Echo was lying back in the pilot seat of the Havoc Marauder as it flew through hyperspace. Everyone had washed up after the battle of Ord Mantell, so metal scents mixed with body wash in the warm craft. Everyone was resting, and Echo found the seat solid but supportive. Out of respect for Tech, the co-pilot chair was left empty. Ceiling Lights and Hyperspace lit the craft as it hummed. He couldn't shake the sense that the encounter with the Kaminoans on Ord Mantell had unlocked something in Omega and possibly Hunter. He turned back and saw Tech's goggles and saw something odd about them he hadn't noticed initially. The recording mechanism was undamaged.
"Hunter, could you please take the piloting? I want to check something with the goggles," Echo called. Hunter was sitting at the control panel, watching over the craft. He turned to face Echo, nodded, and got up. Echo did likewise, and they exchanged seats.
When Echo sat at the control panel, he looked at the goggles and saw the cracked case, which complicated the extraction. Echo knew that if he wasn't careful with the goggles, the entire recording from the goggles could be lost.
Initially, Echo attempts to link the goggles directly to the control panel. After a brief struggle, he gets it linked up. Echo failed to get the goggles to connect due to connector damage.
"Then let's try a hologram," Echo thought as he detached the goggles. He found a spare hologram and worked to establish a connection. It took about a minute, but the hologram and the goggles were linked.
"What are you doing?" came a voice from nearby. Echo turned and saw Omega looking at him. She had that mixed look of grief and joy. The reunion with her Kaminoan brother had given her a new strength to cope with losing Tech.
"I'm trying to extract the recording data of Tech's last moments from his goggles, but I can't extract it," Echo replied.
"Oh," Omega replied. She turned to Hunter, who left the pilot's seat and walked to them.
"It's not talking to the control panel?" Hunter asked.
"No. The link mechanism is damaged," Echo replied.
"Right. Well, if we can use a wire directly to the data chip, we might be able to recover the information. Once," Hunter replied after momentary thought.
"I'll get it," Omega replied. Wrecker, whom Echo had only just noticed was right behind him, pulled open a panel and exposed spare wiring. Omega grabbed a red one and brought it back to Echo.
"Try placing this next to the data chip," Hunter suggested. With some help from Omega, Echo was able to connect it. And what they all discovered shocked them.
Grand Moff Tarkin was holding Tech's body on Eriadu.
"We've got to retrieve Tech's body. He deserves a proper burial," Echo said.
"Agreed. I'll go chart a course for Eriadu," Hunter replied as he returned to the pilot's seat. Wrecker and Omega returned to their respective locations on the craft.
Meanwhile, on Mt Tantiss
Dr. Hemlock had managed to calm himself after failing to capture Omega at the battle of Ord Mantell. But only just. He needed more information, not just about Omega, but Khan So, nephew of Nala Se.
It was a mild summer night on the Mountain as Dr. Hemlock headed for the detention area. There wasn't much light, only dim ceiling lights and the ray shield keeping Nala Se in her cell, making a humming noise. The solid ground was slightly damp in Nala Se's cell, and the humidity and ray shield hit his senses of smell and taste. The humidity was thanks to the vent in the ceiling, though Dr Hemlock noticed a strange band barely visible on Nala Se's wrist through her sleeve.
"Nala Se. You know why I'm here," Dr Hemlock stated. Nala Se looked up, "Judging by the fact I don't see my Lab Assistant with you, I assume you failed in capturing Omega?"
"Thanks to your Nephew," Dr Hemlock replied, "Which reminds me, what more information do you have on Omega and Khan,"
Nala Se looked down for a bit. Due to the actions of her sister, Cora Sol, and rumours about Dr. Hemlock's agenda, Nala Se was very reluctant to say anything.
"I can offer you freedom," Dr Hemlock suggested, "If you spend some time on the Emperor's projects, you'll be able to spend time on your pursuits. I'll even set up your lab,"
Nala Se considered this momentarily, then shook her head, "I can't. The last thing I want is my nephew here, even with Omega,"
"Huh," Dr Hemlock noticed the guilty grimace cross Nala Se's features and thought momentarily. He decided to drop the subject of Khan and focus on Omega.
"Why did you create Omega in the first place? She's younger than Alpha, yet technically older than her brothers," Dr Hemlock enquired.
"I was curious about manipulating Jango's DNA for specialised Clones. I made Omega as a test subject for all types of mutant Clones, including Clone Force 99," Nala Se explained.
"Thank you, Nala Se. You have survived longer," Dr Hemlock replied before departing. Two members were under the Empire's control. Now, they needed the others. Even Echo would be handy.
Grand Moff Tarkin, as it transpired, wasn't on Eriadu. He was on Sullust. It was hot for a Spring day in the volcanic world, and the glow of lava, ceiling lights and a holoprojector lit his quarters. The remains of Tarkin's breakfast, the lava and electricity for the holoprojector provided sound, smell and taste. At least the chair he's in is supportive. Everyone knows that having Anakin Skywalker as your general ages you rapidly, though nobody would notice that Tarkin had pulled his Uniform over his pyjamas.
Answering the communication from Wayland, Tarkin said, "Dr Hemlock, what are you calling about?"
"I was wondering if you have Tech and what you plan to do with him," Dr. Hemlock said.
"I wasn't planning to do much. I was waiting for the Emperor to message me. Then we could decide. Why are you interested?" Tarkin replied.
Grimacing, Dr. Hemlock replied, "Omega has slight mutations of her brothers, including Tech. I have Crosshair, and I want Tech here too,"
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Hemlock," Tarkin replied, and when Dr Hemlock attempted to respond, "I'm higher rank than you, technically. However, I do have an option of my own. Something that, if successful, would allow you to have all six squad members,"
"Oh? What is it?" Hemlock looked visibly excited by this prospect. As the lava continued to bubble behind him, Tarkin explained, "By now, I'm sure the other squad members would have discovered the recordings inside Tech's goggles. They'll be looking for his body. If I use his body as bait, I can capture them and bring them all to you,"
"Nice thinking, Tarkin," Dr Hemlock replied with a sinister smile, "Should I send a few Commandos to assist?"
"Two Commandos should be sufficient," Tarkin replied, "We'll lay the trap then,"
"They'll be there within one rotation, Grand Moff," Dr Hemlock replied before the communication cut. Tarkin turned to face the facility he was overlooking and knew this was the best place to lay his trap.
A day later, the Commandos arrive and set the trap. Tarkin spied the Havoc Marauder coming in to land and smirked. They had fallen right into the trap.
As the Havoc Marauder landed, Hunter sensed that something was strange. The rough and unforgiving basalt ground, the artificial lava channels, the heat, and the glow of lava assaulted his senses. Sullust was a hostile planet not easily navigated in recovering Tech's body. Worse, Omega's lungs were vulnerable to this due to her lack of helmet and youth.
"Remember those breathing devices we used on the Ordo Moon?" Hunter asked.
"Yeah, why?" Echo wondered as he stood with Hunter.
"Omega will need one so she doesn't breathe the toxins in the atmosphere," Hunter replied.
"I was thinking along similar lines," Echo admitted as he re-entered the craft to look for them.
After several fruitless minutes, Echo growled, "Dammit, Tech. Where did you put them?" that growl brought on a momentary wave of grief and a renewed determination to give him a proper farewell. After another minute, Echo found them.
"Found them yet?" Hunter asked from the entrance.
"Yes. In the most Tech spot possible," Echo replied. This time, the grimace of grief Echo felt Hunter mirrored.
"They won't fit in our helmets. And I'm unsure if it'll fit Omega," Hunter admitted once Echo rejoined him.
"Remember, our helmets can protect against the toxins in the air. The filter is for Omega," Echo replied. Omega joined them upon hearing her name.
Hunter and Echo worked to ensure the mask comfortably fit under her helmet, which it barely did.
"You do know the Empire will know we're here by now, right?" Wrecker asked.
"Tarkin would've seen us fly in. I know him well," Echo replied.
"Then we'd better be careful," Hunter replied as he opened the door and departed with the rest of the squad in tow. Echo secured the craft when he left.
Shortly after setting foot on the rough and unforgiving surface of Sullust, Hunter spotted two Stormtroopers patrolling nearby. Carefully, he approached them, trying not to be detected. One of the Stormtroopers turned in his direction, and Hunter only narrowly escaped being seen.
"What is it?" the other Stormtrooper asked.
"Someone's there," the first one replied. The duo slowly approaches the rock Hunter is hiding behind. Seeing this, Hunter carefully moved around the niche he occupied. Suddenly, he reaches a dead end but spots another ledge twenty feet above.
Hunter decided to jump towards a couple of small holes in the cliff, intending to use them to get up the wall, but instead, the next second, he found himself pulling himself onto the ledge.
"How did I do that?" Hunter thought as he pulled himself into the hiding spot.
"Nobody here," the first Stormtrooper shined a light through the cave but missed Hunter.
"Well, we'd better get back to the prison complex. Us Stormtroopers are defending a special prisoner, according to the Grand Moff," the second Stormtrooper replied. Hunter waited until the two troopers had departed before carefully lowering himself to the ground.
"The prison facility is the Stormtroopers' destination," Hunter radioed to the squad, who all acknowledged. Hunter met with the team and tracked the troopers to the prison complex. Hunter wondered if his encounter with the Force-Sensitive Kaminoans Kuan Si and Khan So had unlocked something in him.
Echo follows Hunter towards the prison complex, an imposing mass of basalt and steel. Upon reaching the complex, Echo realised he must hack the computers to open the door and discover where the Empire was holding Tech. The basalt rock gave way to steel as they reached the prison complex. After securing the entrance, Echo started hacking the terminal.
Echo knows he has to be careful as if he triggers any defences within, Tarkin would be alerted to how far they had already got. Echo carefully navigates his way through the security. Echo is trapped twice by hack traps but eventually manages to navigate past them. Unfortunately, Echo couldn't open the door to the prison complex, and the map was incomplete.
"Not good. Looks like we'll have to send Omega through a vent to let us in," Wrecker said.
"There's one there," Hunter pointed to a black vent sticking out of the wall about ten feet away. Omega runs over to the vent and, with help from Hunter, Omega climbs inside.
The air vent is hot, but not compared to the outside. Omega must Commando crawl through the vent and, though unintended, Omega is making lots of noise while moving, likely attracting attention. Carefully navigating through the vents, she finds one near the entrance. And Omega freezes. Two Stormtroopers are waiting for her in the corridor below.
"You can come down, cadet. It's OK," one of the Stormtroopers calls. Omega carefully jumps down from the vent.
"What were you doing in the vent, cadet?" the second Stormtrooper asked.
"I got locked out," Omega replied. It looked like the Stormtroopers didn't recognise her.
"What is your name, cadet?" the first trooper asked. Omega felt sweat build in her collar as she tried to create a cover name.
"Scout. I'm learning to track and scout enemy positions," Omega replied. The two Stormtroopers took a moment to process this information, looking at each other for confirmation. They nodded, then turned to Omega.
"We're going to check the other entrances. You return to your quarters, alright?" the first Stormtrooper asked.
"I will," Omega replied. The Stormtroopers nodded, then departed down the corridor. Once they were out of sight and hearing range, Omega ran to the door and opened it.
"Thinking on your feet. Good going, Omega," Hunter said as he entered with Echo and Wrecker close behind.
"Thanks," Omega replied.
The Prison Complex was still warm for Spring on Sullust. But milder than outside. A faint electrical scent, probably from the lights in the ceiling, added to the metallic and lave scents Hunter could smell and taste. As they proceeded through the facility, Hunter was on alert for Stormtroopers. It isn't long before Hunter's senses tell him a squad is approaching.
"Hide," Hunter called, but the squad barely reached cover before a team of Stormtroopers, led by Scorch, ambushed and quickly pinned the batch down. Exchanging fire wasn't producing results, and Hunter couldn't find a way to get them out. Suddenly, he saw Omega throw her hands out in frustration at the Stormtroopers. And, to his astonishment, the Stormtroopers were blown away by an invisible force. Immediately, Hunter copies Omega and knocks Scorch down briefly.
"I saw the Jedi do that. Is Omega Force Sensitive? Am I Force Sensitive?" Hunter thought as he watched the scene unfold. Wrecker runs forward to check the Stormtroopers and finds a jail key on one.
Meanwhile, Grand Moff Tarkin
Grand Moff Tarkin is now fully dressed. He carefully watches the facility, wondering how far Clone Force 99 has gotten. Suddenly, he receives an urgent message from Scorch.
"Grand Moff Tarkin, Clone Force 99 have infiltrated the facility. I engaged them with my team, but two appear to be Force Sensitive. We cannot fight them," Scorch called through the intercom.
Tarkin is shocked. He had no intelligence reports that indicated one member of Clone Force 99 was Force Sensitive, let alone two. The two Commandos could handle an untrained Force Sensitive, but Tarkin cannot defeat them outright. The only thing Tarkin can think of to stop the squad is to lock down the facility and swarm it with Stormtroopers to capture them.
Back to Clone Force 99
Suddenly, the facility's lights go red and several doors slam down to the ground.
"Lockdown," Hunter said, "We've got to hunker down somewhere until we can figure out where we must go,"
"Over here," Wrecker called as he pulled a door open. The squad went through it and found an elevator. Hunter checks it, discovering that it goes straight to the prison cells.
"If there is any chance Tech is down in the cells, we need to go down," Hunter said.
"We're on lockdown. We won't be able to use the traditional controls," Omega pointed out.
"We could use the key," Wrecker replied, pointing to a keyhole halfway up the elevator door.
"We don't have one," Echo groaned until Wrecker showed him.
"I took it from one of the Stormtroopers," Wrecker said.
"Give it here. We might still be able to use it," Echo demanded. When Wrecker handed the key to Echo, he jammed it in. It didn't work the first time, so Echo turned the key around and stuck it in. It worked. The door opened, and everyone stuffed themselves inside as the elevator door closed, and the elevator lowered them to the prison level.
As it turns out, Tech isn't as dead as everyone thinks he is.
While everything was going on upstairs, in a prison cell on the prison floor, a figure awoke and groaned, astonished that he was alive. The figure sat up and took in the surroundings. (Or would if they were wearing goggles due to having been knocked off during his fall on Eriadu? That was the last thing he remembered before blacking out. Tech remembered his backup pair was in his bag. As he groped through his bag, Tech hoped his backup pair wasn't damaged.) Thankfully, when he pulled them out, they weren't. He put the goggles on and took in his surroundings. His metal cell is uninviting. The lights in the ceiling are red, as is the ray shield door. The rough and unsupportive bench and the ray-shielded doors assaulted his taste and smell senses while he saw his unequipped cell. Tech notices a tiny switch in the wall, barely visible. Tech attempts to get the Stormtrooper's attention as they run past, but it's half a dozen attempts before a Stormtrooper responds.
"You're alive," the Stormtrooper said.
"What's going on?" Tech asked.
"A squad of Commandos have broken into the complex. Don't try anything, alright?" the Stormtrooper explained.
"I won't," Tech replied. When the Stormtrooper departed, Tech realised his squadmates were there to rescue him. He knows he has to lift the lockdown, but his injuries mean he will struggle. Gritting his teeth, Tech made his way to the control panel.
Tech fumbled with the switch but eventually managed to get it working. Once he got the button working, he deactivated the ray shield. Tech then staggered outside and moved towards a nearby control room.
Back to the Batch
The red lights and a marginal cooling of the environment were something Echo didn't expect, though he was sure that the prison complex was now on lockdown. They knew that Stormtroopers would be swarming the facility looking for them, and they had to recover Tech's body and find a way out before they were all captured. Soon, the squad reached a terminal.
"Try to hack in again," Hunter called as the Stormtroopers started firing on their location. As the squad members returned fire, Echo said, "I can't focus on hacking into the system unless you keep the Stormtroopers off my ass,"
"Wrecker, try to lock the door down so we don't have to fight off a hundred troopers at once," Hunter said.
"On it," Wrecker replied as he ran to the switch and shot it, causing the door to fall. Eventually, Echo gets into the prisoner quarters and discovers a back passage to the prisoner quarters.
Back to Tech
Tech hobbled his way to a separate gate control room. Time has progressed to Mid-Afternoon, and it was mild in the room. Metal dominated Tech's senses, though scents from electricity and bacta also hit Tech's nose and mouth as he carefully made his way to the glowing control panel, the only other light coming from a lamp in the ceiling. While the control panel was a new addition to the facility, it dated to before the Clone Wars.
As Tech tried to work to lift one of the heavy doors remotely, he was struggling due to injuries sustained in the fall. Tech also knows he has little time to activate the door before troopers intercept him.
Just as he thinks about being intercepted by Stormtroopers, Tech hears Stormtroopers approach and search for a hiding place. Just after he hides inside a closet, Tech readies his blasters as the Stormtroopers enter. After a few moments, Tech burst out of the closet and stunned the two Stormtroopers. Finally, he returns to the control panel and swipes a data card from one of the stunned Stormtroopers. The data card allows Tech to access the control panel and open one of the doors.
Back to Clone Force 99
Clone Force 99 reaches the prison complex entrance but is hampered again by multiple closed doors. Omega and Hunter are starting to tire due to their use of the Force, but they're still determined to get Tech's body back. Echo attempts to hack into the complex again but only opens one door.
"No good. Wrecker, can you open the other door?" Echo asked. Wrecker attempts to open the door in multiple ways, but it won't budge.
"What if Omega and I use the force to make the door budge enough for Wrecker to get it open?" Echo suggests.
"Sounds like a plan," Hunter replied. He and Omega channel the Force again, and the door budges up a few inches.
"Now, Wrecker," Hunter said as Wrecker gets under the door and gradually pulls it up. To their surprise, the door behind that door was open. Once they enter, Echo heads for the control panel room. And to his shock, Tech is standing unsteadily in the room.
"YOU'RE ALIVE!" Tech and Echo shouted to each other. Hunter, Omega and Wrecker follow inside, and all embrace Tech upon seeing him.
"We just came to recover your body. We had no idea you were alive," Omega said, tears streaming down her face.
However, their joy is short-lived as they must scatter from an approaching horde of Stormtroopers.
Each squad member attempts to stun as many Stormtroopers as they can. However, the swarm is seemingly endless. Hunter, Tech, Echo, Wrecker and Omega try to move towards a common meeting point, but the Stormtroopers herd Clone Force 99 towards an endpoint. Suddenly, Scorch appears from nowhere next to Omega, wielding a minigun.
"Aren't you the one who helped fake my death?" Omega asked, astonished at seeing Scorch again.
"Yes. I must go on the run after this. There's no way the Empire will allow me to stay," Scorch replied as he started firing, mass-stunning the troopers.
"You can stay with us," Omega suggested.
"I could, for a bit. I'll need to head to Kashyyk to find Sev," Scorch replied, "Now, get in contact with your brothers, alright?"
"Alright," Omega replied. Omega used her communicator to message the other squad members, and everyone escaped through a backway, Wrecker carrying Tech to safety.
Several days later.
Tech is sitting outside on Pabu several days after his rescue. The squad was with them, although Scorch had departed to search for Sev. It was a warm mid-morning summer, and Tech enjoyed the warm sun on his batca-patched cheek. Phee was sitting with him, evidently having endured several sleepless nights without him. Tech can smell and taste the bacta patches covering a considerable portion of his body, the rock making up the island, plants and the sea. The picnic rug was soft on his feet. Everyone can tell that Tech's goggles are his backup pair, though only Tech could see the Lula sticker on the edge of the frame.
Tech noticed that the data chip he took from Sullust had more data than he first realised. The data was well encrypted, and Tech smiled as he thought, "Finally, a challenge worthy of my skill,"
Tech inserted the data chip into his datapad and started using various techniques he knew to decode what was on it. The first two attempts failed, with two approaches proving useless.
"Alright. Let's try this then," Tech said as he attempted a rare decrypting technique that he learned during the infiltration of Sako Minor. After several minutes, Tech decrypted the data. And Tech is amazed at what's on it. He had access to all the classified information regarding Royce Hemlock's location.
"Echo, round everyone up. I've discovered something huge," Tech said into his communicator.
"Will do," Echo responded.
"What's up?" Phee asked.
"I've discovered where the Empire is holding Crosshair," Tech turned to Phee.
"You have?" Echo asked, but Phee interrupted, "Please don't rush off again until healing is complete. Brown eyes. I almost lost you,"
"We won't go anywhere until healing is complete. We also need to coordinate with Rex and a friend of Omega's before we launch a rescue mission," Tech replied.
Phee nodded, and Tech held her shoulder, "I'm sorry I offended you during our last conversation. It was never my intention, and I was distracted ensuring everything for our mission was ready,"
"Apology accepted, brown eyes," Phee replied.
A moment later, the rest of the squad arrived.
"What have you found?" Hunter asked. When Tech handed his datapad to Hunter, his eyes widened with shock.
"Mt. Tantiss. Wayland. That's where Dr Hemlock is holding Crosshair." Hunter said, "We'll have to send this to Rex and Khan. Then Omega and I need to continue to work on managing our Force Abilities,"
"Sounds like a plan," Tech replied. The squad nodded and left Tech and Phee to watch the waves.
Meanwhile, on Mt. Tantiss
It is a mild mid-morning summer day on Mt. Tantiss, Wayland, and an angry Dr. Hemlock marches into the prison bay and straight to the cells. Nala Se is in one of them. Lighting up her cell are lights on the roof and the ray-shielded door. Dr. Hemlock can smell and taste the Kaminoan and the Ray Shield. The floor is rough but slightly damp due to the vent in the roof keeping things more humid for Nala Se. Once again, the tiniest bit of a strange band is present on Nala Se's wrist.
"You lied," Dr Hemlock snarled. Nala Se looked up, confused, "About what?"
"About not having created Force Sensitive clones," Dr. Hemlock spat. He grabbed a datapad sent from Grand Moff Tarkin and presented it to Nala Se.
"What is this about?" Nala Se asked. She watched the footage and saw Hunter and Omega using the Force several times during the scuffle on Sullust. Nala Se's eyes widened, "I had no idea they were Force Sensitive. Force Sensitive Clones are news to me,"
"I can have you executed right now for this," Dr Hemlock stated bluntly, and to emphasise his point, the Commando standing next to him pointed his blaster at Nala Se. Nala Se, however, is unmoved.
"Executed? You know I'm the one who created these two, so if you execute me, you'll lose that knowledge," Nala Se replied coolly.
Dr. Hemlock breathed deeply to calm himself, then continued, "Alright. What do you need to replicate this?"
As the Commando lowered his blaster, Nala Se replied, "A perfect replication of my laboratories from Kamino. That's the only way you're standing a chance of fulfilling the Emperor's wishes,"
"Alright. Then that's what we'll do," Dr Hemlock replied before he left the cell.