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Continuity & Analysis

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Unknown (2014) [S6E1]
The truth about yourself is always the hardest to accept.
"Battle for Ringo Vinda! Republic forces are locked in heated combat with the droid armada on
a massive space station that encircles an entire planet. Anakin Skywalker valiantly leads his
men against the onslaught, which has lasted several rotations with neither side gaining any
ground. Aided by the twin sister Jedi Masters Tiplee and Tiplar, the Republic now mounts
a desperate offensive to break the deadlock..."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Conspiracy (2014) [S6E2]
The wise benefit from a second opinion.
"A flaw in the plan! While in the middle of a heated battle, clone trooper Tup lost his senses
and killed a Jedi General. Seeming to have no awareness of his actions, Tup's health began
to deteriorate rapidly. Fearing the illness was linked to a Separatist plot, Anakin Skywalker
has dispatched Captain Rex and ARC Trooper 5555 to escort Tup back to the cloning
facilities on Kamino for an intensive evaluation..."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Fugitive (2014) [S6E3]
When in doubt, go to the source.
"Cause of death: unknown. Kaminoan doctor Nala Se was unable to find the cause of
an illness in clone trooper Tup. In a desperate attempt to save his friend's life, Fives located
and removed a tumor from Tup's brain, with the help of medical droid AZI-3. Immediately
following the procedure, Tup died, and Fives was placed under arrest. Now the tumor
is the only hope for finding answers to Tup's mysterious illness..."
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Orders (2014) [S6E4]
The popular belief isn't always the correct one.
"Clone crisis! After the mysterious death of his friend Tup, ARC trooper Fives embarked on
an investigation, which led to the discovery of a hidden chip which is placed inside clone
troopers when they are still embryos. The Kaminoan scientist Nala Se claims the chip is
harmless, and is meant to restrain the clones from violent, unpredictable action.
Fives claims otherwise, and has convinced Jedi Master Shaak Ti to allow him to plead his
case directly to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine on Coruscant..."




CONTINUITY
These four episodes form a single storyline about the clone inhibitor chips. The chronological order of episodes is as given by Lucasfilm,
and follows their release order. The planet Ringo Vinda is seen for the first time, but only from space. Four worlds are seen in these episodes:


- Ringo Vinda is a well-populated world located in the Eucer Sector, in the Trans-Hydian region of the Mid Rim. The planet is an important industrial and
commercial center, which is also notable for the massive ring space station that encircles the planet, which serves as a distribution center and civilian
shipyard, as well as functioning as a port for resupply and maintenance. The planet also hosts a native ecosystem, although no sentient species is
known to be native to the planet. According to supplementary material, Humans are the primary species to have colonized the planet.


- Admiral Trench is commanding the Separatist forces at Ringo Vinda, having survived the destruction of his flagship's bridge in 'Cat and Mouse' (S2E16). He was
severely injured, and had to have his left eye and several of his spider-like arms replaced by cybernetics. He has fought in many battles since those events.

- Clone Trooper Tup, CT-5385, was first seen in 'Darkness on Umbara' (S4E7), and the Umbara storyline, as a member of the 501st. He has a tattoo of a single tear,
which is also painted on his helmet, and on a personal insignia on each of his pauldrons.

- The clone inhibitor chips are organic circuitry built out of cells, that were implanted in the clones at an embryonic stage. The clones are doubly programmed,
first with an inherent set of overriding directives, and then secondarily by their upbringing and military conditioning. Primary directives include subservience
to the chain of command, and to reduce their aggression from Jango's level to that of an ordinary soldier. They also have a programmed directive to override
their loyalty to a Jedi and kill them, installed as a safeguard against rogue Jedi, but that information has been compartmentalized to prevent the Jedi from
becoming concerned about the danger it would represent to their lives. When triggered, the clones mindlessly repeat the phrase "good soldiers follow orders"
whenever they try to reason against the directive of the chip, or when others raise points which interfere with their new overriding priority. This example of
Clone Protocol 66 being triggered was due to a chip malfunction, and thus was not a clear-headed execution of the programming. Tup couldn't help himself,
and seemed entranced by the Jedi and the thought of killing her. When he is again lucid, he doesn't remember his actions, presumably due to the malfunction.
Nala Se reassures Tyranus that this was "isolated incident", as indeed it seems to have been, nevertheless the Kaminoans also suggested that the clones would
be totally obedient, and take any order without question. After three years many clones have overridden much of that programming by expanding their
minds through experience, contemplation, and learning from others, especially the Jedi. Nala Se says this divergent behavior is caused by Jedi inspiring
creative thinking to explain Fives' actions, and is certain this malfunction will not continue to occur and interfere with Protocol 66.

- The Separatists have begun to deploy B2 Super Rocket Droids, which are an upgraded version of the B2-RP Super Battle Droids seen throughout the war.
Like the B2-RP, these B2 droids have built-in rocket boosters which allow them to maneuver in an atmosphere and to attack in space.

- Dooku is a very busy man, with a galaxy's worth of things to attend to. He needs to sleep at times, and presumably to eat, to oversee Separatist political
and military affairs, to fulfill his duties as the political leader of the Alliance, to keep up his public face, to attend to his secretive Sith projects, to be on call
for Sidious, as well as to receive pressing information about developments in any previously mentioned area. In addition, he is remiss if he doesn't spend
some time meditating through the Force, as the potential to learn about the future, peer into the present, or receive revelation from the Force is far
too valuable a resource not to take advantage of. When Admiral Trench calls him to tell him about the clone malfunction, he begins by telling Dooku
he has turned back the latest Republic push on the station. Dooku makes it clear that he is going to be irritated if this is why Trench is bothering him.

- There have been rumors the Separatists are trying to develop an anti-clone virus, some kind of biological weapon designed to only target clones.

- Shaak Ti has returned to Kamino since the last storyline. The Rancor Battalion, which defended Tipoca City from the early days of the war through the Battle
of Kamino, seen in 'ARC Troopers' (S3E2), has been replaced at some point by the Kamino Security Force. This may have been due to the heavy losses which
the Rancor Battalion suffered, perhaps leading to their experienced personnel being reinforced and deployed elsewhere. The Kamino Security Force wears
armor painted with grey highlights, and an insignia based around the Aurebesh letter S, presumably standing for 'security'.


- Nala Se is identified as one of chief engineers of the clones. She first appeared in 'Shadow of Malevolence' (S1E3).

- Fives' clothes in the medical center have his designation printed on them, CT-5555. Fives gives his number as CT-27-5555 in 'Clone Cadets' (S3E1) just before
graduation. It is presumed that clones designations are abbreviated, as there are millions of clones, so the -27 is dropped. Krell refers to Fives as ARC-5555 in
the Umbara storyline (S4E7-10), which was either a continuity error, or both ARC-5555 and CT-5555 are equally valid, as he is an ARC clone trooper.
Main Article: Dooku, Sifo-Dyas, and the Clone Army

- Nala Se tells Shaak Ti that "every clone, and their genetic make-up, are property of the Kaminoan government", which doesn't initially draw any response.
Later Nala Se tells Fives that he is an organic droid and slave, saying "you were created in our laboratories. You are Kaminoan property." At this point,
Shaak Ti points out that under their agreement to allow Kamino a major role in the Republic, he is actually a slave of the Republic. She doesn't seem to
have any concerns that the Jedi are against slavery, and that she should be using her power to assert Fives' rights. Instead, she is only concerned with
the power and authority of the Jedi Council, telling Nala Se that "technically he is property of the Republic." The very nature of the soldiers the Jedi are
to command in this war violates their principles as much as the lengths they must go to in order to win it, just as Sidious has intended.
Main Article: Darth Sidious and The Plan

- AZI-3's designation is AZI-345211896246498721347, an unnecessarily long name which was added for comedic purposes, which is entirely impractical.
There is no way that there are anywhere near that many AZ-series droids on Kamino or in the entire galaxy, thus it is very long for no reason. As almost
no one could remember the entire designation, it is fortunate AZI-3 doesn't have the same problem many droids do with others abbreviating their name.

- Nala Se and Lama Su are clearly involved in deceiving the Jedi, as Nala Se expects Clone Protocol 66 to be utilized, calling this a "preemptive execution" of the protocol.
Lama Su decides that they "must contact Lord Tyranus". Tyranus tells them that "the chip is a safeguard against rogue Jedi. Master Sifo-Dyas was the only Jedi who
knew of this, but with his passing, we alone know of this secret, and you must keep it that way." This seems to imply that Tyranus has never told the Kaminoans
the full extent of the plan, and that they only know that Lord Tyranus is in charge of the program, presumably as instructed by Sifo-Dyas, and that the regular Jedi
aren't supposed to be told about this protocol in their chips. Tyranus tells them that "the true nature of the inhibitor chip must not be discovered by the Jedi",
which indicates that they clearly understand there is a conspiracy they are being paid handsomely to participate in, but not necessarily how it is intended to be
used. It doesn't seem like they conceive of any distinction between the Jedi and the Sith, as Lamu Su reflects that "these Jedi are a curious cult", immediately
after speaking with Tyranus. It is probably partly intentional, as Dooku manipulated his friendship with Sifo-Dyas to kill him, and then assume his identity with
the Kaminoans, and subsequently transfer the project to Lord Tyranus. The Kaminoans were an isolationist society which hadn't interacted with intergalactic
civilization for a very long time, and have been introduced to these Jedi and this Lord as essentially working together, with Sifo-Dyas and Tyranus being part of
a different circle or degree within their religion. There is no overt evidence to suggest any Kaminoans know these Sith have murderous intentions towards the Jedi.
Nala Se doesn't seem to know Palpatine is connected to Tyranus, nor do they seem to know of Sidious, as they were likely told as little as possible.
Main Articles: Dooku, Sifo-Dyas, and the Clone Army & Awareness of the Jedi and the Sith

- Jedi Council is contacted by Shaak Ti on Kamino, thus her seat is empty. Oppo Rancisis is once again too busy to show up or appear as a hologram.
Adi Gallia's replacement Stass Allie has likely not yet been selected, or potentially has been but is engaged in battle or some other pressing matter.
Mace Windu, Coleman Kcaj, and Ki-Adi Mundi are also off-world, and are attending as holograms.



Was there fighting on the surface of Ringo Vinda, in addition to the battle in space and on the space station? They
reference one point in the battle where Tup turned up after five days missing in action, which could have been on
the station, however Palpatine's eventual cover story seems to suggest they were first fighting on the planet's surface,
as it is unlikely a parasite would be in the water on the space station, and no cantinas or similar locations were seen on
the station. The part of the station shown was only hallways and what seem to be cargo transfer or warehousing
locations. Given its size and function, it should have a great many amenities, as well as many people on board,
although no civilians are shown. It is entirely possible they have evacuated due to the fighting, but in that case there
wouldn't be an open cantina to get parasites from to begin with. As this made-up parasite was "native to Ringo Vinda",
this seems to imply they also fought on the surface.


- Both Tup and Fives mention 'the mission in our dreams that never ends', when they are dying, relieved that it is over. This is likely the psychological
manifestation of the product of their design, conditioning, education, and training. Like organic droids, their directive to achieve their objective,
follow their orders, and to be subservient to their taskmasters, is subconsciously their central motivating factor, which leads to a stressful state of
constant readiness. This would undoubtedly cause hypertension if they weren't engineered to withstand the stress, but doesn't mean they enjoy it.

- Nala Se orders a memory wipe on Fives, which is apparently something they will do to a clone that becomes too individualistic or becomes obsessed
with something regardless of being ordered to drop it. It's unclear if Shaak Ti knows they do this, but if she does know, she has no problem with it.
In this instance, Nala Se is doing it primarily to aid in her cover-up and prevent the distraction. It does seem odd that AZI-3 suggests he will be
wasted on sanitation duty, which apparently means they are going to wipe out his training in addition to his experiences in the war.


How is it possible that Fives punches a trooper wearing a helmet once and knocks him out? It is difficult enough
to knock someone out with one punch, but the very idea of an helmet is that it should make this much more difficult.
This is usually done to move the story forward rather than dwell on a minor scuffle, but when the one knocked out
is wearing an helmet it takes away from the realism. There are a few examples of this in The Clone Wars series.


- Shaak Ti realizes Fives isn't trying to kill or sabotage anything, and is trying to investigate some unknown thing connected to this incident. Instead of
becoming interested in what his search for knowledge is about, she still tries to stop him and regain authority over the situation. She remains
reasonable, but she doesn't really listen to Fives, and isn't inclined to believe in crazy stories or distrust the Kaminoans. This type of response isn't
typical of Anakin, who would usually be actively loyal, or Obi-Wan, who would be open-minded and academic, but is very much in keeping with
Jedi principles. The Jedi seek to distance themselves from emotional responses to situations, and usually prefer to assert their authority as
arbiters and supposedly impartial observers. She is far more concerned with Fives' disobedience than what she sees as an unlikely conspiracy.


There is no traffic of any kind visible around Coruscant during their approach, which is certainly impossible. Additionally,
there is no traffic anywhere in the sky when the ship is over the city on the way to the medical center. This is very likely
impossible. The gargantuan population, the sheer size of the planetary economy, the incredible number of ships which
must be leaving Coruscant or arriving at the planet every hour, and numerous other factors make a total lack of traffic
in these two shots impossible, and contrary to established material. This is also seen at one point in Episode III.


- Fives is taken to the Grand Republic Medical Facility on Coruscant, which is a state-of-the-art facility which treated badly injured clones during
the war. It was first seen in Episode III, and is where Vader will be treated and given additional replacement appendages.


- 79's is a clone bar located in Galactic City, somewhere outside of the Senate District, but relatively nearby geographically. It is frequented primarily
by off-duty clones, as well as those who enjoy the company of clones, women in particular. Many clones are wearing their dress uniforms, partly
as a show of pride as soldiers, and likely also because they don't own much else to wear besides their armor. Most of the clones seem to be
non-commissioned officers, chiefly sergeants and corporals, although some lieutenants and many regular troopers are also present.

- Fives meets an officer he doesn't know, but immediately identifies him as a corporal by looking at his rank insignia bar. The insignia for a clone army
Corporal is three squares, which are blue, red, and red when listed from left to right from the viewer's perspective. A group of off duty army officers
from Obi-Wan and Cody's 212th Attack Battalion, made up of three Sergeants and a Lieutenant, are also seen enjoying a toast to their unit.
Main Article: Ranks and Rank Insignia

- A Coruscant Guard trooper questions a clone Corporal if he has seen Fives by showing him a hologram and asking "have you seen this clone?"
Ordinarily that would have been a bad joke, but the clones are experts at telling each other apart.

- Fives gives coordinates for a meeting in Sector I-9, on Level 1325. Sector I-9 must be a sector of the region of Galactic City where the Senate District
can be found. It contains at least one of the massive portals which allow access to the lower levels. Level 1325 is deep in the underworld, about
ten levels above where Ahsoka was searching in the previous storyline, and is 3802 levels beneath the artificial surface known as Galactic City.

ANALYSIS
While the Battle of Ringo Vinda takes place in the Mid Rim, it is part of the 'Outer Rim Seiges', in that it is a battle in the Rim at this time period
where the Republic has isolated a large Separatist force occupying a well-fortified position. It also lies very near the 'border' between the Mid Rim
and the Outer Rim, and thus should be considered part of those campaigns. Ringo Vinda is a world in the highly contested Trans-Hydian region
which lies between two of the galaxy's most important hyperlanes, and was a Republic world invaded by the Separatists at some earlier stage in
the war. Now that the Republic has the momentum and initiative in the Rim, they are attempting to liberate this world, while the Separatists
have added retreating forces to their already stiff defenses. The Republic forces are now battling Separatist forces for control of the massive
space station which rings the planet, and each side seems to hold different portions of the station. The Republic fleet and Separatist fleet seem
to engage in combat to support offensive actions, but also seem to be attempting to preserve the bulk of their forces, to prevent a decision in
the naval battle which might leave their ground forces and those on the station at the mercy of the opponent.

On the station, the Republic seems to have been winning the battle before the events which led to the death of one of their Jedi leaders, despite
the fact that neither side has gained much ground for the last few rotations. Anakin and the 501st are fighting alongside Jedi Masters Tiplee
and Tiplar, who are sisters, along with their unit, which is not named but is led by Commander Doom. The close quarters fighting gives
the droids the advantage of being able to swarm enclosed spaces, but also makes it difficult for them to surround their opponents, who can
use the structure of the station to keep combat in a linear direction. While the Republic is unable to achieve victory in what would have been
the decisive point in the battle, they still maintain control over one part of the space and the station when last seen, although the Separatists
seem to be once again secure holding the other side of the station. Based on the return of Anakin and the 501st to Coruscant, it is likely
the Republic withdrew from the battle shortly after, unless different units were brought in to reinforce and replace the depleted units.

This malfunction in a clone's inhibitor chip could ruin Sidious' plans. If clones could start executing Protocol 66 too early, it would almost certainly lead
to discovery of the programming by the Jedi. Fortunately for Sidious, the openly declared nature of the chips allows him some room to cover this up.
As long as the chips are in place and working, the clones should be less aggressive and more compliant to orders. If the chips are removed, any actions
they take or theories they have can be dismissed as malfunctioning behavior. Despite his safeguards and attempts to stop this investigation, Sidious finds
himself holding his chips removed from clones while Fives tells the Jedi it's a conspiracy to kill Jedi by the Separatists, and therefore by the Sith. Basically
his entire plan has failed, and yet it has additional safeguards built in. The Jedi trust Palpatine, and they trust the overall virtue of clones, and they are
therefore unwilling to easily believe the clones are programmed against them, or that Palpatine is trying to confuse them. He can also use his position
and 'neutral' perspective on the issue to manipulate the course of the investigation, or in this instance, to provoke Fives into acting against him, thus
seeming to prove he is a danger without his chip. This allows Palpatine to seem justified in giving the extracted chips to Nala Se, secretly knowing that
she will give them to Tyranus, without seeming in any way eager to have reached that conclusion, or to have any agenda regarding the issue.

Nala Se is working hard to cover up what has happened, first by saying it must be a virus, and seeking to terminate Tup for an autopsy. Shaak Ti thinks
it is probably Separatist brainwashing at first, believing the clones wouldn't do this otherwise, and wants to do the atomic-level brainscan that was
also an option. While the Jedi Council agrees to the examination, the Kaminoans attempt to euthanize him anyways, to cover up the true cause of
Tup's breakdown. After Fives removes the tumor from Tup, Nala Se attempts to obstruct every move, and even switches the case with the extracted
tumor for another case. Nala Se sticks to the virus cover up all the way to the end, while the Jedi are at least entertaining the possibility that there is
a plot against the clones, but not too seriously. The Jedi are willing to believe that taking the chips out makes the clones unstable, which prevents them
truly considering what Fives has begun to figure out. Palpatine comes up with the parasite cover up to explain why it effected two clones but only one
had a chip, which leaves the Jedi with questions and concerns, but no longer any evidence upon which to investigate further.

Fives figures out the Kaminoans are lying to the Jedi, and trying to cover something up, but Shaak Ti doesn't really believe him or trust his word in this matter.
Fives uncovers the particulars of Sidious' plot against he Jedi, and while he doesn't put it all together, he did figure out how this could be used against the Jedi,
the very thing Sidious does not want the Jedi to become aware of. Fives also knows that Palpatine is connected to it somehow, but only because Palpatine
basically told him as much, as a way to instigate his behavior which would seem dangerous and erratic to the Jedi. Ultimately, Rex and Anakin were always
his best hope of being listened to rationally, but their prejudice about what is going on keeps them from truly taking him at his word. Anakin doesn't believe
him at first because it sounds far-fetched, but refuses to hear more when the honor of his beloved mentor and leader Palpatine is questioned. Anakin's
loyalty to Palpatine leads to the death of his ally and friend, and protects that which threatens the Order, just as it will in Episode III. Fives dies having
succeeded in communicating everything he learned to the only people who might trust him enough to believe him, Shaak Ti, Rex, and Anakin, and yet
each of them fails him, although Rex really did all that he could. Once again, the Jedi fail to recognize the threat to the Order that is right in front of them,
even when it is explained to them directly. Their inability to consider the patience and deviousness of a Sith plan has left them blind to this conspiracy.


FURTHER ANALYSIS
The Clone Wars on Human Rights