Clone commando

Clone commandos, also known as Republic commandos, were elite clone troopers that served in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. A result of the Kaminoans' genetic experimentation with the Jango Fett template, they were special forces soldiers noted for their training and elite status in the clone army. In 22 BBY, Clone Commander CT-411 "Ponds" gave command over five commando units to Jedi Master Mace Windu, who directed them to engage in a frontal assault against the Separatist Droid Army during the First Battle of Geonosis.

As the conflict between the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems swept across the galaxy, the commandos were organized into squads that supported the Republic war effort as an elite group within the Grand Army. One such team was Delta Squad; following the battle on Devaron, they reported directly to the High Council of the Jedi Order, informing them that no survivors were found at the massacre site. Foxtrot Group consisted of commandos led by Clone Captain CC-5576-39 "Gregor." They served with the 212th Attack Battalion until the Battle of Sarrish, where they were declared "missing in action."

In the latter days of the war, Clone Force 99 "Bad Batch" participated in the Battle of Anaxes, fighting alongside Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and the 501st Legion. Unlike the other clones, who were genetically identical with each other as well as their template, the Bad Batch commandos possessed various characteristics that set them apart from the rest of the clone army and even each other.

HistoryEdit

In an effort to make "super soldiers", Kaminoan scientists who created the clone army changed the genetic template of some clone troopers, leading to the army's first commando unit.^[5]

Five commando units served under Clone Commander CT-411 "Ponds" during the First Battle of Geonosis where the newly-formed Grand Army of the Republic—the army of clones created by the Kaminoans—engaged the Separatist Droid Army for the first time in the Clone Wars. During the battle, CT-411 and his commandos served under the leadership of Jedi Master Mace Windu, a leading member of the High Council of the Jedi Order.^[1]

The Jedi Council later sent Delta Squad to investigate the massacre on Devaron, retrieving Master Halsey's and his apprentice Knox's bodies.^[3]

CC-5576-39 "Gregor", the Clone Captain of Foxtrot Group, participated in the Battle of Sarrish. With the Republic routed by the Separatist battle droids and casualties mounting, Gregor took a shuttle to look for help, but crashed on the remote desert world Abafar. He survived and was pulled from the wreckage by Borkus, a Sullustan male who owned Power Sliders, a diner in the small mining settlement of Pons Ora. Gregor's file in the Republic Military database listed him as missing in action. He was discovered by Colonel Meebur Gascon and D-Squad, and after regaining his memories, Gregor then decided to assist Gascon and his squad in destroying a rhydonium mining installation being operated by the Separatist. However, he volunteered to be left behind to buy D-Squad time to escape.^[4]

While putting down an insurrection on Yalbec Prime, Clone Force 99, also known as "The Bad Batch", was summoned by Commander Cody during the Battle of Anaxes to assist him and Clone Captain Rex in ascertaining the secret behind Admiral Trench's strategies. However, matters escalated when Wrecker, the team's bruiser, cut off the Yalbec queen's stinger with a blade, causing multiple Yalbec males to attempt to mate with the clones. However, the team was able to escape to Anaxes aboard their gunship, the Havoc Marauder.^[2]

Prior to the Battle of Kashyyyk, the Wookiee^[5] Chieftain^[6] Tarfful was captured by Trandoshan slavers. These Trandoshans had made a deal with Count Dooku, but a group of clone commandos rescued Tarfful^[5] from the slavers.^[6]

Following the rise of the First Galactic Empire, a group of clone commandos founded the Stormtrooper Corps.^[7]

EquipmentEdit

Clone commandos were equipped with Katarn-class armor, which came with a backpack where members kept grenades and sabotage gear. They were allowed to choose the colors on their armor.^[5] In combat, commandos utilized the DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System and the DC-17 hand blaster.^[2] They had a small vibroblade in their right hand armor piece. Commandos could also use a grenade launcher.^[8]

Known members and unitsEdit

Clone Force 99Edit

During the development of the clone army, the Kaminoans experimented with the genetics of the Jango Fett template in an attempt to create super soldiers. While the experiments bore few results, four of the test subjects came together to form Clone Force 99. Referring to themselves as the "Bad Batch", they used their "desirable" mutations, along with unorthodox tactics, to accomplish their objectives.^[9] The group was led by Clone Sergeant "Hunter",^[10] who was strong and stoic,^[9] and had greater combat prowess than most.^[10] Providing the team's muscle was "Wrecker",^[9] who was gifted extraordinary strength,^[11] though he had a temper.^[9] "Crosshair" was the squad's no-nonsense^[12] marksman,^[9] though he didn't like working with "regs", by which he meant unaltered clones.^[12] "Tech", while not physically imposing,^[13] was a gifted strategist^[9] and unmatched in the use of technology.^[13] Though experimental, they were viewed to be extremely effective.^[14] Following the battle for Anaxes, cyborg Clone Corporal CT-1409 "Echo" joined the squad.^[15]

Delta SquadEdit

Delta Squad was a Republic commando squad that was dispatched to Devaron by the Jedi Council and recovered the bodies of Jedi Master Halsey and his Padawan Knox that had been killed there.^[3] The squad was led by "Boss," while "Fixer," "Scorch," and "Sev" made up the rest of the team.^[16]

Foxtrot GroupEdit

Foxtrot Group, led by Captain CC-5576-39 "Gregor", was an elite squad of clone commandos attached to the 212th Attack Battalion.^[4] Gregor was reported missing in action at the Battle of Sarrish.^[17]

Behind the scenesEdit

Clone commandos were first mentioned in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones indirectly during the Battle of Geonosis. The concept of clone commandos was introduced within the Star Wars Expanded Universe novel The Cestus Deception and the characters were later heavily featured in the game Star Wars: Republic Commando. Clone commandos were introduced into Star Wars canon through the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode "Witches of the Mist."

AppearancesEdit

• Star Wars: Galactic Defense
• Star Wars: Force Arena
• Star Wars Battlefront II (DLC)
• Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones (First mentioned) (Indirect mention only)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Witches of the Mist" (First appearance)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Missing in Action" (First identified as clone commando)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "The Bad Batch"
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "A Distant Echo"
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "On the Wings of Keeradaks"
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Unfinished Business"
• Battlefront: Twilight Company (Mentioned only)
• Battlefront: Twilight Company audiobook (Mentioned only)

SourcesEdit

•  "Witches of the Mist" Episode Guide on StarWars.com (backup link) (First identified as Republic commando)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Complete Season Three
•  "Missing in Action" Episode Guide - The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars Helmet Collection 13 (Databank A-Z: Poe Dameron–Delta 7-B) (Picture only)
• Star Wars Helmet Collection 19 (Databank A-Z: GA-97–Geonosis)
•  Bad Batch Concept Art Gallery on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
• Star Wars Helmet Collection 76 (Helmets: Commander Ponds)
•  "The Bad Batch" Episode Guide on StarWars.com (backup link)
•  "On the Wings of Keeradaks" Episode Guide on StarWars.com (backup link)
• Star Wars: Card Trader (Card: Tech - 2020 Base Series 2)
• Star Wars: Card Trader (Card: Crosshair - 2020 Base Series 2)
• Star Wars: Card Trader (Card: Hunter - 2020 Base Series 2)
• Star Wars: Card Trader (Card: Wrecker - 2020 Base Series 2)
•  Fort Anaxes in the Databank (backup link)
•  Clone Force 99 / The Bad Batch in the Databank (backup link)
•  Gregor in the Databank (backup link)
•  Hunter in the Databank (backup link)
•  Crosshair in the Databank (backup link)
•  Havoc Marauder in the Databank (backup link)
•  keeradak in the Databank (backup link) (Picture only)
•  Tech in the Databank (backup link)
•  Wrecker in the Databank (backup link)

Notes and referencesEdit