What Happened to the Clones After Order 66?

The aftermath of Order 66 was a tumultuous period for the clone troopers of the Galactic Republic. The traumatic experience of betraying their Jedi commanders set in motion a series of events that profoundly affected these artificial individuals. How did they cope with the betrayal, and what happened to them after the Republic fell to the Empire?

The Trauma and Deterioration of Clones

Good soldiers follow orders, and many clone troopers were committed to obeying their directives. However, the emotional and psychological toll of Order 66 was immense, leading to a rapid degradation of their mental health. The stress and trauma caused by the betrayal frequently resulted in extreme mental health issues for these soldiers. Near the end of their service, clones often faced severe brain degradation and, in some cases, complete mental breakdowns. They were frequently placed in ute situations, and their unreliable and unstable behavior made such placement necessary.

These clones were never recognized as individual human beings with rights; instead, they were treated as mere material assets of the Galactic Republic. This lack of recognition and humanity contributed significantly to their psychological turmoil. The rapid brain degeneration and the resulting dementia-like symptoms were so common that these individuals would often die much sooner than their service term would allow, typically within months of the Republic's fall.

From Republic to Empire: The Evolution of Clones

After Order 66, the surviving clones continued their service, now under the banner of the Galactic Empire. Overnight, they transformed from serving the democratic Republic to becoming the elite stormtroopers of the Empire. Their primary task was to eliminate the remnants of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, known as the Separatist holdouts. These holdouts included both droids and human civilians, and the clones' mission was to ensure their complete eradication.

During the transformation, the clones aged rapidly due to the accelerated aging process induced by the Kaminoans. Despite their initial 10-year service commitment, most clones would reach physical age 80 by their 40s due to the accelerated aging. This rapid aging process often led to their forced retirement by the Empire, even though they were still in their forties.

The Imperium and the Evolution of Trooper Policies

After the K)], the decision was made to diversify the trooper recruitment process. Future troopers would be cloned from different templates, aiming to create a more robust and adaptable military force. The 501st Legion remained unique, composed exclusively of Fett clones, while the rest of the Imperial military became more diverse, incorporating a mix of clones and conscripts.

However, the decision to use different templates for cloning was not without its drawbacks. Nepotism and politics influenced the selection process, leading to suboptimal results. Some of the templates were less than ideal, contributing to issues like the poor shooting accuracy observed in the Original Trilogy. By the time of the Original Trilogy, the Imperial military was divided into three groups:

Jango Fett clones, largely comprising the 501st and present in other units Non-Fett clones Non-clone conscripts and volunteers

This evolution of the Imperial military highlighted the ongoing challenges in maintaining a consistently effective and stable force.