Coruscant Guard

The Coruscant Guard, also known as Senate Security, later known as the Imperial Guard, or Elite Stormtroopers, was formed under the Galactic Republic in 22 BBY as an elite, specialized division of the Grand Army of the Republic stationed on the capital planet of Coruscant. Composed of clone shock troopers, so named because of their focus on lightning fast responses, the Coruscant Guards were considered among the best and most loyal of the clone troopers in service during the Clone Wars between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

The Coruscant Guard's primary responsibility was to protect Coruscant and the Galactic Senate. Mostly, the Coruscant Guard was found protecting vital infrastructure and government buildings as well as serving as guards at the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center. Through the Diplomatic Escort Group, they provided details for senators and other important Republic dignitaries traveling off planet. The Guard also served as peacekeepers, assisting Coruscant's civilian police, the Coruscant Security Force (CSF). They coordinated their activities with them through the Homeworld Security Command and deployed riot clone troopers to assist the CSF in patrolling the streets of Galactic City. The Guards were given broad authority of arrest and detention through Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's emergency powers which was viewed with disquiet and concern by some.

Led by Clone Commander CC-1010, nicknamed "Fox", the Coruscant Guard was involved in several incidents during the war. Notable among them were the raid on Ziro's Palace during which they rescued Senator Padmé Amidala from Ziro the Hutt, escorting Jedi Grand Master Yoda on a mission to the moon of Rugosa, protecting Representative Jar Jar Binks during the mission to the planet Florrum, storming the Republic Executive Building during the Senate hostage crisis, putting down a riot at the Central Detention Center, serving as guards to Chancellor Palpatine during the Festival of Light on the planet Naboo, pursuing and capturing Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano after her arrest for the supposed murder of Letta Turmond and subsequent escape from the Republic military base, hunting down the rogue clone CT-5555 for trying to assassinate Chancellor Palpatine, and making a last stand to protect Senator Amidala during the battle of Scipio prior to the arrival of Republic reinforcements.

With the Declaration of a New Order in 19 BBY, the Republic became the Galactic Empire and Palpatine declared himself Emperor. After Master Yoda's duel with Palpatine, the Coruscant Guards, now under the command of ARC trained and promoted Commander CC-4477, nicknamed "Thire," searched for Yoda and also escorted Palpatine to the planet Mustafar to retrieve the severely injured Darth Vader. Though in far less numbers than their civilian counterparts in the CSF, the Coruscant Guards were made the primary police force for Coruscant, sharing responsibility for the capital's security with the Emperor's Royal Guard and placing the CSF in a much diminished support capacity. The Guard continued with mostly protecting important government buildings and infrastructure though they could take over any cases they so chose, especially if requested to assist the Imperial Security Bureau.

During the war, the Coruscant Guards had been the first to be nicknamed "Stormtroopers" by the Coruscant population, a term that was swiftly applied to all of the clone forces now reorganized into the Stormtrooper Corps. As the clones aged, members of the Guard were recruited from inside the Stormtrooper Corps. The Guard remained a separate organization from the Stormtrooper Command structure as well as from the stormtroopers assigned to the CSF. They also received distinct crimson-colored armor that was light, yet heavily padded, and made them into a easily recognized presence. The Guards became ruthless symbols of Palpatine's power, not only on Coruscant, but a few other select Core Worlds as well. With the capture of Coruscant by the New Republic in 6 ABY, the Coruscant Guards and all other stormtrooper units on Coruscant were disbanded.

Text and facts from the “Coruscant Guard/Legends” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.