Storm commando



The storm commandos, also known as Imperial commandos or shadow scouts, were elite members of a branch of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps.

Members of the Rebel Alliance SpecForce had several terms for storm commandos, including shadowmen, shadows, and black hats.

Equipment


Storm commandos were trained especially for counter-Rebel missions, siege breaking, and sabotage. A unit could range from 4 to 40 commandos in strength. Their signature black armor was based on the scout trooper's light armor, hence the nickname "shadow scout"; it was enhanced with a coating of an advanced polymer called reflec, which deflected light and sensor energy. The armor was designed by Dr. Nashiak Llalik. To support their mission profile, storm commando armor included a small generator that created a sound-dampening field, numerous concealed weapons, and a thermal detonator that a commando could detonate if faced with capture.

As an alternative to the modified scout trooper armor, storm commandos were also known to equip a form of armor whose shape was more exclusive to their ranks, but were similarly dark in coloring. This armor was still fairly protective, but left the arms more exposed without plating.

Storm commandos used modified 74-Z speeder bikes to aid them in missions of deep infiltration where they uncovered plots and dug up deadly secrets that could be used to make enemies cooperate. Their speeder bikes were designed for silence and speed, with a trideflective energy shield that prevented detection.

Storm commandos were also trained to fly commando-exclusive TIE Hunters, generally operating from Imperial escort carriers. These carriers would be under their direct command and control.

History


The development of the storm commandos was overseen by Grand Moff Tanniel in response to the guerilla tactics of the Rebel Alliance during the early days of the Galactic Civil War. Tanniel placed Crix Madine in charge of the first unit of storm commandos deployed. Despite Madine's later defection to the Alliance, the commando training program continued. Only the best Imperial stormtroopers received this training and they were in rare, limited numbers by the end of the war.

Important tasks of the commandos included acquiring new technology for the Empire by capturing scientists. They engineered the assault on Ralltiir to abduct a group of cowering scientists. One famous storm commando, Sarkli, defected from the Rebel Alliance during this battle.

They were also sometimes tasked with capturing defectors such as Tycho Celchu, who evaded them on Dantooine with the help of Luke Skywalker. Yet another task for storm commandos was to instill uprisings on enemy systems or to subdue insurrections on Imperial-held worlds.

It is possible that the clone shadow troopers and the clone commandos in the Grand Army of the Republic inspired the formation of the storm commandos.

Behind the scenes
In Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, the escape pods from Captain Sarkli's escort carrier on Geonosis contain soldiers in normal white stormtrooper armor. Whether or not these were storm commandos in standard stormtrooper armor is unknown.Gir Kybo Ren-Cha the pirate wears the alternate version of the storm commando armor.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Force Commander
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars: Rebellion
 * Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided
 * X-wing: Rogue Leader
 * X-wing: Rogue Squadron