Anti-Terrorism Unit

Anti-Terrorism Unit

TheAnti-Terrorism Unit, also known as theAnti-Terrorist Unit or simplyATU, was a specializedpolice division of theCoruscant Security Force designed to performcounter-intelligence work and combatterrorist activities on theplanetCoruscant. Though geared more toward defensive and investigative missions, as opposed to offensive planning, ATUpolice officers were well trained in counter-intelligence andtactical operations. The ATU itself was one of the most powerful units in the CSF in terms of jurisdiction and authority. Likewise, the ATU's commandingcaptain was one of the most influentialofficers in the CSF.

The ATU responded to several terrorist threats notably during theClone Wars between theGalactic Republic and theConfederacy of Independent Systems. During thattime, the ATU was led by CaptainJaller Obrim, formerly of theSenate Guard. Obrim and the ATU worked closely withRepublic commandos toshut down aterrorist network, and their close relationship continued until the end of the war. At that point, the ATU was absorbed into theImperial Security Bureau and its functions transferred into other departments.

The ATU was later reestablished by the CSF under the newly formedGalactic Federation of Free Alliances. Shortly before theSecond Galactic Civil War between the Galactic Alliance and theConfederation, severalattacks and riots heightened tensions between theCoruscanti and their fellowCorellian citizens. While the ATU, under the leadership of CaptainLon Shevu, had begun to identify potential suspects and terrorists, the GA government decided to form a secret police called theGalactic Alliance Guard to better facilitate investigating and interning Corellians on Coruscant. Several cops from the ATU, including Shevu, joined the new GAG. However, most of the ATU cops left as the war continued and the GAG's methods became increasingly brutal and morally unjust.

Description[]

The Anti-Terrorism Unit, abbreviated as the ATU^[1] and also referred to as the Anti-Terrorist Unit,^[5] was a specializedpolicecounter-intelligence division of theCoruscant Security Force. It worked closely with theOrganized Crime Unit to develop intelligence on criminal andterrorist organizations, with the intent of preventing attacks against theplanetCoruscant.^[1] The ATU had an expansive jurisdiction and vast legal authority, making it one of the most powerful CSF divisions. Thecaptain in charge of the ATU was subsequently one of the CSF's most influential commandingofficers. However, leading the ATU was also a heavy responsibility. It was not uncommon for the commanding captain to spenddays at theCoruscant Security Force Headquarters when a major investigation was underway.^[6]

The ATU gained more and more authority as theClone Wars between theGalactic Republic and theConfederacy of Independent Systems intensified. Wiretaps and spying without reasonable evidence and of those who posed no threat became commonplace, and ATUpolice officers could seize property without a warrant.^[5] Though ATU cops had training and experience intactical operations, the ATU was intentionally designed as a civilian organization, and the division itself did not have the setup of a paramilitary force. While that put the ATU on the defensive more so than on the offensive, it prevented the ATU from gaining a reputation as a brutal, secret police service. When some in theGalactic Alliance government sought to militarize the unit and give it the official duties of a secret police, the suggestions were quickly dismissed.^[2]

History[]

Major attacks[]

The Anti-Terrorism Unit was organized before thestart of the Clone Wars. Thoughassassinations and bombings had occurred on Coruscant before, the Clone Wars brought a new and heightened danger to the streets ofGalactic City. The first, most disastrous terrorist attack was anexplosion in theAdministrative Sector in22 BBY whichkilled several thousand citizens. The CSF responded by setting up checkpoints and closing down areas around the explosion to begin their investigation. The death toll and incident reconstruction completely overwhelmed the CSF and its anti-terrorisminvestigators, who struggled to identify and catalog the remains.^[7]

Throughout the first year of the war, the Separatists initiated a brutal terroristcampaign on Coruscant with most of the targets belonging to theGrand Army of the Republic (GAR). By21 BBY, the death toll resulting from the attacks numbered at approximately three thousand and forty beings. During that year, CaptainJaller Obrim, a twenty-eightyear veteran with theSenate Guard, was second to the CSF and placed in command of the Anti-Terrorism Unit. A few days before the anniversary of the start of the war, anexplosion of a transportspeeder killed fifteenclone troopers, and the ATU began the task of investigating the crime scene in conjunction with the CSFForensics Unit. To assist them, the ATU requested the help of the GAR'sSpecial Operations Brigade, specificallySergeantKal Skirata andAdvanced Recon CommandoCaptainOrdo, along withJedi KnightBardan Jusik who was specialized in explosives. Together they investigated the area with the CSF'sScenes of Crimes Officers.^[1]

In the aftermath of the Depot Bravo Five attack,Director of Special ForcesArligan Zey unofficially and secretly authorized Skirata to conduct anoperation to uncover the terrorists. Along withclone commandos fromOmega Squad andDelta Squad, they began tracking the terrorist cells. The CSF's Organized Crime Unit came close to focusing an investigation on thecommandos who got into the crossfire ofunderworldthugs. However, Obrim was able to deflect the investigation away from the commandos, allowing them to continue their mission. The commandos eventually located the terrorists, and in a joint venture with the CSF's ATU and OCU, they conducted raids that brought down the terrorist network.^[1]

Increased authority[]

On amission to the planetGaftikar,clone commandoRC-8015, or "Fi," sustained a seriousbrain injury and was taken to Coruscant'sRepublic Central Medcenter. Kal Skirata askedRepublic TreasuryAgentBesany Wennen to keep aneye on Fi, and she discovered that themedical droids intended to euthanize Fi since they had declared him brain-dead. Wennen threatened the medicaldroids with herblaster, forced them out of Fi's hospital room, and shot the lock to seal herself and Fi inside. In the resultingstandoff, Skirata called Obrim for a rescue, and Obrim responded with several CSF patrol officers and half of the shift from the ATU. In a large display of weapons andarmor, Obrim and the CSF entered themedcenter, stormed the hallway, and escorted Wennen and Fi out of the room. When they reached the lobby, they were stopped by a medical droid who insisted they had no right to remove theunconscious Fi. Threatening that he would release embarrassing information about the droid'sboss, Obrim was able to secure Fi's release. Along with Wennen, they left the medical center under heavy guard by the CSF.^[5]

In the closing days of the Clone Wars in19 BBY, aninvasion of Coruscant by the Separatists left the Republic reeling, and Obrim spent several days at the CSF Headquarters coordinating the response efforts after the battle was over. WhenOrder 66 was issued bySupreme ChancellorPalpatine, declaring allJedi as enemies of the state, the ATU received instructions—along with the rest of the CSF—that their standing order to comply with theJedi Order had been rescinded. Additionally, if they spotted any Jedi, they were to keep their distance and notify themilitary. However, due to the close relationship that many CSF and ATU officers had with Skirata and the Jedi who worked with him, several CSF officers, including Obrim, helped Jedi escape the ensuingpurge. Obrim assured Skirata that he could also ensure the loyalty of the ATU when Skirata began helping clonetroopers desert the GAR.^[6]

Soon after theestablishment of theGalactic Empire, the ATU was absorbed into the newImperial Security Bureau. Ironically, few in the CSF, including the former ATU members in the ISB, cared much for the new Empire.^[3] Later, Coruscant's law enforcement community would subsequently undergo a thorough investigation for anti-Imperial pockets.^[8] From his new ISB post in anold CSF building, Obrim continued to provide support to Skirata as well as to the underground, anti-Imperial organization,Whiplash.^[3]

A new civil war[]

After theend of thegalaxy-wideYuuzhan Vong War in29 ABY and the formation of the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, the CSF reestablished the Anti-Terrorism Unit. In40 ABY, due to an increase in hostilities between the governments of the planetCorellia and the Galactic Alliance, a series of terroristattacks byCorellian sympathizers and revenge attacks byCoruscanti plagued the Galactic Alliancecapital. The ATU, under CSF CaptainLon Shevu, had initiated response efforts from theGalactic City Strategic Center. As the riots and attacks increased, the Galactic Alliance contemplated the internment of all Corellians and their sympathizers living on Coruscant. To begin the new security responses,Chief of StateCal Omas offered command of the ATU to JediJacen Solo along with a commission ofcolonel. However, Solo felt it would would be better to have an agency separate from CSF conduct the raids and internment. That would allow the CSF to keep a relative image of neutrality and allow them to focus on general policing. Agreeing, the Alliance government formed theGalactic Alliance Guard.^[2]

CSF officers from the ATU accompanied the967 Commando unit, which was transferred to the new GAG, on the first internmentraid in theJabi Town section of Coruscant. Solo requested that Captain Shevu be transferred to the GAG, and several members of the ATU joined as well, all of whom were trusted and vouched for by Shevu. The tensions between the Galactic Alliance and Corellia quickly erupted into openwar. The former ATU officers brought their expertise in counterintelligence to the GAG, and several terrorist networks on Coruscant were quickly shut down.^[2] As the war continued, Solo became theDark Lord of the SithDarth Caedus and, along withSupreme CommanderCha Niathal, staged acoup ousting Cal Omas fromoffice. The methods and tactics of the GAG became more brutal and less professional. Most of the former ATU officers left the GAG in disgust, and its ranks were filled with thug-like soldiers.^[9] To undermine Caedus, Shevu remained with the GAG, though he missed his old job with the CSF^[4] and was eventually exposed and killed.^[10] By the time the war ended and the GAG was dismantled, it resembled little of the ATU's model of a professional intelligence and police service that the GAG had striven to emulate.^[9]

Notable members[]

Jaller Obrim[]

Main article:Jaller Obrim

Jaller Obrim was a Senate Guard who, during the Clone Wars, was transferred to and placed in command of the CSF's Anti-Terrorism Unit. While there, he formed a close relationship with Kal Skirata and several of the clone commandos. Together, they were able to dismantle a terror network on Coruscant and arrest its members.^[1] Although Obrim was a dedicated police officer, he was not above bending or breaking the rules if he felt that it was the right thing to do. Due to his high position in law enforcement, he was capable of helping Skirata's black ops mishaps disappear from official records. On one occasion, he used his authority to escort an injured Fi out of a hospital as a favor for Skirata.^[5] Obrim was one of the few non-clones trusted with Skirata's plans to help clonesoldiers desert from the GrandArmy of the Republic. Although he refused to hear specifics for reasons of deniability, he helped Skirata and his clan escape when Palpatine issued a warrant for the arrest of Skirata. Obrim was also well aware of the dangers of being a police officer on Coruscant, and he had a security system in hishouse to protecthis family from the many enemies he had made during his career.^[6]

Lon Shevu[]

Main article:Lon Shevu

Captain Lon Shevu was the commander of the Anti-Terrorism Unit before the Second Galactic Civil War and was in charge of the emergency response center for Galactic City until he was transferred to the GAG. He was a dedicated police officer who was known for not shying away from tough situations. He had strong principles on how to treat suspects and how a police force should operate. Shevu thus did not approve of Jacen Solo's methods, including Solo's treatment of his young, fourteen-year-oldJedi apprenticeBen Skywalker as an adult, and Solo's brutal interrogation methods.^[2] Eventually, that turned Shevu into a double agent; he used his high position in the GAG to spy on Solo for Cha Niathal and the Jedi. Shevu missed his job with the CSF and wanted to return to it,^[4][11] but he was accidentally killed by theSith apprenticeTahiri Veila, who releasedForce lightning at him in an attempt to force Skywalker to reveal information.^[10]

Behind the scenes[]

The Anti-Terrorism Unit first appeared in the novelRepublic Commando: Triple Zero, written byKaren Traviss and published onFebruary 28,2006. The ATU appeared continually throughout Traviss'sRepublic Commando series, including the novelsRepublic Commando: True Colors, published onOctober 30,2007;Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel, published onSeptember 16,2008; and the series spin-off published onOctober 27,2009:Imperial Commando: 501st. In501st, it was revealed that the ATU had been made a part of the Imperial Security Bureau.

The ATU also made a significant appearance inLegacy of the Force: Bloodlines, written by Traviss and published onAugust 29, 2006. The leadership of the ATU incites a pivotal decision in theStar Wars: Legacy of the Force series. During discussion, the characters choose to form the Galactic Alliance Guard in order to avoid using civilian police as a secret police. The formation of the Guard sets the stage for many of the events leading up to Jacen Solo's fall to thedark side and takeover as the GA Chief of State.

Appearances[]

• The Clone Wars: Wild Space(andaudiobook)(Mentioned only)
• Republic Commando: Triple Zero(First appearance)
• Republic Commando: True Colors(First identified as Anti-Terrorist Unit)
• Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel
• Imperial Commando: 501st
• Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines
• Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice(Indirect mention only)
• Legacy of the Force: Revelation(Indirect mention only)

Sources[]

• Galaxy of Intrigue
• The Essential Guide to Warfare

Notes and references[]