Broadside (clone trooper)

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"Broadside" was the nickname of a clone trooper pilot who served in Shadow Squadron, a Galactic Republic fighter unit under the command of Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, around 22 BBY. When the Malevolence, a Confederate warship under the command of 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 several 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 posed by neebray mantas, Shadow Squadron engaged the Malevolence and destroyed its ion cannons, preventing Grievous from destroying 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.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Acquiring Y-wing bombers 1.2 Attack on the Malevolence 2 Personality and traits 3 Behind the scenes 4 Appearances 5 Sources 6 Notes and references

[edit] Biography

[edit] Acquiring Y-wing bombers

The clone trooper pilot nicknamed "Broadside" served in the Galactic Republic's Shadow Squadron and was friends with his fellow squadron pilot Matchstick.^[2][3] Around 22 BBY,^[4] Broadside and the rest of his squadron prepared to accompany General Anakin Skywalker on a mission to hunt down the Separatist warship Malevolence, which had been attacking Republic fleets.^[2]

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 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 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.^[3]

After bringing the bombers to Skywalker's flagship, the Venator-class Star Destroyer Resolute,^[5] Broadside and Shadow Squadron were briefed by General Skywalker and Admiral Wulff Yularen. Skywalker explained that they would be executing an assault on the Malevolence and targeting 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. Skywalker referred the Jedi to Matchstick, who replied affirmatively, and Broadside agreed.^[2]

[edit] Attack on the Malevolence

Shortly afterward, Grievous's attack on a Republic medical convoy at Ryndellia revealed that the Malevolence's new target was the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center, a Republic medcenter near the Kaliida Nebula that treated over 60,000 wounded clone troopers. Skywalker devised a plan to intercept Grievous and departed the Resolute along with Shadow Squadron and Koon, who flew in his Delta-7B interceptor. Before leaving, Matchtsick made a bet with Broadside that if they survived the battle, drinks were on him, and Broadside replied that he could already taste them. Taking the Balmorra Run shortcut through the nebula in an attempt to beat the Malevolence to the medcenter, the squadron encountered several neebray mantas, which passed through the nebula on their nesting run, and posed a danger to the fighters with their sheer bulk. 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.^[2]

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, Skywalker 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 Skywalker immediately ordered his task force 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 the fellow trooper Tag's fighter, killing both Broadside's friend and Tag.^[2]

Despite its losses, 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, Shadow Squadron managed to disable the cannon. Due to the amount of damage, the cannons overloaded and exploded when fired, damaging the Malevolence's hyperdrive as well. While High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi arrived with three Republic Star Destroyers and began to attack the Malevolence, Skywalker, Tano, Koon, and their squadron landed inside the medical center to regroup and recuperate before pursuing the Malevolence. Due in part to Shadow Squadron's efforts, the Malevolence was prevented from fleeing to hyperspace because of its damaged hyperdrive^[2] and was eventually destroyed.^[6]

[edit] Personality and traits

Broadside was confident, and believed that Shadow Squadron was capable of completing its missions with "minimal casualties and maximum effectiveness." He was loyal to his Jedi General, Anakin Skywalker, and was also friends with fellow pilot Matchstick, even making a bet with Matchstick on the outcome of their assault on the Malevolence.^[2]

[edit] Behind the scenes

Broadside first appeared in Procedure, an issue of The Clone Wars web comic series, which led into "Shadow of Malevolence," an episode in the first season of The Clone Wars television series in which Broadside also appeared. Broadside was voiced by Dee Bradley Baker, who voices all of the clone troopers in the television series.^[5]

[edit] Appearances

• The Clone Wars: Procedure (First appearance)
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Shadow of Malevolence"
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels (Appears in flashback(s))

[edit] Sources

•  The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Shadow of Malevolence on StarWars.com (backup link on Archive.org)

[edit] Notes and references