I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters, but I only own Nadia Aomori and my other OCs.
Enjoy!
Threads of Destiny
Chapter 66: The Bad Batch
At Fort Anaxes...
Anakin, Nadia, Captain Rex and Clone Sergeant Hunter were waiting for permission to embark on a rescue mission to Skako Minor in search of the ARC trooper Echo.
Clone Sergeant Hunter had longish dark brown hair and wore a red bandana at most times with a small white skull symbol. The entire left side of his face was tattooed with half of a skull and wore a dark grey armour.
"Word is the general staff isn't completely behind this mission."Hunter stated.
"I admit the idea that Echo is still alive is a long shot."Rex replied.
"I'm sure the Council will approve the mission."Anakin responded."Just remember the primary goal is to learn how the Separatists are predicting our strategy, whether it's Echo behind it or not."
"Well, if you want my opinion, sounds like a trap, but me and the boys will tag along anyway, if only to say 'I told you so."Hunter declared.
"Just make sure you're ready if we get the go-ahead from General Kenobi."Anakin reminded.
"If you're certain he'll approve the mission, why wait?"Rex questioned.
"Exactly."Nadia agreed."I say we get going."
Anakin looked at Rex.
"First, we have that 'thing' to do."Anakin declared.
"Uh, what thing?"Rex asked.
"You know."Anakin reminded.
Nadia simply bit her lip while Rex immediately realised what he was talking about.
"We don't have time for that, sir."Rex stated.
"Yes, we do."Anakin assured in a firm tone.
"Well, we'll just let you two sort this out."Nadia declared with a small smirk.
"Me and Commander Aomori will be waiting on the ship with the rest of the team."Hunter stated.
Hunter and Nadia made their way to the Marauder; a modified Omicron-class attack shuttle while Anakin and Rex headed to the barracks.
Nadia turned her head a bit to see Rex handing Anakin his helmet before staying outside before he went in.
"Any idea what is General Skywalker up to, Commander Aomori?"Hunter asked.
Nadia simply shrugged at Hunter.
"No idea, Sergeant."Nadia answered."I am just as confused as you."
In space, the Marauder was travelling on hyperspace to get to the planet, Skako Minor.
Inside the Omicron-class attack shuttle was Anakin, Nadia, Rex and Clone Force 99 prepared for their assault.
The squad of Clone Force 99 consisted of four clone commandos that were led by Clone Sergeant Hunter, who was a clone with enhanced sensory abilities.
Other members of the squad included Wrecker, a clone with an enhanced muscular form, Tech, a clone with enhanced mental capacity and intelligence, and Crosshair, a clone with keen eyesight and marksmanship that allowed him to excel in long-distance firefights.
"So, how many missions has your team been on, Sergeant?"Anakin asked.
"Honestly, sir, I've lost count."Hunter commented."All the action sort of blurs together."
"I know you work with Cody sometimes, but who do you guys report to?"Rex asked.
"Hmm...good question."Hunter responded."Can't say I've got an answer."
"Yeah!"Wrecker agreed.
Wrecker munched on a chicken wing while Nadia simply smirked at Force 99.
Suddenly, the shuttle started to shake a little violently as it jumped out of hyperspace.
"We are approaching Skako Minor."Tech announced."It looks to be a difficult landing."
Anakin, Nadia, Rex, Hunter and Crosshair sat at the back seats while Wrecker rushed to sit next to Tech.
Tech flew the ship into a storm, but they manage to safely land on the planet's surface.
"Rex, what do we know about this place?"Anakin asked.
"On this part of Skako, there's a race of locals, the Poletecs."Rex explained. "All we know is they're very primitive."
"Primitive is being kind."Tech added."My intel says the Poletecs worship flying reptiles."
Suddenly the Havoc Marauder got attacked by two screeching Keeradaks.
"What the heck were those?!"Wrecker demanded.
"I guessing those are the reptiles, you guys were talking about?"Nadia assumed.
"I want those things off my ship!"Hunter ordered.
"Hold on! Hold on!"Rex protested."Don't just run out there!"
Anakin, Nadia and the Clone Troopers go out to confront the Keeradaks which carried two Poletecan mounts.
"Hey!"Wrecker shouted."Get off of there!"
"Hey, calm down."Anakin instructed."We need to talk to them."
"Why?"Hunter questioned.
"The General's right."Rex agreed.
"Rex!"Nadia shouted."Look out!"
Nadia pushed Rex down as more Keeradaks showed up around the group.
Suddenly, the Keeradaks kidnapped Anakin and Nadia before taking off in the sky.
Anakin's lightsaber dropped and Rex picked it up.
"I have a thermal reading."Tech declared."Point-two-five east, elevation 175."
"Relax."Crosshair assured and took out his blaster."I'll handle this."
The clone trooper Crosshair managed to fire a grappling hook at the Keeradak that held Anakin.
Hunter then held onto the grappling hook.
"What are you doing?"Crosshair asked.
"Going for a ride."Hunter answered.
Hunter takes off and attempted to shoot the Keeradaks, down but his blaster was knocked out of his hand.
The Keeradak tried to knock Hunter against the rocks and Hunter lets go before landing on a flat surface.
However, Hunter was unhurt and managed to track the two Jedi Knights and their kidnappers to a nearby Poletecan village.
The villagers took Anakin and Nadia as their prisoners.
"Tech, I'm with the General and the Commander."Hunter reported."Hone in on my signal."
The keeradaks held Anakin and Nadia on the ground using their claws.
The Poletecan spoke in a alien language which neither Anakin or Nadia understood.
"Okay, I think we're gonna have a slight communication problem here."Anakin stated.
"Too bad I didn't find learning alien languages interesting."Nadia retorted with a frown.
The other Clone Troopers joined Hunter at the edge of the village.
"Those creatures still have a hold of the General and the Commander."Hunter stated.
Rex used the gear on his helmet to see Anakin and Nadia being held as hostages.
"We're going in, but remember what the General said."Rex warned."No casualties. Disarm only."
"We're on it, Captain."Hunter replied and looked at his companions."Wrecker, Crosshair, rockslide!"
After resolving not to terrorise the villagers, the Clone Troopers moved in to rescue Anakin and Nadia.
The Clone Troopers use a boulder to smash several structures and managed to awe the Poletecans by their display of firepower.
Hunter fired two electric can shoots on the Keeradaks' legs causing them to release Anakin and Nadia.
One of the Poletecan spoke causing the Clone Troopers to ceasefire.
"Tech, translate what he said."Hunter instructed.
Tech used his helmet to translate what the Poletecan just said.
"He says he does not want our war on his planet."Tech translated."That is why he took our leader and co-leader."
"We didn't bring the war here."Anakin responded."It was Wat Tambor and the Separatists."
Tech speaks to the Poletecan in the same alien language.
"...Separatists."Tech finished.
"Tell him we apologize for what's happened."Rex instructed."But tell him the enemy is holding one of our men prisoner in Purkoll. As soon as we rescue him, we'll leave his planet, for good."
Tech started talking to the Poletec chief before he looked at Anakin and Nadia.
"The chief says he will provide us with scouts and lead us to Tambor's city."Tech translated."From there, we're on our own."
Anakin looked at Nadia.
"Any help is better than no help."Anakin replied.
Nadia nodded in agreement.
Afterwards, the group started their journey to find Echo with the Poletecans leading them.
The Poletecans said something and pointed at Tambor's city known as Purkoll before walking away.
"It looks like a long way down."Nadia complemented.
"Hope nobody's scared of heights."Anakin remarked.
This caused Hunter and Crosshair to look at Wrecker.
"Well, I'm not scared of nothing."Wrecker bragged proudly."I just...when I'm up real high, I got a problem with gravity."
"Speaking of problems, I am no longer picking up Echo's signal."Tech admitted.
"I...I don't understand."Rex responded and pointed at Purkoll."You said it was coming from this city."
"I can only speculate, but it is possible there's a latency issue with the frequency caused by all these atmospheric disturbances."Tech explained.
Tech took out his macrobinoculars to look at the area.
"Or...maybe they sent the signal to lure us into a trap."Hunter suggested."And maybe your friend's actually dead. Well, I can't be the only one thinking of that."
"Look, every mission could be a trap."Rex argued."This one is no different. I'm telling you that signal is being sent by Echo himself! He's alive!"
"I think you're letting your personal feelings get in the way because you left him for dead at the Citadel."Crosshair retorted.
"I had no choice!"Rex snapped in anger."You hear me?"
"Oh, I don't blame you."Crosshair scoffed."I would've left him for dead too. Besides, he's just another reg."
Rex becomes enraged and started punching Crosshair.
"Rex, stop it!"Nadia protested with a glare."It's not worth it!"
"Hey!"Wrecker shouted and moved Rex away from Crosshair."Why don't you pick on someone not your size?"
"You'll be a whole lot smaller when I'm through with you."Rex threatened.
"That's enough!"Anakin demanded as he broke up Wrecker and Rex before looking at Hunger."Sergeant, take your men and scout the area for a tower entrance. Me and the Commander want to talk to my Captain alone."
Crosshair and the other Clone Troopers walked away causing Anakin and Nadia to look at Rex.
"Rex, I hate to say it, but...you have to prepare yourself for the possibility that Echo is dead and this is all a Separatist trick."Anakin reminded.
"Sir, I have watched so many of my brothers fall during this war and I try not to hang on to any one of them."Rex responded and took off his helmet. "But that changed when I heard that Separatist transmission."
"I know what it's like to lose a brother, Rex."Nadia assured, remembering Jayden, her late older brother."But if what you heard was an algorithm-"
"It was no algorithm, Commander Aomori."Rex replied."That was Echo's voice. I know it."
"I hope you're right."Anakin replied."But if, for some reason, you're wrong..."
"Then I'll deal with it."Rex finished.
In Purkoll...
The wind howled widely as Force 99 managed to trace Echo's signal to a tower.
Shortly later, they were joined by Anakin, Nadia and Rex.
"We're in business, General and Commander."Hunter stated."Tech regained Echo's signal. It's coming from this tower. How's it going, Tech?"
Tech opened the door using a small device and the entrance revealed to be a lift.
"Sorry it took so long."Tech apologised.
"It's alright, Tech."Nadia replied."It's better than nothing."
"Hey, Crosshair, check it out."Hunter insisted.
Crosshair went inside with his blaster and saw the entrance was a lift.
"Yeah, it's a lift."Crosshair stated.
"Well, we already knew that."Hunter complemented.
Anakin, Nadia, Rex, Hunter, Crosshair and Tech went inside the lift.
"Wait, wait, wait. A lift?"Wrecker questioned."How far up are we going?"
"Don't worry, Wrecker."Hunter mocked."I'll hold your hand."
"Hey! Cut it out, Sarge!"Wrecker snapped."Just give me some droids to crush!"
Wrecker and Hunter went inside the lift before the doors closed and the group began heading up.
"Remember, this is a stealth mission."Anakin instructed."No blasting. No blowing things up. Nobody knows we're here."
Suddenly, the lift's doors swung opened revealing several D-wing air support droids.
"Except them."Nadia scowled.
"Intruders!"A droid buzzed."Attack!"
Wrecker let out a battle cry before moving to engage the droids as the rest of the Bad Batch followed.
Rex looked at Anakin and Nadia.
"So much for stealth."Rex mumbled in disapproval.
Nadia let out a small chuckle as she watched the Bad Batch easily take down the droids
"Yeah! Hah!"Wrecker laughed madly."Ha-ha! Yeah!"
Wrecker noticed Anakin, Nadia and the other Clone Troopers staring at him.
"Uh...sorry."Wrecker apologised sheepishly."I just got excited."
"I've still got a lock on Echo's signal."Tech admitted.
"All right, men."Hunter spoke up."Let's hunt some droids."
Hunter began to walk to the next entrance causing Anakin, Nadia, Rex and the others to follow after him as Wrecker laughed again.
"Now you're talking!"Wrecker chuckled in excitement."Yeah!"
Rex and Hunter checked the corridor before blasting down the droids in the area.
"Where exactly is Echo's signal coming from?"Anakin asked.
"Strange."Tech said as he checked the signal on his device."I just lost the signal."
"What?"Rex scoffed as he took off his helmet."How can that be? There's no atmospheric disturbances up here."
"Well, I have a new theory."Tech replied."I'm surprised I did not consider it earlier. The signal is only traceable during data transmissions. So until Echo dispenses more intel, I cannot pick up the signal."
"Okay, we're splitting up."Anakin declared."Search every door. If someone finds Echo, contact the others. We go in together, just in case there's trouble."
Rex and the others headed to the left while Anakin, Nadia and Crosshair went to the other side of the corridor.
Anakin and Nadia went inside a chamber and got surrounded by a few D-Wing droids.
"Drop your weapon!"A droid ordered."You are surrounded!"
The two Jedi Knights shared a smirk before taking out their lightsabers to battle against the enemy droids with Crosshair's help.
Meanwhile, Rex and the other Clone Troopers searched the chambers for Echo.
"Ah! It appears the signal is back."Tech complemented as he checked his device."It's from up ahead."
Hunter pointed at the door in front of them.
"In there."Hunter stated.
"Tech, open this door."Rex ordered.
Tech tried to open the chamber, but found that its entrance was sealed.
Suddenly, the view screen next to the door activated to reveal the presence of Wat Tambo; the foreman of the Techno Union.
"You clones are so predictable."Wat mocked.
"Wat Tambor."Rex scoffed.
"Your algorithm predicted nearly every move you made to infiltrate Purkoll."Wat commented.
"There is no algorithm."Rex argued."We know you're holding a prisoner of war here."
"Prisoner?"Wat asked casually."I don't know what you mean, Captain."
"I am leaving here with my friend."Rex warned coldly.
"Your friend is dead."Wat retorted."His mind is ours."
"Liar!"Rex snapped with a hint of anger.
"Execute them."Wat ordered grimly.
A bunch of D-wing droids arrived to execute the clones and started firing at them.
Then Anakin, Nadia and Crosshair showed up to help the other clones take down the droids.
The Clone Troopers fought the D-wing droids with the assistance of the two Jedi Knights, who helped them to destroy all the droids.
But then several more droids showed up to fight the group.
"More droids in coming!"Nadia warned.
Nadia deflected the lasers of the droids with her two lightsabers.
"Tech, open that door for Rex!"Anakin ordered.
"Yes, sir!"Tech answered.
Tech rushed towards the door as Crosshair looked at Rex.
"I hope you find what you're looking for, Captain."Crosshair responded.
Rex and Tech head into a large lab, where they find a large covered test tube in the middle of the room.
"I don't like the look of this."Tech admitted.
Tech began to press a few buttons causing the rest tube to slowly open.
"I'm definitely picking up a life-form in there."Tech explained."It seems to be a stasis chamber. I think I can get it open."
The door opened revealing Echo confined within a stasis chamber.
Echo had been drugged and was completely unaware of his surroundings.
Several tubes have been fitted into him and some of his limbs have been replaced by prosthetic parts.
"Echo."Rex said in shock and began picking up his long lost brother while speaking to Tech."Tech. We got to get him out of here. Figure out how to unplug him from-from this mess."
Rex looked at Echo with a stunned expression as he carefully placed him down.
"What have they done to you?"Rex murmured.
"We-We have to get to the shuttle to escape the Citadel."Echo answered weakly and began to panic."No! I'll go first."
"Echo-"Rex started.
"No!"Echo cried out."No! No!"
"Echo, it's Rex."Rex assured calmly."I'm here."
Echo looked at Rex with a weak smile.
"Rex?"Echo asked."You…You came back for me."
"Yes."Rex replied."Yes, I did."
"W-What happened?"Echo questioned."Where am I?"
"It's okay, Echo. You're safe now."Rex responded with a smile."Just sit tight, trooper. You're going home."
Rex comforted his old comrade as he and Tech began freeing him.
Anakin, Nadia and the Bad Batch continued fighting off several D-wing air support droids while Rex and Tech attempt to free Echo from the tubes connecting him to the stasis chamber.
"Hunter, hold them off!"Anakin ordered."We'll check on Rex and Echo."
Anakin and Nadia deactivated their lightsabers and headed to check on Rex and Tech, who were with Echo.
"Situation's almost under control out there."Anakin stated."How's it going in here?"
"I'm still trying to decrypt Echo's cerebral interface."Tech replied."Until I do, we cannot disconnect him from this computer system."
Nadia's eyes widen a bit when she saw Echo.
Echo's skin became pale during his time in stasis and his body was outfitted with numerous cybernetic implants including a socket-arm in place of his right hand. But he became weak and emaciated, and had also lost his hair.
"My stars."Nadia muttered with a startled look."That's really Echo?"
"Yes, Commander, it is."Rex answered."But he is too weak to walk. Very disoriented. Doesn't even remember how he got here. He remembers being at the Citadel, but that's about it."
"Any word on the extraction squad?"Anakin questioned.
"We called it in, but no word back."Rex responded.
Anakin and Nadia noticed Hunter throwing a D-wing air support droid out of the way as he fought with the Bad Batch.
"Well, that's no surprise."Anakin commented."We knew when we got into this we'd be on our own."
Nadia looked down for a moment before the rest of the Bad Batch came in and closed the doors to prevent the enemy droids from coming in.
"Enemy approaching."Crosshair warned."Droids. Lots of them."
"How long can you hold them off?"Anakin asked.
"How long do you need?"Hunter questioned.
Anakin looked at Tech.
"Tech, how much longer?"Anakin demanded.
"Not yet."Tech answered as he pressed a few buttons."I need more time."
The group hear something trying to slash the other doors open.
"Well, better finish now than never."Nadia warned.
"I've got it."Tech admitted."We can unplug him now."
Tech managed to figure out how to unplug Echo causing Rex to remove the plugs that were attached on his brother.
"Rex?"Echo coughed.
"What is it?"Rex asked.
"I got a big headache."Echo chuckled with a small smile.
"Better to feel something than nothing, old buddy."Rex responded.
"It's a touching reunion, guys, but we need to get out of here now."Anakin reminded.
"There's an exhaust vent that leads to the cooling systems right there."Echo stated.
The group sees an exhaust pipe above the chamber.
"They've breached the front door."Crosshair declared."It won't be long before they're through the second."
Echo placed his robotic hand on a device to make the pipe open.
"That should get it open."Echo said.
"Great."Crosshair mumbled."Now how do we get up there?"
"I can help with that."Wrecker assured with amusement.
Wrecker brought Hunter forward.
"Wait, what?"Hunter asked."Wrecker, what are you doing?"
Wrecker pushed a surprised Hunter forward before throwing him up into the vent.
"A heads-up would've been nice!"Hunter snapped angrily.
Nadia covered her mouth to laugh a little at the sight before Wrecker tossed up the other Clone Troopers as well.
Wrecker brought his attention on Nadia.
"I'm good."Nadia responded definitively.
Nadia used the Force to make herself go up the pipe as Wrecker looked at Anakin.
"It's okay, Wrecker."Anakin assured."I've got this."
Anakin jumped up high and landed on the pipe as well.
Wrecker began planting several detonators in the chamber.
"Hey!"Nadia shouted."What are you doing?!"
"I'm putting an end to Tambor's little science experiment."Wrecker responded.
"Are you done?"Anakin called out."Time's up!"
Anakin managed to levitate Wrecker just as the decimator entered the chamber and tried to zap him with its purple electricity.
When the pipe door closed, the group make their escape.
An explosion was heard caused by Wrecker's detonators which destroyed Tambor's machines and years of research.
Anakin, Nadia and the Clone Troopers navigated their way through the facility's cooling systems.
"Huh."Tech responded."This ventilation corridor acts as a cooling system for all the computers in the facility."
"And I usually thought gadgets can only work in warm areas."Nadia complemented.
Anakin glanced at Echo, who was helped out by Rex.
"How did you know it was up here, Echo?"Anakin asked.
"Well, they got access to my memory and I got access to the Techno Union database."Echo explained as he remembered the data he memorised."All their plans. Inventory. Building schematics. Everything."
"You mean you can find us a safe way out of here?"Rex assumed.
"Well, there is a way, but you're not gonna like it."Echo stated.
Anakin, Nadia and the Clone Troopers stared at Echo with curious looks.
When the group reach a door which revealed a long narrow pipe that led to a building with a landing pad.
"All the way there?"Nadia scoffed in disbelief.
"I don't know about this."Rex commented with an unsure look.
"I'm telling you, there's a landing pad on that other building!"Echo announced.
"So you think there's a ship there we can steal?"Hunter asked.
"Well, I hope there's a ship we can steal."Echo answered.
"Let's hope this trip isn't for nothing."Hunter retorted.
Anakin, Nadia and the Clone Troopers began to cross the pipe.
"Oh, boy."Wrecker muttered."I can't even look. Just keep walking, Tech."
"That's fine."Tech assured casually."But if you fall, don't take me with you."
"Uh-oh! I looked! Ahh!"Wrecker panicked in fear."I think I'm gonna be sick! Not gonna panic!"
"Hang on, Wrecker."Hunter instructed."We're almost there."
The group were getting closer to the other side, but soon find themselves trapped by D-wing droids on both sides.
Anakin and Nadia activated their lightsabers as the Clone Troopers took out their blasters to start shooting at the D-wing droids.
"Just what we need."Nadia scoffed sarcastically.
The group took out their weapons to fight the D-wing droids.
However Crosshair loses his balance and nearly falls, but Wrecker pushed past his fear of heights to catch his comrade, leaving them both dangling from a protrusion on the bottom of the pipe.
"Anybody got a brilliant idea?"Anakin asked.
"I do have a brilliant idea."Tech admitted.
"I'm hanging here!"Wrecker protested.
"When the locals attacked us, I recorded the creatures' distress call."Tech explained.
"That's really clever, Tech."Nadia praised with a smug look.
"He records everything."Hunter said simply."It's a hobby."
"Which allows us to call those flying creatures to us."Tech added.
The two Jedi Knights and the Clone Troopers covered their ears to block out that awful screeching sound.
"Ow!"Wrecker shouted in annoyance and blasted a few droids with his free hand."Enough with the sound! Take that!"
Tech's screeching recording caused several Keeradaks to show up.
"There is our ride out of here!"Tech declared.
"Now, how do we get on them?"Anakin questioned.
"How else?"Tech retorted."We jump!"
"Don't have to tell me twice!"Nadia responded.
Nadia jumped down first and landed on one of the Keeradak.
"Come on!"Nadia encouraged while waving at her comrades."It's now or never!"
Anakin, Rex and Echo all jumped on a Keeradak.
"I don't wanna do this, but here I go!"Wrecker declared.
Wrecker and Crosshair jumped down and landed on a Keeradak together.
"See you later!"Tech saluted.
Tech saluted at the enemy droids before he and Hunter jumped on a Keeradak as well.
The group began to make their escape on the flying reptiles, but were pursued by the D-wing droids that can fly.
"Why does the bad guys always get the best technology?"Nadia questioned sarcastically.
"Uh, that wasn't part of the plan."Tech commented and took out his blasters."Those things can fly!"
The D-wing droids started firing at the group causing Anakin and Nadia to deflect the attacks with their lightsabers.
"We have to shake those droids!"Anakin stated."How do I steer this thing?"
"No idea."Nadia answered honestly."I guess they'll take us back to the village."
Rex looked at Echo.
"How you holding up, Echo?"Rex asked.
"Never better, sir!"Echo replied.
The droid pursuers crashed into a cliff face, making the group return back to the Poletec village that they had encountered earlier.
The Poletec leader started speaking to the group with a unhappy expression.
"Their leader is impressed we tamed the Keeradaks, but he wants to know why we returned here."Tech translated.
"Tell him we had no choice."Anakin responded."Tell him...that we wore out our welcome in Purkoll."
Tech spoke to the Poletec leader of what Anakin just said.
Suddenly, several D-wing droids followed but Crosshair managed to shoot them down, except for one which flew back to Tambor.
"Not good."Anakin commented."If I know Tambor, he'll come after us and the Poletecs with everything he's got."
The Poletec leader says something to Anakin.
"What's he saying, Tech?"Anakin asked.
"He says that we have broken our word."Tech translated."We have brought the war to his village."
"You're right."Rex agreed and took off his helmet."Tell him he's right, Tech. Tell him we didn't plan to drag his people into war. But look what the Separatists did to one of our people."
Rex pointed at Echo causing the Poletec villagers to become shocked.
"They took away his freedom. His humanity."Rex explained sternly."They tried to turn him into a machine."
Tech translated what Rex said to the Poletec leader and his villagers.
"The Techno Union claims it's neutral, but they have chosen sides."Rex admitted."Now your people have to choose."
"Couldn't have said it better, Rex."Anakin complemented.
Nadia smirked in amusement as Hunter groaned a little.
"Let's hope it works, because I see forces coming...more than we can handle alone."Hunter warned.
The villagers looked at their leader, who spoke to them.
Nadia smiled. "I have a feeling they are with us."
Later that day, Tambor sends a force of D-wing droids and two Octuptarra magna tri-droids to wipe out the clones and the villagers sheltering them.
Anakin signalled Wrecker to move a rock Boulder causing it to broke down some of the D-wing droids.
During the ensuing battle, Skywalker, the clones, and their Poletec allies lure the droid army into a valley and then attack them from all sides.
The Poletec swarm the droids but many are killed by blaster fire.
The Clone Troopers then join the fight while the Octuptarras descended into the valley.
Nadia slashed the droids down with her lightsabers as the Clone Troopers deploy charges that cause the D-wing droids to short circuit.
"Rex, we've gotta take out these walkers."Anakin instructed."I'll take one. Nadia will take the second. You take the third."
"Don't worry, General."Rex assured."The boys and I can handle it. Hunter, Wrecker, you're with me."
"Still showing off, huh, General?"Echo asked.
"You know me, Echo."Anakin responded.
Anakin landed on the first octuptarra tri-droid before he started damaging it with his lightsaber.
Nadia noticed the second Octuptarra tri-droid preparing to shoot again causing her to jump onto it and slash it down from the head to the legs.
Rex watched his fellow Jedi before looking at Wrecker.
"That seemed to work."Rex said."But how do we get up there?"
Wrecker grabbed Rex.
"No! No!"Rex complained."Not again!"
Wrecker threw Rex to the third octuptarra tri-droid before throwing Hunter onto it as well.
Rex and Hunter managed to disable the droid by destroying its eye sensors.
Nadia jumped off the octuptarra she was on before Anakin used the Force on his tri-droid to topple onto the other two, crushing more enemy forces in the process and ending the threat of the Octuptarras.
This caused the surviving D-wings to flee back to Wat Tambor empty handed.
The Poletec villagers cheered at Anakin and Nadia as Rex and the other clones watched the sight while taking off their helmets.
"It's hard to compete with Jedi."Hunter declared.
The Next Morning...
The Poletec chief praised the bravery and valour of Anakin, Nadia and the Clone Troopers, telling them that they would always have an ally on Skako Minor.
"Thank you for helping us in our fight."Anakin thanked.
"We really appreciate your help."Nadia agreed.
The Poletec chief speaks causing Tech to translate what he said.
"He said the Jedi will always have an ally here on Skako Minor."Tech translated.
The Poletec villagers walked away causing Anakin, Nadia, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair and Hunter board the Havoc Marauder as Echo looked at Rex.
"Rex."Echo remarked."Thanks for coming after me."
"That's what brothers do."Rex replied."I'm just sorry it took so long. Hopefully, it's gonna be just like old times."
Rex goes inside the Havoc Marauder as Echo watched him for a moment.
"Yeah...just like old times."Echo responded with a hint of doubt.
Echo headed inside the ship before it flew away from Skako Minor.
After returning to Fort Anaxes, Mace Windu and Obi-Wan briefed Anakin, Nadia and Rex about their plan to retake Anaxes from the Separatists.
"We have more than a dozen active battlefronts on Anaxes and we are losing nearly everyone."Mace Windu exclaimed and showed a hologram of Anaxes that had the army of the Republic and the Separatists."But if Admiral Trench can no longer anticipate our moves, we now have the opportunity to retake the planet."
Then Echo arrived into the room with a medical droid next to him.
"I can improve your chances."Echo suggested.
Rex looked at Mace Windu, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia.
"Eh, excuse me, Generals and Commander."Rex instructed.
Rex went up to Echo to tell his comrade that he was not yet ready to fight again in the war.
"Echo, I'm sorry, but I just don't think you're ready for battle yet."Rex stated.
"I am not a liability, Rex."Echo admitted."I'm the best chance we have to take back Anaxes."
"If the trooper has a plan, I'd like to hear it."Mace Windu suggested.
Echo glanced at Rex.
"May I?"Echo suggested.
Rex removed his hand from Echo's shoulder before his long lost brother placed his socket-arm into the Holo-tank before telling Mace Windu, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia his plan to infiltrate the Separatist Admiral Trench's dreadnought above Anaxes.
"While Master Windu leads a team to retake the assembly complex, the Bad Batch will escort me into Trench's new comm vault, which, according to current intel, is now located on this Separatist Dreadnought above Anaxes."Echo exclaimed."Once I'm plugged in, I can feed Trench strategies, but this time, you'll know every move before he makes it."
"And you are certain that if we get you onboard that ship, that you can convince Trench's army to do what you want?"Mace Windu asked.
"Absolutely."Echo answered."Unfortunately, I've been doing this for a while, but this time I can help bring about a Republic victory instead of a defeat."
Mace Windu and Obi-Wan nodded at each other which meant the two Jedi Masters consented the plan.
The two Jedi Knights then made their way to join the Bad Batch for the mission.
As they were heading to the Marauder, Anakin and Nadia began talking to each other.
"Padmé told me that May is looking after her."Anakin admitted.
Nadia smirked at Anakin's declaration.
"Yeah. My little half-sister has the passion to help those close to her despite still being a kid."Nadia declared with a hint of pride."And I hope after the victory on getting Anaxes back will mean our trip back to Coruscant."
"And make up for your cancelled date with Ferus?"Anakin guessed with an amused look.
Nadia frowned at Anakin's question.
"Watch it, pretty boy."Nadia warned."I am so far in a good mood. Don't mess it up."
Anakin put his hands up in defence.
"Whatever you say, Commander."Anakin answered casually.
Anakin, Nadia, Rex, Echo and the Bad Batch then departed for their mission aboard the Marauder.
"Please tell me we are blowing something up."Wrecker begged.
"Sorry, Wrecker, this is strictly stealth."Anakin declared.
Wrecker groaned in annoyance.
"I hate that word!"Wrecker complained.
Nadia tapped Echo's shoulder, signalling him to do his part.
"Echo, you're up."Nadia informed.
"Don't worry."Echo assured as he bent down to plug in his socket-arm."As soon as I plug in, I'll send a signal to the command ship."
"What type of signal are you gonna send?"Hunter questioned, giving Crosshair a small glance."Nothing that'll give us away, right?"
"As far as the droids are concerned, we're just gonna be another one of their shuttles coming in for a landing."Echo stated.
"And the regs think we take risks."Hunter murmured.
Nadia bit her lip a bit as the Marauder moved past the Separatist ships.
"Sending the signal now."Echo stated.
Echo transmitted a signal cloaking the Marauder as the Separatist shuttle TC-59.
"Roger, roger, Shuttle TC-159."A battle droid's voice informed."You may approach and land."
The group managed to obtain permission to dock with the Separatist dreadnought.
"I'd still rather blow it up."Wrecker complained.
"I have a feeling you'll get your chance."Echo remarked.
After the Marauder landed beneath Admiral Trench's Providence-class Dreadnought known as the Invulnerable, Anakin, Nadia, Rex, Echo and the Bad Batch went to infiltrate the dreadnought's interface unit and put their plan into action.
"Tech, can you rig an interface?"Echo asked.
"I assume that's a rhetorical question."Tech replied.
Tech bent down to put to patch in his data-pad as Echo glanced at Anakin and Nadia.
"We should make sure this comm vault has no other entrances."Echo declared.
"We're on it."Anakin assured and glanced at Nadia."Come on, Kitty."
Nadia nodded. "Right."
Anakin, Nadia, Wrecker, Crosshair and Hunter stood outside the room while Echo was with Tech and Rex.
Then Tech then got a transmission in his computer terminal that was installed into the forearm portion of his armour.
"I'm intercepting a transmission."Tech declared."Trench is ordering all of his droids to the assembly complex."
Hunter gave Echo a suspicious look.
"All right, Echo, what are you trying to pull?"Hunter questioned.
"Don't worry, that's what I told him to do."Echo assured with a small smirk.
"But our troops will be vastly outnumbered."Rex reminded.
"Not when I send them a feedback pulse that shuts down all the droids."Echo declared.
"How do we know that's what you're really going to do?"Tech asked.
"We have to trust him."Rex suggested.
Despite the Bad Batch's distrust on Echo, Anakin and Nadia had faith in him like Rex did.
"Rex is right."Anakin agreed and looked at Echo."Echo, we're all counting on you."
"You may have been in the hands of the Separatists for so long, but I know your loyalty is to the Republic."Nadia stated.
Echo nodded at Nadia as Anakin informed Mace Windu and Obi-Wan about Echo's plan via comlink.
"Master Windu, I know this sounds crazy, but it's about to get a little more crowded where you are."Anakin reported.
"We have our hands full as it is."Mace Windu admitted as blaster fire was heard in the background."What is your plan?"
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, it isn't my plan or Nadia's."Anakin declared."Echo is drawing all the droids to your position, so he can neutralise them all at the same time."
Believing victory is imminent, Trench deployed all his forces to the assembly plant.
Echo then issued the pulse shutting down all of the Separatist droids.
Mace Windu then contacted Anakin in his comlink.
"I am pleased to report that we are in control of the assembly complex, and all of the fronts are falling to the Republic thanks to Echo's plan."Mace Windu reported.
Nadia smiled in approval.
"That's good news, Master Windu."Anakin stated."We're on our way back to the base."
"May the Force be with you."Mace Windu replied.
The Jedi Master then ended his chat with Anakin.
"Good job, Echo."Nadia praised.
"Well, I guess you actually are on our side."Hunter said.
"Was there ever any doubt?"Echo asked casually.
"Some."Echo admitted.
"Well, thanks."Echo thanked.
"Come on, brother."Rex insisted with a smirk."Unplug, and let's get out of here."
Echo suddenly became alarmed upon getting a transmission that Trench planned to activate a bomb beneath the assembly plant.
"Wait, I just scanned a new order from Trench."Echo declared."He's initiated a countdown. There's a bomb hidden at the assembly complex, but it's big enough to destroy most of Anaxes."
This caused Anakin, Nadia, Rex, Echo and the Bad Batch to become shocked.
"That's not good."Nadia stated with a hint of fear.
"Can you stop it?"Anakin questioned.
"Well, I can try."Echo suggested.
Anakin and Nadia began heading away from the Clone Troopers.
"General, Commander, where are you two going?"Hunter asked.
"If you can't stop the detonation, perhaps Trench can!"Anakin declared.
"Report Obi-Wan and Windu to evacuate the other clones before locating the bomb!"Nadia insisted.
While Obi-Wan ordered an evacuation of all Republic forces from the plant, Mace Windu descended into the fusion generator to find the bomb, only to find it's protected by a ray shield.
While Echo transmitted the sequence to shut down the bomb, Mace Windu used the Force to move the dials.
Their work was interrupted when Admiral Trench traces down the source of the illegal pulse and jammed its signal.
This had the effect of electrocuting Echo and rendering him unconscious.
Rex and the Bad Batch were then attacked by several B2-series super battle droids and Mace Windu ordered them to retreat.
Meanwhile, Admiral Trench ordered an assault on Anaxes and sends more battle droids to deal with the clone infiltrators.
The Harch admiral attempted to exit the command bridge, but was blocked by Anakin and Nadia, who activated their lightsabers.
"Huh?!"Admiral Trench gasped in shock.
Anakin strikes down Admiral Trench's tactical droid while Nadia destroyed several BX-series droid commandos with her two lightsabers.
"Jedi scum!"Admiral Trench snarled.
Anakin and Nadia pointed their lightsabers at Admiral Trench.
"Tell us the sequence to disarm the bomb!"Anakin demanded.
"Never."Admiral Trench replied arrogantly."Dooku would kill me for losing Anaxes."
"And you think we won't?"Nadia scoffed.
"You're a Jedi."Admiral Trench taunted."Your nobility-"
Anakin then severed Admiral Trench's left set of arms.
"We don't have such weaknesses!"Anakin scowled angrily.
"You would be wise to give us that sequence to disarm that wretched bomb of yours, if you value your life."Nadia ordered in a cold tone.
"3, 1, 8, 7."Admiral Trench replied nervously."The final number 7."
Both Anakin and Nadia smirked smugly at Admiral Trench giving them the last number to disarm the bomb.
Anakin brought his comlink while Nadia kept pointing her blades towards Admiral Trench's neck.
"Mace, if you can't stop the detonation, you must leave now!"Obi-Wan demanded.
"That is not an option."Mace Windu replied."I still have a chance to stop this, even if it's down to my best guess."
"How about I take the guesswork out of it, Master?"Anakin requested smugly."Admiral Trench was kind enough to give me and Nadia the final number himself. Try seven."
Mace Windu then disarmed the bomb.
"Good work, Skywalker and Aomori."Mace Windu stated."The bomb has been disarmed."
"You both owe us one now."Anakin remarked.
As Nadia lowered her lightsabers and moved away a bit, Admiral Trench attempted to attack her with his right set of arms, but she beheaded him with her lightsabers.
"Never attempt to attack a Jedi."Nadia retorted."Even if the Jedi is a pretty face."
While looking around the command bridge, Anakin stole a remote detonator as a favour for Wrecker, who enjoyed blowing things up.
"Wrecker's gonna love this."Anakin stated with a smirk.
"You said it."Nadia chuckled in delight.
Anakin and Nadia then left the Infiltrator's command bridge to go back to their allies.
Elsewhere on the Infiltrator, Rex held Echo while the Bad Batch fought back against countless battle droids.
Wrecker charged at the droids and manages to rip several to pieces.
Anakin and Nadia joined the Clone Troopers, surprised to see a couple of battle droids in pieces while laying on the floor.
"Hope you're not waiting on us."Anakin complemented.
"But it seems you didn't need our help in this round."Nadia praised.
"You got that right, Commander Aomori."Hunter declared."Now all we're missing is Crosshair."
Crosshair then arrived after planting several detonators on the Infiltrator's corridor and a battle droid.
"You miss me?"Crosshair asked before aiming his blaster at the approaching droids."How touching."
Crosshair then used his blaster to destroy the upcoming battle droids with the help of the small mirrors he attached on the walls.
Wrecker lifted up his helmet and watched the sight in disbelief.
"Relax, Wrecker."Hunter insisted."You'll top him next time."
"No, he won't."Crosshair sneered.
Wrecker whined in sadness.
Having accomplished their mission, the Clone Troopers escaped with Anakin and Nadia on the Marauder.
After sharing another smirk with Nadia, Anakin presented the remote detonator to Wrecker.
"We've got a present for you, Wrecker."Anakin declared.
"Looks you're getting your wish after all."Nadia chuckled.
"Oh, seriously? I get to blow it up?"Wrecker remarked in joy as he took the remote detonator."The whole stinking thing? This is the happiest day of my life."
After they depart, Wrecker used the remote detonator to blow up Trench's dreadnought and several surrounding warships.
Following the battle, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia praised the courage and skill of Echo, Rex and the Bad Batch.
"Captain Rex, Corporal Echo and Clone Force 99, you have all done a great service for the Republic."Mace Windu declared."Thanks to your courage and effort, Republic shipyards will soon be up and running again."
"You've got some medals coming your way."Obi-Wan admitted.
"Thank you, General."Rex thanked.
Mace Windu, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Nadia then walked away from the Clone Troopers.
"So I guess the victory on Anaxes means back to Coruscant for us?"Nadia assumed in delight.
"For a short amount of time, Nadia."Obi-Wan declared, making Nadia's smile drop."We'll be heading to Yerbana afterwards."
"Then I guess your long relaxation will have to wait."Anakin sneered.
"Yay."Nadia praised sarcastically.
In the next chapter, Nadia will see an old friend again…
See you all later and have a wonderful day!