CT-7719

CT-7719, nicknamed "Banks," was a male clone trooper Sergeant in the Grand Army of the Republic. In 22 BBY, he foiled a plot by Galactic Republic Commander Griebs Kishpaugh and fellow clone, Ghost, to embroil the planet of Oznek in the Clone Wars and defect to the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Banks was later reassigned under the command of Jedi General Bultar Swan.

Early life
"Clone aren't bred for humor."

- Banks

CT-7719, nicknamed "Banks", was a male Human clone trooper, bred on Kamino for the Galactic Republic. When the Clone Wars broke out in 22 BBY, Banks was one of millions of clones who made up the Republic's Grand Army of the Republic, though he differentiated himself by painting his armor with yellow designs. Banks was trained to be an officer in the Grand Army of the Republic, and was assigned the rank of sergeant.

During his training on Kamino, Banks commanded seventy-two successful training missions. At some point, he realized that he had a knack for mathematics and angles, being able to calculate and see both better than most clones. He used this to create an unusual ability to calculate angles and bank his blaster bolts off of objects without losing their strength and still hitting his target. This ability earned him his nickname before he had even gone on his first mission.

Mission to Oznek
"Look at you, still some fight left! But that's why we chose you, isn't it? You're so determined. So unrelenting. Following orders like the little wind-up toy you are."

- Ghost, to Banks

Later in 22 BBY, Banks was selected by Commander Griebs Kishpaugh to head a mission to the planet of Oznek, a world that was considered vital to holding the surrounding sector. Though he was a "shiny"&mdash;the clone troopers' derogatory term for those yet to fight on the battlefield&mdash;he was placed in charge of a squad of seasoned clones.

Soon, the squad was flying over the forests of Oznek aboard a Low Altitude Assault Transport, on a seemingly routine reconnaissance mission. When Banks pulled off his helmet in order to clean it, one of the clones under his command, Syke, mocked him, which Ghost found amusing. Banks admonished Syke for his behavior, telling him that under regulations, a clone trooper was to keep his equipment clean and threatening him with being forced to write an in-depth report on regulation protocols. Ghost then asked Banks if he had ever been in the field and faced enemy fire before, and Banks admitted that he had not.

Shortly after that, their ship came under heavy fire. The area was supposed to be unoccupied by Confederate forces, but they discovered a large droid army, which blasted them out of the sky. The LAAT crashed, killing the pilot and several other clones on impact. Syke escaped from the wreckage via a hatch, only to find hundreds of B1 and B2 battle droids bearing down on them. Wielding two blaster pistols, Banks and the other clones fought off the attacking droids while trying to protect their wounded and burying their dead. Eventually, the waves of unending droids ceased, and Banks covered the tracks of the surviving seven clones by detonating a thermal detonator.

Setting up camp in the woods, Syke attempted to repair and use a communications array to no avail. After Crazy Legs asked and Syke urged him on, Banks then demonstrated the origin of his nickname to the group, ricocheted a blaster bolt and knocking a food container out of Crazy Legs's hand. They were then contacted via holoprojector by Commander Kishpaugh after Syke managed to get the array working. Kishpaugh informed them that there was a droid command center twenty kilometers away, and that they were to investigate, and if possible, disable it despite their losses, within eighteen hours. He then ordered the rest of the clone troopers from the shelter, speaking with Banks alone.

Kishpaugh asked Banks how he was faring in his command of the seasoned clones. Banks remarked that he found their behavior to be worse than he'd previously thought, to which the commander said it was only getting worse. He told Banks that he trusted that he would be an unfeeling and undiluted clone, able to commit to the mission to the letter. He then told Banks that the mission was also "off the books", so they had to be careful not to be caught.



Banks and the others moved out before sunrise, leaving Crazy Legs behind, as he'd broken one of his legs in the crash. They moved through the forest, encountering dangerous terrain and creatures everywhere, and lost another clone, who was eaten by an animal. As they traveled, Syke told a war story from early in the conflict, about how his armor was damaged when he destroyed two droidekas. Syke then asked Ghost for a story of his own, noting a point of damage on the back of Ghost's helmet, but the older clone demurred. Banks pointed out that they could all ask for their armor to be repaired, or even receive new armor, but Syke pointed out that as clones, their armor was a way of telling a unique and individual story. He asked Banks why they would ever want to throw that away, to which Banks had no answer.

Cutter, leading the way, then brought the others' attention to an ancient city in ruins. The clones remarked that their scanners hadn't picked up any trace of the large settlement, and suddenly found themselves surrounded by Toma, the native sentient species of Oznek. With their hands bound, the clones readied themselves for death after the Toma's leader ordered their executions, but were discovered and attacked by droids once again. Banks asked the Toma to cut their binds so they could fight together, and the Toma did so. The sergeant and the others picked up their weapons and held back the droids, but Cutter realized that Banks had to complete their mission. He told the sergeant to take Ghost and Syke, while he and the other surviving clone trooper held off the droids. Banks said that he wouldn't leave Cutter behind, but when Cutter pointed out that the Toma couldn't be allowed to live either, Banks and the others fled.

They made their way to the facility that Kishpaugh had targeted, and once there Ghost sniped the two guards outside, allowing them to sneak inside. They made their way through the corridors, encountering little resistance, which Banks would later remark that they should have found suspicious. Once inside the main part of the facility, Banks ordered Syke and Ghost to spread out and look for signs of Separatist technology. Syke quickly noticed that something was awry, and that the facility didn't look anything like what they were told it would be. Ghost immediately shot Syke in the back.

Banks was shocked, and Ghost nonchalantly told him that Syke had to die because he didn't know of their true orders, and that they were to destroy the facility. The building was not a droid command center at all, but rather a power plant. Banks continued to question Ghost, saying that he wanted to help stop wars, not start them. Ghost whirled around and fired his blaster rifle at Banks, saying that he didn't need him after all. Bank fell backward, the blast bolt grazing his helmet across the visor. Banks attempted to shoot Ghost using his "banking" ability, but the elder clone had already slipped out of sight. Banks wanted to know why Ghost would betray his training and brothers, asking if his mind had gone defective from age, but Ghost told him that he had merely gained clarity and no longer wished to die.

Banks sneaked up on Ghost, but Ghost was ready and threw a grenade at the sergeant, which detonated right in front of him. Battered and wounded, Banks was still alive, but Ghost was not willing to let him survive. As he explained that their sabotage would drive Oznek into the arms of the Separatists, he climbed atop Banks and pulled a garrote from his gauntlet and began to choke Banks with it. Banks managed to grab his blaster, however, and fired, ricocheted around the turbines and slamming into the back of Ghost's head, killing him.

Banks then deactivated Ghost's bombs and stole his helmet, escaping before the Toma caught up to him. Wearing Ghost's helmet, Banks contacted Kishpaugh, claiming that the mission had been completed. Kishpaugh picked him up in a shuttle, but immediately realized he wasn't Ghost and pulled a blaster on him. As they left the planet, making for hyperspace, Kishpaugh forced Banks to remove his helmet and was surprised to find out he'd survived. Banks wanted to know why both Kishpaugh and Ghost had betrayed the Republic, and Kishpaugh told him that he had never wanted to fight in a galactic battle, while Ghost had simply wanted to live. Banks then told Kishpaugh he should surrender, but when he commander noted that the clone didn't have a weapon, Banks threw Ghost's helmet at Kishpaugh, smashing his hand backward and forcing his blaster to fire on his own pilot droid. Banks then tackled the commander, and after a crash landing, turned him over into Republic custody.

Banks, in binders, faced a military tribunal for his actions, where he told the whole story of the mission. They reprimanded him for following Kishpaugh's orders, saying that the Republic's standing on Oznek had become damaged. However, they also noted that his clear-headed actions and bravery had prevented a worse disaster and likely saved thousands of lives, so they could not punish him. Instead of commending him for his actions, he was reassigned, ending up on a snow-covered planet under the command of Jedi General Bultar Swan. Because of the combat he had seen, and the clones he had met, Banks ended up having three long scars covering his face&mdash;and he decided to leave the damage Ghost had done to his helmet. He then asked General Swan to no longer use his clone designation, and instead to refer to him as Banks.

Personality and traits
"It's just mathematics. Same training we all, only I can see the angles better than most."

- Banks

Banks possessed an unusual ability, unknown in other clones of Jango Fett. He was able to calculate mathematical angles better than most other clones, and could use this ability to shoot blaster bolts off of objects in order to ricochet them into a target. Though he believed it wouldn't be useful outside of the barracks, the trick saved his life when Ghost tried to murder him on Oznek.

Being fresh out of his training on Kamino, Banks was a stickler for rules and regulations. He didn't like having the clones under his command use his nickname, nor did he appreciate their humor. Over the course of the mission on Oznek, however, his outlook changed drastically. The one clone in his squad who he disliked the most, Syke, ended up having the most influence on him, and Banks would go on to adopt Syke's outlook on being a clone and an individual at the same time.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Enemy Within