Tracer

Tracer was the nickname of a clone trooper pilot who served during the Clone Wars in the Republic Hunter Squadron under Jedi Master Plo Koon. Around 22 BBY, Hunter Squadron was assigned to destroy the Separatist shipyards at Gwori. After a team of Jedi was smuggled to Gwori, in order to achieve the exact coordinates of the shipyards, Hunter Squadron was brieved by Plo Koon and fellow Jedi Saesee Tiin about the mission, that included a hyperspace jump behind the enemy blockade. During the briefing, Tracer bet with his fellow pilot Warthog that they will survive the mission on which Warthog was spectially. After jumping to hyperspace they succesfully get behind the enemy blockade and went down on Gwori. Tiin and Koon destroyed the anti-air turrets on the surface and Tiin ordered the squadron to destroy the shipyards. After bombing the frigates in the shipyards, the bombs didn’t were enough for all ships, Koon ordered them to target the cnstruction supports. On the way there, the bombers were attacked by Vulture droids. Tracer, serving as gunner on Warthog’s ship, managed to destroy several but was hit by a laser bolt in the chest. The squadron continued to destroy the shipyards and after the destruction jumped to hyperspace.

Preparation for the attack of Gwori
Tracer was the nickname of one of the many clones made from the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett on the Wild Space planet Kamino in order to fight for the Galactic Republic. A clone trooper pilot, Tracer was part of Hunter Squadron and assigned to Jedi Master Plo Koon. Around 22 BBY, the Republic suffered a series of major defeats in space battles in the Mid Rim, due to the fact that the Separatists had four times as many ships as the Republic Navy. On the capital world Coruscant, the Republic decided to smuggle a team of Jedi and clone troopers to the Banking Clan shipyards at Gwori in order to achieve the exact coordinates of the shipyards. The team was frozen into carbonite in order to get pass the space defenses, which included scanner witch exterminates all living beings. After the team succesfully landed, they conquered a Separatist comm tower, from which strike team member and Padawan Ahsoka Tano reported the coordinates to the Republic task force under command of General Koon, the Iktotchi Jedi General Saesee Tiin and admiral Wullf Yularen in the Mossk system. Shortly after, Hunter Squadron was briefed by Plo Koon about the mission. Shortly before the briefing, fellow pilot Warthog complained that the squadron always got the no-returner missions, on which Tracer commented that this was so because they are the best. He also bet Warthog trinks for ten rotations that they were going out with no scratchs. Then, Koon and Tiin informed that pilots that the shipyards were in the canyon system of the planet and that they have to seek and destroy them with the proton cannons of their Y-wing bombers. Then Tracer’s captain asked the Jedi about going past the enemy blockade. Tiin answered that they would make an exact hyperspace jump between the blockade and the planet. When the captain asked if this had been done anytime before, Koon stated that there was the risk to hit the planet or enemy ships. Koon furthermore explained that they wouldn’t do this if not the need was there to save the life of countless clones and of millions of beings. He also stated that Tiin had done this before, but the Iktochi said that this time there was no blockade. After the briefing Warthog asked Tracer to rethink his bet. Shortly after, Hunter Squadron in his Y-wings along with the Jedi Masters in their starfighters prepared to jump and Koon ordered to make sure the navicomputers are all synchronized due to the fact f they were minimaly not they would come out before the blockade or inside the planet. Then Tracer, serving as gunner on Warthog’s bomber asked Warthog if he wants to go double or nothing by the bet onw which Warthog responded if the would hit the planet, he would die too. Tracer answered that he would not die before him and they jumped, along with Tiin’s Tracker Squadron.

Attack on Gwori
After succesfully coming out of hyperspace between Gwori and the blockade, Tracer said to Warthog the he hoped Warthog gota lot of credit with the brewers on Coruscant, but Warthog responded thay if they got through this he would buy him all the drinks he want. Koon then contacted the squadron and ordered them to stay focused on their objective. After coming down to the canyons, Tiin and Koon destroyed the anti-air-turrets on the ground and the squadrons bombed the shipyards destroying a lot of Munificent-class star frigates, but there were more friagtes then they could bomb and Koon ordered the squadron to assume Bantha formation and set their aims at the construction supports. On the way there, the sqaudron was attacked by Vulture droids and Warthog stated that it was time for Tracer to earn those drinks. Tracer agreed and opened fire on the Vultures destroying several of them, but he was shortly after hit by a laser bolt in the chest severely wounding him. The squadron bombed the construction supports and destroyed them, this resulting in the destruction of the shipyards. Warthog informed Tracer about the success, but Tracer responded that he let him out that bet and the fleet could buy him a drink for this one. Then Hunter Squadron jumped to hyperspace with the mission completed.

Personality and traits
As a clone pilot, Tracer was raised to be loyal to the Republic and his Jedi commanders. He was good friend with fellow pilot Warthog and bet with him about the outcome of their missions. Tracer was a skilled pilot and gunner managing to shot down several Vulture droids during the battle of Gwori. Also he was a very confident clone and even on the very dangerous mission to Gwori thought that they would survive it without a scratch.

Behind the scenes
Tracer first apperead in the graphic novella Shipyards of Doom published by Dark Horse at September 24, 2009. There he was illustrated by the Fillbach Brothers.

Appereances

 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars Volume 1: Shipyards of Doom