Lightning Squadron Lighting Squadron was a military unit in the Grand Army of the Republic , composed of Advanced Recon Force clone trooper s . During the Clone Wars , Lightning Squadron served under the leadership of Clone Commander CT - 411 ( " Ponds " ) , who reported directly to Jedi General Mace Windu . In 22 BBY the squadron deployed to Ryloth as part of a military campaign to liberate the Twi ' lek homeworld from Separatist occupation . The combined forces of the Galactic Republic and Twi ' lek Resistance marched on the capital city of Lessu . The ARF trooper s " Razor " and " Stak , " both of whom were part of Lightning Squadron , accompanied General Windu as the vanguard of the assault . Through their actions , the rest of the army gained entry to the city , resulting in the capture of Emir Wat Tambor and the Separatist military ' s withdrawal from the planet . Description . Lightning Squadron was a military unit of the Grand Army of the Republic . Its ranks consisted of Advanced Recon Force trooper s ; a variant of the standard clone trooper , ARF trooper s were noted for their intelligence and survival skills , as well as their ability to pilot the All Terrain Recon Transport walker s . Their clone armor was also a variant of the Phase I clone trooper armor , designed to be lighter in weight for the purpose of speed and stealth . History . Clone Wars . In 22 BBY , the first year of the Clone Wars , the Twi ' lek homeworld of Ryloth fell to the Confederacy of Independent Systems . In retaliation , the Galactic Republic initiated a campaign to liberate the planet and its people . After the Republic Navy secured the battle in space , the Grand Army of the Republic deployed to the surface with Jedi General Mace Windu leading the assault on the capital city of Lessu . The Separatist forces attempted to halt the invasion by using a group of Armored Assault Tank s to ambush Windu ' s forces , leading Clone Commander CT - 411 ( " Ponds " ) to call on the support of Lightning Squadron at the general ' s command . Utilizing their AT - RT walkers , the squadron ' s ARF troopers charged toward the enemy and although they successfully defended the army , Windu ' s forces sustained casualties during the skirmish . In the aftermath of the ambush , Windu scouted ahead taking the ARF troopers " Razor " and " Stak " — both of Lightning Squadron — with him . Upon encountering Cham Syndulla , leader of the Twi ' lek Resistance , the rebel Twi ' leks brought the ARF troopers and their Jedi officer to the resistance headquarters where Windu ultimately convinced the rebels to fight alongside the Grand Army in a combined effort to free Ryloth from Separatist control . Before commencing with the main attack on the capital , Windu infiltrated Lessu and distracted the battle droid s while Razor and Stak made their way to the control room and reactivated the plasma bridge , allowing both clone troopers and rebels to enter the city . The battle ultimately concluded in a decisive victory for the Republic , resulting in the Separatists ' full retreat as well as the capture of Emir Wat Tambor , a member of the Separatist Council . Behind the scenes . Lightning Squadron first appeared in the episode " Liberty on Ryloth " of the 2009 .