Clone Cadets " Clone Cadets " is the premiere episode for of the . It aired on September 17 , 2010 with the episode " ARC Troopers " for the season ' s one - hour premiere . It serves as a prequel to the episode " Rookies . " Chronologically , it follows the events of the film " " and is followed by the events of the episode Supply Lines . Official description . " Five headstrong clones struggle to complete their training on Kamino . These cadets – Hevy , Cutup , Droidbait , Fives and Echo – seem to be a " bad batch " and are unable to work as a team . As Shaak Ti and drill instructors Bric and El - Les debate the cadets ' fate , the clones learn to work together and accept their destiny as soldiers . " Plot summary . Domino Squad is in the midst of a pre - graduation exercise on Kamino in preparation for the frontlines . The purpose of the test is to reach the beacon atop a citadel guarded by various practice droids . However , the five - clone squad ' s teamwork is dysfunctional , as noted by its instructor , hired bounty hunter Bric , who is observing the exercise with fellow hunter El - Les and Jedi Master Shaak Ti . Thinking the squad to be a total failure , Bric suggests these " rejects " be sent to maintenance duty with 99 , a malformed clone . Bric ' s presumptions are soon proved right , as the practice droids defeat Domino Squad while it argues about procedure . As the clones retire to the barracks , Echo tries reminding his brothers that they have to follow orders . This gets him into a scuffle with CT - 782 before Bric breaks it up and laments his disappointment in them . Elsewhere on Tipoca City , Lama Su is considering rejecting Domino Squad but leaves the decision up to Shaak Ti because of her position as head of training . The next day , ARC trooper Commander Colt and two others have arrived to supervise the graduation tests . Bravo Squad , the first to take the test , passes with flying colors in record time . When it ' s Domino Squad ' s turn , it fails when Droidbait is hit and 782 decides to leave him behind , and Colt reprimands the squad for its mistakes . As they are passing through the barracks , El - Les tells Bric that Domino Squad should retake the test , though Bric expresses little faith in his squad . 99 overhears the conversation . That night , Fives and Echo go to Shaak Ti to request a transfer to Bravo Squad . But Shaak Ti denies them and explains that they need to learn to work together with the rest of their squad ; thus she permits them to retake the test the next day . Meanwhile , CT - 4040 is summoned by Bric for a reprimand . The bounty hunter tries provoking the clone into attacking him , looking for an excuse to get him and his squad kicked out , but the cadet refuses to give in . The only thing at which Bric succeeds is unintentionally giving 4040 a nickname : Cutup . In the night , 99 catches 782 attempting to go AWOL . He convinces 782 , whom he keeps calling Hevy , about the importance of brotherhood and teamwork . The next day , Hevy has taken 99 ' s advice and nickname to heart , and takes leadership of his squad . This time , the clones have found the team cohesion they had lacked earlier , but when they reach the citadel , they realize that their ascension cables needed to scale it are gone ; Bric had stolen them to test their skills and — if possible — see them fail . El - Les argues this unfairness to Shaak Ti , but she calmly states that the Separatists would not play fair either . Domino Squad quickly adapts to the situation by taking out the wall - mounted turrets and , using them as stepladders , successfully completes the test . Shaak Ti compliments Bric for his efforts in making these clones the best there are , and Bric is forced to admit that El - Les was right . Afterward , the bounty hunters give Domino Squad medals for graduation ; but as a sign of gratitude , Hevy gives his to 99 , so he will have a reason to return to Kamino . Domino Squad then joins the rest of its brothers in shipping out to the frontlines . Behind the scenes . When preparing the final test for the cadets , Commander Colt tells El - Les to set the challenge to " version THX variable 1138 . " This is one of the many references in George Lucas ' work to his first feature film " " . There is a continuity error towards the BX - series droid commandos utilized for the Citadel test , as they were not introduced chronologically until the episode Rookies , where it was stated that it was the first encounter of the Republic towards the commando droids .