Written by Clone Force 99 stumbled upon a hidden mine containing of one of the most explosive minerals in the galaxy
Uncertain of their future as clones in a changing galaxy where the Empire rules, Clone Force 99 continues working petty jobs for the self-serving Trandoshan known as Ciddaran ‘Cid’ Scaleback in Season 2 of ‘Bad Batch’. In episode 9, ‘The Crossing’ Cid informs the clones that, on a gamble, she had purchased a mine on the planet Ipsidon, where a rare explosive mineral known as ipsium was mined by the Techno Union during the Clone Wars.
While the clones aren’t particularly interested at the prospect of becoming miners, their need to make enough credits to survive surpasses their lack of enthusiasm and the team agrees to do Cid’s dirty work, traveling to Ipsidon to see if their mine might just be lucky enough to still contain some of the rare explosive.
After beginning to explore the mine, the findings were starting to look about as hopeful as the team’s mood had been in accepting the job: there weren’t more than a few specks of ipsium anywhere. As the team became more and more hopeless, bickering began to ensue. And unbeknownst to the rest of the team, Omega was secretly still hurting from losing Echo as a member of their squad when he had gone off to work on a secret stealth mission for former Clone Commander Rex. To Omega, not having Echo with them was like losing a member of their family – and it bothered her that Tech and Hunter didn’t seem to care.
After an argument with Tech, Omega stormed off deeper into the cave to be alone and stumbled through a hidden shaft in the mine, finding herself hidden behind rock and surrounded by the iridescent glow of ipsium all around her. Merely bumping into the mineral though could cause a mass explosion in the entire chamber, and she had to call Tech for help in order to find a way out.
Before attempting to leave though, Omega managed to use a specialized drill, designed to gently drill through the crystal latticework to attempt to harvest the highly reactive explosive within. After carefully managing to fill several vials though, Omega overreached in an attempt to fill one last vial, and both she and Tech plummeted through the chasm, landing in a rushing underground river.
Surviving the fall, the pair was able to call Hunter and Wrecker who were able to follow their path down into the river and along its banks. But despite the team’s discovery of a large mine of ipsium, there was no way to go back – particularly when they had other troubles to worry about, including the theft of their specialized stealth ship, the Marauder. After escaping the mine, they would eventually hunt down the thief and the crew he was working for at an old ipsium refinery many miles away in order to recover their ship.
Despite leaving the planet and the mine behind as the episode concludes, one can only wonder if the team may eventually go back and use the priceless explosive to fight the Empire in some way yet to be seen…
