WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1, Episode 10, “Common Ground,” streaming now on Disney+.
The last episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch shows Clone Force 99 rescuing Omega from a pair of bounty hunters. In Season 1, Episode 10, “Common Ground,” the Bad Batch is also involved in a rescue mission. Their job is to extract the former Separatist Senator Avi Singh from Imperial Custody on the planet of Raxis. While his role in the Clone Wars causes some brief controversy with a few squad members, the Bad Batch successfully rescues Singh by the end of the episode. In the process, they commandeer an AT-TE (All Terrain Tactical Enforcer) to make their escape. In doing so, they prove that the walker, although slow, awkward and kind of ridiculous, is a formidable and terrifying force to be reckoned with.
After meeting the droid tasked with arranging the Senator’s rescue, the Bad Batch finds the Imperial detention facility. They infiltrate it and save Senator Singh just as he is about to be questioned by an Imperial interrogation droid. However, before they can escape, an alarm is triggered. Reinforcements are already arriving, so a conventional exit is off the table.
Out of necessity, Clone Force 99 makes its way to the roof and looks for an alternate plan. There, they see a Republic AT-TE. It’s a short, six-legged tank that moves slower than a Hutt ridding a Bantha. Still, it’s their ride out of there, So, they shoot a grappling hook at the walker, slide down it and take over the tank.
The Empire pursues with its remaining walkers, and a slow-speed chase ensues. The AT-TE immediately takes a hit, so the Bad Batch has to evacuate and defend their position while Tech makes the necessary repairs. It’s a difficult fight for the remaining members of Clone Force 99 because of the number of enemies and also the firepower that the AT-TE has. Eventually, Tech succeeds, and the Senator leads them into a dead-end that -- after Wrecker blows a hole in the wall -- connects to a secret escape tunnel.
This is not the first time that the AT-TE appears in “Common Ground.” The Empire was using the former Republic walkers in its intimidation and occupation of the planet. While the vehicles may look ridiculous, they would have been terrifying to face. The sheer size, the six laser turrets and the giant cannon would have been unstoppable for a group of civilians. There is no hope in opposing the Empire because they would be blown away in a matter of seconds if confronted by even one of those tanks. So, they are forced to lay low and comply with their new oppressors.
The Bad Batch episode and the specific use of these tanks show the Empire means business. No one is allowed to dissent from the Empire in any way, shape or form. The slightest bit of resistance will be met with military force. It’s no wonder why the Rebellion gets such a quick start because the Empire’s power immediately goes to its head, using its sole authority to gain the upperhand, even if that means taking liberties and destroying peoples’ ways of life.
Created by Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Bad Batch stars Dee Bradley Baker, Andrew Kishino and Ming-Na Wen. New episodes premiere Fridays on Disney+.