I stood around the holo table with Windu and Anakin. Annaxes was taking to long. But thankfully 2/3rds of the gar had their chips removed.
"The droids have overrun our main production facility. It won't be long before the separatists take Anaxes, compromising our entire reserve fleet." Windu said.
The familiar subtle thud of durasteel made me turn my head.
"Pardon the interruption, General, but Rex here has a good theory on why we keep, uh...losing." Cody said
"Please, Captain." Windu said
"The droid army uses analytics to predict our strategy. The first time we use a tactic it's very effective. The next, less so. In fact the more we use a certain tactic, the less effective it becomes. They learn our tendencies and use that data against us. To counter them, we're constantly working out way to vary our attack." Rex said
"But the losses we are experiencing on Anaxes are not commonplace." Windu said
"Exactly. The counterattacks are so specific, it my strategy the droids know, my playbook." Rex said
"My concern is that Rex is one of our best. If the droids can learn to defeat him we may all be vulnerable." Cody said
"What do you propose?" Windu asked.
"Let Rex and me take a small squad behind enemy lines. There's a Seperatist Cyber Center which relays all battlefield intel to their command ship. If we're going to find anything it will be there." Cody said
"If you think it will help turn this fight around get going." Windu said
"I should go as well they don't know much about my playbook should we get attacked they won't have any of my strategies." I said Windu nodded
"Thank you General." Rex said
"Rex is there anything else?" Anakin asked
"No, General."he replied. I followed the two out and towards the barracks. Rex went into the 501sts barracks well I prepped my gear. I poked my head up when Cody walked by I stood and followed him into the barracks.
"Come on, Rex. Time to move out." Cody said
"Fives, Echo and before that, Hevy. There's so many troopers gone." Rex sighed
"Yeah regular folk don't understand. Sometimes in war it's hard to be the one that survives." Cody said.
"Thats what I'm worried about." Rex said
"Well, what do you mean?" I asked confusion lined my brow.
"I didn't tel the Generals. They might think I'm crazy. In fact you might think I'm crazy." He said
"What is it?" Cody asked
"I think Echos alive." He said
"That's impossible. He died at the citadel." I said
"The way the droids are countering us here, the strategies I'm using, they're all old battle plans Echo and I drew up together." Rex said
"Look, Rex I hear what you're saying. But it's just not possible." Cody said
"I hope your right. But the fact is, Echo's fingerprints are all over these seperatist strategies." Rex said
"Rex. You have to admit what you're saying is a long shot at best, and most likely misplaced hope. I need you to be focused on this." Cody said
"I-I know, I know. Don't worry." Rex said.
"So what squad are we taking in?" I asked
"Clone Force 99." Cody said. We stepped out of the barracks. Kix Jesse and Victory where sitting on the edge.
"I've heard mixed things about these guys." Jesse said.
"They have a 100% success rate." Kix said we walked past them and they stood to follow us.
"It's not that they win, it's how they win that worries us." Victory said
We walked out onto the hangar.
"Repeat, coming in hot on platform TT-3-9-7." The announce said a ship rocketed into the hangar.
"Clear the airfield." Clones shouted. Crates where blown back.
The ship came to a stop. We approached I smirked at the nose art of Padme.
"So why haven't I heard of this squad?" Rex asked
"Experimental unit Clone Force 99, they're defective clones with uh... desirable mutations." Cody explained
"99, hey? Nice touch." Victory commented.
"They call themselves "the Bad Batch." Cody said I chuckled
" a tad bit dramatic no?" I chuckled. The ramp lowered and four clones stepped out in modified dark grey and red armor.
"The cavalry has arrived!" The largest one shouted I chuckled.
They walked towards us. Removing their helmets the first one had a skull tatoo on half of his face.
"These guys are clones? They don't look like clones to me." Kix whispered.
"Sergeant, good to see you again." Cody said. They pulled into a Mandalorian hand shake
"You too, sir" he replied
"This is Hunter." Cody introduced
"Sorry we're late, commander. We were putting down an insurrection on Yalbec Prime when your comm came in. Had a few unforeseen... complications." Hunter said the larger clone chuckled
" ever fought a male Yalbec?" He asked
" Um, no. Can't say I have." Jesse said
"You're lucky. The only way to kill'em is with one of these." He whipped out a blade made from the stinger of a Yalbec queen I chuckled.
"That's right. Wrecker here cut off the Queens stinger while she was still alive. That's why all those Yalbec males tried to eat us." Hunter said
"Uh, technically they were trying to mate with us. And for your information, the stinger of a Yalbec queen is a delicacy on some planets." The brunett pipped up pushing past Hunter and Wrecker.
"They call him Tech." Cody introduced Hunter slugged him in the arm
"Yeah he can fill your head with useless info for hours. Crosshair, on the other hand, is not much of a conversationalist, but when you have to hit a precise target from ten klicks, Crosshairs your man. So, commander, what kind of suicide mission do you have for us this time?" Hunter asked. A gunship came up behind us
"Let's get going. Well brief you on the way." Cody said we all loaded onto the gunship. Wrecker slugged Jesse making him stumble before sitting on the edge. We took off.
The ship was bathed in a red glow. Crosshair stared down Jesse I chuckled as the Arc shifted uncomfortably.
"What are you looking at?" He asked defensively.
"We don't usually work with regs." He said flicking his toothpick at Jesse.
"Regs!" Jesse scowled.
"He's talking about regular clones." Hunter said." But don't take it personal."
"We're all on the same team, so cut the attitude and listen up. Here's the mission. Our target is this cyber center. It's the brains of the entire separatist campaign here on Anaxes. " Cody explained
"I could demolish that with one hand! Yeah!" Wrecker exclaimed.
" this isn't a demo job Wrecker. It's strictly a retrieval operation." Cody explained. Wrecker pouted. I shifted slightly and noticed Tech staring at me intently.
"You alright there?" I asked him
"Yes. Your armor it's pure beskar right?" He asked I went to stand beside him.
"Yep. " I chuckled his mouth gaped slightly.
"You guys were the clone cadets Arc15 was training when I was on kamino weren't you?" He didn't get to answer
The ship jerked side to side.
"Incoming fire!" The pilot said through the comlinks we pitched upwards before we rocketed back down.
"We're going down!" Wrecker laughed. The ship slammed into the ground sliding across the ground. We stumbled around inside. Tech coughed. Wrecker got out first pulling Tech and Jesse up. Victory hoisted Kix from the wreckage.
I climbed out behind Hunter Rex beside me
"We always get shot down when we travel with regs." Wrecker shouted
"Cody!Help!" Kix shouted I hopped up beside him Cody was pinned under some of the wreckage." He's trapped! We have to do something." Kix shouted
"I'll get him." Rex rushed towards the ship Hunter stopped him
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy, Captain. Wrecker get him out." Hunter barked
"Get back!" Wrecker cracked his knuckles and Kix and I stepped away.
"This is ridiculous! He's gonna need help to get Cody out of there." Victory protested Crosshair chuckled
"He's gonna get the gunship out of there. Not Cody." Crosshair said.
We watched as Wrecker lifted up the edge of the gunship flipping it onto its opposite side picking up Cody. He started walking back
"Boom." He shouted. The gunship exploded behind him. We rushed forward as he eased Cody to the ground. Kix knelt beside him scanning him as Cody groaned in pain.
"He has internal damage. I can cut the pain. But he needs help fast." Kix said urgently
"We all need help. That blast gave away our position." Crosshair said
"I thought getting shot down gave away our position." Hunter said
"Everyone find cover" Rex barked." We'll hold this position and let them come to us."
" I don't think so Captain. That's not our style. We prefer going to them" Hunter said."Bad Batch! Plan 82, Shockwave" he barked I chuckled. Wrecker grabbed the gunship door and the four rushed the droids. I chuckled.
"Anymore? Come on!" Wrecker shouted. We walked towards them . Kix and Victory supporting Cody between them.
"That was some show you put on just now." Rex said
"Just doing our job, Captain." Hunter replied. Wrecker laughed
"Look Crosshair this little clanker likes you." He said shoving a droid head in the snipers face
"Grow up Wrecker." He scoffed.
"We should move out before reinforcements arrive. Our position has been compromised." Rex said.
Authors note:
We're not going to have Victory know about echos CT number because suspense but she will be in there when Rex and Tech open the stasis pod.