The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2, episode 12, “The Outpost”, now streaming on Disney+.
In season 2 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Crosshair endured immense trials and tribulations. He kills once again in the name of the Empire, and while Palpatine has thrown Vice Admiral Rampart under the bus, Crosshair knows his time is still limited. Time is running out as the Empire has begun replacing the Clones with Stormtroopers, leaving Crosshair pensive and hinting that the Bad Batch will once again feud with the Empire.
Despite the blatant disrespect, Crosshair remains loyal, constantly citing the mantra “good soldiers follow orders”. Unfortunately, just when he wakes up from the oppression, Crosshair ends up being taken prisoner by his employers. However, while the Imperials think they have Crosshair where they need him, this could be a major mistake, undoing the latest covert initiative Palpatine ordered.
The Bad Batch imprisons Crosshair at Mount Tantiss
Crosshair loses control after a snowy mission claims the lives of Mayday and other clones on the ice planet Barton-4. Angry at how Lt. Nolan deemed them expendable, insulted Mayday, and didn’t even get medical help for his ally, a damaged Crosshair killed Nolan. He wakes up on Tantiss to find the sinister scientist, Emerie Karr, working on him, leaving fans wondering if it’s to study his clone flaw, help augment monsters like the Zillo Beast, or use him as bait.
The boss of this Tantiss outpost, Doctor Royce Hemlock, wants Omega, so they might have information that encourages them to use Crosshair to lure out Clone Force 99. They know his old team wouldn’t give up. Crosshair and wouldn’t leave him alone. Also, with the team running missions across the galaxy with Omega, and perhaps Cid being a traitor to earn credits, it stands to reason the Imperials think Crosshair is the brother who will trap Clone Force 99.
Bad Batch’s Tantiss team underestimates the crosshairs
On paper, this is a good strategy, as capturing Omega and Co. would encourage Nala Se to work on the mysterious new experiments following Kamino’s destruction. However, with Crosshair now enlightened to the sinister ways of the Empire, he’s a caged beast waiting to be unleashed. Unless they brainwash him again, sedation – as past episodes have proven – cannot contain such a talented soldier. It’s a one-man army in terms of a sniper, not to mention an expert in stealth and explosives.
Crosshair still has a connection with his former team. That’s why he covered them in the first place, which means he can wreak havoc on his own if he escapes or teams up with 99 to destroy the place. And he would be right, because he knows how the science of the Empire creates victims like the Clones, robbing them of their free will and enlightening them with duty. The fact that Mayday’s men never received the equipment, but were unknowingly keeping new tools for new soldiers, says a lot. Not only would Palpatine’s treasured Mount Tantiss facility be in jeopardy, but so would the scientists, with Crosshair being the perfect weapon to ensure Project Kamino 2.0 never happens.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Launches New Episodes Wednesday on Disney+.