'Star Wars' Reveals The Origin of Stormtroopers

In the latest episode of The Bad Batch titled "War Mantel," we now have learned the origin of the most iconic part of all of Star Wars. We have learned the origin of the stormtroopers. Yes. The enforcers of the Empire and the most iconic baddies of all of Star Wars, now have their origins revealed. How did it come to be, and how does it differentiate from the old Legends days? Let's find out!

In "War Mantel," the Bad Batch infiltrates a facility that is training the first ever batch of Imperial stormtroopers. This is part of Operation War Mantel, which is the Empire’s plan to recruit various people throughout the Empire who would be completely and absolutely loyal to it and not the Republic or its Grand Army. This has been a running theme throughout The Bad Batch. While the Clones were loyal to the Republic, they were not loyal to the Empire or made for that purpose. They were made for a war that has long been over. Now the Empire needs forces not for battle, but for oppression. Of course, these forces still need to be trained. So how does it do that? Well, by having the old army train the new one.

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In the episode, we see that the facility is being helmed by not just troopers but also Republic Commandos. It would make sense to have some of the best of the best teach the new recruits the basics hoping that their talents would pass onto them. However, regular recruits aren’t clones. They might have skills but not the best of the best. Of course, according to clone commando turned defector Gregor, he (and possibly others) didn’t teach the recruits all their secrets, hence one of the reasons these stormtroopers will never be as skilled as their clone predecessors.

The rapid speed at which the Empire recruited these individuals is surprising but not unheard of. It would seem clear that Palpatine would want the transition from Republic to Empire to be quick as to consolidate as much power as possible before any true opposition could oppose his rule. Also, this might be a good reason by the time we get to A New Hope there does not appear to be any hint of clones in the Imperial army anymore. Canon overall has gone for a far quicker approach to seeing the transition between Republic to Empire . A far cry from the days in Legends and how the transition between clone trooper to stormtrooper took place, where it took its time and only slowly phased them out.

While recruits would eventually dominate the Imperial ranks, most of the Empire kept the clones on, many of them becoming veterans in the Imperial army and in some cases their most elite forces. Many long-serving clones, for example, served in the 501st, which would be nicknamed "Vader’s fist." Of course, in Legends, there was eventually a clone rebellion, where the Kaminoians did make clones to fight the Empire, and recruitment began to steadily increase, though other clone templates were used. Clones still remained as part of the fighting forces of the Imperial army, especially among the best units.

So in both Legends and canon, the transition from clone trooper to stormtrooper would eventually happen as the Republic became the Empire. One continuity seemed to go at a much slower pace while the other went full steam ahead. But the endgame is the same. It is the end of the age of freedom, the age of heroes. The dark times are here, and so is the Empire and its stormtroopers. From freedom to oppression. From good to evil.

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Written By Joel Davis

Source(s): StarWars.com

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