ultra conservative checkout, see if this works

.github/workflows/release-prepare-hotfix.yml

@@ -56,14 +56,14 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout Repo (develop branch)
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
         with:
-          ref: ${{ env.main_ref }}
+          ref: develop
           token: ${{ steps.generate-token.outputs.token }}
+          fetch-depth: 0
 
-      - name: Checkout Repo (hotfix branch)
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          ref: ${{ inputs.ref }}
-          token: ${{ steps.generate-token.outputs.token }}
+      - name: Fetch hotfix branch
+        run: |
+          git fetch origin ${{ inputs.ref }}:${{ inputs.ref }}
+          git checkout ${{ inputs.ref }}
 
       - name: Setup git user
         uses: ./tools/actions/composites/setup-git-user