Order 66/Legends

"Every single Jedi [...] is now an enemy of the Republic. Do what must be done, Lord Vader. Do not hesitate. Show no mercy."

- Palpatine

Order 66 was a pre-programed directive ingrained in clone troopers during their relentless training programs.

History


Order 66 was issued by the newly self-appointed Emperor Palpatine at the end of the Clone Wars in response to the so-called rebellion of the Jedi. After an attack on then-Chancellor Palpatine by Jedi Council members Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin, it was claimed that the Jedi had planned to usurp galactic leadership and would soon move against the Senate.

The true reasons the Emperor had were much more sinister&mdash;being the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, he had meticulously orchestrated his final move against the Jedi. The key to the order's success was the fanning out of the Jedi&mdash;keeping them away from the Core Worlds by assigning them to distant battlefields. The order, sent to clone trooper commanders across the Galaxy, dictated that all Jedi were to be killed. Thousands of troopers turned on their Jedi generals, beginning the Great Jedi Purge.

Most notably, the order sent Darth Vader and the 501st Legion to the Jedi Temple where they slaughtered all beings present&mdash;Masters and Padawans, young and old, warriors and administrators. The order was issued by Chancellor Palpatine, not long before his self-proclamation as Emperor at the end of the Clone Wars. It was a military response to what was portrayed by the Emperor as an attempted rebellion of the Jedi. After an attack on then-Chancellor Palpatine by Jedi Council members Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Agen Kolar, and Saesee Tiin, Palpatine claimed that the Jedi had planned to overthrow the galactic leadership and to stop their intentions of controlling the Senate.

"The time has come... execute Order Sixty-six."

- Palpatine

"It will be done, my Lord."

- Commander Cody

On Utapau, Commander Cody received Palpatine's command and ordered his men to shoot down his former friend Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. A blast from an AT-TE hit near the Jedi Master and his varactyl, Boga. Together, they fell hundreds of feet into a lake far below. Though Boga was killed in the fall, Obi-Wan managed to survive from the fall and escape the planet.



On Mygeeto, Commander Bacara received the same order. He and his soldiers immediately opened fire on Master Ki-Adi-Mundi. Ki-Adi managed to deflect the first few blaster bolts with his lightsaber, and even managed to cut down several troopers, but was killed regardless.

On Felucia, Commander Bly and his men opened fire on Jedi Knight Aayla Secura, ruthlessly executing her. Elsewhere on the planet, the newly knighted Jedi Knight Barriss Offee was killed by a single blast from an AT-TE.

On Kashyyyk, Luminara Unduli, former Jedi Master of the deceased Offee, was conversing with eight clone officers when the order came. Pulling blasters from concealed holsters, the clones quickly shot their general. Shortly thereafter, Master Quinlan Vos, standing tall atop a clone turbo tank, was engulfed in a ball of flame as his tank was destroyed by another. However, Master Vos was not killed but badly wounded and managed to escape into the jungle wilderness of Kashyyyk.



Above Cato Neimoidia, Jedi Master Plo Koon was leading an aerial assault against Separatist forces in his Jedi starfighter. His wingmen, piloting advanced ARC-170 starfighters, dropped back onto his tail and destroyed him.

On Saleucami, as Jedi Master Stass Allie patrolled the rocky terrain on her BARC speeder bike, Commander Neyo blew her apart from his own.

On Murkhana, Roan Shryne and Olee Starstone were rescued from Order 66 by a clone commando who refused to follow the order.

Aboard a damaged Separatist starship, a lone Jedi Master was leading his troops through the ship when they turned on him. He survived the attack and hijacked the starship in an attempt to escape, but was eventually apprehended by Vader.



And back on Kashyyyk, Commander Gree received the order to terminate Master Yoda. He and one of his men tried to assassinate Yoda from behind, but Yoda, having sensed the multiple disturbances following the deaths of so many Jedi Knights, killed his would be assassins. With the help of the Wookiees Chewbacca and Tarfful, Yoda managed to escape from the planet.

Events similar to these were played out across the galaxy. Clones turned against their Jedi generals, and the Sith Order rose again, this time in control of the galaxy and the Senate. Though the Jedi Order was almost completely destroyed, the Emperor's Purge would continue for years as, one by one, the surviving Jedi Knights were hunted down and murdered by Darth Vader and the Empire. The dark times&mdash;and the reign of the Galactic Empire&mdash;had begun.

Order 66's Jedi victims

 * Stass Allie
 * Cin Drallig
 * Zett Jukassa
 * Serra Keto
 * Plo Koon
 * Ki-Adi Mundi
 * Jocasta Nu
 * Barriss Offee
 * Aayla Secura
 * Bene
 * Whie Malreaux
 * Shaak Ti
 * Luminara Unduli
 * Hundreds of other Jedi included

Order 66's Jedi survivors

 * Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Yoda
 * Quinlan Vos
 * An'ya Kuro (Yhe Dark Woman)
 * K'Kruhk
 * Ood Bnar
 * Some other Jedi

Unknown Order 66 Victims
There are some Jedi whose fate after Order 66 is unknown. Some of these Jedi are:


 * Coleman Kcaj
 * Depa Billaba
 * Sha Koon
 * Zao

See also:

 * Great Jedi Purge

Behind the scenes
Order 66 may take its name from 666, the Mark of the Beast and a sign of the Apocalypse.

Appearances/Sources

 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith