Matchstick/Legends

"Matchstick" was the nickname of a clone trooper pilot who served in Shadow Squadron of the Republic Navy, under the command of Jedi General Anakin Skywalker around 22 BBY during the Clone Wars. After the Confederate warship Malevolence, a Subjugator-class heavy cruiser, destroyed several Republic medical frigates, Matchstick and the squadron accompanied Skywalker and his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, to the Bormus Testing Facility where BTL-B Y-wing starfighters were both manufactured and tested.

The group acquired the starfighters from the facility and developed a plan to destroy the Malevolence with the newly acquired bombers. During the Balmorra Run, Matchstick's bomber was damaged by a Neebray manta. After coming out of the nebula, Shadow Squadron engaged the Malevolence and their Vulture droids. When the massive warship fired its ion cannon on the squadron, Matchstick's bomber's engines failed and he collided with fellow pilot Tag's Y-wing, killing both pilots and their gunners. He did not die in vain, as the squadron was able to destroy the ion cannons of the Malevolence, decimating the plans by Grievous to destroy the Medical center, a major Republic Medical station.

Acquiring Y-wing bombers
"We've got a Jedi, you don't. I think that qualifies as authorization."

- Matchstick the guards of Hanger 8122

"Matchstick" was the nickname of a clone trooper pilot, who served the Republic Navy. Like all clone troopers, Matchstick was one of the many clones of the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett. Matchstick served in Shadow Squadron of the Republic Navy, and around 22 BBY, Matchstick and the squadron accompanied General Anakin Skywalker on a mission to hunt down the new Separatist warship, the Malevolence, a Subjugator-class heavy cruiser equipped with dual ion cannons.

In preparation for hunting down the Malevolence, Matchstick and the rest of Shadow Squadron accompanied Skywalker and his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, in the Twilight, Skywalker's personal freighter, to the Bormus Testing Facility, a facility which was tasked with manufacturing and testing Y-wings, in order to acquire newly manufactured BTL-B Y-wing starfighters. After encountering protest by a Gran worker, due to the breaking of procedure, Skywalker ordered Matchstick and fellow squadron pilot Broadside to enter hangar 8-122 of the facility and carry out his pre-arranged orders. While Skywalker and Tano manipulated the Gran representative of the testing facility into authorizing the release of the bombers, Matchstick and Broadside informed the clone troopers guarding hangar 8-122 that accompanying a Jedi qualified the the clearance required to enter the hangar. After boarding the bombers, Matchstick and the rest of Shadow Squadron departed the facility in the Y-wings, while Skywalker and Tano departed in the Twilight.

Attack on the Malevolence
After taking the bombers to Skywalker's flagship, the Venator-class Star Destroyer Resolute, Matchstick and Shadow Squadron were briefed by Skywalker and Admiral Wulff Yularen, the commander of the Resolute. Skywalker explained the plan of destroying the bridge tower of the Malevolence with the bombers in order to kill Confederate General Grievous, the commander of the Malevolence. Shortly thereafter, Yularen reported that Grievous had attacked a Republic medical convoy at Ryndellia. Since Ryndellia was near the Mid Rim planet of Naboo, and that Grievous had previously attacked a medical convoy, Skywalker concluded that Grievous' next attack was the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center. This facility contained over 60,000 injured clone troopers. Departing from the Resolute Master Plo Koon and Shadow Squadron followed Skywalker into the nearby Balmorra Run. This shortcut promised arrival at the medcenter before the Malevolence.

Inside the Balmorra Run, part of the Kaliida Nebula, the squadron encountered several giant Neebray mantas nesting in the nebula. Skywalker ordered the squadron to follow him in the single-file Bantha formation. At this time, Matchstick's fighter was damaged but he to Koon tha damage was insignificant. The mantas did not cause any casualties apart from an astromech droid. Shadow Squadron arrived at the medcenter shortly before the Malevolence emerged from hyperspace. By the time she approached the station, the medical center had evacuated half of its patients on Pelta-class frigates, except the clones being treated in bacta tanks who were unable to be moved.

Shortly after arriving at the Medical Center, Grievous began to fire the Malevolence ' s turbolasers at the departing frigates. Skywalker and Shadow Squadron engaged the Vulture droids deployed by Grievous flagship. Upon Grievous ' orders, the battle droids, stationed on-board the Malevolence, fired the warship's starboard ion cannon. As the ion cannon's ray approached the Republic squadron, Skywalker immediately ordered his fighters to head for the top edge of the ray, to avoid being neutralized. Despite the attempts of Shadow Squadron to evade, the ray deactivated three Y-wing bombers, as well as most of the Vulture droids. During the Squadron's evasive manuever, Matchstick's engines failed, causing his fighter to collide with fellow pilot Tag. The ships exploded killing both pilots and their gunners.

Even though he was not the only casualty of the battle, Matchstick's death deeply affected the squadron, especially Padawan Ahsoka Tano. He did not die in vain, however, since the squadron was able to destroy the Malevolence ' s ion cannons. Skywalkers quick thinking prevented Grievous from destroying the med center and saved over 60,000 wounded clones.

Personality and traits
Matchstick downplayed the damage to his bomber. However, this overconfidence would cause his death as his bomber was destroyed during the Battle of the Kaliida Nebula. He and Broadside had always bet on the outcome of their missions. Matchstick would defy superior officers when their orders conflicted with the orders of his commanders.

Behind the scenes
Matchstick first appeared in Procedure, the online comic initiating comic to Shadow of Malevolence, the third episode of season one of the The Clone Wars TV series. . The comic was posted on Star Wars.com on October 6, 2008, and based off an idea by Henry Gilroy, written by Pablo Hidalgo, illustrated and lettered by Grant Gould, with cover art drawn by Steven D. Anderson. He later appeared in Shadow of Malevolence. Matchstick was voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, who voices all of the clone troopers in The Clone Wars television series.

Appearances

 * The Clone Wars: Procedure