I was thinking about it and... it seems like Tech got through to Crosshair the most, in one sentence. Both of them can be coldly logical, but Tech also has the moral view. I was wondering what a conversation about the empire between them would be like.

Here's what I got.

Crosshair walks to the cell holding his batchmate. He waves off the troopers on guard. They look at each other but leave anyway. He looks at Tech, whose mind had wandered to the next Galaxy. Crosshair clears his throat, which fails to grab his attention. He rolls his eyes, "Tech."

Tech looks at him and squints as his captors had taken everything, including his goggles. "ah, Croosshair. I was wondering when you would visit."

good, he wasn't mad at him, yet. "sorry I'm late."

"I don't mind, the quiet was helping me think. Did you merely miss me or do you have a question?"

Crosshair looks both ways down the hall before sitting cross legged in front of the cell, "I take it you're never joining the empire?"

"obviously." he reaches up to adjust his missing goggles, before he moves to match Crosshair's position.

There was silence as Crosshair thought about what to say next. "when we last spoke you said "I understand, but I do not agree.". What is it you think you understand?"

"why you see the empire as the solution to all of the crime, poverty, and corruption in the galaxy. Yes, it holds the power to reach planets in need of help, but that does not mean the empire will do what is right."

"how so?"

"that same power that it welds to help can also be used to take as it pleases from anyone it pleases."

Crosshair puts a toothpick in his mouth and thews thoughtfully.

"it's already happening." Tech goes silent, thinking, "every system of government is flawed at it's core, no matter how altruistic."

"and what is that flaw?"

"the people."

Crosshair raises an eyebrow, "so... you want us all to be governed by robots?"

"no. their programming is just as flawed as the people who make them. If people govern they can only do so much, and too much power for too long will corrupt. The people will rebel, even if the system truly does help everyone. It is only natural to disobey... Crosshair, there will always poverty, crime and corruption."

"since you clearly know everything, what would be your solution?" Crosshair asks, tilting his head.

"I don't have one. A utopia would have everyone co-operating, sharing ideas and resources without fear or money. But a utopia, by definition, is a fantasy. The simplest solution is to let each planet govern themselves, but that has the same issue as stated before."

"so, there is no hope."

"it depends on what you hope for. A system like the empire will fail, either crumbling under it's own weight, or by creating it's own enemies."

Crosshair nods, "you just have to be right all the time, don't you?"

"yes. I'm scared of being wrong."

Crosshair felt tempted to give him a hug as Tech pulled his legs up to his chin. He looks away as his berrother's mind wanders down a dark path.

Crosshair changes the subject, "how is omega?"

that worked. "she's fine. Somewhat traumatized, but fine."

"she's too young to be doing this."

"I agree, but so are we."

"true. Then why don't you leave her somewhere safe?"

"we can't, as there is nowhere safe."

Crosshair looks away to think then looks back at him, "what about Wrecker?"

"he's upset but trying to hide it for omega's sake."

Crosshair nods, "of course he would. And Echo?"

"AZI-3 had back up memory of a clone named fives. Apparently he was Echo's only surviving batchmate. He's been watching it non-stop, and crying." Tech sighs, "hunter's been avoiding him when he does. I've been trying to help by being there... I don't know what else to do. Omega and Wrecker are trying to cheer him up but I keep telling them to stop. The only way for him to heal is to let the pain out."

"like you always do?" Crosshair smirks lightly.

"like I can't." Tech mumbles into his knees.

footsteps come down the hall followed by Admiral Rampart. He raises an eyebrow at the clone, "are you comfortable there?"

Crosshair scowls at him.

He looks at Tech, "family discussion?"

"yes." he says into his knees.

"we've come to an understanding, I think he should join the Empire, he thinks the Empire is a disaster waiting to happen." Crosshair states, standing up. "he's always right."

Rampart smirks, "we'll see. Your next assignment is waiting for you in the briefing room."

Crosshair brushes past him. Rampart looks at Tech who was squinting at him, "It would be a waste to kill someone as intelligent as yourself."

"it would be a waste to give it to someone who wishes to destroy the galaxy for their own gain."

Rampart scowls, "your execution is in four hours. I do hope you change your mind by then."

Tech glares at his fuzzy retreating form.

He stands up and walks over to the wall panel. He removes the cover and messes with the wiring. Two guards come over and open the door to stop him. He kicks one in the chest while grabbing his gun. He ducks behind the one he kicked as the other fires at him. The first one falls and Tech fires at the other. The guns were on stun so he only had a few minutes before they woke up.

He puts on one set of armor before removing the other's and tossing it into another cell. He activates the door and runs down the hall. A fuzzy out of place blue registered as he passed a cell. He stops and looks in the cell. He leans closely to the panel and lets the small figure out.

"what are you doing?" the clearly female voice asked. The Pantoran accent unmistakable.

"I am attempting to escape. Come with me."

she follows him back o the cell where lay the extra armor. She puts it on while he kept watch. Afterwords they go to storage to find his gear. They put them in a shipping container. They grab a second crate.

They headed to the shuttle bay at a moderate pace, so as not to attract attention. the alarms blared as it was found that they'd escaped. A guard stopped them at the bay doors.

"what are your orders?"

Tech speaks in a reg's accent, "we're prepping the Admiral's shuttle for departure."

the trooper nods and lets them pass. They load the crates onto the shuttle while the guard ignores them. Tech takes off his helmet and puts on his goggles. She goes inside to prep for take-off and he looks around to disable any tracking beacons. He looks up and sees Crosshair in the rafters. He had a special attachment that Tech knew was for non-lethal projectiles. He gives him signals saying "go ahead and then take cover".

Crosshair nods and shoots at Tech. He hit his right calf as Tech ran on board the ship. He then gets out as the ship fires up and shoots the wall panel that powered the force field. Everything blows out as it escapes into hyperspace.

Rampart glares at Crosshair, "and what did you do?"

"I shot him in the leg with a tracking beacon. Now we know where they are."

Hunter watches as an imperial shuttle lands. A young pantoran woman helped a limping Tech out of it. He sets his foot on a rock behind him and AZI-3 flew over to remove the beacon. After it was gone he tossed it back on the shuttle and typed out instructions on his gauntlet.

The ship flies off and he lets them drag him to the Marauder where he passed out.

"and you are?" Hunter asks the woman.

"lady Chuchi of Pantora."

"can she stay hunter, please?" Omega asks.

"yeah, pleeeesse?" Wrecker begs.

"fine, welcome aboard."

she's not a senator anymore when order 66 hit but I really want her to be in the show.