Chapter Text
Can't we get a break? Hunter wanted to groan as Cross got Wrecker calmed down. First Tano and now this? “Okay, tell it to me again.” Hunter directed Wreck gently.
“It was the 501st they were on a campaign on some sort of space station. There were two other jetti with them, females, a species I didn't realize. Floating tentacles instead of hair. They took a communication center. I couldn't hear them but I could hear this ARC trooper and a 501st member talking. The regular vod was struggling with mental issues and the ARC was worried about them but then he snapped to and was talking about the Jedi with such anger.” Wrecker recounted, eyes squeezed closed.
“What did they look like?” Tech asked, “Tattoos, hair?”
“The ARC had a flat top hair and a goatee and a tattoo on his temple.”
Wrecker described face scrunched up, “A five I think.”
“And the reg?” Cross asked, making caff.
“A teardrop tattoo under one of his eyes and hair long enough to be a small bun on the back of his head.” Wreckee nodded
“Found them.” Tech scooted over to Hunter to show him the datapad, “ARC Trooper CT-5555 Fives and Clone Trooper CT-5385 Tup.”
Hunter looked at both images of the clones and then blinked, “Wait, I know him.” He held up Fives’ picture for Wrecker to see, “this the ARC?”
“Yeah. That's him.”
“How do you know him?” Cross scowled bringing over the caff pot and mugs.
“Isn't he the trooper that Sajaun was favoring on Umbara?” Tech asked pouring an unauthorized amount of milk in his caff.
“Yeah. You should have seen her the first time, he rattled her.” Hunter nodded thinking back to those few interactions he'd witnessed as he handed the datapad back to Tech.
“You think she saw him in a vision?” Wrecker asked, wrapping his hands around his cup of black caff, not even drinking it, just letting the warmth of it ground him.
“Maybe. She never told us when she did.” Cross grumbled.
“The 501st are currently in a conflict on Ringo Varda's space station ring and have been for some time but have been unable to best Admiral Trench. General Skywalker is backed up by Jedi twins Tiplee and Tiplar.” Tech read off the specs, “No incidents of that nature have been recorded yet.”
“So that was the future we can stop it!” Wrecker lit up and almost shot to his feet rattling the table.
“Wait. Wrecker. Just wait.” Hunter sighed, closing his eyes, “Tech, how fast can we even get to Ringo Vada? That's the other side of the galaxy.”
“Two days of hyperspace travel.” Tech said immediately, “Barring unforeseen complications.”
“We won't get there in time.” Cross said what was in Hunter's mind.
“We might!” Wrecker argued, “We don't know when it'll happen!”
“Wreck.” Hunter tried.
“No! We can still save them!” Wrecker leapt away from the table staring at them all angry tears in his eyes, “Why don't you want to?”
“It's not a matter of want Wrecker.” Tech said quietly, “All of your visions have come to pass within 24 hours. They're fairly reliable as Force visions go but they're still incomplete and short term. We won't make it in time. I'm sorry.”
Wrecker wilted at Tech's words, “Maybe this time?”
“The data suggests otherwise.” Tech said gently.
“Win the war, lose the fight.” Cross reminded, “Don't forget that.”
“I know.” Wrecker whispered, “I just hate it.”
“We all do. But we can't get distracted by it. Process the anger and disappointment. Then move forward.” Hunter directed, “What else happened in the vision?”
“I couldn't move from the room.” Wrecker shook his head, “They left and I heard blaster fire and then one of the twins screamed for her sister.”
“So it's not General Skywalker who gets shot.” Cross clarified.
“General Skywalker is a maverick but he won't execute the clone for it. We have to assume the clone survives the encounter, what happens next?” Hunter asked, turning to Tech.
“They'd want to know why it happened.”
“So would I.” Cross huffed.
“But the field medics won't be able to know. It'll look like psychosis. They'll have to send him back to Kamino.” Tech continued ignoring Cross.
“Nala Se will kill him to cover it up.” Wrecker said face filling with concern.
“Not with Master Shaak Ti there. She'll want answers without killing him. It'll buy us some time.” Hunter shook his head considering.
“To do what?” Cross scowled at him, “What are you thinking?”
“We need to think three steps ahead. Predict the actions. We've been wargaming a small team invasion of Kamino. What better time to test it?” Hunter proposed, “We run it just us go in get the affected clone and get out no one the wiser. Nala Se doesn't kill him, we get more data on the chips and the Order becomes aware something's up. It works in our favor.”
“It has merit.” Tech considered.
“If we get caught or detected our war game goes out the window, they'll change everything. When it really matters we'll be going in blind.” Cross argued.
“If we get caught we can break out of anything. And then we can just re-upload the new specs and install a monitoring virus.” Tech countered, “Either way it wouldn't be a loss. But it would be a risk.”
“What about the ARC?” Wrecker asked, “Will he be a problem?”
“We need to focus on the reg that will get killed, if the ARC stays with the 501st we can find them when they get liberty. If he goes with the reg we'll find him at Kamino.” Hunter decided, “Tech, how fast can we get to Kamino?”
“Day and a half.” Tech said, “Maybe less.”
“We never gamed the invasion with so few.” Cross pointed out getting to his feet.
“Then we'll regame on the way there. Grab your gear, we're going to Kamino.” Hunter ordered.
He watched his brothers hurry to do just that and closed his eyes for a long moment. It's starting. It's starting and we're not ready. Saj where are you?