In the same place. Hours later

When Trace woke up she had expected that she would be in a bunker or some other safe zone. Instead, as she pushed herself wearily to her feet she realized she was in the place where she'd fallen. Alone. She looked around to try and find her sisters but there was nobody nearby. Not even the remains of the droids that they'd destroyed were still there. She was going to try her short range comms when something caught her eye. As she walked towards it she realized it was a clone's helmet. As she looked further it was obvious there had been some kind of struggle. Her sisters might have had to run in a hurry, leaving her behind. Still, that didn't feel right. Why were the droids gone?

Her first thought was that she might have been dreaming but after a few pinches she ruled that out. The only other thing she could do was make her way back to the base to try and find answers. She moved slowly. She didn't know what she was walking into and as she reached the edge of cover she pulled out her binoculars to take a look. With relief, she saw some clones walking around the perimeter and was about to get up and laugh off her worries. Instead, she looked to the left and saw Eellpipp in person standing by a building, speaking into a communicator. What really caught her eye was what he had in his hand. A leash. It led to somewhere just beyond her viewpoint but she was willing to bet what was on it. Clones were obedient. They listened to their superiors almost without question. The thing that made them superior to droids, however, was that 'almost' part. Something didn't feel right here. Another clone who obviously didn't have the same impression broke out of a copse of trees on her left at a run. Just as she reached the patrolling group one of them pulled out a handheld stunner and put her down. The others quickly dragging her into a building.

Those weren't clones. Eellpipp had betrayed the republic. Trace knew she had to get a warning out. If this farce was going on it meant they wanted the republic to think this flank was secure. Trace knew her duty but she had a shot at Eellpipp right now. If she took it she could cut out the cancer at the source but her chances of getting a warning out would be sharply reduced. However, it would be very satisfying.