Axe (clone trooper)/Legends

"Come on, you whiners. Let's get dirty!"

- Axe during the Battle of Ryloth.

Axe was the nickname of a clone trooper pilot who served in the Galactic Republic's Navy. He served as second-in-command in Blue Squadron, a Republic starfighter unit led by Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano, where he was given the callsign of "Blue Two". They participated in the Battle of Ryloth around 22 BBY, to destroy Confederate Captain Mar Tuuk's blockade over the Twi'lek planet of Ryloth.

During the battle, Axe was accompanied by fellow clone pilots Slammer, Kickback, Tucker and Swoop, while the squadron made their way toward Tuuk's command ship. However, Confederate Vulture droids attacked Blue Squadron, causing heavy damage to several of their fighters. Admiral Yularen and Jedi General Anakin Skywalker ordered Tano and her men to retreat, but Axe was killed as his fighter was shot down by a Vulture droid.

Biography
"Don't worry about me, skipper."

- Axe to Blue Squadron leader Ahsoka Tano

A clone trooper pilot, Axe was the nickname of one of the many clones of the bounty hunter Jango Fett, created on the planet of Kamino. Axe served as second-in-command in Blue Squadron, a starfighter squadron in the Republic Navy, where he was given the callsign of "Blue Two".

Around 22 BBY, the Techno Union Foreman Wat Tambor seized control of the planet of Ryloth and its inhabitants. The Jedi High Council dispatched General Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, to destroy the Confederate blockade surrounding the planet. Under the command of Tano, who led the squadron in her Jedi starfighter, Axe was accompanied by fellow Blue Squadron pilots Slammer, Kickback, Tucker and Swoop, who flew in V-19 Torrent starfighters. After Blue Squadron left the hangar of General Skywalker's Venator-class Star Destroyer, the Resolute, the squad was quickly confronted by a tier of Vulture droids.

While Blue squadron approached Confederate Captain Mar Tuuk's command ship, Skywalker and Admiral Wullf Yularen ordered Blue Squadron to fall back and protect the Resolute from a Vulture droid attack. Tano, however, disobeyed the direct order and followed through with her attack on the leading cruiser of the blockade. Axe and the other pilots took heavy fire from the droids, and Axe's fighter was hit near one of its wings. The group soon realized that more enemy Munificent-class frigates had joined Tuuk's blockade, neutralizing Blue Squadron's attack run.

Yularen and Skywalker warned Tano to retreat, as the Republic forces had been caught in a trap. Tano obeyed and turned back toward the Resolute, as more Vulture droids attacked the three Republic Venator-class Star Destroyers: the Resolute, Defender, and Redeemer. Tucker was shot down by a droid, and soon Axe was under attack. Tano tried to help her second-in-command, but it was too late. Axe's fighter malfunctioned and overloaded before he could make it back, and he perished above Ryloth.

Personality and traits
A strong leader who served in the Republic Navy's Blue Squadron, Axe wasn't afraid to question his superiors during a mission. He showed pride within his squadron, and befriended his squadron's leader, Ahsoka Tano.

Behind the scenes
First featured in "Storm Over Ryloth," Axe was voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, who voices all of the clone troopers in The Clone Wars television series.

References and notes
Axe