Coruscant Guard/Legends

The Coruscant Guard, later commonly known as the Imperial Guards or less commonly the Elite Stormtroopers, began as a Republic military unit comprised of Clone shock troopers and were later a specialized branch of the Imperial stormtroopers who served as law enforcers on Coruscant and a few other Core Worlds.

The shock troopers of the Coruscant Guard began their service at the start of the Clone Wars. Their responsibility was to protect important government buildings and maintain the defenses of Coruscant. The Guard also operated a Diplomatic Escort Group to accompany dignitaries or other important persons on special missions and assignments. Through Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's emergency powers, the Guard received the authority to search and detain anyone they felt were a threat even if the Guard had no evidence. As the war continued, the Guard's role expanded and they became Coruscant's secondary police force next to the Coruscant Security Force, a role previously held by the Senate Guard.

With the Declaration of a New Order and the reformation of the Republic into the Galactic Empire, the Guard became Coruscant's primary police force. Enforcing law and order with brutal efficiency, they were a feared organization among the citizens they were to protect. As the clones aged, members of the Guard were recruited from inside the Stormtrooper Corps. However, the Guard remained a separate organization from the stormtroopers assigned to the Coruscant Security Force. The Guard received new armor that was distinct from most clone trooper and stormtrooper armors. Light, yet heavily padded, it provided excellent protections from physical and hand-to-hand attacks. The advanced combat helmet allowed Guards to operate in complete darkness and had a comlink scrambler for direct communication with other Guards. A unit commander had a voice activated heads up display that allowed him to see the positions of the Guards under his command.

Organization and responsibilities
The Coruscant Guard was originally formed as a clone trooper unit and was organized as part of the Grand Army of the Republic. They were commanded by a clone trooper commander.

During the Clone Wars, the clone troopers of the Coruscant Guard operated the Diplomatic Escort Group which was charged with protecting diplomats on key missions.

The Coruscant Guard was entrusted with the task of protecting the citizens of Galactic City from any form of criminal activity. They were often found across Coruscant though were more likely to be found protecting important government offices, transports services, communication facilities and any other locales where large gatherings were expected.

They were given a great deal of authority in order for them to accomplish their duty. This included the right to search any facility be it public or private as well as the capacity to arrest any individual for mere suspicion of illegal activity without any need for evidence. During the reign of the Galactic Empire, they were also charged with upholding the image of the Human High Culture and were involved with detaining any suspected Rebel operatives; this turned them into a political force as well as a security force.

Armor
During the Clone Wars, the clone troopers of the Coruscant Guard utilized the Phase I clone trooper armor. As individuality and creativity steadily became promoted within the Grand Army of the Republic, the Guard used the crimson red color to designate their status as the capital world's police force&mdash; their symbol being the emblem of the Galactic Senate, located in the center of their torso or shoulder armor. The symbol was more ornately fashioned on the chest plate of Commander Fox, designating him as the commander of the Guard. The troopers would move to the Phase II clone trooper armor along with most clone troopers when it became available. They retained the crimson red colors on their armor though the markings were changed from the Phase I armor designs.

In the Galactic Civil War, the Coruscant Guards wore light, yet heavily padded, crimson and black armor that provided protection against physical attacks. Their sophisticated battle helmet which was lined with advanced sensors, allowed them to work in complete darkness, and also contained a comlink scrambler for communication with fellow personnel. A unit commander's helmet was also equipped with a voice activated heads-up display that showed Coruscant Guard positions. Optional tracking beacon software let a unit commander know the whereabouts of his subordinates at all times. This display system also provided a useful method of navigating the complex city structure of Imperial Center.

Weapons
During the Clone Wars, the shock troopers carried DC-15A blaster rifles, DC-15S blasters, and thermal detonators. Commander Fox had two DC-17 hand blasters that he carried. During the Mission to Rugosa, Lieutenant Thire and troopers Jek and Rys were also armed with Rocket launchers and Z-6 rotary blaster cannons.

During the Imperial era, along with a blaster side arm, Guards would use the Merr-Sonn taser staves. The Merr-Sonn taser staves were used to control crowds and suppress riots. It also had variable power settings and was capable of delivering a lethal or incapacitating charge when it strikes its target. Some Coruscant Guards also carried the more advanced Merr-Sonn R-88 Suppressor riot rifle.

In addition to these weapons and armor, the Coruscant Guard also made use of the Low Altitude Assault Transport and during the Imperial era used the Rapid Deployment Airspeeders as their primary forms of transportation. All Terrain Recon Transports were also a popular vehicle used by this clone trooper division who utilized them in pacifying operations against unruly mobs.

Formation


The Imperial era troopers were descendants of the Republic shock troopers who were established during the Clone Wars. They began as a pure-clone unit led by Commander Fox and were initially charged with protecting the Republic Senate facilities and all senators in residence, but not supplanting the non-clone Senate Guard already in place. As the Clone Wars continued, the unit's directives were expanded to maintaining law and order on the capital world.

The Clone Wars
"We've secured the Hutt location, sir. Senator Amidala's unharmed and she's returning to the Senate with her protocol droid. We have Lord Ziro in custody. He's claiming he was forced into the kidnapping of Jabba's son by Count Dooku. Zero casualties&mdash;unless you count droids, of course."

- Clone Commander Fox, reporting the successful hostage extraction

After Senator Padmé Amidala was captured by Ziro the Hutt, C-3PO contacted the Coruscant Guard about Amidala's abduction and piloted the senator's H-type Nubian yacht to Ziro's Palace, accompanied by Clone Commander Fox and five other Coruscant Guards. Fox's rescue team blasted their way into the palace, destroying the B1 battle droids guarding the entrance in the process. In the ensuing commotion, Amidala freed herself and destroyed the IG-86 droid guarding her with an appropriated E-5 blaster rifle. Taking cover from return fire, the Coruscant Guards made quick work of the remaining security droids. When the last two battle droids were destroyed, the clone troopers surrounded the fleeing Hutt, cutting off his escape.

Lieutenant Thire served under Jedi Grand Master Yoda during the Mission to Rugosa, with his men, Jek, and Rys. The Jedi Master had gone to the coral moon of Rugosa to engage in diplomatic negotiations with Katuunko, the king of Toydaria. However, the Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress arrived first to negotiate with Katuunko on behalf of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The Republic convoy was ambushed by several Confederate frigates, but Master Yoda and the clone troopers were able to land on the planet though not where the negotiations were to take place. Ventress challenged Master Yoda that she would send her best battle droids against him. If the Jedi Master could defeat her army, then Toydaria would enter the Republic. However, should the Jedi fail, then Toydaria would join the Confederacy. Yoda agreed to this challenge. The Jedi and his clone companions began to make their way towards the negotiation's location. As they made their way through the coral forest, the Jedi and clones encountered heavy fighting by the droid forces. In the ensuing fight Thire was injured. Yet the small force was able to prevail. Count Dooku, seeing that his plot had failed, ordered Ventress to assassinate King Katuunko. Yoda and the clones arrived in time to prevent the king's death though Ventress was able to escape.

During the Senate hostage crisis, shock troopers stormed Palpatine's office to make sure he was safe. They then corned the bounty hunters outside. However, Palpatine ordered them to stand down, since the bounty hunters had several senators trapped.

After the Duel in the Senate between Yoda and Palpatine, Commander Thire and several shock troopers unsuccessfully searched the Grand Convocation Chamber for Yoda's body. Palpatine ordered Thire to continue the search, however, the Jedi Master had escaped with the aid of Senator Bail Prestor Organa. Palpatine, suspecting that his apprentice Darth Vader was in danger, left Coruscant for Mustafar. A detachment of shock trooper accompanied the Emperor. The troopers soon found the mangled and burned body of Vader. Palpatine was right behind them and as soon as he saw Vader, ordered them to get more help. Both Palpatine and Vader were escorted back to Coruscant and the Emperor Palpatine Surgical Reconstruction Center, all under the watchful eye of the shock troopers. The clone shock troopers would continue as the Coruscant Guard during the days of the Galactic Empire.

Imperial era
Upon the Declaration of a New Order, the Republic was reorganized as the first Galactic Empire. Following this event, the Coruscant Guard along with the Royal Guard were given the responsibility of handling the security arrangements of the capital. In this age, the Emperor Palpatine's issued martial law as well as emergency powers as he became the ultimate authority within the new government. His rule led to an empowerment of the Coruscant Guard who now gained the ability to search any facility of dwelling as well as arrest any citizen or locate and detain suspected criminals or sympathizers of the Rebel Alliance. They were in almost all Coruscant's districts and many of them were assigned to watch the city planet's sewers. The Guard quickly became a status symbol for Imperial Center as they had been trained to be elite stormtroopers tasked with police duty on the capital. During the early reign of the Empire, only a few members of the Coruscant Guard were active though their numbers were growing. Some believed that the group would expand to police other disruptive Core Worlds.

Recruitment into the Coruscant Guard involved the culling of the ranks of the Imperial Stormtroopers. Such individuals received special training in marksmanship as well as in riot suppression techniques and criminal investigations. In addition, they were trained in threat assessment as well as in small group tactics. In order to keep at the peak of physical health, the Coruscant Guard often engaged in a strict exercise regimen. They were also given psychological conditioning in order to instill complete loyalty to the Emperor.

Members of the Guard often carried out their duties aggressively and with an undeniable air of superiority. This remained the case even when they faced particularly powerful foes or well connected beings. In terms of tactics, they often made use of cover and the advantage it provided as well as took part in coordinated attacks. Typically, they served only as a police force which was their primary responsibility while a secondary role was serving as soldiers. As such, they made extensive use of stun settings on their weapons as well as stun grenades unless the foe required to be killed with lethal force authorized. More veteran members of the Coruscant Guard often made use of their staffs in order to separate as well as corner their foe. These individuals also often served in a leadership role amongst the Guard units.

It was known that high ranking agents of the Imperial Security Bureau were known to call upon the Guard's services when involved in investigations of powerful political figures.

Shortly before the Battle of Endor, Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, and Dash Rendar traveled to Coruscant to rescue Princess Leia Organa. In order to rescue her, they went though the sewers underneath Prince Xizor's palace. There they faced several Coruscant Guards on patrol. They were able to defeat them and escape with Princess Organa.

Legacy
During Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire, members of the the 1,001st Stormtrooper Division known as the "Knighthunters", wore armor based on that of the Coruscant Guard.

CC-1010 "Fox"
"When will you fools learn? No one escapes from Commander Fox."

- Commander Fox

CC-1010, also known as Fox, was the commander of the Coruscant Guard at the start of the Clone Wars, though a soldier, he was dedicated in his police duties and took pleasure in arresting criminals.

CC-4477 "Thire"
"Thire. Rush not into fights. Long is the war. Only by surviving it, will you prevail."

- Jedi Grand Master Yoda to Thire

CC-4477, also known as Thire, began as a lieutenant in the Coruscant Guard's Diplomatic Escort Group. It was noted by Master Yoda that Thire was quick to rush into conflict. During the Mission to Rugosa, Thire worked closely alongside Master Yoda. During the fighting Master Yoda would save Thire's life. Dedicated in his duty, Thire quickly rose through the ranks and was the commander of the Coruscant Guard by the time of Order 66. Ironically he was tasked with hunting down the very Jedi Master who had saved his life a few years earlier. With the establishment of the Galactic Empire, Thire served as one of the Emperor's body guards. Under Thire's supervision, the Coruscant Guard transitioned from military and security duties to Coruscant's primary police force.

CC-5869 "Stone"
"I suggest we stay here and wait for the Republic to send a rescue party."

- Commander CC-5869

CC-5869 also refered to as "Stone" was a commander in the Coruscant Guard and in charge of the Diplomatic Escort Group. On a mission to Florrum, Stone was in command of several troopers escorting Senator Kharrus and Representative Jar Jar Binks to deliver credits in the form of spice in exechange for Count Dooku. During the landing the shuttle was fired upon and crashed landing with Senator Kharrus dying in the crash. This made Jar Jar Binks the senior official in charge of the mission. Stone was hesitant about taking orders from Jar Jar yet he followed the chain of command. However he saw Bink's skills and saved his life twice during the mission.

Jek
"Okay clankers, suck lasers!"

- Jek to Battle droids

Rys
"Rys. Always focused on the enemy are you. For inspiration, look to yourself and those beside you."

- Jedi Grand Master Yoda to Rys

Behind the scenes
The Coruscant Guard were developed for the Shadows of the Empire multimedia project. Kenner developed an action figure of Luke Skywalker in Coruscant Guard armor as a tie-in to the novel. The novel itself refers to them as "Elite Stormtroopers".

The Hasbro toys of the Senate Guard incorrectly name them as Coruscant Guards.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * The Clone Wars: Decide Your Destiny: Crisis on Coruscant
 * Out Foxed
 * Giant spiders are awesome
 * Star Wars The Clone Wars Volume 2: Crash Course
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith junior novel
 * Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Millennium Falcon
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Death Star
 * Shadows of the Empire novel
 * Shadows of the Empire game
 * Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Millennium Falcon
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Death Star
 * Shadows of the Empire novel
 * Shadows of the Empire game
 * Shadows of the Empire novel
 * Shadows of the Empire game