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azure-cygni · 5 days ago

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Anakin and Clone Troopers in Legends sources [2002-2005], part II

previous part: Anakin and Clone Troopers in Legends sources [2002 - 2005], part I

I talked before how Anakin’s POV presented in Legends books wasn’t often focused at situation of clone troopers, nor gave specific details about his personal relationship with them while narrative itself provided examples how Skywalker is usually the first (sometimes the only one) person to act to protect troopers during fight. In contrast to him, in Labyrinth of Evil or ROTS novel Obi-Wan’s POV is full of thoughts about clone troopers yet he rarely do anything to help them in need. What of course does not mean that one cares more than other and it’s more about limited space to show the readers the full extent of the relationship between Jedi and clones, especially in the face of more urgent events.

Jedi Trial is one of few sources that allows us to see Anakin without Kenobi for a longer period of time during war. This is very important story, mainly because Skywalker is still a padawan who wants to prove himself as a real Jedi and commander, even though Council is still against knighting him. Jedi Trial was written by David Sherman and Dan Cragg and was published in 2004. Both authors served in military, and I think they did good job with presenting Anakin’s first real steps as commander of GAR.

Before I focus at the details, I want to clarify one thing. The biggest problem with the novel is that, it was supposed to be set somewhere in second year of Clone Wars, what A) leaves little time for Anakin to became a respected commander on his own, not to mention gaining the title of Hero With No Fear and B) makes little sense overall, because Anakin fought the war since day one and by that alone he should have at least basic of military experiences by now. Also, after two years fighting alongside clone troopers, I think any person would made some connection with them. Frankly, I always thought that Jedi Trial was (should be) set in earlier period of time, because there is little informations that give the feeling of such gap in timeline. It’s why I see this story as study of Anakin’s military career and the beginning of his relationship with clones that should happened sooner than in second year of war.

Keeping that in mind, here is short summary: Kenobi was sent on special mission - Anakin, as padawan, stayed in Jedi Temple to train and study military strategies, where he very quickly befriended Jedi Master Nejaa Halcyon. Soon after that Jedi Council have chosen Halcyon to lead attack on Praesitlyn. When he was asked whom he wants as his second-in-command, he decided to take Anakin. Council wasn’t happy to hear that but Halcyon’s practical arguments changed their mind. To make sure the younger padawan will manage as a commander, Nejaa hired befriended Rodian mercenery, Grudo. From onward, the Rodian soldier (in the rank of sergeant major) accompanied and advised commander Skywalker through the course of story.

Due to length, I splitted the text into two parts. First is focused mainly at Jedi & GAR preparations for upcoming campaign (Anakin as freshly promoted commander) while second will focus on Skywalker during battles. Clone troopers unfortunately aren’t main heroes (the way captain Rex is in TCW, for example) but their presence is visible and has impact on Anakin. But to show it in fully, I’m gonna bring some other paragraphs too. Which is why the text grew in length so much.

So, let’s see how the story played:

Anakin, Halcyon and Grudo were busy with preparation for upcoming battle:

The next days passed in a whirlwind of activity. The two Jedi and their Rodian comrade soon began to work as a well-oiled team. Grudo followed Anakin everywhere, interjecting advice whenever appropriate, but otherwise not saying much. The clone infantry had been divided among several transports, in order to minimize their losses if a ship was hit, so the trio were kept busy moving among the ships. At night they met in Halcyon’s stateroom to go over the details of the day.

One evening, Halcyon asked Anakin, “Are you familiar with the capabilities of the specialized troopers?” He was referring to the fifty clone commandos aboard the battle cruiser Teyr.

Anakin nodded, clone commandos were trained to be used for only the most dangerous missions, and as such were bred to possess a larger degree of independent thought and action than ordinary troopers. Equipped with highly advanced armor and weapons, they were capable of fighting successfully on their own, but with a Jedi commander their potential as an attack force was virtually unlimited.

“They’re yours, then,” Halcyon told him. “Take Grudo, go over to the Teyr, and get to know them.”

Surprised and pleased, Anakin wasted no time getting a shuttle to the cruiser.

Earlier, he had taken charge of his division, met with his brigade, battalion, and company commanders, introduced himself to the troopers, inspected them in ranks, and asked probing questions about their armor, equipment, and weapons. Grudo had had him bone up on these things and read the readiness reports the division’s commanders had submitted.

“You’re their leader,” he had said. “Soldiers don’t respect a commander who doesn’t know their weapons, equipment, and tactics better than they do. But remember this: all the clones are like brothers-twin brothers-and all clones think they’re the best. They work best under their own officers; they wouldn’t fight under me. Under you, yes, of course-you’re a Jedi. But although they respect you as a Jedi, now you must show them they can respect you as a soldier like them. You have to show them before we go into battle that you know what you’re doing.”

Anakin had done his best, and Grudo had been impressed with his handling of the troops. Now, as he headed for the Teyr, he was feeling more confident, eager to meet the clone commandos who were to be his to command.

First, I really like how the book, in contrast to some others, doesn’t point time after time that troopers in question are clones. Nejaa, Anakin and Grudo refer to them the same way they would address “normal born” people. Which is pretty nice details that also works nicely with TCW books (”My men”)

Anakin is freshly appointed commander but he already has some knowledge about structures of GAR. He knows basic differences between common trooper and clone commando, including more independent characters of specialized troopers.

Skywalker spent a lot time before the battle on meeting with troopers (”he had taken charge of his division, met with his brigade, battalion, and company commanders, introduced himself to the troopers, inspected them in ranks”) and getting to know as much as possible about their equipment and weaponary (”asked probing questions about their armor, equipment, and weapons.”) but also study paperwork (”Grudo had had him bone up on these things and read the readiness reports the division’s commanders had submitted.”). The last part is interesting because how often we hear about Jedi reading readiness reports or other stuff? I mean, Council usually is listening to someone giving report from the battle or after, but reading itself? There is so little information about paperwork in GAR, that clone troopers are doing apparently.

The older Jedi decided to give command over Republic Commandos to Anakin. Since Council is all the time against knighting Skywalker, it’s no surprise that Nejaa’s trust is so pleasing to him. This and Grudo’s praise for handling the troopers made Anakin much more confident in his own skills.

Also, Grudo doesn’t just praise him, he also gives important advices to Anakin. Clones will do what he will order because he is Jedi, but that does not give him automatically their respect. He must prove them he is worth soldier respect, that he is commander who knows what he is doing. Which is something that Anakin took to heart.

The captain in charge of the commandos called them to attention when Anakin entered their bay.

Anakin traded salutes with the captain. “At ease!” he commanded. He spread his legs slightly and clasped his hands behind his back as he scanned the soldiers before him. There were two sergeants in the group, judging by the green markings on their armor.

“I am Commander Anakin Skywalker,” he began. “You have been assigned to the Second Division, which I command. You will serve as part of my headquarters battalion, under my personal direction. Captain, you will not report to or receive orders from any other officer during this campaign. I will assign you missions as required by the tactical situation on Praesitlyn. I will not ask you to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself. Is that clear?”

“Arrrrruuuhh!” the troopers shouted in unison, coming to attention with a loud slamming of boots on the deck. The compartment echoed with their shouts.

The captain permitted himself a slight smile. “My troopers are ready, sir!” he reported.

Anakin glanced at Grudo, whose face was pulled down in the Rodian smile. “Captain, have the troopers fall out and fall in by their assigned bunks. I wish to inspect their armor, weapons, and equipment.”

Anakin spent the rest of the night inspecting the troopers. He found no dust, grease, or dirty weapons. Throughout the inspection, the captain followed Anakin with a datapad at the ready, but he was never told to enter anything.

On the way back to the Ranger, Grudo leaned over and told Anakin, “You did a good job with that inspection. You looked at everything you should, and weren’t petty, like some might have been. The troopers appreciate that. They’ll fight well for you, I can tell.”

Feeling his chest swell with pride and excitement, Anakin swiftly ran through the Jedi Code in his mind: There is no emotion; there is peace… A Jedi does not act for personal power… He was here to do a job-and what was more, a job that would cost soldiers their lives. He would do well to remember his training, he told himself. He was a Jedi, and he would do the Order proud. Taking a deep breath, he reached out to the Force, seeking serenity…

The first meeting between Anakin and the clone commandos who are gonna serve under his command went well. Grudo praised Skywalker for that he “looked at everything you should, and weren’t petty, like some might have been” during inspection.

Looking how “The captain permitted himself a slight smile”, I think the leader of commandos shared Grudo’s opinion as well.

What is also interesting, we see Anakin (Jedi commander) trading salutes with the captain. Frankly, I’m not sure if any movie or animated series showed something like that - beside one scene with Kanan and old captain Rex. Comics sources aren’t better in that matter. Usually clone troopers, if ever, are meet with Jedi-like bow of head. It’s nice detail, because Anakin (the Jedi) adapted into military regulation (custom) that clone troopers use on daily basis. Even the pose “at easy” he took after salute is very military-like (albeit he keep similar pose during AotC). I guess, those little details add authenticity to Rex’s words how Anakin, despite being Jedi, feel like true soldier.

Grudo’s praise is a source of pride and excitement; what kind of 20 years old human wouldn’t feel so good in Anakin’s place? At the same time, Skywalker is keeping himself as calm as possible, because war is not a game, and soon many troopers may die because of his orders. Even though Council distrust him for years, he still wants make Jedi Order proud.

After that we have a scene in which old Quartermaster is telling commander Skywalker in great details about logistic.

I talked more about it here, but I feel it’s worth to mention that A) Anakin is trying to get hold of all aspects of how army is working and takes seriously duties of commander - not just the planning battles and leading people into fight. Which I think is much more than Jedi commanders / generals usually did. Or at least, we rarely see them worrying about logistics or anything beside the battle itself. Most likely the clone commanders are the one who take care of such matters. Anakin (as Jedi officer) may be one of few exceptions to rule, and most likely he continues doing so since preparation for Praesitlyn. What may brings him closer to clone troopers, as a Jedi who fullfill all commander duties, not only those battle-related. The final advice of Grudo is that:

“Don’t be the kind of commander who leaves the details to others,” Grudo had warned him. He wouldn’t.

Keep reading

#anakin #meta #q #tcw #sw comics

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azure-cygni · 5 days ago

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It’s difficult to forget Jango Fett when the whole Great Army of Republic is made from his genes. The presence of clones is visible reminder about fallen bounty hunter and has impact on other characters. After reading various SW sources I would like to talk a bit about Mace Windu, Dooku and Anakin here.

In “Shatterpoint”, in his private journals Mace Windu was thinking he wasted at Geonosis an opportunity to stop war ([…]In my dreams, the purple flare of my blade sizzles the gray hairs of Dooku’s beard, and in the critical semisecond it takes Jango Fett to aim and fire, I twitch that blade and take Dooku with me into death. And save the galaxy from civil war. I could have done it.”). Because of that Mace admitted he doesn’t like to look at clones since it brings memory of Jango Fett (and thus memory of Windu’s failure):

“Mace avoided looking in their direction. Empty helmets sitting on the consoles too closely resembled the full one he had left on the arena sand at Geonosis.”

[…]

“On the far side lay a knot of dead clones. Four. He had to crav over them. Someone had taken off their helmets. Their eyes were open. Jango Fett’s dead face stared at him four times over. Dead eyes looked into him and saw nothing but his guilt.”

For Mace Windu, clones were an unpleasant reminder of Jango Fett - a man he killed instead of Dooku. Mace in his own opinion failed at Geonosis and thus their identical face of Fett reminded him about that guilt.

Count Dooku’s feelings about Fett were similar to those of Mace Windu. He knew Fett from Galidraan, where years before Clone Wars he and other Jedi massacred True Mandalorians under the leadership of Jango. That massacre was the tipping point that had changed Dooku’s life and one of reasons why he left Jedi Order. Even after Jango’s death, Dooku was haunted by memory of Galidraan - and thus the man too:

“The snow had melted; the dead were buried. But he couldn’t erase Jango Fett’s face, the face of a man back from the living death of a slavery that Dooku had delivered him into, etched with all the bitter lines of surviving only to have his moment of justice.

It was always the last image to leave Dooku. It wasn’t just that the millions of troops cloned from Fett made forgetting it impossible. It was that Fett hadn’t lived to see the downfall of the Jedi. Fett’s motive for sharing-aiding-Dooku’s ambition hadn’t been greed, he realized, but the same understanding that the Jedi Order was a destructive, destabilizing cabal.

The Jedi had killed Fett in the end. But most of him seemed to have died at Galidraan anyway, and only his insatiable hunger for justice had kept that formidable body moving”. [The Clone Wars novelization]

Even after his death, Jango haunted Sith and Jedi alike. Both Mace and Dooku associated Fett with not just turning point in their life but also with personal failure. As much as Dooku had some insight into Jango’s motivations, he thought that “most of him have died at Galidraan anyway”. Beside the insatiable hunger for justice there wasn’t much of thoughts what a man Jango once was. Dooku and Windu didn’t really think about Fett as a person, he was more like ghost of their past, a bitter reminder of failure.

And here [in ”Jedi Trial”] padawan Anakin Skywalker has a chance to prove himself as military leader. Under guidance of rodian mercenery Grudo, he is learning how to treat, interact and work with various subordinates, including clone troopers.

Anakin had a lot reason to dislike Jango Fett - a bounty hunter hired to kill Padme and who also tried to kill his master yet he didn’t have anything against clone troopers. Their faces didn’t bring any memory of past failure or guilt. Putting aside a problematic timeline of “Jedi Trial”, at this point in story regular clones were still seen as things; bred to war, obedient and disciplined by nature. Some people mocked clones, called them “fake”, an imitation of human.

For many people - even the Jedi! - it was easy to forget clone troopers were human beings and it was even easier to not think how clones were enslaved by Republic. During that time Anakin didn’t just learn how to be a good military leader but the new experiences taught him a lot about clone troopers:

“And then he realized something important. These were clone troopers sitting around him now-bred to war, bred to discipline, bred to obey without question the orders of the powers that paid for their services. But though their faceplates were expressionless, minute perturbations in the Force told Anakin that these five were reacting to the impending attack like regular troopers, troopers who sweat, were afraid, who could imagine their own deaths. In his attitude toward the clones, had he himself prejudged them? They didn’t act here, inside this transport that might soon be their funeral pyre, like they did in ranks. He wondered if Jango Fett had had a sense of humor.”

During battle Anakin could felt in the Force that clones under his command are something more than just trained weapons. They are men, who were afraid like any “normal” soldiers. In that moment he thought of them as a real people and wondered about his own possible prejudices toward them. That experience made him think about Jango Fett; not the skilled bounty hunter who died at Genosis but the man under helmet. Anakin wondered about Jango’s sense of humor, something really unimportant (especially during battle) but at the same time something so human.

Maybe I’m once more overanalyzing things, but the difference between Anakin and Mace & Dooku really struck me here. Because Skywalker once again humanize someone - Jango and clones - while two very significant and powerful masters of the Force didn’t have a time to wonder about such useless question about dead man. Galaxy is changing because of war, Jedi masters and Lords of Sith have bigger and more important things to do than wondering what kind of man Jango was. Yet there is Anakin, still between the Light and Dark, who wonders about Jango Fett and how much common clones were - or could be - similar to him.

#JANGO KRIFFING FETT 😭😭😭💙💙💙 let's gooo #meta #q #mandalore #jango fett

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