#Imperial Science Division

[calebjorgens2024]

when I fell asleep at 3:00 in the afternoon and awoke at 8:00, I dreamt that Scorch is actually a deep-cover agent for Rex. And being a trained clone commando, he hides his intentions very very well. What I can recall is that Scorch has hidden guilt about taking Omega away but he had no choice but to do his duty and that he was secretly glad she and Crosshair had escaped Weyland and Mount Tantiss. What I can recall is that, as Omega escaped; Scorch would mutter to himself “stay safe sister. Run away and never look back. It’s a dangerous galaxy out there.”

this could be the start of an idea of mine of which Scorch plays his role as a seemingly subservient clone commando very well!

[calebjorgens2024]

This has promptly started me on further continuing on my own Imperial!Tech AU on top of already having an idea where Royce Hemlock coerces Tech to work for the Empire’s Advanced Science Division. To Hemlock in that idea, turning Tech into an assassin would be a waste, as his enhanced intellect is more important; as a result. Tech would be an unwilling Imperial Scientist up until to the time of the Return of the Jedi; This idea would be loaded with tragic angst regarding Tech encountering this fateful position! And so with that idea, Tech becomes an unwilling Scientist for the empire without the need of a chip and is always on guard as to not let any higher ranked imperial know what he plans to do.

Imperial Tech

[starqueensthings]

We need to talk about Echo (and by talk I mean screm). S3 E13 + 14 Spoilers!

FRIENDS, I'M GOING TO EXPLODE. I need to talk about Echo for a minute. We need to talk about Echo for a minute,  because he has spent the last two episodes in the absolute thralls of complete and total danger, and I personally don't feel like there's been enough of a celebratory uproar for me to be satisfied with the level of appreciation and love that man deserves. (Remember when Hunter ran face first into a colossal exhaust pipe and we all collectively lost our minds because it was so impressive and so sexy? Remember when Tech drove a speeder really fast through a tunnel and we all fainted? I'M A TECH GIRLY. IT WAS ME! I FAINTED!!) but, Y'ALL, Echo deserves that right now!! And for all eternity!!! Because he is wholly submurged in the harrowing potential of torture and execution, and he didn't even bat an eye to put himself there. My awe of him is all-consuming, so please forgive me if this rant reads as nothing but incoherent screaming. 

Echo haters (first of all, we can't be friends....) come on this journey with me! Let's back pedal to the beginning of the last episode (13). He stole an imperial shuttle. Let me repeat, he stole an imperial shuttle. And not just an attack shuttle. Not just a lil one-pilot transport. Bro somehow stole a Rho-class medical transport, which is very large, obscenely conspicuous, and very easily tracked. And, to use his own words, it was "the best he could do on short notice." The man stole a shuttle on short notice. ON SHORT NOTICE? HELLO, HOW DID HE DO THAT. WHY AIN'T WE LOSING OUR COOL ABOUT IT. 

Next stop on this I-love-Echo journey through my mind: not only did he provide his brothers transportation in the complete void of their own (RIP havoc bb), but he also came equipped with intel and clearance codes, and, as Rampart stated, those things change DAILY. Echo somehow procured top secret imperial clearance codes, and a fkn SHIP, within hours of the Batch requesting his help. Not to mention, the ship had yet to be reported missing (which means it was only-freshly commandeered), and the clearance codes worked. Of course they did. Echo never fails. Never doubt Echo. "Echo's on it."  

Choochoo, next stop! Once they arrived on that station orbiting Coruscant, and made their way to the control room (lookin sexy as heck in his armour-au-noir), he broke imperial encryption, hacked into the Imperial database, almost instantly found them the location of a ship departing for the prison that holds their daughter Tantiss, AND THEN DIDN'T EVEN HESITATE TO CLIMB ABOARD AND STOW AWAY.  

He didn't even remotely have a plan, or have time to make a plan. He didn't know who or what else would be on board that mysterious vessel. He didn't know where it was going other than the name of the fkn mountain (which has proven to be nothing but unhelpful thus far). He just ARC-troopered his way through that crowded hangar, dodging aggressive astromech's and inconsiderate loader droids, shirking from the perspective eyes of highly trained commandos, and snuck his way onto a heavily guarded, extremely unknown science vessel. Then, of course, he wasted no time, hacking into the ships control system (may I gently remind- there were at least three pilots and an officer prepping the ship for jump and closely watching all aspects of its controls), disabling the proximity sensors without being detected, and then seamlessly covered the troopers absence by pretending to be him (which we all know is what should have happened on Serenno but... hindsight is 20/20.)  

So... SO.... now we're at Episode 14. Here we at fkn terrified station because HULLO ECHO IS ALONE ON A SCIENCE DIVISION TRANSPORT; we have literally seen them carry around Zilo beasts in that shit. What the heck else could be on there that they don't know about? Literally anything. Because THEY KNEW NOTHING before attaching themselves to it. Echo knew NOTHING before sneaking onto that thing and creepin' around. Thank heck he didnt come across a fkn fresh wave of slither vines ok?  

NEXT, Echo shoots (not stuns- lol) a sassy fkn droid (they had it coming, not sorry), then another trooper. AND THEN discovered his only option for departing the ship once it enters atmosphere is going completely undercover, because (in true "we improvise everything" CF99 fashion that gives me heart burn just thinking about it), they had zero fkn plan to get off the ship. I will repeat: completely undercover. On Tantiss. COMPLETELY UNDERCOVER ON TANTISS. NO COMMS, NO BACK UP, NO RECON, NO PLAN, BARELY ANY GEAR, and I would just like to stress... no neuro brace. He left his neurobrace on that ship. Left it. LEFT IT AND TOOK A HAND INSTEAD. PLEASE FKN SEDATE ME.  

We can't leave this station yet... This I-love-Echo train needs to linger at this point for a sec because I think it's lost on some people how wild this is. Echo without his neurobrace is huge. It's a bigger deal than Echo without his armour. Armour is, in the grand scheme of things, inconsequential (one can find more- see Howzer). Echo's neurobrace is not armour, it's a computer and it's so so so crucial to how his mind processes information and events. Don't forget, the Technounion HIJACKED HIS BRAIN. They took every memory from him and manipulated it for their gain. Pruned it, tweaked it, blanched it, poached it, turned it into scrambled eggs, and then fkn ate it up and used it to defeat their enemies (Echo's family- I'm sobbing). They implanted him with an unfathomable amount of information; they changed the way the neurons in his brain fire in relation to stimuli. That neurobrace is so so critical for him. Now, we know he can operate well enough without it, we saw it in the last episode of the TBB arc in season 7 of Clone Wars, but... please.... to what extent? We don't know what an extended time without that neurobrace looks like for him... especially when all other aspects compliing his surroundings foreign, unknown, and dangerous, and that scares me.

AND NOW HE'S ABOUT TO RUN AMOK IN TANTISS with Emerie who, (I'm sorry) is wishy-washy as heck (who are you loyal to!!!!! What is your history!!! Are you trustworthy and what are you looking to gain!!!), trying to adopt a collection of Jedi children whove spent maker-knows how long playing space tetris, WHILST ALSO ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE AND ESCAPE WITH HIS BROTHERS UNDER THE EYE OF THE GALAXY'S SECOND MOST DANGEROUS MAN. 

So yes, short of d-d-d-di... can't say it... short of THE WORST CASE, Echo has made the ultimate sacrifice to save not only Omega who is literally the only person we've seen able to make him truly laugh, but all the clone brothers that he's been desperately trying to locate and rescue. His bravery and determination are literally unrivalled, and he did it while feasting on nothing but humble pie because that man wouldn't know arrogance if it danced naked under his perfect nose.  

Okay so welcome, we've finally pulled into I-Love-Echo station. Before departing the ride, please stand and do a hip hip hurray for the miracle that is Echo, including but not limited to, everything he's done, is doing, and is willing to do for other people. 

[fatehbaz]

Chicago, Illinois is often considered to be on the periphery of the plantation. William Cronon's famous narrative of Chicago's relationships with the "Great West" positions the burgeoning city at the edge of American expansion into plantation agriculture in the Midwest and industrial farming on a national scale. [...] [W]e could also characterize the city as an anticipatory hub between the twin plantation figures of the pre-war American South and America's 20th century colonies [in Central America, the Philippines, and beyond]. During the Reconstruction years, Chicago emerged as a logistical center, channeling America's railroads and telegraph lines into itself. As parts of this communications node, Chicago newspapers and military police served to convert white anxieties about Black migration from the plantation South into new techniques and technologies of prediction that became transportable across a newly imaginable informational plane of US imperialism. [...] [I]n Chicago between 1875 and 1890, [...] white anticipations of African American migration from plantations in the South were translated into new information sciences and policing techniques that made their way to plantations in places like the Philippines. [...]

[S]uch feelings were fundamental to linking plantations which at first seem so spatially and temporally distant. [...]

---

On May 3, 1879 the Chicago Tribune published a greatly anticipated investigatory series entitled, “The Negro Exodus: Causes of the Migration from the Negro’s Point of View” [...] the latest in a long sequence of deeply uneasy reports dating from 1860. From its location at the communicative center of all major US rail and telegraph lines, the Chicago Tribune undertook an imagined responsibility to inform its Midwestern audience of Black peoples’ movements and behaviors. [...] At the climax of the “Negro’s Point of View” series, [...] May 3, the Chicago Tribune presented its showstopping report from its correspondent in Vicksburg, Mississippi entitled “Letters Written by Negroes in Kansas to their Friends South”. In this report, the writer discusses his skepticism of earlier methods of [...] interviews with Black migrants. [...] [The newspaper] conducted its fact-gathering through the mass surveillance of Black peoples' letters [...] [to assess] inner motivations [...] about Black peoples’ “perceptions, enjoyments, and reasons” [...]. Such informational appetites became the anticipatory basis for 20th century enumerative practices. As Colin Koopman argues, informational fastening, or the atomization and separation of facts from Black peoples’ bodies, became commonplace during the Great Migration in the practice of racial statistics, criminology, and health policy directed at Black migrants [...].

---

White Chicagoans’ prolonged concern over predicting Black behaviors and intentions materialized in 1877, when the city became a central hub of militarized response to a nation-wide railroad strike. Adjutant General Richard C. Drum, who commanded the Military Division of the Missouri (Western Frontier) in Chicago from 1873 to 1878, took control of Chicago’s military response to the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. In 1879, after his final year in the city, Drum moved to Washington, DC and proposed the establishment of the Military Information Division (MID) [...]. The MID, which formally established in 1885, maintained close ties to Chicago's local information collection system, adopting a Bertillon identification system of collecting and storing intelligence cards at the time that the National Association of Chiefs of Police established their central bureau of identification in Chicago in 1896 [...]. By the tun of the 20th century, Chicago's police force had expanded tenfold [...], and Drum's MID had amassed over 300,000 intelligence cards [...].

---

The affective atmosphere into which the MID intensified its own predictive techniques later traversed the Pacific Ocean into the Philippines. Alfred McCoy argues that the American introduction of communication technologies and surveillance techniques in governing the Philippines constituted the United States’ first information revolution (McCoy 2009: 18). Colonial police trained in the anxious habits of the MID, rendered the Philippines a laboratory for securitized speculation. McCoy further contends that these informational “capillaries of empire” embedded themselves into the Philippines’ plantocratic-security state as well as US domestic surveillance practices. I add to McCoy’s argument by suggesting that trained feelings of white apprehension translated into imperial mechanisms for governing the Philippines through systems of intelligence cards, telecommunications infrastructure, policing units, and management sciences. Reminiscent of the psychological investigatory projects that saturated Chicago’s public life, the MID and its successors developed techniques for psychological examination and personality typing led by another Chicagoan, Harry Hill Bandholtz. [...] Bandholtz sharpened the MID's informational sciences by training Philippines police forces in the neurotic art of collecting every imaginable fact about Filipino behaviors [...].

---

Ultimately, the US colonial plantocracy in the Philippines built its authority around information infrastructures which had been trained on apprehensive practices and feelings emanating from Chicago’s racialized geography. [...] [T]he informational networks that extended from the image of the American South, through the anticipation of Chicago's public, [...] animated the governance of colonial plantations in the Philippines [...].

---

All text above by: Jolen Martinez. "Plantation Anticipation: Apprehension in Chicago from Reconstruction America to the Plantocratic Philippines" (2024). An essay from an Intervention Symposium titled Plantation Methodologies: Questioning Scale, Space, and Subjecthood. The symposium was introduced and edited by Alyssa Paredes, Sophie Chao, and Andrés León Araya. The symposium was hosted and published by Antipode Online, part of Antipode: A Radical Journal of Geography. Published online 4 January 2024, at: antipodeonline.org/2024/01/04/plantation-methodologies/ [In this post, bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me. Presented here for commentary, teaching, criticism purposes.]

[twinsunstars]

Behind-the-Scenes Shenanigans (Part 20) *while filming episode 3, filming the scene when Hemlock walks Palpatine back to his ship* Hemlock, reciting his lines: If I am appointed the scientific minister, I would strive to bring unleashed glory to all divisions of the Imperial science corps. *Palpatine turns to him and pauses before he says his line, stepping forward to Hemlock and starts pinching his cheek and pats his head* *Hemlock is confused but tries to stay in character (and so do the other cast around)* Palpatine *while patting Hemlock’s head*: All in due time, child. *Hemlock breaks and laughs, and Palpatine starts laughing* BONUS: *during an interview with Palpatine on that scene, mentioning how he played around with the cast on set* Palpatine: I’ve got to have fun while I can whenever I play this character. I had let Omega try on my cloak and she enjoyed pretending to be me before she accidentally tripped on it, and she loved the candy I gave her. I saw the interview where Hemlock said he was secretly terrified while filming with me, and I could notice he was when I played this prank.

bonus based on shenanigan Part 2 and interview Part 4 in this series

part of my Bad Batch Season 3 Actors/Behind The Scenes Incorrect Quotes series!

The Bad Batch Season 3 Actors/Behind the Scenes Incorrect Quotes Masterlist 🎬

[meme-force-99]

Sharing a few Imperial! Batch edits because they deserve a life outside the MemeForce Discord:

You know the drill - please feel free to use these, but reblogs also bring glory to the Imperial Science Division, Demolitions Department, Tracking Unit, Military Strategy, and Elite Squad troopers. 😉

[stars-n-spice]

Oough,, hear me out-

Bad Ending Bad Batch AU.

Bad Ending Batch? Bad² Batch? I swear I had a cooler name before but I forgot it-

Because I was thinking about like a Bad Endings AU for my ocs and then had an idea to make one for the Bad Batch as well.

Essentially,, it'd be like,, Imperial!Bad Batch - but also like,, okay hear me out:

Hunter:

Literally just Imperial!Hunter

Maybe in this AU at the end of S1 when they capture Hunter and bring him back to Kamino they mess with his chip and he becomes an operative

And oh BOY is he a very useful weapon for the Empire with his heightened senses and all of that

Echo:

In this AU Echo never made it out of the stasis chamber (oof)

Ended up stuck in there and at the end of the war, even if they didn't really need his strategies anymore, they decided to keep him

Then he becomes "The Algorithm" or something and they continue to seep information out of him that could help

Eventually they probably take him out of the chamber and use him as an operative as well since he was an ARC Trooper and therefore highly skilled

Like,, Winter Soldier-esque probably because they have to brainwash him or something since his chip probably doesn't work

Wrecker:

I mean,, we got a glimpse of what he'd be like in this AU in canon

And it's basically just that

This AU is "what if they never got Wrecker's chip out?" sort of deal

They pull a "he's too far gone" and for their safety bolt out of there, leaving Wrecker

Eventually he makes his way back to the Empire and starts to do work for them and is a fucking FORCE of nature

Like,, holy shit,,

Tech:

Return of CX-2

He'd be the last of his brothers to fall (lmao literally) into the hands of the Empire

Bad Batch Bad Ending AU is basically just,, Tech Lives AU but as CX-2

Probably gets paired with Crosshair a lot on missions and they are both forces to be reckoned with

Crosshair:

He's basically the same (as in like S1 and half of S2 Crosshair)

MAYBE there's the chance that he "gets better" but this is the Bad Endings AU so like,, psshh that doesn't happen

No they keep messing with his chip and he becomes worse

Loyal to the Empire to a fault would fucking die for them if the time came

Nothing you say or do will sway him

Omega:

Okay so like,, I'm thinking in this AU either she 1) ends up staying on Kamino and eventually starts to work in the science division of the Empire when she's a bit older (like Emerie) and then is subjected to experiments once they realize she's got a compatible M-Count

OR 2) she DOES leave with her brothers but then slowly loses them one by one to their chip/the Empire until she's all alone again and after failed attempts to save them she finds Boba instead and stays with him (and Bossk or Cad Bane or whoever) and becomes a bounty hunter like Boba

You could even have a 3rd option where you mush those two together - she escapes the Imperial facility and THEN finds Bossk and Boba or like,, idk one or the other of the first two

Might make designs for them later idk.

Feel free to add on any other ideas though!!

[elfdragon12]

So, for my own fanfic purposes, I worked on a list of canonical locations on Cybertron. I don't know if any site has a nicely formatted list of cities/city-states, so I thought I might share this list with others. This is mostly comprehensive as I left off locations that were too specific to one continuity or too confusing and it's quite possible I missed a few places. There are some continuity specific places included I think are more flexible. Many items on this list are not expanded upon, so you can have as much fun as you want.

Either way, here's what I got in one handy (very long) list:

Regions

Tri-Torus

- Petrohex

- Polyhex

- Dodecahex

Polar States

- Iacon

- Kaon

Tri-Penninsular Torus

- Uraya

- Praxus

- Protihex

Iacon (capital)

Iacon Central

- Great Dome

- Celestial Spires

-- Celestial Temple

Academy of Science and Technology

Jan-ja

Imperial Amphitheater

Maccadam's Old Oil House

Iaconian Aerial Academy

Metroplex

Trion Square

the Undergrid

Translucentia Heights

the Senate

Xeno Quarter

Hall of Records

Observatory of Iacon

High Council Pavilions

Chamber of the Autobots

Polyhex

Darkmount

Deadend

the original Space Bridge

Polyhex Toll Plaza

a canyon

Grease pits

Nova Cronum

Praetorus Wharf

Chamber of the Ancients

center of philosophy

Protihex

Protihex Medical Mechanics University

Uraya

bigger than Praxus and Protihex

Tyger Pax

idyllic and tranquil

Rust Sea

unstable planetary matter

emits a mostly harmless corrosive gas

Hydrax Plateau

- Damaxus

Toxic Sludge Swamps

Tagan Heights

Durax

Ultirex

- technoversity

Tetrahex

responsible for 40% of industrial output

Tyrest

Jekka Amphitheater

Tyrest University

Altihex

deep space research facilities

underground energon refinery

Altihex casino

Kalis

Pax Cybertronia Decommissioning Depot

Kalis Primary Energon Reserves Control

Kaon

Kolkular

- the Cradle

space bridge

gladitorial rings

Jump Joint

Wreckage Row

mines

Kaon Prison

Kaon Plaza

Ibex

Central Spaceport

Ibex School of Epistemology

Ibex Cup racing circuit

Crystal City

Drouhard University

Refracting Gardens

Geosynchronus Energon Bridge

known for elegant construction and scientific minds

Undercity

mostly deserted

near the Red Sea

Peptex

near Rust Sea

Dodecahex

Shuttle Complex Ohm

Petrohex

Upper Petrohex

Lower Perrohex

Rust Sea tributary

Harmonex

"Singing City"

center for art and learning

Lithic singing crystals

Alyon

uninhabited

Vos

rich in energy resources

close to Tarn

Air Command Center

Stanix

Yuss

- Amprodome

- Justice Building

Fort Scyk

Acid Wastes

Proximax

Transhyperwave Caster Tower

Hyperious

defensive walls

Burthov

docks

launch site

labs and factories

"belongs" to Science Division

Petrex

"twin-mode" city

Simfur

Simfur Temple

Chamber of the Dynasty of Primes

Tarn

power plant

border fortresses

gladitorial rings

original Senate Building

The Decagon

main control center of planetary defenses

Blaster City

low class industrial region

munitions source

weapons manufacturing facility

Rad Zone

dangerous

Plasma Energy Chamber

plasma energy reservoir

Tesarus

artisans and philosophers

Helex

Power Base

gladitorial arena

Axiom Nexus

The Blue Deployer

Widow's Cafe Cybertronian

The Heap

Rodion

waterways

Maccadam's New Oil House

Deltaran Medical Facility

Nyon

Rust Narrows

Acroplex

Gygax

tunnel to Ankmor Park

Ankmor Park

as old as Quintesson supremacy

chemical processing center turned biochemical garden

Galaxxon

industrial

slagwerks

K'th Kinsere

Vaulted Heights

home to High Priests

Triax

the Nexis

Ky-Alexia

stronghold

Plurex

Plurex Flats

Emirate Xaaron Spacebridge Nexus

just outside of Iacon

Well of Allsparks

afterlife

inside the Core

Sistex

Sistex University

Staniz

ship building

Centurion

bright

Praxus

the Assembly

Helix Gardens

Slaughter City

low class industrial center

illegal gladotorial games

Border Regions

borders Iacon

Promontory

Forum of Enlightenment

Predigeon Arch

Cities with no information

Nuon

Pescus Hex

Esserlon

Monoplex

Median

Hexima State

Perihex

Praxium

Bitrex

Ultrix

Valvolux

Carpessa

Glibax

Vaporex

Ambustus Minor

Tribat

Unitrex

Tesk

Teledonia

Detrona

Landmarks

Redox River

Timonium River

Straits of Yuss

Trannis Fork River

Mithril Sea

Argon Sea

- gaseous

Sonic Canyon

The Badlands

Manganese Mountains

Cataclysm Tundra

- Athenaeum Sanctorum

Tri-Torus Loop

Tygun Span

-road between Iacon and Nova Cronum

[notgonnaedit]

Healer's Care

The Summit

Summary: Eight months after the destruction of Tipoca City, and the Bad Batch are starting to question where they truly belong

Pairing: Bad Batch x Teen!OFC (clones being good brothers/dads)

Chapter summary: Sneaking around an Imperial base has consequences.

Warnings: Canon-typical violence, heights, Sorrthea, TechPhee, gremlin Echo (If I miss a tag LMK)

Masterlist

Tags: @hugmekenobi @nottwonerdy777

@dreamsight73 @delicioustacocollector

@covert1ntrovert @clonethirstingisreal

"Echo and I have scoured through Imperial and Republic files, but intel about the Advanced Science Division is limited," Tech informed the team.

It was only a few hours after they learned of Crosshair's warning and detention, yet they were already diving into it more. Echo had gone back to his own ship to contact someone, but their identity was a mystery.

"Do we know where they're detaining Crosshair and the other clones?" Hunter inquired.

"Negative. Their base of operations is unknown."

"Well, what about their chief scientist?" Althea asked.

"There is even less on Dr. Hemlock," Tech chirped, "and I was very thorough. He is a ghost."

"Not quite." Echo entered the ship and had their attention. "According to a contact of mine, Hemlock's set to attend a high-level Imperial summit in two rotations." He sat in the other console chair and went to work.

"Where?" Hunter asked.

"Tarkin's compound on Eriadu." The screen portrayed a tall tower atop a foggy mountain. "If we do a covert infiltration, we can plant a homing beacon on Hemlock's ship and track him to his base."

"And to Crosshair," Omega added.

Hunter hummed lowly. "Hmm, it won't be that simple. We'd be at a tactical disadvantage, and I'm not sure it's worth the risk."

Tech stood and looked his tracker brother in the eye. "I understand your hesitation," he started. "We have not always agreed with Crosshair, but he is still our brother. We do not leave our own behind."

"If there's a chance to get him back, we have to take it," Omega chimed in.

Wrecker nodded. "Definitely."

Althea frowned. "What about reinforcements?"

Echo stood from his seat. "Well, Rex is on a separate mission, so it's just us. A small enough team to get in and out without alerting them. But we'll need to move quickly."

Hunter pursed his lips before nodding. "Well, then let's get started."

                        •°•°•°•°•°•

"Lemme get this straight: You're going to Eriadu with no reinforcements to rescue a clone that you haven't seen in almost a year because he chose the Empire and tried to kill you multiple times?" Sorren stared at her in disbelief.

Althea nodded, looking up from packing her medical bag to meet his eyes. "Yeah, that's pretty much it."

The two were in the Archium. Phee had been giving Althea some medical supplies that could be of use, but had since went back outside.

"Isn't that dangerous?" The boy asked, pursing his lips.

"Sorren, my life is dangerous." Althea stood. She was dressed in her full armor, something he had never seen her in. The bright teal and green contrasted her dark hair and golden eyes. 

"Then I could come with you," he suggested. 

Althea cocked her head to the side and smiled. "You've never even shot a blaster before, Sorren. We are sneaking into an Imperial facility. The government."

Sorren exhaled and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah...I know. It's just..." He met her eyes. His beautiful sea hues staring into her sunny ones. When did he get so close to her? They were less than a foot apart. "Come back safe."

Before she could even process what was happening, Althea felt him kiss her cheek. Sorren stepped back, his own cheeks tinted a light pink.

Her face was on fire. Her heart was pounding so loudly she was sure Hunter could hear it. Her tongue was stuck in her mouth, but somehow she managed to choke out a single word. "Bye."

She ran out the door.

                       •°•°•°•°•°•

Tech stood outside the Marauder working on his datapad. He glanced up when Omega ran up the ramp, but then turned back to his screen. He was so engrossed in it he didn't realize Phee had walked over until she was right next to him.

"So, you were just going to leave without saying goodbye," she said.

"That is correct."

The liberator pursed her lips and gave him a look. Tech glanced down at her nervously. Yet, he had to reason to be nervous. "Did you require a briefing?"

"You know, when two friends are talking, it's called a conversation," Phee sassed.

Tech looked back at his datapad, avoiding her gaze.

"Well, don't go running off with any pirates  or smugglers while you're gone," she said.

Tech swallowed. "Yes. This m-mission should not involve either."

He looked back at his datapad, but Phee pushed it down. "That's not exactly what I was getting at."

Tech watched her anxiously. Every instinct in him itched to run, yet he didn't. The way Phee was looking at him made him wish to stay. Her features were very... Pleasing to the eye.

Phee chuckled. "See you around, Brown Eyes."

She turned and walked away, but Tech couldn't keep his gaze off her. Was this the feeling Althea and Wrecker teased him about.

Speaking of the medic, she came walking up. She didn't acknowledge Phee at all and her pace was quick. Her hand covered her mouth, her eyes were wide, and her face was an abnormal shade of red.

Tech frowned when he saw her. "Althea? Are you experiencing an allergic reaction?"

"No, umm..." She mumbled.

"That is not a normal color for–"

"Sorren kissed me," she blurted out.

Tech stopped and stared at her. He knew the two had become good friends, but he never knew it had gone past that point.

"Please don't tell Hunter," the medic begged.

Tech nodded. There was no tactical advantage to Hunter knowing of this, and it was clear that Althea herself didn't know what to make of it. "Of course."

Althea swallowed and gripped her bag, and the two walked aboard the ship before taking off.

                   •°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

"Let's make this quick, before they realize we didn't land at the base," Echo said as they exited the ship. Tech had landed them on a steep mountainside.

They made their way through a forest, their weapons ready as the went. 

"What kind of approach are we making?" Omega asked. "A side-wind breach?"

"It worked on Raxus," Tech noted.

"It won't work here," Echo told them. "The Empire's protocols have changed since then."

Wrecked chuckled. "Thanks to us."

The ARC's deadpan was visible through his helmet as he looked at the taller clone. "No tanks and no explosions this time, Wrecker."

The demo man groaned. "Fine."

They came to a cliff edge. There was a proximity sensor they had to be mindful of, and a railcar system that went to the tall tower. 

Hunter hummed as he looked through the binocs. "The compound is heavily fortified."

"But there's a weak point in the rail line that we can exploit," Echo added. "We'll sneak past the sensor and hitch a ride under one of the cars."

Omega paled. "You mean hang? Over that?" She gestured to the chasm who's bottom couldn't be seen due to the thick fog. 

Chills ran down Althea's spine.

"Well, it's the only way to access the compound unnoticed," Echo reasoned.

Hunter turned to the pilot. "Tech, disable the sensor."

"That would trigger an alert," he countered. "I can temporarily disrupt the feed, but I estimate only seconds for us to clear the zone before it reactivates. We must be precise."

Four pairs of brown eyes and one pair of gold eyes turned to the demo man.

"What? I can handle it!" He huffed.

                      •°•°•°•°•°•°•

He did not handle it. They were halfway across before he realized how high up they were, but once he did, Wrecker couldn't stop panicking internally.

Once the railcar stopped, they quickly disposed of the guards in the area and ran to the hangar.

Several ships were docked. "Which ship is Hemlock's?" Althea asked.

"We need to access the hangar manifest from the control room," said Echo.

Hunter turned to his squad. "Tech, Echo, Thea, with me. You two–" he looked at Wrecker and Omega. "–plant the homing beacon."

The teams split off. Althea kept her grip on her blaster tight as she slunk down the halls. Once they entered the control room, Hunter stunned the men in there.

"I'll monitor their security channels," Echo announced as he scomped in.

Althea stood guard at the door while Tech went to work and Hunter took care of the bodies.

"Found it," Tech said after a moment. "Hemlock's shuttle is at docking lane four." "Copy that," Omega replied.

"Something's not right," Echo hummed. "Many of the surveillance systems have had cycled deactivations in various corridors."

Althea scrunched her nose. "That's weird."

"Especially considering the number of top-ranking Imperial officers present," Tech added.

Hunter stood. "Tech, let's check it out. Echo, Thea, keep an eye on things."

The medic offered a salute before closing the door behind them.

"Okay, the homing beacon is secure," ​​​​Omega whispered into the comms.

"This is going surprisingly smooth," Althea noted. 

But mere moments later, the girl's voice clicked back on. "I'm pinned down."

"And I jinxed it," Althea huffed.

"Stay in position. I'll divert them," Echo told the blonde.

Althea watched as the screen changed from security to a crane. A smile crept onto her face. "Are you...?"

Clatters and shouts sounded from the other room. Althea looked out the window to see the crane wacking things at random. She looked back to Echo.

"Heheheheh," he chuckled.

                  •°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Althea blasted another trooper as she, Echo, Wrecker, and Omega ran through the halls. They found Tech and Hunter doing the same.

They didn't stop until they found a ladder leading to a railcar. Once they were in, Tech went to the controls. "We need an access code."

Echo stepped in. "I'll override it."

Althea and Omega stood at the entrance, blasting stormtroopers as they came. Then suddenly, the railcar took off with them and a few troopers.

They blasted at them until Echo shouted, "We're losing power!"

Hunter killed the last two troopers as the railcar screeched in a halt. 

Althea looked out the window, a worry crease forming in her brow. They were stuck over a massive amount of nothing.

Tech glanced back at everyone. "This is going to be a problem."

<- Previous

Next ->

[knightprincess]

Wait (Commander Wolffe x Jedi Reader)

Warning: Angst, Mentions of Death, and PTSD. Words: 2.5k Pronouns used: She/Her - No psychically description given Period: Ranges from Clone Wars to Rebels. Mentions Order 66.

Execute Order 66. The three words that ended the war, almost annihilated the Jedi Order and spelled the true doom of the Republic. It was the order that turned millions of clones across the galaxy from free thinkers to robotic killers, human droids. The order forced the clones to turn on their friends in the Jedi and murder them under the guise they were protecting the republic, a republic that no longer existed. It was the order that sealed their fates and traumatized every clone apart of it, far more than anything than being on the front lines of the war could have thrown at them. 

For Wolffe, the worst was yet to come. He'd gotten away from the Empire after breaking free from the inhibitor chip control, he couldn't say for sure what had broken its grasp on his mind, one minute the part of himself created as part of the Sith Lord's plan was in control, he was in the back seat screaming for it to stop, fighting to stop what he was seeing. And the next he was in control, the voice repeating Good Soldiers Follow Orders had ceased, the dream-like state had faded, and the bubble had burst. Reality had hit him far worse than anything he had seen on the battlefield. 

But nothing could have prepared him for the overwhelming feelings of guilt, regret, and the crushing loss that hit him like a ton of bricks, just hours after he had settled with the relief of being free. Even now Wolffe couldn't tell you which of the three feelings was worse. The guilt was overpowering the best of time, but it was what motivated him to help the band of Rebels when they needed help taking Lothal back from Imperial control. He had to make up for his past doings, he had to make those mistakes right, no matter the cost to himself. 

The regret for the things he wished to have done differently were things that constantly plagued him, the little things he should have done differently. Like being kinder to the shinnies when they came off the line, or telling Comet well done after a difficult job being completed. The missed opportunities to tell each of his brothers how much they meant to him, especially the ones who survived the war, but suffered a far worse fate. He truly did regret a lot of things, among them was not telling (Y/N) he loved her one last time, and not being able to truly save her from her broken mind.

By far the loss was the worst part of it all. Waking up from the chip's control to find the Republic was gone and he had helped to bring about its doom. To discover the Jedi Order had been destroyed, and he as well as his brothers had been the reason for it, the unwilling executioners that were forced to turn on and betray their friends and loved ones, only to further the revenge plot the now Emperor had been working from the shadows to see finished. The loss of Plo had hurt, knowing his last thoughts were questioning what was happening as his loyal troopers turned on him and shot him out of the sky, but the loss of his brothers was something else. 

Those who got away from the Empire were met with two fates. Either they were left to fend for themselves in a galaxy that despised them and blamed them for what happened or they were hunted down and recaptured by those working in the Advanced Science Division. Either way, fate had cruelty in store for them. Either way, more trauma awaited. 

Wolffe's fate after abandoning the empire was to be hunted down, as was Gregor's when he got away, and eventually those a part of the enhanced unit Clone Force 99, when their value to the Empire was truly discovered. At first, the battle-worn commander had gone out there alone, with one purpose. Find his beloved Jedi Knight, (Y/N) (Y/L/N). He'd heard the rumors of her survival, the stories on the lower levels of Coruscant of civvies taking pity on an injured Jedi, matching her description, they'd helped her flee the core world, to somewhere in the outer rim, and a few senators had aided in her escape. 

Eventually, he found her, working with Rex to sow the seeds of what would eventually become the rebellion that fought against the Empire. A rebellion built on hope and sacrifice for a better future. A future she'd never get to see. Like with him, fate was cruel to (Y/N). It would answer her question about what truly happened to her best friend Anakin Skywalker in the worst way possible. A fate no one would ask for and was arguably worse than his own. 

"What's wrong with him?" asked Zeb, gesturing towards the old mismatched-eyed Commander. Wolffe appeared to be staring off into space, not paying any attention to what was going on around him. Rex and Gregor had turned to their brother shortly after, Gregor noticing he held on to (Y/N)'s duel-bladed lightsaber, while Rex took notice of the hologram alight in front of Wolffe. The Jedi Knight and once hero of the republic who had stolen his heart. Both men knew Wolffe had lost his way when (Y/N) had been taken from him the first time, but he hadn't been the same since he had lost her for the second and final time. 

"Give him time, he'll be okay" replied Rex, a sigh escaping him as he remembered (Y/N). She'd taken many secrets to her grave, unbeknownst to the Captain of the 501st, one of them she kept to protect him. The truth on who Vader truly was. "Sometimes the past gets to him, what the empire did and took away still haunts him. He's never gotten past losing the woman he loved" he worded, recalling when Clone Force 99, or the Bad Batch as they preferred finally found where Dr. Hemlock was stationed, when they infiltrated the base, hoping to find both Omega and Crosshair. 

What they discovered was terrible, to say the least. Clones that once served the republic strapped down onto tables, tortured, tormented, and forced to suffer all in the name of science. Some were in tanks, others were left to die a slow and likely painful death. Others had been incorporated into Phase 1 of the Death Trooper program, to which the constant torture would have been far kinder. Among those rescued that day were Crosshair, Omega, Tech who had survived his fall, Cody, Wolffe, and Comet. Despite the best efforts, both Cody and Comet passed on shortly after returning to Pabu. 

"That's (Y/N)" whispered Kanan, upon glancing to the hologram. She was one of the few Jedi the people of the Empire hadn't forgotten, remembered along with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Plo Koon, Yoda, and Mace Windu. She was supposedly killed during Order 66 but eventually reappeared, being captured and taken Nur, nobody truly knows what happened to her there. For months many theorised she'd been killed by Vader or one of the inquisitors after being tortured for information. 

In reality, the constant torment and suffering had done something far worse, it had broken her mind and shattered her will to continue fighting until she found strength in the dark side. Until she had willingly joined the inquisitors as the First Sister, second only to the Grand Inquisitor. She wasn't sent out to hunt very often, but when she was she never failed. More often than not (Y/N) was the one whom Vader called upon when he needed assistance with his mission to destroy what remained of the Jedi. 

"Where is she now?" asked Ezra, not quite putting two and two together, or catching on to what haunted Wolffe every waking moment. Rex and Gregor could only share a common glance, knowing losing her once was bad enough for Wolffe, but twice was nothing less than cruel. Even when he'd spared her more suffering. 

"Gone" grumbled Wolffe, his voice resembling that of a growl upon the memories he tried so hard to bury over the years came back. How his heart sank when he was rescued, learning (Y/N) hadn't been found since both of them had been captured. His refusal to give up hope had paid off, but it hadn't lasted long. When he was reunited with her, her once pretty eyes were the orange/red of the Sith, her mind twisted by the dark side and all she had learned to rely on was constant suffering. Her mind had become so twisted she no longer knew the difference between good and bad, and no longer recognized herself. 

"When she was captured, the empire corrupted her mind via torture. She became an inquisitor" voiced Rex, recalling Wolffe's refusal to believe she couldn't be saved as others stated. Instead, he tracked her wherever she went, and became a thorn in her side even at the risk of his own life. When the opportunity arose to capture her again, he took it. Bringing her aboard the ship, he, Rex, and Gregor shared at the time, determination alight in his mismatched eyes, he was going to save her and help her heal, he wasn't going to fail her again. 

"She's one of them?" accused Zeb, recalling his encounters with the pests known as Inquisitors. Although he'd admit he didn't know who they were before, just that they were out hunting for his friends, his family in Kanan and Ezra. Thrust they were his enemy. 

"Was" corrected Rex, not taking any notice when Zeb fell into silence and Sabine glanced to Kanan and Ezra, seeing their surprise upon hearing one could stop being an inquisitor. "Wolffe refused to give up on (Y/N). When he had the chance to get her away from the Empire he took it, we tried for months to help her, and it worked for a time until it became clear they wouldn't let her go" he added, shivering at the memory of Vader hunting them, of the villages and towns he burnt and the innocents who were slain just to get to her. 

"They killed her" guessed Sabine, not seeing any other fate that could have been waiting for the former Jedi Knight. Although the Mandalorian could only assume her death if it was at the hands of the empire, wouldn't have been quick. They would have seen her as a threat to them, those who rebelled against their iron fist rule would have seen her as a beckon of hope. 

"No, I did" growled Wolffe, standing briefly before slumping back into his chair again. (Y/N)'s lightsaber tightly in his grasp, the only thing he truly had left of her now. A stray tear slid down his cheek upon remembering the day burnt into his memory. The four of them were on the run, looking for a way to lose Vader, and the Inquisitors hunting them, looking for a way to get off the planet. When it became clear they had no way out, when they became cornered, (Y/N) fought Vader and the Inquisitors off for as long as she could, all but ordering Rex, Wolffe, and Gregor to go. 

But Wolffe had refused to leave, he couldn't bear to lose her again, lose another he loved. So he stayed at her side until she used her power to push him away. Speaking the haunting words of I Love You beforehand. The moment the former Commander of the 104th Battalion realized the inquisitors intended to turn her to the dark side again, he made the hardest choice. Once again he aimed his blaster, but this time at (Y/N), he closed mismatched eyes and pulled the trigger. He saved her from further torment, assured she would finally be at peace, but at the cost of shattering his own heart and being forced to live without her. 

"It was the only way to save her" whispered Wolffe, knowing she was still with him. He felt her there during the moments when his PTSD got the better of him. He felt her hand on his shoulder and could swear sometimes he heard her voice willing him to continue his fight. He sensed her there during the toughest moments when he struggled with the past. 

"That's why you went into hiding" commented Ezra, figuring the trio of clones hadn't just decided to "retire" due to their accelerated aging. They were among some of the best battle-tested minds there was. The rebellion needed them to survive, but it was becoming clear at least Wolffe needed a reason to fight. He'd lost his will the day he had to kill (Y/N) to save her from repeating the cruelty of being broken and twisted again until she lost herself once more. 

"We know (Y/N) would have taken the opportunity to stick it to the empire if she was here" laughed Gregor, his golden eyes glued to the hologram of the Jedi Knight in question. To the hologram of the friend waiting for them. "She was a fighter, a shining light of hope we needed during the darkest days of the war. Let's not let her down now by sitting by and doing nothing" 

"So you'll fight with us" questioned Zeb

"Yup" replied Gregor. "It's about time we remembered who we are, right Wolffe?" he added, nudging Wolffe who had since stood, the old Commander didn't pay much attention though, instead looking to the back door of the old walker. Where he could have sworn he'd seen a figure bathed in a blue glow standing. Where he saw (Y/N) standing, nodding with a proud grin, as if she was finally answering his call to see her again. As if she was encouraging them to fight for something they chose to believe in rather than something forced upon them like the Republic and Empire. 

"You see her right?" asked Wolffe, too afraid to look away in case she disappeared again. Rex only offered a small soft smile upon seeing (Y/N), a guiding angel for them to follow, as she had been once before in what felt like a lifetime ago. A life that seemed far less complicated than the one they had now. Back then they were soldiers created to fight a war, to sacrifice. Now they were relics of the same past as the Jedi and the Republic. They survived the horrors the empire threw at them, abandoned and left to fend for themselves, broken and forgotten by the galaxy around them. 

But now, it was time to rise and fight once again. Remind the Emperor why clones were created in the first place and remind him why they were better than the conscripted troopers he relied on to defend the weakening empire. This time they weren't going to be soldiers of the republic, commanders in a war they didn't choose. They would be beacons of hope amidst the shadow the empire cast across the galaxy, they were going to fight and sacrifice for a cause they chose to fight for. 

Knight Princess Masterlist

[calebjorgens2024]

I’ve just had a recent dream regarding Tech, he was wearing a dark grey uniform of an imperial scientist with rank bar denoting his status as Imperial Commander and Science Officer. He was calmly adjusting his glasses as he typed out scientific diagrams regarding contraptions of any kind. This only fuels my plans to expand my Imperial Tech au! Once his chip activates. He’ll be more logically harsh in addition to being practical, cold, calculated, determined, firm, stern, serious, cunning, businesslike, persuasive, brutally honest, reasonable, brutally honest.

as such. The Amaxines, The Drengir are also involved in my Imperial Tech AU as is Phee Genoa. Case Solving is also included!

Not only that, I’ve recently dreamt Tech was giving new recruits for the Imperial Science Division a tour of his massive lab on Mt. Tantiss in addition to the others on Coruscant and Ziost!

[porcelanitaa]

What's living in Argentina like? How do you think it differs from the U.S.? (Also do u pronounce the g in Argentina as an h? My Spanish professor said some ppl do but some don't)

(REALLY LONG POST, SORRY) Hii ! Thanks for this ask, it's very interesting! <3 first, about the pronunciation I do pronounce the G like you guys pronounce the H! and at least for I have seen, we all pronounce it like that. And about the living here.. of course I can only speak for my experience and what I have seen, since I have never been anywhere else. So a few things I have experienced here:

♡ The way I was raised what y'all would call ""woke"" . I was always surrounded with history and science that would really focus on women's rights, the people of color that built the nation, and about the horrors of colonization and imperialism

♡ Argentine buildings are really beautiful! People say that Buenos Aires looks like an old European movie.

♡ I don't know how it's like in your country, but people here are really loud and social! And you can laugh and joke around with any stranger. And something I heard from foreigners visiting Argentina Is that we're really polite! Idk how true that is but saying etiquette and politeness is important. And Argentinians also value family and community a lot, and there's this belief that gringos are rude and individualistic.

♡ In the US you have barbeques, that in Argentina we call "asados" . Asados are really popular, traditional and important for us. Meat is really loved here, Argentina Is one the 9th biggest producer of meat in the world.

♡ Argentina Is not that diverse. Around 95% of Argentina's population are of European descent. And that's why other Latin American countries tend to exclude us for being "an European country in America".

♡ I never knew this was considered weird but I'm Argentina you don't have to go Supermarkets to buy groceries. I thought this was normal but apparently in other countries Verdulerías (a little store that doesn't belong to any corporation that sells fruits and vegetables, they're owned by normal people like us) and Carnicerías (the same but why meat) are rare.

♡ Argentina really values freedom too, or at least the word is used in politics a lot. I was raised to believe Argentina was founded with values of freedom, education and equality.

Statistics and stuff:

Argentina Is really nice to inmigrants! The constitution literally says that anyone who steps into Argentine territory is an equal and should be treated as such. So migrants receive the same social services like the rest of us. Example: public universities in Argentina offer tuition-free undergraduate courses for foreign students.

Education is free and universal. In Argentina the literacy rate is 99.51%, making Argentina one of the latin american countries with the highest rate of literacy. And Argentine universities, particularly the Universidad de Buenos Aires, are well-regarded within the region and internationally ( I really want to live in Buenos Aires! ) Even tho, a lot of teachers in public schools protest and demand better payments and treatment. I agree with this since I was taught that teachers are the most important part about a nation!

Healthcare is free for all as well! Including tourists and expatriates. The country is known for the quality of its healthcare (even the quality can vary greatly depending on the region)

Anyways, at least in my experience, Argentina Is really beautiful and fun! But in the last years there's been a lot of division and thanks to this government we're losing a lot of awesome things we accomplished (like abortion and the Gender Identity Law) and our culture too! (they're closing cultural centers). and it hurts me to see my country like this. But every country has it's bad and good sides and my people is worth defending. Anyways, Thanks for reading and sorry this is so long <3

[madelgard]

IMPERIAL MARCH 2024

Brought to you by the Seswennan Social Club, we have a new Imperial March writing challenge for March 2024! Thanks to @zeldurz @klarionthewizard @alex-dax @pianopadawan and @shakespeareaddict for brainstorming these.

Each week of March has an Imperial-themed writing prompt, with fics (or art) due on the first Saturday of that week. Be sure to add your creations to the Imperial March 2024 collection on ao3. The prompts and due dates are:

March 2: Survey and Science - Obscure divisions of the imperial military March 9: Bugle Call - Inspired by tracks from the movie soundtracks March 16: Public Comm Line - Imperial quotes from movies, books, & comics March 23: Astronavigation - Homeworlds, Shore Leave, and Imperial Locations March 30: War Machines - Imperial ships and vehicles

All characters and ships welcome as long as the focus is on the Star Wars Imperial characters (Thrawn, Pellaeon, Veers, Motti, Jerjerrod, Piett, Needa, etc.). Good luck and happy writing!

[hugmekenobi]

S2: The Bad Batch (15)

Chapter Fifteen: The Summit

Gif by @dreamswithghosts

Hunter x femaleJedi!reader

Series Summary: Some time has passed since everything that happened at Kamino and you and the Batch are trying to figure out your place in the rapidly changing Imperial galaxy. And you're having to do all this whilst figuring out where your relationship with Hunter fits into it.

Chapter Summary: The mission to find Crosshair doesn't quite go to plan.

Masterlist for S1

<Previous Chapter

Genre: Friends (idiots) to Lovers (we're in the lovers stage now)

Chapter Warnings: Canon-typical violence, swearing, a single kiss, brief fluff and angst, I project my feelings (sorry, I can't help it)

Word Count: 3.4K

Author's notes: Hope you enjoy! Again, keeping it pretty chill because Ch16 is going to be quite emotionally taxing :(

“Echo and I have scoured through Imperial and Republic files, but intel about the Advanced Science Division is limited.” Tech revealed as he tapped through the information.

“Do we know where they’re detaining Crosshair and the other clones?” Hunter asked.

“Negative. Their base of operations is unknown.”

“Well, what about their chief scientist?”

“There’s even less on Dr. Hemlock, and I was very thorough. He is a ghost.”

“Not quite.” Echo interjected as he came down from the cockpit. “According to a contact of mine, Hemlock’s set to attend a high-level Imperial summit in two rotations.” He walked over to the other control panel and inputted the information.

“Where?” You queried as you all stepped across to look at the screen.

“Tarkin’s compound on Eriadu.” He pulled up an image of the location. “If we do a covert infiltration, we can plant a homing beacon on Hemlock’s ship and track him to his base.”

“And to Crosshair.” Omega added.

“Hmmm, it won’t be that simple.” Hunter disputed. “We’d be at a tactical disadvantage, and I’m not sure it’s worth the risk.”

“Hunter, I know why you’re saying that but if what I was sensing was actually Crosshair, he was in a lot of pain, and this is real. He needs us.” You said as gently as you could manage.

“I agree.” Tech concurred with you. “I understand your hesitation. We have not always agreed with Crosshair, but he is still our brother. We do not leave our own behind.”

“If there’s a chance to get him back, we have to take it.” Omega piled on.

“Definitely.” Wrecker said.

In his heart, he agreed with what you all were saying but he had the responsibility of looking at the bigger picture and what he saw worried him. “What about reinforcements?”

“Well, Rex is on a separate mission, so it’s just us.” Echo answered. “A small enough team to get in and out without alerting them. But we’ll need to move quickly.”

Hunter needed a minute to really think about this. This wasn’t a decision that he could make lightly. He walked over to the door and went outside.

“Hold on.” You said to the others before you walked out the ship and sat on the steps.

“This isn’t a good idea.” Hunter said as he paced in front of you. Every survival and leadership instinct he possessed was telling him that this was a bad idea, yet this was his brother. He couldn’t turn his back on him, not when there was a chance that he could’ve changed yet he couldn’t shake that doubt.

“I understand your reluctance, I really do, but-”

“Do you think it’s worth risking everything we’ve built here?”

“It’s not it, Hunter. It’s him. And I know if there was the smallest chance that we could get Crosshair back with us and you didn’t take it, it would haunt you.”

Hunter didn’t reply immediately but he knew you were right.

You spoke into the silence. “That being said, if you truly can’t sanction this, I will walk back in there with you and back you up.”

Hunter paused his pacing and exhaled deeply. He turned to face you. “We’re finally somewhere safe. I don’t want to lose that. But...” He swallowed thickly, “I don’t want to lose him either, not if there’s a possibility that he’s made a different choice.”

You stood and stepped towards him. You took his hands in yours “It’s just one more mission. One more and we can call it.” You whispered.

“One more.” Hunter repeated quietly. “One more to get our brother back.”

You nodded and placed a delicate kiss on his lips. “Come on.” The two of you walked back aboard the Marauder to the awaiting faces of your team.

“Let’s get started.” Hunter said and you all began to get preparation officially underway.

--

Phee watched as you and the others were getting ready to leave. “So, where you all headed?” She asked as you and Omega wandered over to her.

“It’s a covert mission.” Omega said in a hushed tone.

“Oh, I see. Well, I expect details when you get back.” Phee instructed the young girl.

“Bye, Phee.” Omega said cheerily before she ran back to the ship.

“He never said anything.” Phee mused as she looked past you over to Tech.

You followed her stare and rested a friendly hand on her shoulder. He’s the smartest yet sometimes the dumbest person I know. Just be patient with him and you’ll get there eventually.

“Yeah, I guess.” Phee acknowledged with a nod. “Be safe out there.”

See you later. You started to make your way back to the Marauder.

“Hey, wait a minute!” Phee shouted after you. “You never opened your mouth to say all this! Does this mean I’m in?”

“Call it a belated ‘thank you for bringing us here’ gift!” You called back before you hopped up the steps, but you didn’t go all the way in yet, you loitered by the doorway to wait for Tech, and you couldn’t help but be a little bit nosy as you saw Phee now making her way over to him.

Tech glanced up from his datapad and saw that Phee was heading towards him. He quickly focused his eyes back on the screen.

“So, you were just going to leave without saying goodbye.” Phee queried.

“That is correct.” Tech replied bluntly, thinking that would be sufficient but he felt Phee’s gaze become more pointed. He shifted his eyes to look at her. “Did you require a briefing?”

“You know, when two friends are talking, it’s called a conversation.” His lack of response did not surprise her. “Well, don’t go running off with any pirates or smugglers while you’re gone.”

“Yes. This mission should not involve either.”

Phee pushed the datapad down and took a step closer to him. “That’s not exactly what I was getting at.” She couldn’t help but release a soft chuckle at the clueless expression on his face. “See you around, brown eyes.” She gave him one last smile before she turned on her heels and walked away.

You noticed the way Tech watched her go and although you couldn’t see his face, you could sense the deeper feelings that were there even if he couldn’t quite acknowledge them yet. I’m sorry.

“For what?” Tech cocked his head at you as he paused at the bottom of the steps.

If Hunter and I were anything like the way you two are, I understand why you all had so many plans in place and the time you two have been around each other has been far less than what you had to put up with.

“I do not understand what-” Tech darted up the stairs.

You caught his shoulder to stop him from getting past you. “I’m also sorry because I told Hunter I’d leave you to your own devices, but I need to just offer you a little familial advice.”

“Advice?”

“With regards to you and Phee.”

“I hardly think there is a me and Phee. We-”

“I know. I’m not going to dive into all that yet. I’m only going to say when we’re back, maybe take her somewhere quiet, have a nice walk and just talk. Let yourself feel that slightly uncomfortable and awkward but at the same time content and happy feeling that comes from being around her because it could lead to something that nice that you both deserve.”

“I still do not know exactly what you’re referring to.” Tech deflected.

He could say that he all he wanted but you saw the way his eyes drifted downward as he said that. “Just feel. That’s all.” You affectionately squeezed the top of his arm before you let him go and you got the rest of your armour on as the ship powered up and left the island.

--

“I have identified a suitable location to land outside their sensor range.” Tech said as the ship got ready to exit hyperspace.

“How are we bypassing those cruisers?” You questioned as you saw the red warnings on the dash.

“Using a clearance code Rex and I acquired from one of our contacts.” Echo answered.

“Good to have you back, Echo.” Wrecker said merrily. “Just like old times.”

The ship came out of hyperspace.

“Wrecker, man the tail gun. Just in case.” Hunter directed as he saw the cruisers ahead.

“You got it.” Wrecker affirmed as he got up from his seat.

Echo transmitted the clearance codes and you all waited with bated breath.

“If this doesn’t work, be ready to fly out of here.” Hunter said as you all awaited confirmation that you were in the clear.

After a few more seconds of silence, the ship’s commlink beeped and an officer’s voice came through. “Vessel 1143, you are clear for approach.”

You made sure your armour and weapons were secure before you pulled your hood and mask up as the others put on their helmets. You were officially doing it now. You only hoped getting this intel about Crosshair would indeed be worth what was being risked.

--

“Let’s make this quick before they realise we didn’t land at the base.” Echo advised as he stepped off the ship first and the group of you got underway.

--

“What kind of approach are we making? A side-wind breach?” Omega asked inquisitively as you all stealthily made your way through the tree-covered mountain path.

“It worked on Raxus.” Tech said in reply.

“It won’t work here.” Echo corrected him. “The Empire’s protocols have changed since then.”

Wrecker let out a smug scoff. “Thanks to us.”

“No tanks and no explosions this time, Wrecker.” Echo reminded him as he walked past him.

Wrecker let out a disappointed groan. “Fine.”

Having reached the edge of the perimeter, you glanced up to see the sky rail system in place that crossed the abyss below and inwardly groaned. We were supposed to be avoiding heights.

Hunter half turned his helmet in acknowledgement before he looked through his macrobinoculars at the building on top of one of the mountain peaks. “Hmm. The compound is heavily fortified.”

“But there’s a weak point in the rail line that we can exploit.” Echo pointed out as he peered investigated the terrain through his own pair. “We’ll sneak past the sensor and hitch a ride under one of the cars.”

“You mean hang? Over that?” Omega said nervously.

You didn’t blame her attitude. This plan didn’t thrill you either.

“Well, it’s the only way to access the compound unnoticed.” Echo replied simply.

“Tech, disable the sensor.” Hunter ordered.

“That would trigger an alert. I can temporarily disrupt the feed, but I estimate only 30 seconds for us to clear the zone before it reactivates. We must be precise.”

You felt bad but you couldn’t help it, the way you all turned to glance back at Wrecker was pretty instinctual.

Wrecker protested in an affronted fashion. “What? I can handle it!”

Echo handed Tech one of the cable attachments for his blaster whilst Hunter monitored the sensor.

Hunter signalled for Tech to go and for now the only thing the rest of you could do was wait for his word.

“Stand by.” Tech advised into his comm as he got to work.

You heard the screech of metal on metal and looked ahead to see another railcar in the distance. You tapped your comm, “Another railcar is approaching. Are we set?”

“Not… yet.” Tech replied as he waited for official confirmation that the sensor had powered down. When he had that, he spoke into his comm, “The sensor is down. Move in!”

You all ran to the edge of the cliff and fired your cables to the side of the car.

You joined the others in grabbing a hold of whatever structure was available on the outside and eagerly awaited this particular part of the mission to be over.

--

“Halfway there.” Echo called back to the rest of you.

Wrecker calmly chuckled. “This isn’t so bad.” But he then made the mistake of looking down to the empty space below and groaned. “Never mind.” He started counting down the minutes.

--

When the car was arriving at the terminal, you all hopped off onto the outside platform before moved too far in.

Hunter landed a punch to the first trooper and tossed him over the rail before he pressed himself against the side of the building as you fired a shot past him that took care of the second trooper that was getting their blaster ready. He halted Omega from advancing past him as the door to the outside opened to reveal another soldier coming out. Without hesitation, he fired his own shot that sent the trooper flailing over the side and he led the way inside.

--

Your way in had brought you into the main landing bay and you took cover behind one of the many vast storage containers.

Hunter pulled out his macrobinoculars and scanned the various ships.

“Which ship is Hemlock’s?” Omega whispered.

“We need to access the hangar manifest from the control room.” Echo said.

“Echo, Tech, and (Y/N) with me.” Hunter ordered before he spoke to Wrecker and Omega. “You two, plant the homing beacon.”

You split up and got your missions jobs underway.

--

The four of you managed to make it up to the control room and stun the officers inside with little trouble.

“I’ll monitor their security channels.” Echo said whilst you and Hunter moved the unconscious bodies and Tech got to work on getting the manifest.

“Found it. Hemlock’s shuttle is at docking lane four.” Tech informed Wrecker and Omega through his comm.

“Copy that.” Came Omega’s reply.

“Hmm. Something’s not right.” Echo mused as he stared at the screen. “Many of the surveillance systems have had cycled deactivations in various corridors.”

“That is highly irregular considering the number of top-ranking Imperial officers present.” Tech agreed.

Hunter signalled to you and Tech, “The three of us will check in out and Echo, you keep an eye on things.”

The three of you drew your blasters and left the room.

--

You’d heard over the comms that Omega had successfully planted the beacon, but you were dealing with a more urgent matter. Your investigation of the cameras had led you to find a thermal explosive primed for activation.

“Someone is targeting this base.” You said warily as a bad feeling started to settle in your gut and you started to feel into the Force around you.

“One charge will not cause much damage.” Tech theorised.

You and Hunter reacted simultaneously and drew your blasters as you heard footsteps just round the corner of the corridor.

“Good thing we have more.”

You and Hunter kept your arms steady as two people disguised as Stormtroopers stepped in front of you. You were not reassured by their actions of raising their blasters in surrender.

“Didn’t expect to find you three here.”

“Saw Gerrera.” You breathed as the man removed his helmet, but you didn’t relax your stance since you knew his intentions here could not possibly fit in with yours.

“I told you on Onderon you had a choice to make. Looks like you’ve chosen. Keep an eye out.” He instructed his partner before he walked closer. “Did you make yours?” He asked you directly.

You gave a curt nod before you asked, “What exactly is your plan here?” You weren’t quite able to keep the suspicious out of your voice.

“I’m levelling this compound, along with all the Imperials inside it.”

You finally lowered your blaster and scoffed. “You can’t be serious?”

“Can’t let you do that.” Hunter added. “We’re tracking one of the officers. We need to find his base where clones are being imprisoned, including one of our own.”

“You expect me to call this off to save a few prisoners? We are trying to fight an Empire.”

You couldn’t help but take a protective step to the right as he advanced towards Hunter. You held Saw’s pointed glare and matched it.

“Have you considered that by destroying this facility you are wiping out any chance to gather intel that could help your cause?” Tech interjected logically.

“That would require the bigger picture thinking that he’s not all that great at.” You couldn’t help but snap.

Saw’s jaw clenched at your words, but he replied to the clone, “Taking out several of their commanders is a good start.”

“Well, that victory will be short-lived as their ranks will quickly be replenished.” Tech debated.

“Maybe so. But sacrifices have to be made for the greater good.”

As he spoke, you felt a hot wave of rage rise in your veins and it took a considerable moment of effort to tamper it back down. “You’d be destroying any shot we have at-”

“I would’ve thought you would understand. They murdered your people and you’re letting them get away with it. If you truly cared about what happened, you would be doing more. You survived and instead you’re playing happy families and-”

This time, it was Hunter who got protective as he saw the flash of grief and anger behind your eyes and the way Saw had started to crowd your space. “That’s enough.” He said sharply.

Saw glanced between you both with a knowing look in his eyes but before he could say anything else, his companion came back.

“We have to go now. A security team’s been alerted.”

You had to check in with yourself again. Something felt very different. You were usually far more level-headed with your emotions but if Hunter hadn’t interrupted when he had, you knew you would’ve acted in a way that you’d only done once before and had vowed to never repeat. It was like the Force was preparing you for something else, but you didn’t know what.

The doors suddenly opened behind you and a team of troopers walked through the door and it became a shootout as you all retreated to up the corridor. The exit the three of you needed was being occupied by the Imperials so you took cover to deal with them, but Gerrera and his now wounded partner were able to get clear.

Tech rolled a stun grenade down the corridor, and it took out two more troopers and you shot the other exposed soldier which gave you all the chance to advance.

As you rounded the corner, you pushed the remaining trooper’s blaster out the way and let Hunter use his body as a shield from the other soldiers lining the next corridor whilst you and Tech shot at them.

When it was finally clear, Hunter discarded the body and tapped his comm, “We’ve been compromised. Get back to the rail line.” He said urgently as the three of you sprinted down the hall.

--

Navigating the maze of corridors was hard enough but it was only made more difficult with the onslaught of Imperial fire as the many squads of Stormtroopers continued their pursuit. All the three of you could do was provide sporadic rounds of cover fire as you retreated but it wouldn’t be sustainable for long. Thankfully, the others intercepted you and so you all were able to find your way back to the railcar, but you knew the soldiers wouldn’t be far behind.

“We need an access code.” Tech said as he tried to get the car to start.

“I’ll override it.” Echo said as he plugged in.

Whilst Echo worked on that, the rest of you took aim at the troopers that were now making their way into the railcar. Unfortunately, it powered up with some Imperials in the second car, but you had the numbers, you just needed to hold out and get away from the compound.

--

Suddenly, the lights in the car flickered and you could feel the speed start to slow down.  

“We’re losing power!” Echo announced with frustration as he knew there was nothing, he could do to prevent it.

You shot the last trooper before you joined the others in

As you stared out into the clouds and saw the enemy railcar a few metres ahead with a squad to Stormtroopers already setting their sights on you, you found yourself wishing you’d shot Gerrera when you’d had the chance. He’d followed through on his plan, but the Imperials were still standing, and it was the six of you who were going to pay for it instead.

“This is going to be a problem.”

Which you knew was Tech’s way of saying you were absolutely fucked.

Next Chapter>

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[purgetrooper77]

Hello there, fellow Bad Batchers (yes that's what I'm calling Bad Batch fans now) since we are gonna be approaching the Season 3 finale soon, I would like to share some of my predictions of how certain episodes are gonna go. I did this when Season 2 of the Bad Batch was still a new thing. With that being said, here are my predictions

Into the breach:

Rampart, Hunter, Wrecker and Crosshair find someone who knows how to get to Tantiss Base.

We see Captain Wolffe again

Omega talks to Eva and becomes close friends with her.

Hemlock terminates an Imperial deserter as a demonstration

Flash Strike:

Rampart dies during a mission

Phee hatches a plan to get to Tantiss

Wrecker Hunter and Crosshair have an encounter with CX-2

CX-2 is revealed to be Dogma

Crosshair finally explains why his hand shakes

Hunter fights Crosshair

Gonky and AZI-3 dies

Dogma/CX-2 dies

Phee falls out of the cliff (presumed death)

Hunter and Wrecker find their way to Mount Tantiss

The Calvary has arrived

Jax and that Pantoran child gets separated from Omega and Eva

Hunter and Wrecker breaks into Tantiss

Hemlock puts his special gas in (like in Tipping Point)

Hunter kills Commander Scorch in a rage

Wrecker rescues the children

Hemlock kills Emerie Karr

Hunter and Crosshair kills Hemlock

Howzer, Rex and other Clones go into Tantiss

Jax, the Pantoran subject, and Eva dies

Howzer gets blown up

Hunter becomes John Rambo and kills everyone

Crosshair meets an Imperial version of Tech

Tech reveals almost kills Crosshair but was stunned by Hunter

Omega learns the truth about Crosshair

Crosshair sacrifices himself to save Hunter Wrecker, and Omega (hopefully that really doesn't happen)

Gregor kills all the Clone Commandos that work for Hemlock

Hunter Wrecker, the Clone Underground members and Omega escape Tantiss

Omega blames Hunter for allowing Crosshair to die

Palpatine learns about what happens to Tantiss and dissolves the Advanced Science Division

Last but not least... a new series will rise that take place after the events of the Bad Batch (basically the final episode leading up to a special event or a new series)

These predictions may change but they may also remain the same. Have a nice day and I'll see you all whenever I do.

This is PurgeTrooper signing out

[seking-922]

Emperor Palpatine: It is imperative that this facility remain hidden and secure. There are many, even within our own ranks, who would consider much of your work an abomination. But they lack the vision that we possess. Your brilliance is a great asset to this Empire.

Dr. Hemlock: If I am appointed the scientific minister, I would strive to bring unleashed glory to all divisions of the Imperial science corps.

Emperor Palpatine: All in due time.

Dr. Hemlock: Yes, Emperor.

Feel free to visit me for more Hemlock pictures and quotes!