Chapter Text
Often time there is so much more at stake than simply rescuing someone or someones.’
“Be careful out there!” Rex had wished the team having discussed their plan briefly with time running out and the plan being rather flimsy and straightforward at best.
Hunter had had his doubts, Echo and Tech however having jumped on the possibility of saving Crosshair. But not just him. As according to Howzer, several clone troopers had been taken and most likely ending up in the same place as Crosshair was in.
Mount Tantiss.
The encrypted files Echo had obtained during their latest rescue mission had led them on the right track. As leave it for Tech to hack into the files and decrypt them all and find Crosshair’s number among the transported clones. Then doing further investigation finding Crosshair’s message on an old frequency with a warning of someone targeting them.
Hunter’s comment had been that of worry, of it being a possible trap.
Hiding intel on an imperial transport ship on a secret mission to a hidden location… only said intel be deleted while the ship was being boarded but leaving a hint there just in case Clone Force 99 was among those boarding the ship and then somehow managing to decrypt said intel? Well, it was a large size ball of really lose threads having no base in reality at all.
And so, Hunter’s notion of this being some elaborate trap had been debunked almost immediately. Hunter’s worries were put to ease. And that Crosshair’s message had been in earnest.
After some deep dive digging into things, the small strike team was on its way towards the secret base of the Empire. This time around, it was going to be a small covert op only. In and out to get to as many as possible before the imperials were none the wiser.
The whole op was rather unplanned and bordering the impossible. But they needed to do it. To save one of their own at least. Maybe more. The bigger picture put on hold for now as there was no way to launch a bigger operation in such a short amount of time.
So finally here they were, just like old times. The team back together.
Well, almost. But Gregor and Fireball had opted to join them, the rest of the clones running their own ops elsewhere as this was a rush job after all. Omega had been left at the base. Reluctantly, but Hunter had been adamant. This was way too dangerous of an operation to bring her with, for once.
*
“We are on approach.” Tech’s tone was clipped.
They were all feeling it. The sense of urgency. Even Gregor and Fireball. This wasn’t a standard hit and run go rescue op no matter what they were telling themselves. There was no way in telling what or who was waiting on the other side. But they needed to try. The Bad Batch needed to get their sniper back. Failure was not an option.
“The device is scrambling their scanning frequencies. They won’t be able to detect our landing.” Echo was monitoring the new tech only recently installed on the Marauder. A similar device Rex’s operatives used on their ships to avoid detection.
“Any signs of resistance?” Hunter’s tone was lower than usual, the tensions high in them all. As it was, this was personal despite what had happened before. Between the team mates. With Crosshair.
“So far we are good.” Tech had his eyes on the instruments monitoring their landing status. “Safest estimated landing zone two klicks from our target location.”
The Marauder made its landing without an incident. The terrain was rough, but it was nothing new nor anything the clones could not handle.
“Remember our backup plan.” Hunter reminded the small team.
They all nodded and started towards the tall mountain. Their entrance point a shaft leading to the building. Which meant the they needed to crawl thorough to get inside of the construct.
And so, making good time the team was headed towards their target.