Code Nexus

Cassian surveyed the situation as he waited for the pre-planned signal from Nia to go off. After more than a minute passed, he glanced at Dorian and the other AU soldiers trying their best to control them at the overflowing east gate.

He could see powers clash, and the sounds of gunfire, along with battle cries, could be heard. He nodded at the odds of the rebels winning.

He checked himself and then started running his hands through his hair, messing it up. He ruffled his clothes and pulled his shirt out. Now he looked like he was fighting.

He kept his movements calm and deliberate. The key was to appear like he had been involved in the battle, like a soldier who had been fighting to defend the base. It is funny when you think about it.

With the chaos he had caused, he felt a little more free now that he had broken the rules.

He glanced down at his destroyed headset, now just a small pile of crushed plastic and wires in his pocket. He destroyed it to distance himself from the rebels, but he could no longer contact Nia. He needed to trust that she and the rebels were following the plan and would get the convoy soon.

The wait was long but definitely worth it.

With his disheveled appearance set, Cassian made his way back toward Dorian, making sure he looked tired and stressed as he approached.

His mind was on a roll with ideas and plans as he thought on how to distract Dorian for just a little longer. The rebels were counting on him to buy them time as much as he could.

"Dorian!" Cassian shouted, "We've got a problem on the right flank. The rebels are pressing hard there, and we need more men to reinforce the position, or they're going to overrun it!"

Dorian turned to face him, his expression hard and focused. He was clearly suspicious, but the chaos of the battlefield left him little time to question everything.

His eyes scanned Cassian's disheveled appearance—the messed-up hair, the rumpled clothes—and for a moment, he seemed to believe that Cassian had been fighting alongside the others.

"The right flank? Are you sure? I thought they were pushing hardest at the east gate," Dorian said, his voice sharp with doubt.

Cassian nodded quickly, keeping his expression serious. He knew that Dorian had no time to think and he had to make decisions quickly so Cassian used this opportunity and pushed Dorain more.

"They're pushing at both spots. The east gate is a distraction! They're trying to split our forces. If we don't send more men to the right flank, they're going to break through and take out the whole line."

Cassian made an effort to block Dorian's view of the east gate and forced him to look at the right flank where the security was thin. Cassian was not wrong; after all, the convoy was supposed to arrive on the right flank, so it was a high-alert place.

Dorian frowned; he glanced back at the east gate but was blocked by Cassian. The rebels had already made significant progress no matter where he looked, and Dorian wasn't the type to abandon a fight halfway through.

But Cassian knew he had to keep the pressure on.

"If we lose the right flank, we'll be surrounded!" his voice rose with urgency. "We need to move now!"

Dorian hesitated for a moment longer, his mind filled with worries as he tried to assess the situation. Cassian could see the doubt flickering in his eyes, the struggle to make the right decision under intense pressure.

But then, finally, Dorian gave a sharp nod.

"Fine," he said, "I'll send reinforcements to the right flank. But I'm staying here at the east gate. If we lose this position, the whole base is compromised."

Cassian felt a wave of relief wash over him, though he kept his face neutral. "Good. I'll head over to the right and help hold them off."

Dorian didn't even look at him as he waved Cassian off, already barking new orders to the soldiers around him. Cassian sighed and took the opportunity to slip away, moving quickly but not too quickly—he didn't want to draw any suspicion.

He glanced back over his shoulder and saw that Dorian was now fully focused on the east gate again, shouting orders and trying to keep the AU soldiers from falling apart.

The distraction had worked. Now it was up to the rebels to finish the job.

Cassian made his way toward a side corridor, away from the thick of the fighting. He found a small corner where he could hide for a moment, catching his breath as he watched the battle unfold from a distance.

The rebels were pushing even harder now, and the AU forces were starting to falter. The convoy—the real target of the attack—was parked just beyond the east gate, and it wouldn't be long before the rebels reached it.

As he crouched in the shadows, Cassian heard a distant explosion—not too far from where he was hiding. That was the signal. Nia had done it. The rebels were making their final move.

A small smile cracked on his face as he made a fist and pumped it in victory. This was his first step to prove and free himself to the world and his father.

Cassian's heart raced with excitement and tension. He peeked out from his hiding spot and saw the rebels breaking through the AU lines, making their way toward the convoy. The AU soldiers, still confused and overwhelmed, were scrambling to respond, but the rebels had the upper hand now.

Cassian watched as the rebels reached the convoy. They moved fast, making sure to be as fluid as water, some climbing into the vehicles while others provided cover fire. The people with Bands clashed again and again; no side had a clear victory.

The sound of freedom and rules echoed through the air, but the rebels were clearly in control. The convoy was theirs.

Dorian, still focused on the east gate, hadn't noticed the rebels taking the convoy yet. Cassian knew that once Dorian realized what had happened, it would be too late. The rebels would be long gone by then.

He had done it. He had successfully distracted Dorian along with the whole AU, and now the rebels had the convoy. He took one last glance at the battlefield before stepping out of his hiding spot.

Dorian was getting angry as the moments passed; he was fighting as well as helping hold the line of defense with orders, trying to regain control of the situation.

Cassian made his way back toward him, keeping his expression grim. He needed to make it look like he had been doing his part the whole time.

"Dorian!" Cassian shouted as he approached. "The rebels—they broke through the right flank! We tried to hold them off, but—"

He had to act powerless right now to gain their trust so when the time came, he could be underestimated.

Dorian turned to him, his face twisted with frustration and anger. "What? How did they—"

He stopped mid-sentence as his eyes flickered toward the convoy in the distance. The rebels were already pulling out, driving the vehicles away from the base.

"No!" Dorian shouted, his voice filled with rage. He grabbed a nearby soldier by the arm. "Get those vehicles back! Don't let them escape!"

But it was too late. The rebels were already on the move, speeding away from the base with the convoy in tow. The AU forces were in no position to give chase, still struggling to hold the east gate. Dorian's face twisted with fury as he watched the convoy disappear into the distance.

Cassian kept his expression neutral, laced with guilt, though only he knew his true feelings of triumph inside him.

The plan had worked perfectly, although with a few hiccups. The rebels had their prize, and Dorian had no idea that Cassian had been working against him the entire time.

Dorian turned to Cassian, his eyes blazing with anger. "We lost the convoy," his voice was low and dangerous. "How did this happen?"

Cassian shook his head, playing the part of a frustrated and tired soldier. "We did everything we could," he said, keeping his voice steady. "But the rebels were too well-coordinated. They must have had inside information."

Dorian's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. "Inside information?" He spat the words, clearly furious at the possibility of that happening. "We'll find out who's responsible for this."

Cassian nodded, doing his best to look serious, hiding the glint of excitement from his eyes. "We'll get them next time," he said, though he knew that by then, the damage would already be done.

The rebels had won this round, and Cassian had played his part perfectly, thus fulfilling his promise.

As the sounds of battle began to die down, Cassian allowed himself one last glance at the horizon, where the rebels had disappeared with the convoy.

The fight wasn't over yet, but for now, the rebels had secured a crucial victory—thanks to him.