Imperial riot troopers were highly-trained soldiers that specialized in containing and defusing insurrectionist scenarios.^[1] As military enforcers of the Galactic Empire, the riot troopers were typically stationed on subjugated worlds throughout the galaxy, such as Kamino and Cato Neimoidia. They were trained for close-combat, and thus were armed with electrostaffs, made from lightsaber-resistant Cortosis. As a consequence, they lacked any type of range weapon. In addition to their weapons, the riot troopers wore protective suits that slightly resembled the armor of the Imperial stormtroopers.^[2]

The riot troopers' special status was emphasized by the fact that they received training at an Imperial Academy on Yinchorr, the same planet where Emperor Palpatine's Royal Guardsmen were trained. Every riot trooper was required to swear the Oath of Obedience upon graduation as a symbol of their unquestioning loyalty to the Emperor and his Empire—an oath that could only be severed through death. In combat, they were often accompanied by a squad of stormtroopers; the troopers provided aid from a distance with their range weapons while the riot troopers closed in on the enemy with their electrostaffs.^[2]

In 1 BBY, roughly a year into the Galactic Civil War, a unit of riot troopers was massacred, along with several other types of Imperial troopers, in the Timira City Cloning Facility of Kamino. Six months after the formation of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, the Sith Lord Darth Vader commissioned a clandestine project to recreate his fallen apprentice, the late Galen Marek, through an experimental type of Kaminoan cloning technology. However, the procedure was initially imperfect and resulted in numerous abject failures, including an emotionally unstable clone who escaped from Kamino. During his break out, many riot troopers attempted to neutralize the rogue clone's progress, but were ultimately killed for their efforts. Although they were able to defend themselves against the clone's dual lightsabers, they were completely helpless against his genetically-inherited Force powers. For all of their weapons and training, they were no match against the clone's command of the Force.^[2]

The rogue clone of the original Starkiller fought against more Imperial riot troopers on Cato Neimoidia, shortly after his escape from Kamino. He intended to rescue General Rahm Kota, a member of the Rebel Alliance and Marek's Jedi mentor, from the Tarko-se Arena. The entire Imperial garrison in Tarko-se, including many riot troopers, attempted to kill the clone before he could reach the city; all who stood in his way were killed and the clone ultimately succeeded in his mission.^[2]

During the Battle of Kamino, many riot troopers were part of the planet's Imperial military defense force. The riot troopers on Timira City, however, were slaughtered by the renegade clone, who was forced to return to his homeworld in order to rescue Captain Juno Eclipse. The combination of Rebel ground assault forces and the clone of Galen Marek were too much for the riot troopers to contain. Hence, they failed in their duty to prevent the fall of Timira City and the capture of Darth Vader.^[2]

AppearancesEdit

• Death Star (First mentioned)
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II (First appearance)

SourcesEdit

• "The Good, the Bad, and the Gorog"—Star Wars Insider 121
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II: Prima Official Game Guide

Notes and referencesEdit

External linksEdit

• Gamespot TFU II gameplay walkthrough with Hayden Blackman