Clone commando

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Clone commando

Clone commandos, also known asRepublic commandos while serving under theGalactic Republic andImperial Commandos under theGalactic Empire, were eliteclone troopers that served in theGrand Army of the Republic'sSpecial Operations Brigade during theClone Wars. A result of theKaminoans'geneticexperimentation with theJango Fetttemplate, they were special forcessoldiers noted for their training and elite status in theclonearmy. In22 BBY,Clone CommanderPonds gave command over fivecommando units toJedi MasterMace Windu, who directed them to engage in a frontal assault against theSeparatist Droid Army during theFirst Battle of Geonosis.

As the conflict between the Republic andConfederacy of Independent Systems swept acrossthe galaxy, the commandos were organized intosquads that supported the Republic war effort as an elite group within the Grand Army. One such team wasDelta Squad; following thebattle onDevaron, they reported directly to theHigh Council of theJedi Order, informing them that no survivors were found at the massacre site.Foxtrot Group consisted of commandos led byClone CaptainGregor. They served with the212th Attack Battalion until theBattle of Sarrish, where they were declared "missing in action."

In the latterdays of the war, a squad of clone commandos calledClone Force 99–better known as the Bad Batch—participated in theBattle of Anaxes, fighting alongsideJedi GeneralAnakin Skywalker and the501st Legion. Unlike the other clone commandos who came before, each of the squad possessed a unique genetic mutation to heighten a specific skill set.

Following the end of the Clone Wars, the clone commandos became part of theImperial Military. In the months following the Empire's formation, numerous clone commandos would be reassigned as training instructors toTK stormtroopers, non-clone soldiers that were set to bolster and eventually fully supplant clone troopers. Other commandos would form theImperial royal guard, a specialized unit assigned to protect and assist theAdvanced Science Division under the leadership ofRoyce Hemlock.

History[]

Conception[]

In82 BBY,^[11] theJediPadawanDooku experienced aForce vision of theClone Wars, at that point a mere possibility that could be averted. In the vision,^[12] a clone commando^[13] was part of theOne-Eighty-Fourth Attack Battalion as one of itscommanding officers and took part in a battle againstB1-series battle droids. The commando ordered the battalion to move out shortly before the execution ofOrder 66. That vision and the others experienced by Dooku melded together, although his friendJedi MasterLene Kostana assured him those were only possibilities and that the future was not set in stone.^[12]

Ultimately, however, theclone army and its commandos would come to pass,^[6] with Dooku himself playing a major role in thearmy's creation as he fell to thedark side of the Force.^[14] In an effort to make "super soldiers,"Kaminoanscientists who created the clone armychanged and augmented thegenetictemplate of someclone troopers, leading to thearmy's firstcommando unit.^[15]

The Clone Wars[]

Five commando units served underClone CommanderPonds during theFirst Battle of Geonosis where the newly-formed Grand Army of the Republic—the army ofclones created by the Kaminoans—engaged theSeparatist Droid Army for the firsttime in theClone Wars. During the battle, Ponds and his commandos served under the leadership ofJedi MasterMace Windu, a leading member of theHigh Council of theJedi Order.^[1] At one point during the war, a large grouping of clone commandos, joined by at least two jetpack equipped ARC troopers, carried out an assault against aSeparatist stronghold.^[16] Per their standing orders for the battle,^[17] commandos advanced against the Separatist base on two fronts: one group of commandos carried out a direct attack via a bridge leading to the base with the support of the ARC troopers, coming into contact with a group ofB2-series super battle droids, while another group of commandos advanced from the forest line. The latter commandos were also confronted by a force of B2 super battle droids, whose line also included anIG-100 MagnaGuard.^[16]

During theBattle of Christophsis, several clone commandos served under the command ofJedi GeneralAnakin Skywalker, who ordered the commandos to stay in position after aSeparatist retreat.^[18] TheJedi Council later sentDelta Squad to investigate themassacre onDevaron, retrieving MasterHalsey's body alongside that of hisapprenticeKnox.^[3]Gregor, theClone Captain ofFoxtrot Group, participated in theBattle of Sarrish. With the Republic routed by the Separatistbattle droids and casualties mounting, Gregor took ashuttle to look for help, but crashed on the remotedesertworldAbafar. He survived and was pulled from the wreckage byBorkus, aSullustan male who ownedPower Sliders, a diner in the smallminingsettlement ofPons Ora. Gregor's file in theRepublic Military database listed him as missing in action. He was discovered byColonelMeebur Gascon andD-Squad, and after regaining his memories, Gregor then decided to assist Gascon and his squad in destroying arhydoniummining installation being operated by the Separatists. However, he volunteered to be left behind to buy D-Squad time toescape.^[4] He managed to survive.^[6]

While putting down aninsurrection onYalbec Prime,Clone Force 99, also known as "The Bad Batch," was summoned by CommanderCody during theBattle of Anaxes to assist him and CloneCaptainRex in ascertaining the secret behindAdmiralTrench's strategies. However, matters escalated whenWrecker, the team's bruiser, cut off theYalbecqueen'sstinger with a blade, causing multiple Yalbec males to attempt to mate with the clones. However, the team was able to escape to Anaxes aboard theirgunship, theMarauder.^[2]

After fighting alongside Rex on Anaxes, the Bad Batch joined him andGeneral Skywalker on amission to Skako Minor to rescue the capturedAdvanced Recon CommandoEcho.^[19] After the changes he went through, Echo became adefective clone trooper.^[20] After the rescue of Echo, Rex, Skywalker, Echo, and the Bad Batch rallied together to take out Trench's flagshipInvulnerable and his Droid Army. After that victory on Anaxes, Echo,^[21] who was further promoted to the rank ofClone Corporal,^[22] joined the Bad Batch due to thecybernetics he was given onSkako Minor, which he felt separated him from the average clone trooper.^[21]

Prior to theBattle of Kashyyyk, theWookiee^[15]Chieftain^[23]Tarfful was captured byTrandoshanenslavers. These Trandoshans had made a deal withCountDooku, but a group of clone commandosrescued Tarfful^[15] from the slavers.^[23] Meanwhile, the Bad Batch continued their one hundred percent success rate on missions, joining the fighting in theConquest of Kaller before the execution ofOrder 66.^[8] Skywalker, as the newly-christened Sith LordDarth Vader, marshaled the 501st for asiege of the Jedi Temple during the execution of Order 66.^[24] Amongst his forces was an elite group of clone commandos, who Vader led into the Temple^[25] with the standard troopers to wipe out the all Jedi they found inside the building.^[24]

The Empire[]

Training the next generation[]

Following the conclusion of the Clone Wars and the transition of the Republic into theGalactic Empire^[6] in19 BBY,^[26] clone commandos, now officially rechristened as Imperial Commandos^[27] continued to serve in theImperial Military. In the months following the Empire's formation, fifty commandos, including Gregor, were assigned to anImperial Base on theplanetDaro to train the first generation of non-clone Imperialstormtroopers, designated as TK troopers, which numbered 1,000 soldiers. As part ofProject War-Mantle, the TK troopers were intended to bolster and eventually fully supplantcloned soldiers throughout the Imperial Military. Donned innew armor, the TK troopers were trained by the clone commandos, although Captain Gregor did not teach them everything he knew. Eventually, Gregor grew disillusioned with the Galactic Empire and deserted one night, but was tracked through theforests of Daro by Imperial forces and was captured and imprisoned. Although captured, Gregor managed to activate ahoming beacon in order to reach out to former clone officer Rex, who was covertly running theClone Underground, a resistance network of rogue clones.^[6]

The Bad Batch—who, with the exception ofCrosshair due to him remaining loyal to theEmpire, had also defected from the Empire and becamemercenaries for theinformation brokerCid—infiltrated the base to rescue Gregor. After rescuing Gregor, the base's security protocols were triggered byTech who used an old clone code,Code-16, which did not work in the facility. Soon after, they were ambushed by a squad of TK troopers and their clone commando instructor. The troopers were incapacitated bystuns, and the commando was placed in a chokehold and strangled unconscious byHunter. The group then made their way to aturbolift to reach the top of the base and escape, but were cut off by another squad of TK troopers and commandoScorch, who immediately opened fire. The Bad Batch managed to escape by lowering the lift and exiting, but continued to be pursued by Scorch and his TK troopers. Engaging in firefights throughout the base's corridors, Gregor was wounded by Scorch, who in turn was stunned multiple times and incapacitated. Another clone commando and his forces moved in from the opposite direction, and the Bad Batch were forced to escape through the base's exhaust vents that led through the mountain and out to an opening on a cliffside.^[6]

A clone commando and his troops deduced their location, and moved in on the group at the exhaust vents. The commando and the stormtroopers fired on the Bad Batch as they waited for their ship, and the commando was shot by Wrecker who had arrived on theMarauder. As the rogue clones were escaping, the clone commando charged forward through the exhaust vent and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Sergeant Hunter and Echo, but was restrained. After managing to break free from the hold and stepping back into the exhaust vent, the commando was accidentally struck with a barrage of blaster fire from his own troopers, and subsequently fell down to the bottom of the mountain screaming. Hunter was separated from the rest of the rogue clone group during the skirmish, and was captured by several clone commandos and multiple TK troopers. He was subsequently imprisoned and taken under Imperial custody.^[6]

Guarding Tantiss[]

Meanwhile, commandos withgrey markings^[5] identified as theImperial royal guard^[28] were stationed at theTantiss Base inMount Tantiss, the site of acloning operation on the planetWayland headed by theAdvanced Science Division. There and off-world, commandos in blank armor also served as secruity for the scientific division.^[29] Royal guard commandos escorted theKaminoanChief Medical ScientistNala Se to the Wayland facility, where she was welcomed by the Imperial medical officerScalder.^[5] Scorch would, in time, be transferred to Wayland^[29] as aClone Commander.^[30]

In18 BBY, over a year after the Empire's formation, an Imperial shuttle carrying a clonedZillo Beast was ripped out ofhyperspace after the cloned animal broke out of containment and attacked the vessel's crew. The beast would chase a lone surviving clone commando through the ship's corridors before ultimately killing and eating him. Concurrently, royal guard commandos were present for the arrival of DoctorRoyce Hemlock on Mount Tantiss, as he would be placed in charge of the Advanced Science Division and all cloning operations at the facility. Upon learning that an Imperial transport carrying a clonedZillo Beast had crash-landed on the planetSilla, Hemlock dispatched a strike team of royal guard commandos to recapture the beast. After the cloned animal had been subdued and put into stasis, the clone commandos rounded up the populace of a nearby village that had witnessed the Zillo Beasts' rampage and shipped them off-world to be dealt with.^[29]

Sometime after, a royal guard commando assisted in the transfer of clone test subjects from anoutpost onBalmorra to the Wayland facility on Wayland. The commando boarded aGozanti-class cruiser along with a security team ofstormtroopers and the ImperialCaptainPearce. Before the cruiser could jump tohyperspace, it wasambushed by a shuttle belonging to the Clone Underground. As the rogue clones boarded the Gozanti and fought through its stormtrooper crew, Pearce ordered the royal guard commando to erase the ship'sdatabank to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. The rogue clones entered the ship's bridge and dispatched the commando before he could complete his task, and held Pearce at gunpoint before the Imperial officer killed himself via asuicide shocker. The rogue clones fled the ship as it was strafed and destroyed by ImperialV-wings.^[9]

Legacy[]

During her time with the97th Legion,^[31] which began in2 ABY,^[32]Thara Nyende was told that her unit commander,SP-113 was one of the original clone commandos which had founded theStormtrooper Corps. She became more convinced of the claim after 113 survived a detonation from close up^[31] in3 ABY.^[33]

Equipment[]

Clone commandos were equipped withKatarn-class Commando Armor,^[15] which came as a unique set of armor to commandos alone.^[6] The armor set came with abackpack, where commandos kept various items likegrenades and sabotage gear. They were allowed to choose thecolors on theirarmor.^[15] In combat, the commandos utilized theDC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System and theDC-17 hand blaster,^[2] though theDC-15Ablaster carbine^[6] used by the likes of standard clone trooperinfantry^[34] andTK stormtroopers also saw use by clone commandos.^[6] Also at the disposal of clone commandos werethermal detonators—particularly theclass-A model^[35] and that model'shemispherical variant—and ablaster pistol model.^[36] Their leftgauntlet carried arepulsor while their right gauntlet contained avibroblade. Commandos could also change their blaster's barrel to an anti-armorgrenade launcher.^[34]

Known members and units[]

Advanced Science Division[]

Main article:Advanced Science Division

The Galactic Empire'sAdvanced Science Division was composed of a large contingent of clone commandos, with many stationed in the division's facilities such asTantiss Base onWayland^[37] and aboard the division's vessels, such astransport 904. The Advanced Science Division's clone commando force was led byClone CommanderScorch.^[29]

Clone Force 99[]

Main article:Clone Force 99

During the development of the clone army, the Kaminoans experimented with the genetics of theJango Fett template in an attempt to create supersoldiers. While the experiments bore few results, four of the test subjects came together to form the squad, Clone Force 99, referring to themselves as the "Bad Batch."^[38] The members of the squad were engineered to be different, but unlike the other enhanced clone commandos who came before them, each member had a unique genetic mutation designed to heighten a specific skill set,^[20] the specialist clone commandos^[39] used their "desirable" mutations, along with unorthodox tactics, to accomplish their objectives.^[38] Members of Clone Force 99, an elite squad of defective clones, had the prefix "CT"^[6] in contrast to the "CC" or "RC" used by regular clone commandos.^[40] The group was led byClone SergeantHunter,^[41] who was skilled and stoic,^[38] and had greater combat prowess than most.^[41]

Providing the team's muscle wasWrecker,^[38] who was gifted extraordinary strength,^[42] though he had a temper.^[38]Tech, while not physically imposing,^[43] was a gifted strategist^[38] and unmatched in the use of technology.^[43]Crosshair was the squad's no-nonsense^[44] marksman,^[38] though he did not like working with "regs," by which he meant unaltered clones.^[44]Clone CorporalEcho, acyborg, joined the squad following the crucialBattle for Anaxes.^[21] Though experimental, they were extremely effective during the Clone Wars.^[45][8]

Clone X Trooper Division[]

Main article:Clone X trooper division

Clone X troopers were^[46] clone commando^[47] warriors^[48] created when a clone trooper was taken to Mount Tantiss, having their identities erased in the process. Once they were trained and "activated," as trooperCX-2 put it,^[49] X troopers were deployed to carry out secretive operations during the Imperial Era, such as taking onassassination jobs. One such assassin wasClone X, who Clone Captain Rex was certain was not a Kamonian-produced trooper. Clone X denied Rex the chance to learn more about his existence by killing himself with asuicide shocker, only describing himself as a "believer" in the Imperial cause.^[50]

Delta Squad[]

Main article:Delta Squad

Delta Squad was a Republic commando squad that was dispatched to Devaron by the Jedi Council and recovered the bodies of Jedi Master Halsey and his Padawan Knox that had beenkilled there.^[3] The squad was led by Clone SergeantBoss and consisted of second-in-commandFixer,Sev, andScorch. Delta Squad participated in some of the war's most dangerous missions.^[40]

Elite Squad[]

Main article:Elite Squad

TheElite Squad was composed of multipleElite Squad Troopers that were led by a clone commando;Clone CommanderCrosshair.^[51]

Foxtrot Group[]

Main article:Foxtrot Group

Foxtrot Group, led by Clone Captain Gregor, was an elite unit of clone commandos attached to the212th Attack Battalion.^[4] The unit was reported missing in action at theBattle of Sarrish. Captain Gregor was also reported missing after the Battle of Sarrish. However, he later reappeared onAbafar with amnesia.^[52] While he was willing to lay down his life during the escape from Abafar, he promised he would make his way back home^[4] and indeed survived, remaining active into the Imperial Era. However, he would go onto desert the Empire after being stationed on Daro^[6] and joined the Clone Underground.^[49]

Imperial royal guard[]

Main article:Imperial royal guard

A large unit of clone commandos, Imperial royal guards served under the Galactic Empire's clandestine Advanced Science Division, tasked with guarding its facilities and recovering its assets. They were mainly stationed at the Wayland facility on Mount Tantiss,^[5] but could also be found at Imperial installations like theBalmorra outpost.^[9] The vast majority of royal guard commandos were easily distinguishable by gray markings on their armor, while others returned their armor to its blank-white state.^[5]

Project War-Mantle[]

Main article:Project War-Mantle

Fifty clone commandos, including Clone Captain Gregor and Scorch, were deployed to theImperial Base on Daro as part ofProject War-Mantle, the training, organization, and implementation ofTK stormtrooper conscript soldiers for theImperial Army.^[6]

Recovery Strike Team[]

Main article:Recovery Strike Team

Two clone commandos, includingClone LieutenantHilo, were assigned to the Imperial Army'sRecovery Strike Team under the leadership ofClone CommanderWolffe. The strike team consisted of severalTK stormtroopers and a large group ofclone troopers.^[10]

Behind the scenes[]

Clone commandos were first mentioned inStar Wars: Episode IIAttack of the Clones indirectly during the Battle of Geonosis. The concept of clone commandos was introduced within theStar Wars Expanded Universe novelThe Cestus Deception and the characters were later heavily featured in the gameStar Wars: Republic Commando. Clone commandos were introduced intoStar Wars canon through theStar Wars: The Clone Wars episode "Witches of the Mist."

Clone commando concept art for both Scorch^[53] and a standard clone commando^[54] byS. Carey for theStar Wars: The Bad Batch episode "War-Mantle" name clone commandos as a variant of ARC trooper, with both model sheets named some variation on "cloneCommandoARC." Both pieces were dated toApril 22, 2020, and released onStarWars.com after the release of "War-Mantle."^[53][54] WhileWalt Disney Studio's Getty Images page identified clone commandos seen inThe Bad Batch episode "Shadows of Tantiss" as "Clone ARC Commando Troopers,"^[55] the video gameStar Wars Battlefront II^[34] and reference bookStar Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers depict clone commandos and ARC troopers as separate clone classes.^[20]

Appearances[]

Explore all of Wookieepedia'simages for this article subject. Star Wars: Force Arena Dooku: Jedi Lost(Vision to Dooku) Dooku: Jedi Lost script(Vision to Dooku) Star Wars: Galactic Defense Star Wars Battlefront II(DLC) Star Wars: Episode IIAttack of the Clones(First mentioned)(Indirect mention only) Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel(andaudiobook)(Mentioned only) Hyperspace Stories 10 Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch—Ghost Agents 1 Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch—Ghost Agents 2 Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch—Ghost Agents 3 Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch—Ghost Agents 4 Hyperspace Stories: The Bad Batch—Ghost Agents 5 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Witches of the Mist"(First appearance) Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Missing in Action"(First identified as clone commando) Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Fugitive" Hyperspace Stories 9(Vision to Quinlan Vos) Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Bad Batch" The Clone Wars: Season 7: Volume 1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "A Distant Echo" Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "On the Wings of Keeradaks" Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Unfinished Business" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Aftermath" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Replacements" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Decommissioned"(Voice only) Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Reunion" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Bounty Lost" The Bad Batch: Hunted! Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Devil's Deal" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Rescue on Ryloth" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "War-Mantle"(First identified as CC) Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Return to Kamino" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Kamino Lost" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "The Solitary Clone" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "The Clone Conspiracy" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Truth and Consequences"(Appears as a corpse) Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Metamorphosis" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "The Outpost" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Tipping Point" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Plan 99" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Confined" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Shadows of Tantiss" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Infiltration" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Extraction" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Flash Strike" Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "The Cavalry Has Arrived" Ahsoka(andaudiobook)(Mentioned only) Battlefront: Twilight Company(andaudiobook)(Mentioned only) Star Wars Outlaws(Mentioned only) Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• Star Wars: Legion 2025 Updated Battle Cards (PDF) onAsmodee'sofficial website(backup link)(Picture only)
• Star Wars: Legion League Events Packet 2025 (PDF) onAsmodee'sofficial website(backup link)(Picture only)