"What what just happened?" asked Echo as he didn't know why the regs killed general depa bilaba.
"The comm channel is repeating one directive. Execute order 66." said tech
"Yeah I heard that too. What's order 66? asked wrecker completely unaware of the order given to all the clones.
"I am not certain." said Tech
"Crosshair Tech talk to the reg captain find out what you can. Echo you and I will track down the kid and make sure nothing happens to him. Wrecker stall anyone who tries to follow us." said Hunter as he and echo go to find caleb
The two bad batch clones run down through the snow with Hunter tracking down the Padawan.
"He's close."
"I think i see him." said Echo as he spotted the Padawan even though he didn't have crosshair's vision
"Come on down kid we're here to help." said Hunter hoping to convince the traumatized Padawan.
"Yeah kid come down or the regs will come after all of us." said Echo
"Liar!" said Caleb as he remained on the tree.
"We're just as confused as you are kid. Come down and we'll keep you safe from the others." said Hunter as he and Echo remove their helmet and drop their weapons and seeing this causes Caleb to come down with the 2 batch members.
"Where's the Padawan?" said one of the regs
"Yeah don't worry hunter's handling it." said wrecker
"We have orders from the supreme chancellor himself." said the reg
"That's great but like I said hunter's handling it." said wrecker
"Step aside trooper!" commanded the reg as his group ran to find the Padawan.
"Sure thing boss." sarcastically stated wrecker.
"Hunter you got regs inbound." said wrecker as he commed Hunter
"We have a situation."
"Tell me something i don't know Tech." said Hunter
"It appears the regs have been ordered to execute the Jedi." stated Tech
"what which Jedi?" asked hunter still dumbfounded at what tech was saying
"All of them. they're saying that the Jedi have committed treason." said Tech
"That would explain things." said crosshair which was caught through the comms.
"It doesn't begin to explain things." said Hunter
"i suggest you get back here. Crosshair is going haywire now and he's heading to you guys." said Tech
"Copy that." said Echo as they ran and they meet up with the rest of the batch and crosshair seeing the Padawan begins to aim his sniper at Caleb which causes Wrecker to give crosshair a knock to the head knocking crosshair out.
"Carry crosshair to the ship." said Hunter as wrecker did so as the batch and Caleb get on the ship.
"Crosshair's been strange every since the reg explained the order to us. He said something along the lines of "good soldiers follow orders" said Tech
"Echo stun him if he wakes up once we are on the marauder." said Hunter as Echo nodded in compliance.
As the marauder leaves hyperspace they approach kamino.
"We're coming up on kamino." announced Tech
"It's good to be home. How long has it been." said wrecker
"180 rotations in a standard cycle but galactic zone changes put the adjusted figure at around 205." explained Tech
"What?" said wrecker
"uhh a long time." explained Echo
"You got that right." said Wrecker
On the ship Hunter went to Caleb as he told the padawan.
"We have to cut that hair and you gotta look different. Here this was my cadet shirt from my young days." said Hunter as he cut Caleb's hair and gave him the cadet shirt Hunter had.
"What?" said Hunter as he saw crosshair on his seat
"What happened to the Padawan." asked crosshair
"I stunned him when he hit the ground he didn't stick the landing on the tree. I threw the body off the cliff" said Hunter
"You sure that Padawan died when he fell?" asked crosshair
"Sure I'm sure. Why?" replied Hunter
"Well usually when someone calls you look down not across." said crosshair
"Well some of us don't like to watch." said Hunter
On the ship they approached kamino when 2 ships came into contact with them.
"Unidentified transport transmit your clearance codes." said the pilot
"Clearance code? Don't they know who we are?" said Echo
"Must be a protocol drill." said Tech as he proceeds to give them the clearance code.
"Transmitting clearance codes." said Tech as he sent them
"Authorization confirmed proceed to landing bay 1 tag 1." said the pilot
The havoc marauder proceeds to land on the landing bay and the batch and Caleb who is in a clone disguise get off the ship as they return from their missions.
"Level 5 lockdown remains in effect." said the announcer as it proceeded to say something unreadable.
"Shock troopers what's the courscant guard doing here?" said Hunter looking shocked
"Level 5 lockdown remains in effect. Security team report to the command center." repeated the announcer
"This isn't a drill." explained Tech
"Aww man what did we miss now?" complained wrecker
"The end of the war." said the shock trooper
"Say again trooper." said Hunter
"General grievous was defeated on utapau. The separatist leadership has collapsed. The war is over." explained the shock trooper.
"Just like I said." said Tech
"Uhh it is just like you said." replied Wrecker
Hunter sees the covered body of a dead Jedi being carried by 2 shock troopers and the lightsaber falls out the hand only to be picked up by the shock trooper.
"Is there a problem?" said the shock trooper as echo, wrecker, and hunter look with a questioning look.
"No problem. We'll just head to our barracks then." said Hunter
"Best hurry there's a mandatory general assembly at 1500." stated the shock trooper as the batch walk into the facilities.
The batch notice that all the clones have been acting strange.
"Not just the clones on kaller. All the regs are acting strange."
"Let's test that theory out. Excuse me trooper what division are you from?" asked tech as the reg pushes through Tech
"Step aside." said the reg
"Oh well they seem the same to me." said Tech
The batch enter their barracks after their walkthrough on kamino.
"Hah good to be back." said wrecker
"The smell's getting worse." commented Echo
"You're still new you'll get used to it." said Hunter
"Speak for yourself." commented crosshair
"welp I'll get the board." said wrecker as he uses his knife to tally up the successful missions as the rest of the batch sit down
"11 more successful missions. Hah like there was any doubt."
"Kaller wasn't a win." replied Echo
"Says who? We completed our objective." said Wrecker
"Not every objective." said crosshair as he chimes in with his response which causes the batch to look at.him
"Hunter let that Jedi kid escape or do you want to keep lying to us?" said crosshair which gained hunter's attention as he stood up back turned.
"I'd like to think of executing our commanders as a mission objective." argued Hunter
"An order is an order." commented crosshair
"Since when?" asked Hunter
"None of this makes sense. Those clone served alongside general bilaba for years how could they turn on her like that!" exclaimed Echo as tech began to reply
"Because of the regs programming." replied Tech
"What programming?" questioned Hunter
"It's been well documented that the kaminoans inhibited the cognitive functions of clones to engineer them to follow orders without question." replied Tech
"Hah we sure don't!" replied Wrecker as he put an arm around crosshair with his Lula
"Obviously we are different. They manipulated preexisting abhorations in our DNA resulting in your brute strength, crosshair's sharpshooting skills, hunter's enhanced senses, and my exceptional mind. My guess is we are immune to the effects of the programming thought i can't be 100 percent certain of it." explained Tech as he gave a quick look at crosshair.
"What about Echo he was a reg before he joined us." said Hunter as he didn't know why Echo didn't follow through.
"Yeah if regs were programmed why didn't I react like the others?" asked Echo
"The damage you sustained in skako minor most likely wiped out all of your preset behavioral modifications. You are more machine than man percentage wise at least." explained Echo
"Uhh lucky me." said Echo
"All personnel please report to the staging area for a briefing on the state of the republic." said the announcer
"This is one meeting i do not want to miss." replied Hunter as Tech quickly tapped into the briefing presentation and gave it to Caleb who was hidden in the barracks away from crosshair
"First time for everything." replied Tech
"And the Jedi rebellion has been foiled. The remaining Jedi will be hunted down and defeated. The attempt on my life has left me scarred and deformed."
"You can say that again." commented wrecker which earned him a look from Echo
"But i assure you my resolve has never been stronger." said palpatine as Hunter looked at where the kaminoans were at and he sees a female human over there who looks at him as well and realizes who that is.
"In order to insure the security and continuing stability."
"What is it?" asked Tech as Hunter look up and didn't see the young female.
"The republic will be reorganized into the first..."
"Nothing." said Hunter as the speech was still being given
"... Galactic empire!" said palpatine as echo questioned it
"Galactic empire?"
For a safe and securer society." finished palpatine as all the regs began to cheer some fists raised and some cheering
"Still don't think the regs are programmed?" asked tech as Hunter did not reply.
"Galactic empire we're soldiers of the republic." said Echo
"Republic empire what's the difference?" said crosshair as Hunter stops in his tracks
"The systematic termination of the Jedi is a big one for me." said Tech
"Lads we got company." said Hunter as they look behind to see the same girl from the staging area.
"Hello." said the young female
"What's that?" said Wrecker as he looked at her with curiousity
"Adolescent female origins uncertain." said tech
"My name's Omega i was wondering when you guys would come back." replied Omega
"You know who we are?" said Hunter
"Hunter Echo Tech Wrecker and crosshair. you're clone force 99." replied Omega
"What are you doing on kamino kid?" asked hunter as the looked above to see Nala Se
"Her job of course. She is my medical assistant one with a curious mind that causes her to wander come Omega there is work to do." said nala se as she and Omega go to do some work.
"This day keeps getting weirder and weirder." commented Hunter
A ship arrives and clones are already in attention as the ship drops admiral tarkin off to see the prime minister.
"Admiral tarkin this news is most surprising. chancellor palpatine has always supported our cloning advancements in the past." said Lama Su
"Emperor palpatine's priorities have changed. With the war at an end the need for future clones is being questioned." explained tarkin
"Our contract stipulate the continued production." explained Lama Su
"Your contracts were with the republic which no longer exists.
"Surely you.realize the precarious state this newly formed empire is in. Clone troopers will be needed to maintain order throughout the galaxy." countered the kaminoan PM.
"Indeed a service conscripted soldiers can provide at half the cost." replied tarkin
"The skill level and efficiency of our clones is superior to that of any recruited body." said Lama Su.
"I shall be the judge of that prime minister." said tarkin as he gets up to leave the meeting area.
At the mess hall Omega looks down on all the other clones and one of the regs getting his food comments.
"His shuttle arrived earlier today. I heard he's evaluating all the clones. Good it's about time someone..." said the 2 regs as their conversation fades away as Hunter gets his food and goes to his table.
"Clones being programmed. nothing controls me." said Wrecker
"Wrecker it is a logical conclusion that you're affinity for destruction would stem from your conditioning." explained Tech
"You take that back." said wrecker as tech continues his explanation.
"I am merely stating a scientific hypothesis based on factual data." explained tech
"Oh well i got a fact for you. I like blowing things up because I LIKE TO BLOW THINGS UP! Got it?" yelled wrecker as he pounds that table with his fists which causes all other regs to look at the table where the batch are sitting as Hunter makes his way to the table.
"Well I'm convinced." said crosshair
"An imperial has been sent to evaluate all the clones. everybody's talking about it." said Hunter
"What kind of evaluation?" said echo
"Hopefully not mental clearly we'd never pass that." said tech as he and echo look at wrecker
"Hello again." said Omega as she sat with the bad batch as they looked at her in questioning looks
"Omega from earlier." said Omega
"Huh?" wondered wrecker
"In the corridor." said Omega
"Yeah kid we remember. Don't you have some place to be?" asked Hunter
"No I'll stay." said Omega
"You want to stay? That's never happened before." said Tech
"Wow." said wrecker
"I like you. you don't fit in around her either." explained Omega
"What are you really doing here on kamino kid. Don't you have a family somewhere or parents?" asked Hunter
"Parents?" asked Omega as she didn't know what that was
"Check it out the defect squad's got themselves a new recruit. Another member added to the sad batch." said the reg as he kept walking with a chuckle on his face only.to be thrown a space burrito at him
"What the?! Who threw that?" said the reg as he wanted answers
"I did. Now apologize to my friends." demanded Omega
"I like this kid." complimented wrecker
"What did you say to me?" said the regs pointing at Omega
"woah woah woah woah. back off i suggest you keep moving." said Hunter as he didn't want any problems and wrecker gets up
"know your place labscrubber." said the reg as he leaves. only to be thrown with lots of trays of food as he looks back and sees wrecker.
"Oops."
"That's it!" snapped the reg
"Oh YEAH!" said wrecker as he throws another handful of plates at the other reg as Hunter punches the reg that made fun of the batch and dodges a punch
"oh not again." said Echo facepalming as this meant another fight as he too dodges a punch from one of the regs and crosshair keeps eating.
Wrecker body slams 3 regs while Echo kicks a reg and Omega throws a burrito at a clone allowing echo to punch him only for him to be kicked into crosshair's food which causes him to bang his hand on the table and throws a tray at a reg as he loses his patience. Omega meanwhile gets on a reg herself with wrecker throwing a reg while Echo uses the tray to take down a clone and he's pushed down as a reg tries to kick him only for him to be kicked back and Echo notices tarkin who sees the clones fighting the clone gets a tray to knock Echo out.
"Echo watch out." said Tech as Echo has no time to react and gets knocked out.
Echo begins to wake up.in the Medbay with a bit of speaking and he eventually realizes what he is in and pushes the equipment.
"What. Where." said Echo as he got back awake with Azi 3 using the medical equipment to analyze him
"No no get them off." said Echo with a traumatized look on his face
"But my tests are not yet complete." said the medical droid
"Echo Echo it's ok it's me Omega. I understand i don't like being hooked up to these machines either." said Omega as the droid began to speak.
"Greetings CT-1409." said the droid
"His name is Echo." explained Omega
"I am AZ-345211896246498721347 your assigned medical droid." said AZ-3
"Hah! told you he's alive. You owe me 2 credits." said Wrecker
"CT-1409's condition is stable but i have some distressing news for the rest of you. According to your test results you all appear to be genetically defective clones." said Az 3 which causes Wrecker to look shocked with Hunter unfazed and Tech who moves his goggles closer to his eyes.
"I will leave you to process the shock of this revelation." said the droid.
"We've got a problem." said Echo
"Not really. We're more deviant than we are defective." said Tech
"Not that. Admiral tarkin's here. He's the one evaluating the clones." said Echo
"The same tarkin from the citadel rescue when you how should I put this?" said Tech
"Blew up. And turned into that." said Wrecker and crosshair.
"Ah yes. And he's not a big supporter of clones." said Echo
"We'll soon find out. We've been summoned by the prime minister." said Hunter
"Guess he didn't find that mess hall fight amusing hah but i sure did." said wrecker
"Come on let's get this over with." said Hunter as he and the batch leave the Medbay.
"Wait." said Omega catching the attention of the bad batch
"The fight was my fault. I'm going too." said Omega
"Not happening. We'll handle this." said Hunter
"But i" said Omega being cut off by Hunter
"Listen kid. Our squad's nothing but trouble. For you sake, keep your distance. Got it?" said Hunter as he and the batch leave while Omega looks at them disappointed.
The batch proceed to walk to what could be where the prime minister was at when they are disrupted by a shock trooper.
"Where do you think you're going? The training facility is that way." said the trooper
"Training facility?" asked Hunter
"For a battle simulation. Admiral tarkin has requested to see more of your squad in action." said the shock reg
"Then we aren't being reprimanded?" asked Tech
"No you're being tested now go gear up." said the reg
"So we're not in trouble and they want us to fight more?! Hah maybe this new empire not so bad after all." commented wrecker as the batch went to gear up for the test.
At the testing facility, Lama Su and tarkin are awaiting the arrival as the batch are sent up to the battle simulation to perform their test.
"The value of all clone troopers is being challenged by the empire. To demonstrate your effectiveness, a combat proficiency test is in order. Take your positions." said tarkin
"We've done these a thousand times boys. You know what to do." said Hunter as wrecker began to reply
"A battle simulation? Give us a real challenge." said Wrecker as he desired a challenge and the batch take their positions and get ready.
"You may begin." said tarkin as the test began and the training droids and towers activated and begin firing at the batch with the batch returning fire and seeing the shots fired at them they take cover.
"Crosshair take the towers." said Hunter as crosshair began his way to the towers. Hunter meanwhile shoots one of the training droids disabling it as crosshair climbs to one of the towers and using his sniper, he begins to disable all 4 towers and he begins to disable the training droids from a higher ground.
"Move in." directs Hunter as wrecker and Tech move in as they slide down shooting the droids while hunter and Echo move in after the other 2 batch members.
"I'll cover you says Hunter as echo runs in front of Hunter as the other 2 batch members go on the offensive and they find cover and begin to shoot at multiple training droids disabling them and wrecker and tech take cover.
"This is taking way too long." complains wrecker as he runs and shoots a droid and kicks another one and shoots another one, punches another droid to the ground, shoots another one and keeps shooting at the rest with him laughing along the way. Eventually he takes down the final droid.
"What else you got?! Give me more!" yelled wrecker unbeknownst that his wish would come true.
"If the galactic empire is to be stronger than the republic which preceded it, it's soldiers must follow suit. Switch to live fire." commanded tarkin
"Admiral tarkin i must protest, live rounds could damage my clones and my facilities." said Lama Su as he didn't want to go with it.
"For which you will be fairly compensated. Do it." said tarkin as Lama Su looked the kaminoans and nodded for them to switch to live fire. Wrecker turns his back thinking he was done but turns back after seeing something come and is in delight.
"Woahoho. New toys now we're talking." said Wrecker as he moves forward shooting at the droids but to no effect and tries to charge at them only to be blocked and then thrown with the other shooting him in the shoulder knocking him to the ground with him grunting in pain.
"They're using live rounds! Get wrecker we'll cover you."" exclaimed Hunter sounding surprised as Tech as he went to get wrecker while hunter and Echo were providing cover fire.
"Wrecker are you all right?" asked Tech
"ohh i felt that one." said Wrecker as they found cover while the droids were shooting at them. Crosshair meanwhile is using the tower to shoot from above to get the droids attention and they begin shooting at the tower where crosshair is and he flees from the tower and gets down only to be met by more droids.
"Fall back." commanded Hunter as more droids came and tarkin looks cautious about what he's seeing.
"This is going well." said crosshair sarcastically.
"These training blasters are useless on them." said Echo
"Then we improvise. Tarkin wants to test us, let's not disappoint him." replied Hunter as he reveals his face without removing his helmet and whistles to wrecker and Tech to get their attention and makes hand jestures.
"Ow i hate hand signals." complained wrecker
"Perhaps if you memorize them.." said Tech only to be cut off by wrecker
"Why don't you memorize them." argued Wrecker as they were still in cover as the droids shot at them
"I have... what we did on felucia." said tech
"Well why didn't you just say that." asked wrecker as he gave a thumbs up to Hunter as he nods to echo and crosshair giving them the go ahead as they begin providing cover fire with Echo distracting the droids.
"Incoming." warned wrecker as he body slams 2 droids with him pinning one while the other got ready to shoot only to be drilled by Echo as he gets on the other droid uses his socket arm to destroy the droid while wrecker is still pinning the other droid down and forces the droid on the other side face down as he
punches it again and Tech arrives.
"Reprogramming this thing would be pointless if you crush it." said Tech as he stops wrecker from crushing it
"You better be right about this." said wrecker hoping the droid didn't shoot at them as Tech gets to work on reprogramming the droid.
"These are rather unusual tactics." said tarkin
"The clones of experimental unit 99 have a tendency to veer from standard combat protocol." said Lama Su as tarkin looked on with a smirk and impressed about the clones.
"Hurry up." said wrecker as he couldn't hold on
"Done let him go." said Tech as he rides the droid and activates it to serve him as the droid opens fire at the other droids as tarkin looked on with an impressed look on his face. The droid punches and shoots the other droid with Hunter using his knife to disable the other while crosshair distracts the droid as Hunter jumps and flips to cut the droids arms now disabling it from shooting as tech's droid shoots it down. Wrecker body slams the droid and punches it repeatedly.
"Wrecker look alive." said Tech as wrecker gets out of the way and wrecker takes down a few more droids and pins one allowing for Echo to use his socket arm to destroy it.
"I can't sustain the connection." said Tech as the droid punches one and shoots another while tech's droid being shot at blowing it up and tech flies off from the droid and into the ground.
"Tech!" yelled wrecker as Hunter throws a knife at the droid to get it's attention and it begins to fire at hunter who takes cover.
"Crosshair we need more cover fire." directed hunter as he looks at wrecker waiting for the right moment as he takes cover.
"Tech hold tight buddy." said wrecker as tech laid on the floor in pain.
"I'm not going anywhere." said Tech as he remained on the floor while crosshair is looking for a way to shoot the droid disabling it and looks at wrecker.
"Wrecker knife." said crosshair as wrecker proceeds to throw a knife at crosshair who shoots the knife which hits the droid right in the head causing it to be disabled due to the shot being absorbed by the knife.
"Woah." said wrecker as the batch finish their test and come out of the destruction.
"Nice work." said Hunter as wrecker and echo proceed to help Tech up with tarkin and Lama Su looking at the batch and leaving the facility as the batch get together.
Tarkin looks at the cloning facility and at the embryos in the tubes
.
"Extraordinary aren't they?" asked Nala Se
"That remains to be seen. Tell me about clone force 99." asked tarkin
"They are medically defective clones whose cellular mutations enhance traits desirable in a soldier." said Nala Se as tarkin slightly looks down on Omega who is with Nala Se.
"How many of these enhanced clones do you possess?" asked tarkin
"5 are all that remain." said Nala Se
"They could be an asset to your new empire." commented Lama Su
"Yet reports indicate that they exhibit a concerning level of disobedience and disregard for orders." said tarkin as Omega looked at tarkin who didn't notice her.
"A side effect of their mutation. Yet one that has never hindered the completion of their missions." said Nala Se and Lama Su.
"Then they executed order 66?" asked tarkin
"Since both the Jedi general and kaller were eliminated one would assume" said Lama Su as he gets cut off by tarkin
"Assume nothing. only the general's death in confirmed. A counter report filed by one of their own says the Padawan escaped. Let us see where the loyalty of these clones truly lies." said tarkin as he walks away from the kaminoans and Omega who looks at tarkin with suspicion.
"Live rounds? They use live rounds on us!" said wrecker and he bangs his fists on the table.
"We were there Wrecker. We know." said tech
"I tried to warn you about tarkin." said Echo
"Whose that imperial snake think he is?" asked wrecker as he threw his helmet
"Stowe it already. You got shot. it happens all the time." commented crosshair
"Theres a fundamental difference between taking fire in battle and being used for target practice." said Tech
"Exactly we're not dummy droids." translated Wrecker
"That much we agree on." said tarkin as he sees the batch who stand at attention
"That was quite an impressive display." said tarkin
"Didn't have much choice." said Hunter
"Our new empire may have methods which seem unorthodox but so does this squadron. Both certainly have their merits. Nala Se speaks quite highly of her five enhanced clones. She claims you're more capable than an army" said tarkin
"You have a mission for us sir?" asked Hunter
"Indeed. We have tracked a group of insurgents to the onderon sector. They must be dealt with." said tarkin
"What sort of insurgents?" asked Echo
"Separatist forces. Intent on keeping the galaxy at war. If you neutralize this grave threat you'll be looked upon most favorably when I assess the needs of the imperial army." said tarkin as he leaves the batch.
As the batch get ready to leave, tech and echo are waiting on the ship.
"Finding anymore Intel on the insurgents?"
asked Tech
"Negative. Imperial files are locked out tight" said Echo
"But give me time I'll crack them." said tech
"I'll say this for the empire, they know firepower you should see the new armory." said Wrecker
"He actually cried." replied crosshair.
"Hey we both did." said wrecker
"There's no room on board for that." explained Tech
"Huh well I'll make room ho new mission and unlimited explosives things are back to normal." commented Wrecker as he carries the explosives on the ship.
"That's not going near my rack. I refuse to.." said tech as the speaking fades and hunter is walking to the ship when he hears a voice.
"Hunter." called Omega as he shakes his head
"I told you to keep your distance."
"I know but i need to talk to you." said Omega as Hunter gets on knees to listen to Omega
"Alright what is it."
"that imperial officer, i think he has it out for you. I overheard him talking to Lama Su. He doesn't like clones." said Omega
"Huh that's nothing new for us but we get the job done."
"I don't trust him."
"A missions a mission. It's nothing to worry about."
"Then let me come with you."
"Kid you're not a soldier it's dangerous."
"It's dangerous here too. Things aren't like before, we need to leave kamino." said Omega
"Hunter let's go." called out wrecker as Hunter looks at Omega
"change takes getting used to you'll see just give it time." said Hunter as he proceeds to walk to the ship and Omega looks down and begins to speak again
"Hunter." says Omega as Hunter looks at her again
"um nevermind." said Omega as Hunter leaves to the ship
"Problem?" asks crosshair
"ah something about her i can't figure out." said Hunter
"Well i guess kids aren't your meriat of expertise." said crosshair as he boards the ship while.hunter looks at Omega and gets on the ship taking off.
"Omega come along. I told you to stay close." said Nala Se as Omega looks at the ship leaving and goes with Nala Se
In space the marauder flies to onderon and lands and once it does, the bad batch get off.
"Stay hidden kid." whispered wrecker as Caleb gives him a signal of compliance
"What was that?" said Echo
"You don't want to know." commented Echo
"Well it's at least not a swamp." said wrecker
"Close enough." commented crosshair
"The separatist encampment is 2 clicks south we'll continue on foot and do a 2 perimeter scan." said Hunter as wrecker gets moving only to be stopped by Hunter
"Covertly" specifies Hunter
"Ah come on it's been days since I've blown something up."
"Easy Wrecker you're programming's kicking in." said tech
"Hey don't start with that." says wrecker as he pushed tech along and sighs in frustration as the batch continue walking and keep going.
"How many droids are we talking about Tech." said Hunter
"I can't tell from this distance. something is blocking my scan." said Tech
"Clankers always travel in packs let's get a closer look at what we're walking into." said Hunter as the batch continue to walk through the camp. the batch find an area and aim their weapons and get a view of what they're seeing.
"Tell me what you see Tech." ordered Hunter as tech spoke
"I'm clocking 25 heat signatures ahead but 0 droids."
"Tarkin said insurgents not droids." said crosshair
"I'm not sure their either. There are children down there." said Echo
"Children? Out here? Something's not right" questioned Hunter
"What are you waiting for give the order." said crosshair as he had his sniper pointed at an elderly lady.
"Negative stand down." said Hunter
"You mean we're not blasting any droids?" said Wrecker
"There aren't any droids Wrecker." said Tech
"So what do we do?" asked wrecker
"We finish the mission. Make the call Hunter." commanded crosshair.
"We're not alone now stand down." said Hunter as rebels swarm at them blasters drawn which causes the batch to draw their weapons as well except for Hunter
"You heard him. Stand down!" said the rebel fighter.
"Lets hear them out. trust me." said Hunter as he moves wrecker's blaster down as tech, Echo, and wrecker put their hands up.
"Arghhhh." complained crosshair as he reluctantly puts his hands up and drops his weapon as they are lead to the camp.
The batch walk to the camp and they stop as they see the fighters and innocent civilians.
"These aren't separatist they're republic fighters." explained Echo
"Why would tarkin send us to attack our own forces?" asked tech
"Because we refuse to fight for an empire." said Saw
"You're Saw guerra. trained by captain rex and general Skywalker to fight for the republic." said tech as a rebel fighter takes a blaster from Hunter
"so the newly declared empire sent you to wipe us out." said Saw
"We're here to neutralize a group of insurgents." said Hunter
"Well here we are what are you gonna do? Strike us down like you did the jedi?" asked Saw
"Is that a request?" said crosshair
"Enough! we expected to find battle droids not..."
"Civilians. Time change targets change why don't you take a look at the insurgents you were sent to destroy." said saw as the batch look at the children, women, and elderly people at the camp
"Makes you wonder what else they're lying about... Let's mobilize pack up the camp." said Saw as he kneeled to speak to a child
Hunter walks him
"what's going on? Who are these people?" asked Hunter
"Villagers, croppers, former republic fighters all now displaced refugees since palpatine unjustly appointed himself emperor." explained Saw
"According to reports, the Jedi made an attempt on the supreme chancellor's life, his actions were in defensive measure."
"And i figured you for the smart one." said saw which causes tech to look at him with an offended look
"With the Jedi decimated and the clone army under his command. Palpatine will have control over the entire galaxy unless we stop him."
"The war is over." explained crosshair
"If we give up now, everything we fought for, everyone we lost will have been for nothing. I won't let that happen the clone war may have ended but a civil war is about to begin." said Saw
"With a handful of fighters and limited firepower, you don't stand a chance."
"Not alone we dont." said Saw
"We should leave if we're going to make the rendezvous. What do we do with them?" asked the rebel
"The clones once helped us free onderon, so we'll give them a choice. The old ways are done, you can either adapt and survive or die with the past. The decision is yours." said saw as Hunter gets the blaster from saw and stores it as Saw and the camp leave as well the batch in another direction as they are being spied by a probe droid
"At least with the republic we knew where we stood. Tarkin and this empire are a whole different story." said Tech
"Why are we debating this, we need to complete the mission." said crosshair
"Wake up crosshair, they sent us to eliminate innocent civilians." replied Echo
"Who said they're Innocent?" asked crosshair
"What's wrong with you?" argued Hunter
"Me? I'm following orders!" argued crosshair
"Exactly." said Hunter
"Those insurgents are plotting against the emperor! If you don't have the stomach to do what needs to be done, then you're not fit to lead this squad." said crosshair as he and Hunter glare at each other as Hunter shoots at a probe droid.
"We're being followed." said Hunter as the batch go the droid
"That is a probe droid." explained tech
"Tarkin's spying on us now?!" asked wrecker
"The Jedi never did that." commented Echo
"Not that you know of." replied crosshair
"Omega." said Hunter
"What about her?" asked echo
"She warned me about the mission and tarkin. She said not to return to kamino that its not safe for us anymore." said Hunter
"Mm maybe she's right." said Wrecker
"We're taking a word of a child now." said crosshair
"I would not discount omega's insight. A state of heightened awareness is not unusual for an enhanced clone such as herself." said Tech
"Heh heh heh good one tech you almost had me."
"When Nala Se spoke of 5 clones tarkin assumed that meant us but echo's a reg, the 5th is Omega. I confirmed my suspicions when I analyzed her DNA while we were in the infirmary." said tech
"And you waited until now to mention it." asked echo shocked at tech
"Well i thought it was obvious." said tech
"How is it obvious?!" asked wrecker
"We're going back for her." said Hunter as crosshair blocks him.
"Disobeying orders again over a kid. Bad play Hunter." said crosshair as Hunter shoves him off
"She's one of us. We're not leaving her there." said Hunter as the batch get on the ship while crosshair looks at them and throws his toothpick and gets on the ship as it starts up.
On kamino, Omega and AZ-3 are in the barracks of 99.
"Wow. what is all this stuff AZ?" said Omega who was fascinated about everything
"My scanners are indicating an assortment of armament curious and detritus of little to no value.
"I like it"
"We should not be here Omega. Nala Se instructed us to stay in the medical wing."
"Don't worry we're on a research assignment." said Omega as she talked with AZ.
"A.. research assignment those are my favorite. What is it that we are searching for?" said Az as Omega looks around the barracks.
"Is it this? What about this?" asked AZ as Omega grabs wrecker's Lula.
"Or this? Is it this? Perhaps this? What about this?" says AZ as Omega looks to find a tablet under a bunk and grabs it and turns it on revealing the entire bad batch and she looks at it.
"This is a curious keepsake Ahhhh!" yelled AZ as Omega reacts
"Shhhh. People will hear us" warned Omega
"I have concluded this space is unsuitable for habitation." said Az as clones are about to enter the barracks.
"Time to go." said Omega as she and AZ attempt to leave the barracks only to be met with clones and Omega runs into a shock trooper.
"Hey you're not authorized to be here." said the shock trooper as Omega tries to make up an excuse
"I got lost sorry it won't happen again." said Omega
"Pack up their gear and take it to the hanger. You you're coming with me" said the shock trooper as the other regs follow their orders and he tries to get Omega only to be stopped by AZ.
"We will not, we are official kaminoan medical personnel and ahhhhhh." said Az as he gets stunned by the reg
"Don't touch me droid!" said the reg as he stuns AZ
"AZ!" yelled Omega as she is taken to the brig by the shock trooper as AZ lies on the floor deactivated.
The havoc marauder flies in space as they approach kamino so they can come back for Omega and Hunter goes to Caleb's hiding spot to inform him of what they are about to do.
"Caleb we're gonna rescue a girl, she's a clone like us stay hidden and don't come out for any reason.Her name's Omega. Got it? " whispered Hunter
"Yes Hunter." whispered caleb as Hunter went back to his seat. The ship is about to land on kamino.
"I'm getting no response from comm scan. This is unusual." said Tech as he is trying to find out why nobody is responding.
"Bring us in. Find out what's going on." said Hunter as the ship gets ready to land on kamino. The ship lands as the batch get off and walk into kamino.
"Stick to the plan. Split up, find Omega, meet back here at the ship." said Hunter as tech opens the landing door with all the batch members looking. Hunter and the batch walk into kamino as they are on their way to get Omega as shocks are hidden and one of them gives the signal to confront the batch and Hunter signals for the batch to stop as he senses something.
"Freeze!" said the shock trooper as the batch attempt to draw their weapons only to realize they are surrounded with their weapons drawn.
"As expected." said crosshair as he felt this was all hunter's fault for disobeying orders. Tarkin appears to the batch as he begins to speak
"The empire does not tolerate failure Sargent." said tarkin as Hunter
"There were complications." said Hunter
"Yes the probe droid's report was quite detailed. Conspiring with Saw guerra. I assume you know the punishment for treason." said tarkin
"Treason?!" said Hunter as he's surprised about what he's heard
"Throw them in the brig.' ordered tarkin as the shock troopers take the batch into the brig. The batch are now in the brig as the shock trooper hits the switch so the batch doesn't escape.
"Smells weird." commented Wrecker
"Because it's clean." explained echo
"Well the plan wasn't a total failure." said Tech as the batch noticed Omega in the brig who awkwardly waves and smiles at them.
"Goodie." said crosshair.
"I warned you not to come back." said Omega
"Had to, we were looking for you." said Hunter
"Me?" Omega said surprised
"What do you say kid, you wanna come with us or did we get captured for nothing?" said Hunter
"You came back for me?" asked Omega
"That's right or you can stay on kamino if um." said Hunter
"No no it's like I said before i want to go with you." said Omega
"How touching." said crosshair as Hunter got up.
"Uhm Hunter how are breaking outta here?" asked wrecker
"I'm working on it." said Hunter
"You know what you should work on? Explaining when you went soft." said crosshair
"Stow it crosshair!" argued Echo
"Don't you see we're locked up in here because of him. He had us disobey orders!" argued crosshair as he pointed at hunter
"I never thought you disobeying orders was a problem." said Tech
"Yeah we do it all the time." said wrecker
"Good soldiers follow orders! Every choice you've made since kaller has been wrong. First the padawan, then guerra, you're becoming a liability." argued crosshair as he awaited a response from Hunter
"We can debate my choices later for now, let's focus on getting out of here." said Hunter as he causes crosshair to sit down and Omega looks at him as crosshair's right hand is on the right side of his head.
"You're angry." said Omega as she talks to him and sits next to him
"How perceptive." said crosshair.
"I know what you're going to do but please don't." asked Omega
"What do you know?" said crosshair as he questioned Omega.
"I know it's not your fault. You can't help it." said Omega as crosshair looks at her with a barely noticeable smirk. A shock trooper arrives to the brig.
"CT 9904 you're coming with us." said the shock
"Oh no no no we stay together." said Hunter as the shock trooper hits him in the stomach with his blaster.
"Stand down!" said the shock trooper pointing his blaster at the batch as crosshair gets up and leaves the brig to go with the shocks."
At the medical wing, crosshair is in a facility as he is laid down and asleep as the droids run a vitals scan on him and his bed is moved into the machine itself as the droid makes an unintelligible noise
" Well. What is his status?" asked tarkin
"CT 9904's genetic mutations have altered much of his creenial activity including his inhibitor chip." said nala se
"Yet he exhibited loyalty to the empire during their mission." explained tarkin
"While the chip is not as active as a standard clone, the order does appear to be working." said Nala Se
"Can you intensify the programming?" asked tarkin
"Yes." replied Nala Se
"Then proceed." directed tarkin as the machine activates and crosshair's inhibitor chip's programming is intensified as crosshair's hands move into a fist as his body shakes.
"I've got it why didn't I think of it before
this is not a prison." said Tech
" Yeah well I beg to differ " said Echo
"This is a kaminoan facility it was built prior to the clone wars, there were no barracks or prisons when it was constructed."
"Well how will that help us." said Hunter
"Well because these cells were retrofitted to hold normal individuals, they could not possibly account for someone like wrecker."
"Aww you mean i can punch our way out!" yelled wrecker as the batch tell him to lower his voice with a shh as the shocks look at the brig
"Oh right, you mean i can punch our way out?" said Wrecker
"If you punch the correct spot." said tech
"Right show me where." said wrecker as tech gets up and tries to find the area
"If this is gonna work, we'll need some cover. Form a wall" said Hunter as the batch form a wall for wrecker to punch without being noticed and tech goes first to find the spot to punch.
"Hit this here." said tech as he touched the area and wrecker gets up to punch it.
"Right. Tell me when" said Wrecker as he gets ready.
"Now." said Hunter as wrecker punches the wall which causes the attention of the shocks to be given to them.
"uhhhh nothing happened." said wrecker
"Are you sure this is gonna work?" asked hunter
"Try again a little harder." said Tech
"You're all clear. make it count." said Hunter
"ok." said wrecker as he punches again and gets the attention of the shocks.
"Uhh it still didn't work." complained wrecker as tech checks it out.
"Oh yes it did look." said tech as he pulls a piece of the brig open though it's small.
"ohh I'll never fit through that." said wrecker
"A stewd as always wrecker but i was actually going to." said Tech as he gets cut off by Omega
"I'll do it." said Omega
"You sure kid?" asked Hunter
"I'm sure." said Omega
"Ok get to the console and hit the lever to lower the ray shield." said Hunter and Omega goes through the hole wrecker made and wrecker lays back.
"Incoming." warns hunter as shocks inspect the batch
"Wait? where's the girl?" asked the shock
"You tell us." replied Hunter
"Harm her and you're a dead man." threatened Echo
"Operations we need a status report on prisoner o219." says the shock trooper as Omega crawls up and the opening begins to move about to fall which causes the shocks to look up.
"What was that?" said the shock
"Sorry these floors don't hold me so well. On account of them not being designed for abnormal individuals such as myself." said wrecker as he tries to be smart.
"What's behind you?" says the clone as the other 2 draw their blasters and aim.
"Nothing." says wrecker
"Move away from the wall. Now" says the shock trooper
"Why don't you come here and make me." intimidates wrecker as one of the regs get a message from operations
"The girl is still registered in lockdown." said the clone
"Tell us where she is?" demands the clone as Omega hits the piece she's on causing it to fall on all the 3 clones as she runs.
"Hit the switch Omega!" tells hunter as Omega hits the switch just in time as she is grabbed by a reg.
"Ahh nngh." struggled Omega as she is held by a reg.
"Hey reg." says wrecker as he punches the reg and knocks him out with Tech stunning a clone as echo gets the regs pad.
"Hah not bad." says wrecker as he looks at Omega
"We need to find out where they took crosshair. Let's move" said Hunter as the batch except for crosshair run to escape with the reg under the piece that fell on him moving. Shock troopers walk through kamino as Hunter tells them when and they run as they stop as they might have seen regs.
"Huh we're not going to get very far without our gear." commented Tech
"They started moving all your things to the hanger, your gear might be there too." said Omega as she heard where their gear was being taken.
"This way." says Hunter as he leads the batch to the hanger. Tech opens the hanger door as the batch run to get their gear.
"Alright boys suit up. Let's make this quick" says Hunter as they gear up with their original gear from earlier as echo puts his helmet on as Omega looks around.
"No no, where is it uhh it's gotta be here somewhere." says wrecker as he is looking for his Lula doll and Omega looks down.
"Tech power up the shields. The rest of us will go after crosshair." says Hunter as he finishes suiting up.
Omega picks up the Lula and looks at wrecker and at the door as it begins beeping.
"I don't think we'll have to go far." said Omega as the hanger door opens and the batch cover as the shock troopers and crosshair walk to the ship weapons drawn and crosshair with his weapon raised up and aiming up and helmet off.
"Is that crosshair?" asked wrecker as he didn't recognize him with the black armor and the batch look at him as he continues walking with his new armor and sniper and stops as he sees who he's up against with a glare at the batch. Hunter stands up fully and walks to him.
"Best stand down Sargent make it easy on yourself." says crosshair
"Have you lose your mind!" yells hunter
"We should have killed that Jedi, you disobeyed orders." said crosshair
"I did what I thought was right." replied Hunter
"You never could see the bigger picture. Now surrender." commands crosshair.
Seconds of silence go on and wrecker puts his helmet down ready for a fight.
"Is that an order?" asks Hunter
"Heh i guess it is." says crosshair
"Well i guess I'm disobeying that one too." says Hunter as crosshair spits his toothpick out as Hunter gets ready to pull the trigger with crosshair doing the same and he begins to shoot at hunter who dodges and a firefight ensues with the shock troopers and crosshair vs the bad batch and 2 shocks throw smoke causing 3 shocks to go on the offensive with Hunter returning fire unable to see through the smoke while crosshair puts his heat vision on to see where he can shoot and aims at hunter only to miss and the rest of the batch take cover.
"Tech we gotta move now!" commanded hair.
"I'm working on it." said tech
"Wrecker clear the smoke on 3." ordered Hunter
"You got it boss." says wrecker
"Omega stay low." says Hunter as Omega stays low due to the gunfight
"1-2-3 Go!" yelled Hunter as Wrecker gets 2 metal pieces and throws one to the advancing regs taking them down and throws another one now leaving him off guard and unarmed as crosshair shoots wrecker injuring him in the same area as the training incident and
"Omega don't!" yelled Hunter as he pulls Omega back after crosshair shoots who misses still.
"He's using wrecker as bait." said Hunter
"But he needs help." exclaimed Omega
"Tech we're outta time!" said Hunter
"Almost got it." explained Tech as he fires up the ship and crosshair scopes to the thrusters and tells a shock trooper, "SEAL THE BAY DOORS!" commanded crosshair as the reg did so only for it to be jammed by Nala Se and the reg can't close it.
"Sir someone's overriding the controls!" said the shock trooper as Hunter scopes at hunter who is explaining Omega some directions.
"When I say go you head for that ramp and don't stop. got it?" asked Hunter
"Echo we go for wrecker!" commanded Hunter as Echo nodded in agreement
"Only one way out Hunter. You're move." said crosshair
"Go!" yelled Hunter as he and echo begun providing cover fire as crosshair takes cover and runs as he and a clone shoot at echo and hunter with crosshair taking cover with omega running ASAP and a clone shooting at echo gets shot by Echo as crosshair aims for Omega and a Blue blade flies through crosshairs weapon disabling it and returning to its owner which is Caleb Dume as crosshair sees the jedi who disabled his weapon and crosshair and the batch are shocked but crosshair gets his side weapon and shoots only for his shots to be blocked by Caleb and for Omega to return fire causing him to take cover and once the batch are in the ship, they get in quickly and crosshair shoots at the shop trying to take one of them down however the batch are all in the ship as the door closes and the ship takes off. Crosshair takes off his helmet seeing his defeat and Nala Se leaves the area she was in and gets back to Lama su
"Has the matter been rectified?" asked Lama su?
"The inhibitor chip augmentation was a success however the remaining clones of squad 99 have escaped along with Omega." said Nala Se
"Hmm, we must be cautious until the empires intentions are made clear say nothing." directed Lama Su.
"Yes prime minister." replied nala se
In space the marauder flies and wrecker is being patched up.
"Ouch hey hey hey what's that gonna do." said wrecker as he was worried
"Relax you'll be ok just hold still." instructed Hunter
"Is this what you were looking for?" asked Omega showing wrecker the lula
"Haaahhh You found my Lula Ouch!" yelled wrecker as omega laughs and tech enters the room where the batch are at.
"Let's see here hold still." instructed Tech as he scans wrecker to check his vitals
"Don't examine me. I'm not a computer." said wrecker
"This will take just a second." said Tech
"Get that thing away from me ahhh." said wrecker as omega goes to the pilot's area.
"You're first time in space?" asked Hunter
"First time anywhere." replied Omega
"Impressive shot back there. Where did you learn to do that?" asked Hunter
"I don't know. I never fired a blaster before. I guess I got lucky". said Omega
"She's not the only one." said tech
"I'm fine it'll take more than blaster shots to take me down huh huh." said wrecker
"You were down." said echo
"Yeah well not for long hahaha." said wrecker
"What's the plan Hunter?" asked Tech
"I thought we could go off on our own lay low but with crosshair gunning for us, I'm not so sure." said Hunter
"What about your friends could any of them help us?" said Omega
"That would be a short list." said Tech
"I can think of one, plot a course for j-19." said Hunter
"J-19?" asked Echo
"We know a guy." said Hunter
"Hah hah yeah!" exclaimed wrecker
"Strap in kid you're not gonna want to miss this view." said Hunter as Omega sat on a seat and strapped herself on the seat as Tech put the ship into hyperspace.
During hyperspace Omega is so fascinated by all of this.
"Wow." said Omega as she got off the seat and she saw another person and the person tells her.
"Hey nice shot there who are you?" asked Caleb
"Omega. who are you?" asked Omega as she didn't know who it was.
"I'm Caleb dume and I'm a Jedi." said Caleb
"You... you saved me i don't know how I could ever thank you." said Omega as she was about to be shot by crosshair but realized that Caleb saved her.
"We both saved each other and there's no need to thank me." said Caleb
"But i don't need to thank you, I want to thank you in my way." said Omega as he puts her arms around Caleb as the 2 stare at each other with a look of love on their faces and Omega kisses the Padawan on the lips surprising him but he too puts his arms around omega's waist and returns the kiss as they kissed with passion. The two didn't want to break off the kiss however, Hunter walks in on the 2 kissing with passion.
"Woah woah woah Omega Caleb!" exclaimed Hunter.
"It's not what it looks like Hunter." said Omega as the two lovebirds looked embarrassed.
"Sorry I should have known this was about to happen. I guess I should go." said Hunter as he left the two alone.