The squad spends the majority of their time floating between the med bay and the barracks. The former of which is far more populated. The squad are being sent back to Alakine. Currently, their entire company is in danger of being dissolved and added to other companies. Havok Squad is the only squad remaining in Avalanche Company that are still mostly in tact. Cook and Tower spent several days in bacta tanks, while 28 was only briefly in the med bay. The worst of the casualties come from Commander Frost, who is currently in the process of getting a cybernetic leg. The crew isn’t doing that great, Cook has been plagued by a splitting migraine and Tower hasn’t been able to feel properly clean since leaving the bacta. Rat decides to do something kind for the meatbags he travels with and goes through a large extended effort to turn the nutrient paste into something they would enjoy. He uses the nutrient paste to create perfectly accurate small scale models of the party. It is perfectly solid and has the consistency of sand. They don’t actually taste that bad. Cook eats it without even looking, while Tower takes a few incredulous bites, and 28 refuses to touch them. Rat also shoots off a celebratory paintball canon and his drone son carries a small sign that says “YOU ARE FUNCTIONAL.” Rat thinks this is a very successful party.

After lifting up their morale, Cook heads back into the kitchen, Tower makes sure to properly register his Doberman, and 28 spends more time resting. A few other members of Havok Squad make their way back into the barracks over the next few days. Sarge, however, has gotten a new nickname. Bullseye. Most clones don’t call him it directly to his face, but it’s started from the doctors and nurses in the med bay who have gotten very used to seeing his face. Rat has also begun creating more protein paste effigies as the new clones return back to the barracks.

Cook has realized that he only feels alive when he’s in the kitchen. He doesn’t know how to feel about that, because good soldiers follow orders, but he’s realizing he doesn’t want to follow orders. He doesn’t know what to do about that, so he spends as much time as possible either training or cooking. He developed a new recipe with Rat using the protein batter he created and putting it on chicken and frying it. It is his signature dish that he now makes weekly.

28 is really bummed about the recent lost. He’s realized he.. really hates losing. He loves killing and he loves doing it well. He feels like he failed during the last mission. Tower is only mildly bummed about the recent events. We’re clones, this is what we do, sometimes it goes bad. Recently, Sarge has seemed like he’s acting a bit off. He’s stopped being as strict on training and physical therapy and has been slacking himself.

Cook has also been getting more well connected among the non-clone crew members. As long as he keeps making his fried chicken, other departments are more than willing to help provide him with some odds and ends. He gets more folding chairs and tables, some CRT TVs to display menus on, and is able to requisition as much food as he wants. Tower and 28 help out as waiters. Cook sets up a tip jar to help raise money for new things to improve the Stargazer. Some of the crew starts to kick up some trouble with the Stargazer taking up too much space in the loading dock, but Tycho and 00 give Cook four thumbs up to continue making food for the crew. King, another droid with a large pompadour, specializes in collecting music. He and Rat set up some speakers and make mixtapes to play some smooth jazz. After setting up a lounge inside the ship, people are able to come and go to hang out and eat food. The entire area is now collectively known as “The Stargazer.” They add a holochess table, some playing cards and chips, a billiards table, and set up some mood lighting inside.

Once the party catches on to Sarge’s mental state, Cook decides he wants to try cheering him up. He has some stubble growing and hasn’t visited the Stargazer, choosing to eat the shitty mess hall food instead. Cook brings some of the leftover batter fried chicken to Sarge’s bunk and lets him know he’s invited to hang out at the Stargazer whenever he’s ready again. Sarge doesn’t really acknowledge him, but does say thank you.

The clones are awoken in the middle of the “night” to sirens blaring and an announcement on the speakers system saying “THIS IS NOT A DRILL, WARDEN UNDER ATTACK.” The clones quickly and swiftly get into defensive positions.

Image of the Nighthawks painting by Edward Hooper.