Senate Commando/Legends

The Senate Commando was a unit within the Senate Guards during the Clone Wars.

Overview
This elite unit within the Senate Guard was a special reserve branch which performed missions on behalf of both the Galactic Senate and the Judicial Department. Their duties were strictly confined to the protection of the legislature. Its members were drawn from the ranks of the Senate Guard and consisted of top scoring experts that were assigned on high risk missions. As such, only the best and bravest of their ranks were selected to become a Senate Commando. They served as an aggressive and highly trained police force that operated on Coruscant but at times conducted special missions to distant worlds. They also protected ambassadorial starships if they were boarded by an enemy force or raiders. Furthermore, the Senate Commandos served as the last line of defense for Coruscant if it were ever invaded. When not on duty, they were mostly involved in police work in the Galactic Capital and worked alongside the Jedi Order. Where the ordinary ranks of the Senate Guard were responsible for the protection duties, the Senate Commandos were often sent on missions such as detaining individuals that were wanted for questioning by the Galactic Senate and also accompanied Senator's where they acted as bodyguards during any missions to war zones. In addition, they served as a bodyguard detail to the Supreme Chancellor prior to the formation of the Red Guard. Its members were part of a proud tradition and one of the most cherished of the Republic.

The members of this organization wore blue battle uniform similar to the Senate Guard. This was actually a heavier version of the Guardsmen armor and did not wear cloaks. By discarding the heavy ceremonial robes, they were able to fight more effectively in battle situations. It was a flexible customizable form of field armor and allowed them to deal with the deadliest of hired killers and bounty hunters. Their armor was blaster resistant and was similar to that of the clone troopers, but with slight differences, such as the enlarged left pauldron as well as the helmet. Unlike the clone army, the Senate Commandos were formed of birth-born recruits, like their Senate Guard contemporaries and Red Guard counterparts. Also instead of the standard blaster rifle, they wielded a DC-15A blaster rifle and came equipped with tactical thermal detonators.

Senate Commandos were one of the few non-clone units capable of undertaking special missions that operated within the Galactic Republic. This led to a fierce rivalry forming between them and the Clone commandos. The head of this body held the title of Captain and all of its members were volunteers from the Senate Guard. To qualify for membership, a recruit had to pass through a brutal four week long period of additional combat training. Once inducted into their rank, a new commando was deployed into a squad where they reported to a commander but also deferred to the words of the person they were protecting though this was not the case in situations that involved the person's security. Members of a higher rank had a taller helmet crest and white markings, including the Senate emblem on one shoulder and a white stripe down that arm.

History
The origins of the Senate Commandos came at the time of the formation of the Senate Guard where they served as active detachment of the organization. Their duties heightened in 32 BBY when they became Senator Palpatine's personal guard following his election. Several guards were posted at Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's office during the kidnapping of Rotta the Hutt. At the time, this unit was led by Captain Faro Argyus.

Due to mass corruption and the increasing influence of the Separatist Crisis, the loyalty of non-clone military personnel was constantly in question, especially given the controversial legacy of the Senate Guard, which in turn led to the formation of the even more controversial Red Guard. In this regard the Senate Commandos, while highly trained and skilled for protecting Coruscant and taking on field missions, were ultimately not as reliable as the all-loyal clones. This was evident when Captain Argyus was bribed by Count Dooku into rescuing Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray from the Republic.

After Argyus had betrayed the Republic, Captain Jayfon became the new leader of the Senate Commandos. A large contingent of the Senate Commandos, led by Captain Jayfon, were wiped out on Coruscant during the Senate hostage crisis when Bounty hunter Cad Bane and his associates infiltrated the Galactic Senate and captured a number of Senators. Many Senate Commandos were found guarding the senate rooms and many were guarding a landing platform that was about to send senators Rush Clovis and Padmé Amidala to Cato Neimoidia.

Four Senate Commandos were stationed aboard the New Mandalorian vessel Coronet as bridge crew under the command of a Naval Captain. Unfortunately for the elite soldiers and the captain, the Death Watch member Tal Merrik entered the bridge during the battle with Duchess Satine Kryze as a hostage. All of the commandos were shot and killed before they could defend themselves, while the captain was murdered after vainly pleading with the traitorous Senator. Their failure to keep the bridge under Republic control resulted in Merrik contacting Pre Vizsla and calling in reinforcements.

Two Senate Commandos were outside the Republic Building when framed murder suspect Duchess Satine surrendered to them to let Obi-Wan Kenobi get a disk of Deputy Minister Jerec to Padmé Amidala.

A number of Senate Commandos also served as the Supreme Chancellors escort when the Zillo Beast was brought to Coruscant and attempted to defend Palpatine when the beast went on a rampage. A single commando sacrificed himself to let Palpatine escape on R2-D2.

After the outbreak of the Clone Wars, several of the most loyal members of the Senate Commandos were hand picked by Chancellor Palpatine to serve as part of a new bodyguard detail that became known as the Red Guard.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * The Clone Wars: Agenda
 * The Clone Wars: Departure
 * The Clone Wars: Transfer
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes

Notes and references
Senatskommando Comando Senatorial Senate_Commando