Broadside

Broadside
Biographical information
Homeworld	Kamino
Descriptive information
Species	Human (clone)
Gender	Male
Height	1.83 meters
Hair color	Black
Eye color	Brown
Skin color	Tan
Chronological and political information
Affiliation(s)	Galactic Republic Republic Navy Shadow Squadron

"Minimal casualties, maximum effectiveness. That's us."

―Broadside, on Shadow Squadron

Broadside was the name of an experienced clone trooper pilot who served in Shadow Squadron, a Galactic Republic fighter unit under the command of Jedi General Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars. When the Malevolence, a Confederate warship commanded by General Grievous, destroyed several Republic fleets, Broadside and the rest of his squadron accompanied Skywalker and his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, to the Bormus testing facility to acquire BTL-B Y-wing starfighters for an attack on the Malevolence. After taking the Balmorra Run shortcut through the Kaliida Nebula and braving the danger there posed by neebray mantas, Broadside and Shadow Squadron engaged the Malevolence and destroyed its ion cannons, preventing Grievous from attacking the Republic's Kaliida Shoals Medical Center. Skywalker then took the remainder of his squadron to the space station to recuperate for the pursuit of the Malevolence. Broadside additionally helped to defend Kamino when it was attacked by Confederate troops under the command of Grievous and the Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress, flying alongside Skywalker in a Y-wing to repel the invading Confederate fleet. The Republic eventually forced the Separatists to retreat, securing the clone homeworld.

Biography

Acquiring Y-wing bombers

"Form up, Broadside, you're drifting."
"Sorry, General. These birds need a bit more work."

―Skywalker and Broadside, on their new Y-wing bombers

The clone trooper pilot who took on the name "Broadside" served in the Galactic Republic's Shadow Squadron during the Clone Wars and was friends with fellow squadron pilot Matchstick, with whom he often bet on outgoing missions as a sort of ritual and good luck charm. In 22 BBY, Broadside and the rest of his squadron prepared to accompany Jedi General Anakin Skywalker on a mission to hunt down the Separatist warship Malevolence, which had been attacking Republic fleets. By that time, Broadside had become an experienced pilot.

Broadside, as he departs Bormus

To acquire BTL-B Y-wing starfighters for the impending assault on the Malevolence, Broadside and the rest of Shadow Squadron accompanied Skywalker and his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, in the Twilight—Skywalker's personal G9 Rigger freighter—to the Bormus testing facility, which was tasked with manufacturing and testing the new Y-wing bombers. While conferring with a Gran worker at the facility, Skywalker ordered Broadside and Matchstick to enter the hangar where the bombers were being stored. While Skywalker and Tano acquired authorization from the Gran to take the bombers by threatening to report him to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, Matchstick informed the clone troopers guarding the hangar that having a Jedi with them qualified as clearance to enter the hangar. Broadside and the rest of Shadow Squadron then departed the facility in the Y-wings, while Skywalker and Tano left in the Twilight. As they headed away from Bormus, Skywalker noted that Broadside was drifting out of formation. Broadside apologized and explained that his fighter needed more work.

After bringing the bombers to Skywalker's flagship, the Venator-class Star Destroyer Resolute, Broadside and Shadow Squadron were briefed by Skywalker and Admiral Wullf Yularen. Skywalker explained that their attack on the Malevolence would target its bridge in order to eliminate its commander, General Grievous. After the briefing, Jedi Master Plo Koon, who had been rescued following an encounter with the Malevolence, asked Skywalker if Shadow Squadron was capable of carrying out its assigned task, and both Matchstick and Broadside assured him that they were prepared.

Attack on the Malevolence

"Broadside, we make it through this one, drinks are on me."
"I can already taste it."

―Matchstick and Broadside

Shortly afterward, Grievous's attack on a Republic medical convoy near Ryndellia revealed that the Malevolence's next target was the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center, a Republic medcenter near the Kaliida Nebula that was treating over 60,000 wounded clone troopers. Skywalker devised a plan to intercept Grievous and departed from the Resolute along with Shadow Squadron and Koon, who flew in his Delta-7B interceptor. Before leaving, Matchstick made a bet with Broadside, stating that if they survived the battle, drinks were on Matchstick. Once they departed, the Republic forces took the Balmorra Run shortcut through the nebula in an attempt to beat the Malevolence to the medcenter. In transit through the nebula, Broadside and his squadron encountered several large neebray mantas, which were passing through the nebula on their nesting run and posed a danger to the fighters due to their sheer size. Skywalker responded by ordering his squadron to assume the single-file Bantha formation and follow him out of the nebula. Shadow Squadron arrived near the medcenter shortly before the Malevolence came out of hyperspace.

Broadside, in his Y-wing fighter

Upon arriving at the medical station, Grievous ordered his battle droid crew to fire the Malevolence's turbolasers at the departing frigates that were evacuating clones from Kaliida Shoals. Meanwhile, Broadside and Shadow Squadron engaged the Vulture droids deployed by Grievous's flagship. The Malevolence fired one of its ion cannons at the Republic squadron, and Broadside and his unit were immediately ordered to head for the top edge of the ion ray to avoid being neutralized. However, the blast deactivated three of the Y-wing bombers, as well as most of the Vulture droid starfighters. The engines of Matchstick's starfighter also failed, causing it to collide with fellow trooper Tag's fighter and killing both Matchstick and Tag.

Despite its losses, Broadside and Shadow Squadron continued its assault on the Malevolence, but at Tano's urging, Skywalker finally changed the target from the warship's bridge to its starboard ion cannon, which was targeting the medcenter. Using proton torpedoes, Broadside and his squadron managed to disable the cannon. Due to the amount of damage, both cannons overloaded and exploded when fired, damaging the Malevolence's hyperdrive in the process. While High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi arrived with three Republic Star Destroyers and began to attack the Malevolence, Broadside, Tano, Skywalker and their squadron landed inside the medical center to regroup and recuperate before pursuing the Malevolence. Thanks in part to Broadside's and Shadow Squadron's efforts, the Malevolence was prevented from fleeing to hyperspace because of its damaged hyperdrive and was eventually destroyed, although Grievous survived the warship's obliteration.

Defending Kamino

"Good to see you, General. Ready to have some fun?"
"You know me, Broadside. I'd rather be up here than stuck in a command center."

―Broadside and Skywalker

Broadside participates in the defense of Kamino.

Around 21 BBY, the Republic intercepted a transmission between Grievous and the Dark Jedi Asajj Ventress. After Jedi Generals Skywalker and Kenobi examined the message and discovered that the Confederacy were planning to invade Kamino, Broadside went with the two Jedi to Kamino to prepare the planet for the impending assault. Engaging the Confederate fleet orbiting Kamino, Broadside, once again serving under Skywalker and flying a Y-wing, was part of the starfighter force that fought the Confederate fleet, which was under the command of Grievous. However, Skywalker had to depart back to Kamino to help Kenobi, and left Broadside and other clone pilots on their own in space. Eventually, Grievous and Ventress escaped the Kamino system, which ended the invasion.

Personality and traits

Broadside and Matchstick

A Human male clone, Broadside had black hair, brown eyes, and tan skin. Like all clones of the bounty hunter Jango Fett, he stood 1.83 meters tall. Broadside was confident and believed that Shadow Squadron was capable of completing its missions with "minimal casualties and maximum effectiveness." Trained in military tactics, he was also an experienced pilot and was eager to be one of the first to fly a new Y-wing fighter. While serving under Skywalker, Broadside obeyed the orders the Jedi General gave to him. Broadside was also friends with fellow pilot Matchstick, even making a bet with him on the outcome of their assault on the Malevolence as a good luck charm, like most pilots did upon leaving for a mission. Furthermore Broadside had a more superior vision which was required for being a clone pilot. In combat, he used a DC-15 blaster pistol.

Behind the scenes

Broadside first appeared in Procedure, an issue of The Clone Wars webcomic series, which led into "Shadow of Malevolence," an episode in the first season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, in which Broadside also appeared. He was voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, who voices all of the clone troopers in the television series.

Appearances

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars film (First appearance)
• The Clone Wars: Procedure
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Shadow of Malevolence"
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels (In flashback(s))
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "ARC Troopers"
• The Clone Wars: Defenders of the Republic

Sources

• The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Shadow of Malevolence on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
• "The Clone Wars Season One Episode Guide, Part 1" — Star Wars Insider 106
• 2009 Topps Star Wars: The Clone Wars Widevision (Card: Weapon of Malevolence) (backup link) (Quote only)
• "Blaster" — Star Wars Insider 118
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia
• The Clone Wars Episode Guide: ARC Troopers on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)

Notes and references

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