[CaptainCrunch]

I was rumbling through my storage locker the other day, as I was doing the typical thing or looking for possible regifts (I kid I kid).

Anyways I popped open one of my boxes of books, and saw a stack of the Republic Commando Books, and realized that I had never read past the first book, Hard Contact. Now there's a reason why I soured on these books, and mainly its because the writer Karen Traviss (sp?) when she wrote her part of the Legacy Series (Which is actually really a good series), she was a bit too in love and fantasy with Bobba Fett. However, with the re-appearance of Bobba on the Mandalorian, and with time on my hands due to very little in the way of Christmas Plans, I decided to dive into the series.

Basically the book series spreads from the start of the Clone Wars right to after Order 66, with the last book being Imperial Commando 501st.

I dove into the first book which was Hard Contact. The series follows Omega Squad, a group of Clone Commando's on a mission to destroy a biological weapon lab, creating a weapon that would target the Clones.

Now what's cool, is that these are different then the run of the mill troopers. Clone Commando's are more independent and creative then the normal Clone Troopers, clad in highly resistant Katarn Armor, they were strategic, and cunning and brutal. Lead by a Jedi Padawan the book goes through their battle against hundreds of Battle Droids, and questions the purpose of the Clones.

There's a sadness to this first book as the Clone Commando's realize that they're bred to die, they have no other life outside of war. What was even more stunning as Traviss gives some interesting humanity to these identical soliders is that when Etienne the Jedi Padawan first meets a clone she's confused because in the force he's a young child, in a adults body.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book this time around, and it really adds to the Clone Lore, and I think it was released before the Clone Wars series it really humanizes them in the same way that they humanized the Clone Troopers in the animated series.

I'm part way through the second book Triple 0. Which follows Omega Squad as they're recalled to Coruscant to track down separatist terrorists, and are joined by Delta Squad from the video game. In the course of this book they introduce Kal Skirata who was a training mercenary, and more importantly the Null Commandos. Originally slated for termination because they were extremely independent, wouldn't blindly follow orders, and with some were slightly psychotic. These Nulls were only loyal to one person which is Skirata. Unlike Commando's and Troopers they work independently as assassins and intelligence gathering assets.

What's interesting is in the second book which takes place a year after Geonosis, we see that Clones are developing independent personalities, to go with their names. And there is a certain despondency about their lives and being bred for nothing more then fighting and dying.

They had an interesting scene early in Triple 0, where Skirata and Ordo (A Null Commando) are riding on a train, and Ordo takes off his helmet and the reaction from the citizens of the train is very sad. They are shocked that Clones are human, and young. It shows the disconnect between citizens and soldiers that go off to die.

Anyways, thought I'd throw this up here because I'm enjoying these books more then I thought I would, and seeing the transition from Republic Commandos working with and almost worshiping Jedi to Order 66 to becoming members of the Imperial Military could be very cool.

I'd give Hard Contact btw a solid 7 out of 10.