Mayfeld, toiling away in the scrapyard, couldn’t understand why Marshal Cara Dune had brought him to a ship. When Boba Fett in full armor stepped off the vessel, he was startled. Then, seeing the Mandalorian, his heart sank—he thought his time was up. Only when he learned they needed his Imperial system access to locate Moff Gideon’s cruiser did he relax. But this wouldn’t earn him freedom—at best, a sunnier cell.
Getting the cruiser’s coordinates wasn’t hard, but it required accessing an Imperial terminal. The only place Mayfeld could think of was the refinery on Morak, a secret Imperial mining hub used to stabilize volatile rhydonium into powerful explosives. Built atop a dam, the refinery was guarded by rows of stormtroopers, with anti-aircraft guns on the dam itself. A direct assault by the Mandalorian’s small team was nearly impossible.
The Slave I landed near the refinery. After scouting, they concluded infiltration was their only option. But sending Mayfeld alone was too risky. Both Boba and Fennec were wanted by the Empire—their genetic signatures would trigger alarms. Cara, a former Imperial trooper turned rebel, was also too recognizable. The Mandalorian decided he would accompany Mayfeld on the mission.
The Mandalorian, Mayfeld, and Cara jumped onto an Imperial heavy hauler transporting rhydonium at a tunnel entrance. After subduing the two drivers, the Mandalorian and Mayfeld disguised themselves in stormtrooper armor. Cara carried the Mandalorian’s gear and regrouped with Fennec and Boba.
The journey to the refinery was perilous. The Mandalorian saw pure hatred in the eyes of the local inhabitants. Soon, distress calls crackled over the comms—the two trucks ahead exploded one after another. Local rebels on speeders swarmed the hauler, planting thermal detonators on the cargo. Since the rhydonium was highly unstable, Mayfeld couldn’t speed away. The Mandalorian didn’t hesitate—he drew his blaster, picking off attackers climbing onto the truck. When he ran out of ammo, he leaped onto the roof, fighting hand-to-hand to protect the payload.
But more rebels closed in, carrying explosives. A single detonation near the rhydonium would doom them all. As the dam came into view, two TIE fighters swooped down, strafing the rebels. Dozens of stormtroopers rushed out from the dam, forming a defensive perimeter and escorting the truck into the refinery.
The Mandalorian never thought he’d be so relieved to see stormtroopers. Theirs was the only truck that made it that day, and the stormtroopers cheered the Mandalorian’s bravery. Heroes are heroes everywhere, but the Mandalorian cared little for praise—he needed that terminal. There was one in the officers’ mess. Mayfeld entered but immediately stepped back out. Officer Valin was inside—Mayfeld had served under him. Though Mayfeld worked field ops and might not be recognized, he didn’t want to risk it.
The Mandalorian had to proceed alone. He inserted the data chip, removed his helmet, and passed the facial scan to retrieve the coordinates. Mayfeld watched nervously from a distance. When Valin approached the Mandalorian, he broke into a cold sweat. Valin asked the Mandalorian for his designation, leaving him speechless. Just in time, Mayfeld rushed over and smoothly recited a TK number.
Valin didn’t suspect a thing—he only wanted to share a drink with the two soldiers who’d braved rebel attacks. Reluctantly, the Mandalorian sat, uncomfortable showing his face. As Valin poured drinks and pondered a toast, Mayfeld suddenly proposed: "To Operation: Cinder." He recounted how, after the Emperor’s death, his unit had been abandoned by the Empire. To lure Republic forces, Imperial ships destroyed the city he was stationed in—killing thousands of brothers. Yet Valin had survived here, shamelessly. To Mayfeld’s fury, Valin not only showed no remorse but seemed proud, as if those troops deserved to die for the Emperor.
Blinded by rage, Mayfeld drew his blaster and shot Valin dead. Alarms blared; guards stormed in. The Mandalorian grabbed his helmet, kicked out a vent grate, and climbed outside the dam. Cara provided sniper cover from a ridge as they scaled the dam’s exterior. Boba arrived in the Slave I while Fennec picked off the anti-aircraft gunners, clearing their escape.
Once aboard the Slave I, Mayfeld’s anger still burned. He fired at a rhydonium truck outside the warehouse—triggering a massive explosion that obliterated the refinery.
Back in his armor, the Mandalorian thanked Mayfeld for his help and for keeping his face a secret. Moved by the day’s events, Cara decided then and there to grant Mayfeld his freedom. As for the prison records—she’d report him killed in the refinery explosion. No one would ever know.
With the coordinates in hand, the Mandalorian sent a message to Moff Gideon: he was coming for Grogu.