Avid “Star Wars” fans know – or even those who are just “fans” on the surface – that the franchise has so many remarkable characters that it is incredibly difficult to keep track of all of them and who they are. Among these characters are the Domino Squad.
The Domino Squad is regarded to have some of the most memorable stories among the clones in the Star Wars universe. But who really are they, and how did they form? We’ll find out here.
Profile And Backstory Of The Domino Squad
Who are the Domino Squad? Well, they were a group of clone cadets in training under the surveillance of Bric. Bric was a Siniteen bounty hunter the Galactic Republic hired during the Clone Wars to train different clone cadets in the wake of the death of Jango Fett, also a bounty hunter.
The members of the Domino Squad were Cutup, Droidbait, Echo, Fives, and Hevy. If you are curious about their name, well, they earned that name because of their tendency to fall like domino pieces during training sessions.
But, as they progressed along the way, the squad managed to turn themselves into being a coordinated unit especially when they were given a re-take for their training exercise where they did all they could do to accomplish this mission. Particularly, they were deployed to a listening post on the Rishi Moon. And here’s a landmark event. On the Rishi Moon, a droid attack claimed the lives of some of the squad’s members – Cutup, Droidbat, and Hevy – which left only Echo and Fives.
Then, during the Battle of Lola Sayu, Fives was the only member left of the Domino Squad after Echo was presumed dead after the destruction of their escape craft. So the pressure was on for Fives.
Later in the war, while embarked on a mission in Ringo Vinda, Fives witnessed Tup murdering Jedi Mister Tiplar and discovered that all the clones had inhibitor chips within their heads so they could follow orders without questions. Nevertheless, Fox accidentally killed Fives after being framed for trying to assassinate Supreme Chancellor Palpatine before revealing his plan leading to Order 66. Order 66 was among the top-secret contingency orders that regarded all Jedi as traitors to the Galactic Republic. Thus, they were subject to summary execution by the Grand Army of the Republic.
But here’s a twist. Following that incident involving Fox, it was discovered that Echo had actually survived the explosion and was being held by Wat Tambor on Skako Minor. Echo was freed when Anakin Skywalker, together with Captain Rex and a Clone Commando squad known as “the Bad Batch,” raided the facility. He then went back to Republic service. Hopeful, but still not the best ending for the Domino Squad due to some of its members’ demise.
Formation Of The Domino Squad
How was the Domino Squad formed? The explanation is up next. The last season of “The Clone Wars” featured the Echo’s return. Echo, as you have learned earlier, was a long-lost Clone who hadn’t appeared seen since the third season when he was presumed killed by the Separatists. His death left his comrade-in-arms, Fives, as the only remaining member of the Domino Squad.
The Domino Squad was among the first groups of Clones fleshed out and endowed with personalities. You first saw the group together when they were still cadets in training. The rest is history. You can re-read their story in the previous section.
The Domino Squad’s Sucess Set The Stage For ‘The Bad Batch’
As you learned a while ago, the last parts of the Domino Squad’s story involved the Bad Batch, which was also referred to as Clone Force 99, a group formed as the result of the Kaminoan experiments.
Many fans argue that the Domino Squad has set the stage for the group’s current iteration. Crosshair, Hunter, Omega, Tech, and Wrecker were all unsuccessful clones, at least from the point of view of being different from their brothers. The same thing was said about the Squad when they were still in training under Bric. Had they not come through and become as triumphant as they were, the Bad Batch might have never made it to the field. So, thanks to the Domino Squad.
Like 99, it was also quite probable that the Bad Batchers would have chosen to stay on Kamino as maintenance staff and janitors. However, the Domino Squad’s actions made the Kaminoans and the Republic realize their value. Hence, their name: Clone Force 99. Interestingly, they were named after the ex-janitor who gave his life to protect his home.
Eventually, the surviving Echo went on to be part of the Clone Force 99. This is seen as a testament to Echo’s original unit which was now part of Clone Force 99. The story is a tear-jerker, isn’t it?
Wrapping Up The Squad’s Touching Story
The Clone Troopers are some of the most beloved characters in the Star Wars universe. Whether it is their cool armor or their part in epic battles, there are plenty of reasons why fans are invested in them and their story. However, at the core of this appeal is a more in-depth side of these clones. Their personalities, camaraderie with each other, and stories breathe life into them, such as with the Domino Squad.
