Lightning Squadron / Legends Lightning Squadron was an elite cavalry unit that was part of the 91st Reconnaissance Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic . History . The unit was established at the start of the Clone Wars to handle special recon missions . Lightning Squadron consisted of ten ARF Troopers specially trained to operate AT - RTs and could be divided into two five - man squads , or lances , each led by a sergeant . A lieutenant was the commanding officer of the entire unit . Despite being subordinate to higher officials , the unit maintained a certain amount of autonomy and often worked behind enemy lines , far from any immediate help . Clone Wars . During its first action , the Battle of Herdessa , six days after Geonosis , the unit disabled the central control computer on board a Multi - Troop Transport after crossing the battle lines . This temporarily shut down the droid forces , which allowed the 121st Regiment free passage past Confederate artillery . During the Battle of Muunilinst , the squadron led three other AT - RT recon units in harassing IG lancer units and prevented an organized response to the main force ' s encirclement of the InterGalactic Banking Clan stronghold . At the Battle of Daalang , the unit crossed through the Separatist energy shield that protected an anti - orbital mass - driver cannon , rushed past its defenses , and destroyed the shield generator . This allowed the Star Destroyer " Eliminator " to bombard the cannon as Lightning Squadron rushed back to friendly lines . Under the command of General Mace Windu and Commander Ponds , it participated in the Battle of Ryloth . The unit greatly helped in the liberation of the world from Emir Wat Tambor . Lightning Squadron was a division of Windu ' s force during the offensive to free Ryloth ' s capital . Windu led his force to the capital via a cliffside path . This was a risky decision that did not escape the notice of the Separatist defenders . In an attempt to neutralize the Republic forces before they became a strategic threat , the Separatists sent a tank division to box the walkers in by disabling the leading and rearmost units before destroying the entire group . As the Republic force fell under heavy fire , Mace Windu ordered the deployment of Lightning Squadron ' s AT - RTs . Mace Windu led Lightning Squadron in a charge that completely routed the Separatist tanks , freeing the rest of the walker division to advance to their objective . They later took part in storming the capital city of Lessu alongside Cham Syndulla ' s freedom fighters . Razor and Stak were two particularly notable members during this battle . The pair served as Windu ' s companions for much of the campaign , accompanying him during his dealings with Syndulla ' s freedom fighters . Later , he took them along during his attempted infiltration of the plasma bridge control center in a Separatist convoy , which was spoiled by a Separatist inspection . The Separatist droids tried to drop Windu , Razor and Stak into the canyon below by shutting off the bridge ' s power , but with Windu ' s Force powers , they crossed safely . The Jedi Master held off the Separatist defenders so the pair of ARFs could storm the control center and enable the liberation force to enter the city . Ponds was later killed by Aurra Sing aboard " Slave I " . Late in the war , the unit saw action during the Siege of Saleucami before being transferred to Kashyyyk . Following Order 66 and the establishment of the Galactic Empire , Lightning Squadron continued in Imperial service , still under the 91st Corps that was now within the Imperial Army . Under the Empire . During the Galactic Civil War , the unit retained its AT - RT walkers and was augmented with armored AT - PT and 74 - Z speeder bikes , among other vehicles . Fighting against Rebels often meant probing their defenses and armaments by harassing Rebel bases , ahead of the main army , thus gaining vital intel for the main operation . It operated mainly under Army control , despite having clones in its ranks . As the war continued , members of the scout trooper division of the Stormtrooper Corps were transferred to the unit , and Lightning Squadron gained a floating status where it worked under different branches depending on the current goal . Following the Battle of Endor , the squadron participated in the Ryoone Campaign and , over the period of a month , participated in a series of engagements with the mercenary organization Churhee ' s Riflemen . However , the squadron was eventually defeated .