Clone Captain Grey

One of the last battlefronts of the Clone War, the mountainous world of Kaller was the site of Jedi master Depa Billaba's last stand.

They call themselves the Bad Batch. In the age of the Republic, the motley crew making up Clone Force 99 boasted an astounding 100 percent success rate and skills unseen in any other clone troopers. But with the end of the Clone Wars and the rise of the Empire, these soldiers have had to re-evaluate their place in the galaxy. Originally a four-member squad — Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, and Crosshair — the team has adapted over the years to welcome new clone members, including Echo and Omega. Those who remain continue to operate as a unit, using their unique talents to survive at a dangerous time.

A Chalactan Jedi, Depa Billaba served on the Jedi Council in the final years of the Republic. She witnessed the discovery of Anakin Skywalker, whom Qui-Gon Jinn believed to be the Chosen One, and tried to determine the will of the Force as the galaxy slid into tumult and war. During the Clone Wars Billaba took Caleb Dume on as her Padawan, but was unable to finish his training before the dreaded Order 66 ended her life on Kaller.

Not every Jedi perished in Order 66. Once known by the name Caleb Dume, Kanan Jarrus survived the Emperor’s purge, going underground for years and hiding the truth about who he really was. To keep his past a secret, Kanan carried a blaster -- an uncommon practice for a Jedi -- and used a lightsaber that had to be assembled. In the years leading up to the galactic civil war, he was a leader among the Ghost crew, a small group of rebels looking to strike back against the Empire, and with the emergence of the Force-sensitive Ezra, once again embraced his identity as a Jedi Knight.

At the time of their introduction, the Republic clone troopers represented the future of galactic warfare. Far superior to battle droids, the clone troopers formed the backbone of the Republic's new military that waged war against the forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. So symbolic were they of the times, the galaxy-wide conflict that saw their debut took its name from their ranks: the Clone Wars.

The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural, and Sheev Palpatine is the most infamous follower of its doctrines. Scheming, powerful, and evil to the core, Darth Sidious restored the Sith and destroyed the Jedi Order. Living a double life, he was also Palpatine, a Naboo Senator and phantom menace. He manipulated the political system of the Galactic Republic until he was named Supreme Chancellor -- and eventually Emperor – and ruled the galaxy through fear and tyranny. The galaxy rejoiced when he died at the Battle of Endor, but Sidious had cheated death and patiently plotted a return to power.