Switching the focus back to Crosshair, Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 reveals the cold truth of the Empire’s attitude towards clones.
Clone Force 99 takes a backseat in Episode 12 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2, with ‘The Outpost’ following Crosshair on a mission to an inhospitable frozen world. Summoned by his Imperial masters to take part in yet another thankless task, the sharpshooting clone is brushed off by an arrogant and inexperienced Lieutenant Nolan, who is revealed to be his new commanding officer.
Heading with a squad of troops to the snow-covered world of Barton-4, Crosshair learns he is to assist in securing a valuable cargo that’s being stolen by local insurgents. Arriving on the icy planet, he meets the last three remaining clones still alive at the remote outpost, Hexx, Veetch and their battle-weary leader, Commander Mayday.
The Imperial Lieutenant blames Mayday for the loss of his own troops, even though the Commander’s multiple requests for support have gone unanswered. When a call comes in to say they’re under attack, the clones head into battle, only for Hexx and Veetch to be killed and the rescue team’s shuttle destroyed.
Ordered to head out into the frosty wastelands to track down their foes and retrieve the precious cargo, Crosshair and Mayday battle against both the elements and their own self doubts about the Empire they now serve. Locating the insurgents, the two soldiers engage in a shootout with the raiders, managing to blow up the enemy’s base by targeting an unguarded pile of explosives.
With their foes defeated, Crosshair and Mayday are shocked to discover the cargo was in fact brand-new Stormtrooper armour, equipment that the Commander desperately needed and had been guarding the whole time. A sudden avalanche then traps the pair, forcing them to dig their way out and hobble back to the base in sub-zero temperatures.
Barely surviving the return journey, the clones are berated by the Lieutenant for failing in their mission, with the officer refusing to help a dying Mayday. Following the passing of his comrade, Crosshair finally decides to cross a line and guns down Nolan in front of a squad of Stormtroopers. Passing out from his injuries, Crosshair awakens to find himself in the Mount Tantiss facility seen in last week’s episode, and at the mercy of Dr Scalder…
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 is currently streaming on Disney+, with episode 13, ‘Pabu,’ dropping on March 15, 2023.
Images: Star Wars
