

Y/n: (mutters) I swear, if we didn't we need your sorry ass....

Mayfeld: Hey, how's it feel? I mean, c'mon guys, you still get to wear helmets, right?

After several seconds of blissful silence, Mayfeld exhales.

Mayfeld: All right, you know what? I'm taking this thing off. I can't see anything.

Mayfeld pulls off his helmet and tosses it behind him.

Mayfeld: I don't know how you people wear those things. And by "you people", I do mean Mandalorians.

Dad and I still remain silent. Eventually we exit the tunnel and Mayfeld continues.

Mayfeld: (gestures to his face) Feels better when it's off.

Dad and I just stare at Mayfeld as we then pass by several destroyed Juggernauts.

Hub Control: (over comm) Juggernaut Four, you're running a bit hot. Be sure to watch your cargo heat limit and speed.

Mayfeld looks at the screen measurements.

Dad: Don't worry about the rhydonium.

Y/n: So long as you drive steadily, we'll get to the refinery.

We then come up on a small village with people blocking the path. Mayfeld hit a switch that made a horn blare and the people started back away from the road.

Dad and I saw children look at us with hatred and Mayfeld snorts.

Mayfeld: Yeah. Empire. New Republic. It's all the same to these people. Invaders on their land is all we are. I'm just sayin', somewhere someone in this galaxy is ruling and others are being ruled.

Dad and I look at Mayfeld.

Mayfeld: I mean look at your race. Do you really think all those people that died in wars fought by Mandalorians actually had a choice? So how are they any different than the Empire? Look, if you were born on Mandalore, you believe one thing, if you're born on Alderaan, you believe somethin' else. But guess what? Neither one of 'em exist anymore.

Y/n: Because of the Empire. Not the New Republic. Or did you forget how one of them was blown up and the other glassed?

Mayfeld: Believe me, I didn't forget. I'm just a realist. I'm a survivor, just like you two.

Dad: Let's get one thing straight. You are nothing like me, or my son.

Mayfeld: I don't know. Seems to me like your rules start to change when you two get desperate. I mean, look at you guys. You said you couldn't take your helmets off, and now you got Stormtrooper ones on, so what's the rule? Is it that you can't take off your Mando helmets, or you can't show your faces? 'Cause there is a difference.

Y/n: We can't show our faces. That's the rule. Now would you shut up and drive? Geez, and I said Zero sounded like a protocol droid.

Mayfeld: Look, I'm just sayin', we're all the same. Everybody's got their lines they don't cross until things get messy. As far as I'm concerned, if you can make it through your day and still sleep at night, you're doing better than most.

Y/n: How long did it take for you to come up with that piece of philosophy after all the planets the Empire destroyed? The homes burned down? The families slaughtered? Nobody is the same as anyone. Especially when it comes to the Empire.

Juggernaut Four: (over comm) Control, this is Juggernaut Four. We're coming up on some route interference. Control, Control! We need a new- (blaster fire and screaming)

Mayfeld: What was that?

Y/n: I got a bad feeling about this...

Suddenly we hear and then see a huge explosion a few miles ahead of us.

Hub Control: (over comm) Juggernaut Four has been destroyed.

Mayfeld: "Destroyed"?

Dad: The rhydonium is still stable.

Hub Control: (over comm) Juggernaut Five, maintain speed and course. Proceed with caution. Re-routing course, stand by.

Mayfeld: "Proceed with caution"? Is she serious?!

Juggernaut Three: (over comm) Control, this is Juggernaut Three! Requesting-

We hear more blaster fire and see another explosion ahead of us.

Mayfeld speeds ahead and we see the wreckage of both Juggernauts that had come on the comm.

We hear a loud thump from outside.

Mayfeld: What was that?

(SCARIEST SENTENCE ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH OR GALAXY!)

I climb up the ladder and open the hatch to see pirates with spears on repulsorlifts.

Y/n: Pirates! I'll hold 'em off! Keep driving!

I climb up and take out my Imperial blaster, shooting down two of the pirates. Eventually my blaster clicked empty and I threw it at one of the pirates.

Y/n: (shouting) They've got thermal detonators! Dad, get up here!

I run and dropkick one of the pirates off as more repulsorlifts started flying in with more pirates. I take one of the spears from the pirates and whack him off before throwing it another pirate's shoulder and he fell back, knocking two more off with him.

Several more pirates jumped on top of the tank and I held my ground before, two pirates tackled me down and another leveled his spear at my throat.

The pirate holding the spear was then shot along with the two holding me down and I look back and see Dad with his blaster. He shot the remaining pirates off and threw his blaster away, helping me up.

Dad: You good?

Y/n: Yeah, let's do this!

More pirates jumped on and yelled at us as we charged and knocked them off with our fists or their own weapons.

Dad grabbed one of their thermal detonators and threw it at the repulsorlifts, blowing them up and launching us back to the front of the tank.

We then hear Mayfeld yell at us.

Mayfeld: (yelling) Guys! Refinery's coming up, but I can't cross at this speed!

Dad and I groan as we look and see several more repulsorlifts with pirates, arming their thermal detonators.

Dad and I just stand up and ready our fists, but engine roars overhead and see TIE Fighters shooting down the pirates.

Mayfeld whoops as the repulsorlifts get destroyed and Stormtroopers start running past us as we cross the bridge, gunning down the remaining pirates.

Dad and I climb back in and Dad sits in his seat as I catch my breath.

Stormtroopers salute and pump their fists at us, cheering.

Mayfeld: Never thought you'd be happy to see Stormtroopers, huh?

Mayfeld salutes back as we pull into the refinery and climb out. More Stormtroopers and officers cheer and pat us on the back.

Mayfeld: (quietly) Okay. All we gotta do is find a terminal. It's probably in the officer's mess.

The three of us start making our way to the mess hall, being praised by more troopers, saluting back at them and whatnot.

Mayfeld peaks in and then points at the terminal in the far left corner.

Mayfeld: There it is.

Dad: Good luck.

Mayfeld started to head in, but then spotted someone that made him stop.

He then came back to us, starting to sweat.

Mayfeld: I can't go in there.

Y/n: What's the problem?

Mayfeld: That's Valin Hess.

Dad: Who?

Mayfeld: It's Valin Hess. I used to serve under him.

Y/n: Will he recognize you?

Mayfeld: I don't know. I was just a field operative, but I'm not takin' the chance. It's over.

Dad grabs his shoulder.

Dad: Let's just do this quick and we can get out of here.

Mayfeld: I can't do it, okay? We have to abort. I'm sorry.

Y/n: Miggs, we can't leave. I am not gonna let Grogu be another resource to the Empire. Please. If we don't get those coordinates, we'll lose him forever.

Dad: Give me the data stick.

Mayfeld: It's not gonna work. In order to access the network, the terminal has to scan your face. Let's go.

Dad: Give it to me. Y/n, watch him.

Dad takes the stick and heads into the mess hall. Mayfeld and I watch close by as he starts the process.

Computer: Error. Error. Facial scan incomplete.

This is not going well.

Dad tries again and it still doesn't work. Eventually he does what I thought he'd die before he ever did, and takes off his helmet.

The computer allows him in and everything was going great... until "Valin" started calling for Dad.

Valin: Trooper.

Mayfeld and I watch Dad hurriedly get coordinates as Valin stands up and goes to him.

Valin: Hey, trooper!

Dad snatches the stick and faces Valin, standing at attention.

Valin: Pay attention when a superior officer addresses you. What's your designation?

Dad: Transport crew.

Valin: What?

Mayfeld: (to me) He's gonna get caught. Stay here.

I stay behind as Mayfeld rushes over and intervenes.

Mayfeld: This is my Commanding Officer TK-593, sir. I'm Imperial Combat Assault Transport Lieutenant TK-111, sir. I'm afraid you're gonna have to speak up to him a little bit, since his vessel lost pressure in Taanab.

Valin: (loudly) What's your name, Officer?

Dad hesitates to answer, so Mayfeld speaks again.

Mayfeld: We just call him "Brown Eyes". Isn't that right, Officer?

Dad nods as Mayfeld slaps his back.

Mayfeld: Let's go fill out those TPS reports, so we can go recharge the power coils.

Dad and Mayfeld start to walk towards me, but Valin stops them.

Valin: You're not dismissed.

Mayfeld and Dad turn and stand at attention, as Valin faces them.

Valin: You're the tank troopers that delivered the shipment of rhydonium?

Mayfeld: Yes, sir.

Dad: Yes... sir.

Valin: Where's your Combat Driver?

Crap. Here we go. I walk up and stand on Dad's right, saluting. Valin eyes me up and down.

Valin: (to Mayfeld) This one hard of hearing too, Lieutenant?

Mayfeld: No, sir. He's mute. Him and his unit we're captured by Saw Gerrera several years ago. Torture tactics. Cut out his tongue and gave him some serious facial scars. He never takes off his helmet. We just call him "No-Face".

"No-Face"?! Ohhoho, I'm gonna kill him.

Valin eyes me again and addresses all three of us.

Valin: Well, you three managed to be the only transport today to deliver their shipment.

Valin pats Dad and Mayfeld's shoulders.

Valin: Come with me. Let's get a drink. (looks at me and chuckles) "No-Face".

Later, we sat at a table with Valin, as he poured drinks for Dad and Mayfeld.

Valin: So what should we toast to, boys? I can blather on about "to health" or "to success", but I'd like to do something a little less rote. Where you from, Brown Eyes?

Dad struggles to come up with an answer, so Mayfeld once again saves him.

Mayfeld: How 'bout a toast to Operation Cinder?

Valin: (impressed) Now there's a man who knows his history.

Mayfeld: No, I don't just know it. I lived it. I was in Burnin Konn.

Valin: Burnin Konn? That was hard day. I had to make many unpleasant decisions.

Mayfeld: Yes, you did. Entire city gone in moments, along with everybody in it. We lost our whole division that day.

Damn. Maybe Miggs has seen some stuff.

Mayfeld: Man, that was like 5 to 10,000 people.

Valin: Yep. All heroes of the Empire.

Mayfeld. Yeah. And all dead.

Valin: Well, it's a small sacrifice for the greater good, son.

Mayfeld: Depends on who you ask, don't ya think?

Valin: What you gettin' at, trooper?

Mayfeld: All those people, the ones who died, was it good for them? Hmm? Their families? The guys I served with? Civilians, those poor mud-scuffers, died defending their homes, fighting for freedom. Was it good for 'em?

Valin: But we've outlasted them, son. They're eatin' themselves alive. The New Republic is in complete disarray, and we grow stronger. You see, with the rhydonium you delivered, we can create havoc that's gonna make Burnin Konn just pale by comparison. And then they're gonna turn to us once again.

Valin leans forward and puts his hands on the table.

Valin: You see, boys, everybody thinks they want freedom, but what they really want is order. And when they realize that, they're gonna welcome us back with open arms.

Valin then raises his cup, grinning sinisterly.

Valin: To the Empire.

Mayfeld smiles, before whipping out his blaster and shooting Valin straight in the chest. Dad and I look at Mayfeld in shock as we see a trooper look at us, surprised.

Mayfeld shoots the trooper and Dad grabs Valin's blaster as I slam an officer on the table and grab his blaster before the three of us mow down everyone in the mess hall.

Mayfeld: You did what you had to do.

Mayfeld grabs the tank trooper helmet and hands it to Dad.

Mayfeld: I never saw your face.

Mayfeld turns away and Dad smiles, putting the helmet on.

More Imps starting firing at us, coming from the shipping bay.

Mayfeld: This way!

We climb up on the sill and shoot down several more troopers.

Y/n: Now!

The three of us kick one of the sunblockers off and crawl outside, shimmying along the side. Troopers started to follow us, but get sniped from a distance, courtesy of Cara, Fennec, and Zero.

We start climbing up, as more troopers started exiting and following us, but continue to get sniped or shot by us.

Y/n: Come on, Mayfeld, move!

Mayfeld: The hell do you think I'm doin'?

We make it to the top, and run to the edge as Boba flies in and levels the ramp inside at us.

We jump and all make it, firing back as Boba flies off.

Mayfeld: Hand me that cycler rifle.

Dad hands the rifle to him and Mayfled aims at the rhydonium tanks, blowing up the whole hub with it.

Mayfeld hands the rifle to me.

Mayfeld: We all need to sleep at night.

As we strap in, we hear an alarm blare and Boba comes on the comm.

Boba: (over comm) We got company. Hang on!

We hold on to the bottom of our seats, as Slave 1 avoids blaster fire from the TIE Fighters.

I fall out of my seat and look down to see Boba had jettisoned something at the TIEs and watched it destroy them both with a seismic blast.

Y/n: Since when did this thing carry seismic charges?!

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

We land the ship near where Cara, Fennec, and Zero had taken their sniping posts and regroup with them. Dad and I were back in our armors and walked down with Mayfeld as Fennec and Zero went in the ship.

Mayfeld: Well, looks like it's back to the scrap heap.

Dad: Thank you for helping.

Mayfeld: Yeah. Uh, good luck getting the kid back.

Y/n: Listen, Mayfeld, I don't say this a lot, but I'm sorry.

Mayfeld looked like his jaw was about to hit the dirt.

Mayfeld: You're sorry? For what?

Y/n: Clearly, I was being prejudiced. Just because you wore their symbol, didn't mean you liked what you did back then. And for that I'm sorry.

Mayfeld: Well, thanks Y/n. I, uh, appreciate it.

Mayfeld holds his arms out to Cara.

Mayfeld: All right, Officer. Take me back.

Cara: That was some nice shooting back there.

Mayfeld: Oh. You saw that? Yeah that, uh, that wasn't part of the plan. I was just gettin' some stuff off my chest.

Y/n: Miggs, join us.

Mayfeld looked at me again, surprised.

Mayfeld: What?

Y/n: I said "join us". Clearly you hate the Empire. And to be honest, we'll need all the blasters we can get if we're gonna get inside the Moff's personal cruiser. So, what do you say?

Mayfeld looks at Dad as he nods. He looks to Cara.

Cara: I'll still be keeping my eye on you. But he has a point.

Mayfeld looks back me and sighs.

Mayfeld: Ah, what the hell? I still got more crap to get off my chest. I'm in.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

After leaving Morak, everyone was down in the passenger compartment of the ship. It was time to get Gideon scared.

I look at Dad and he nods at me as I begin my recording to send to the Moff.

Y/n: Moff Gideon. The Empire may have ruled this galaxy for a time, but that time has passed. The Jedi, Mandalore, Alderaan, all have been decimated by the Empire. But those who still remember fight on. I am Y/n Alrox Djarin. Son of Din Djarin. And the Child, that you took from us, will soon be back with my father and I. Your constant underestimation of your enemies is your number one flaw. And when we find you, Moff, there's no moon, no planet, no damned galaxy, where you'll be able to hide from us. So you prep whatever you've got on that cruiser of yours. 'Cause even then, it won't be enough to stop us.

(BOOM! THAT'S "THE BELIEVER" DONE! NEXT UP IS THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THIS BOOK! SEE YOU GUYS THEN!)