401st Legion

The 401st Legion, later redesignated as the 401st Imperial Legion and the 401st Stormtrooper Legion, was an elite military legion within the 71st Delta Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. Under the leadership of Jedi General Del Morrigan, Jedi Commander Kenan Verso and Clone Commander CC-7427 "Rayvis," the clone troopers of the 401st fought against the Separatist Droid Army of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Throughout the conflict, the soldiers of the 401st were known for their courage, unconventional tactics and enduring loyalty to the Galactic Republic. 
The 401st Legion saw action on multiple battlefronts across the galaxy, becoming apart of several historic engagements such as the First Battle of Geonosis and the Battle of Zygnost. Prior to the campaign on Zygnost, the 401st was sent to escort Senator Ladan Duran on his mission to the world to ensure the Zygnostians' allegiance to the Republic. During the mission, the President of the Far Tech Alliance, Meeko Shrike, was revealed as a traitor of the Republic for conspiring with the Confederate Head of State Count Dooku. To discuss the Far Tech Alliance joining the Separatist Alliance, Dooku arrived on Zygnost with his flotilla, and after Duran attempted to have Shrike arrested, members of the Zygnostian Guard attacked the Republic forces to protect the President. The 401st sustained heavy casualties and was unable to capture Shrike or Dooku, who escaped Zygnost after their coalition was agreed upon. 
In the last days of the Clone Wars, Morrigan divided the 401st Legion by creating the 401st Division and stationing it aboard the Venator-class Star Destroyer Integrity during the Battle of Abrion Major. Led by Commander Rayvis, the division was created to participate in the invasion of the Separatist Research Center on Abrion Major, while the other half of the 401st was led by General Ran-Bo Nori and Clone Marshal Commander CC-7713 "Apollo" to defeat General Greez Findo's army of battle droids. As the battle coincided, the Sith Lord Darth Sidious transmitted a message to all clone troopers across the galaxy, declaring that Order 66 was in effect. The protocol caused the clones to turn on the Jedi as they were manipulated into believing that their commanding officers were traitors of the Republic. After receiving the order, Rayvis and the 401st Division began pursuing Morrigan and Verso onboard the Integrity. Although outnumbering the two Jedi, the division and the additional clone forces were unable to terminate Morrigan and Verso. The remaining troopers of the 401st were ordered to conquer Abrion Major and place the planet under an occupation. 
After the formation of the Galactic Empire, the 401st Legion was absorbed into the Imperial Military, becoming a legion of the Stormtrooper Corps. The 401st transitioned to the use of human recruits after the Empire suspended cloning operations on Kamino. Ultimately, the legion's last action was at the Battle of Endor, and it was fragmented along with the defeat of the Empire.
== Description==
===Commanding officers===
The 401st Legion was a military legion of elite clone troopers that served in the 71st Delta Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic under the command of Jedi General Del Morrigan, Jedi Commander Kenan Verso and Clone Commander CC-7427 "Rayvis." For certain instances, the legion would be led by Clone Marshal Commander CC-7713 "Apollo," commander of the 71st Delta Corps. It was also briefly and tentatively led by Jedi General Ran-Bo Nori during the Battle of Abrion Major, when Morrigan split the 401st Legion into two separate divisions.
Some of the most notable clone trooper officers within the legion included Clone Captain CT-0121 "Zep," Clone Captain CT-2517 "Red," Clone Lieutenant CT-5552 "Stinger," the clone trooper pilot CT-22/9119 "Falcon," who was promoted to the rank of Clone Lieutenant, Clone Sergeant CT-5765-86 "Mak," and Clone Corporal CT-7797 "Bolt."
===Organization===
The 401st Legion consisted of an elite group of clone troopers in service to the Galactic Republic, and as such, consisted of various subunits. When the legion was divided into two groups at the end of its service to the Republic, one of the groups was the 401st Division. It additionally contained a few regiments, which contained four battalions and consisted of about 576 troopers each. There were also a few armored brigades that were deployed within the 401st. Many companies made up the legion, including Alpha Company and Shadow Company. The legion also consisted of many platoons, which each consisted of four squads.
===Training===
Renowned for their bravery, unconventional tactics, unwavering loyalty, and teamwork, the 401st Legion was a tight-knit group that participated in historic conflicts from the Battle of Zygnost to the Battle of Abrion Major. The 401st would often work alongside other units of the Grand Army of the Republic to win numerous battles, usually against seemingly impossible odds. It was believed that Morrigan's unorthodox approach and charisma influenced the members of the 401st. As encouraged by Morrigan, the troopers were fierce in combat and demonstrated little to no restraint. As any other unit in the Republic, the troopers of the legion were trained in basic combat tactics, however, Morrigan constructed stricter training regimens to ensure victory on the battlefield.
===Equipment and vehicles===
The 401st Legion used numerous vehicles, including All Terrain Attack Pods, All Terrain Reconnaissance Transports, All Terrain Tactical Enforcers, BARC speeders, HAVw A6 Juggernauts, Infantry Support Platforms, LAAT/i gunships, LAAT carriers and other vehicles. The legion utilized Phase I clone trooper armor during the early period of the Clone Wars, from the First Battle of Geonosis until the introduction of the Phase II armor by the time of 20 BBY. On certain occasions, members of the 401st made use of jetpacks, such as the JT-12 jetpack, for aerial transportation and greater mobility.
At the begging of the Clone Wars, Rayvis wore his standard armor with maroon markings, command pauldrons on both shoulders, and a kama. By the time of the Battle of Zygnost, other clone troopers from the legion adopted the maroon markings on their standard white armor as well. Over time, more troopers of the 401st would customize their armor kit, also using maroon as a complementary color to the standard white. The distinctive maroon colored markings soon identified the legion as one of the Republic's most famous units.
As the war continued, the Phase II clone trooper armor became widespread within the Grand Army of the Republic, replacing the Phase I model. The 401st donned the new armor and adopted a common scheme of maroon markings that identified their unit affiliation. Nevertheless, some troopers such as Apollo, Rayvis, the Advanced Recon Commandos, and even common soldiers retained their own unique designs that differed from the rest of the 401st. The legion also understood that good communication was vital to coordinate actions during combat, so they utilized a built-in comlink in their helmets while on the battlefield.
===Troopers===
As a legion of the Grand Army of the Republic, the 401st Legion consisted of various specializations of clone trooper. Other than the standard clone trooper, the 401st consisted of clone trooper pilots in their starships and ground vehicles groups, as well as clone gunners and various clone trooper officers with a wide variety of customized armor and equipment. The 401st also had a range of specialized clone troopers that served in operational scenarios, including Clone Comms Technicians who were responsible for proper communication, and Clone Engineers who were tasked with making sure that Republic vehicles were operational.
Special forces clone trooper variants were also used in the 401st Legion, including several Advanced Recon Commandos for special operations, Advanced Recon Force Scout Troopers for reconnaissance and light vehicle support, clone paratroopers for aerial operations, and clone commandos. The legion also consisted of specialized troopers for other combat scenarios, including many clone jetpack troopers for aerial combat, clone sharpshooters for sniping and marksman action, heavy weapons clone troopers for heavy infantry support, and clone medics for medical aid and assistance.
==History==
===Clone Wars===
====Foundation====
At the beginning of the Clone Wars in 22 BBY, the Galactic Republic mobilized an army of clone troopers to fight the Droid Army of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, ending a millennium of peace. These soldiers were cloned from the genetic source material of the human template Jango Fett. The clones formed the backbone of the Grand Army of the Republic which was divided into various corps, legions, battalions, regiments, platoons and other units. 
One of the units within the Grand Army of the Republic was the 71st Delta Corps, and within the elite corps, was the 401st Legion, an elite group of clone troopers who participated in the first battle that initiated the Clone Wars, the First Battle of Geonosis. Although they were not yet assigned to the Jedi Knight Del Morrigan, the 401st was brought from its homeworld of Kamino to Geonosis by Grand Master Yoda to engage the Separatist forces. Despite being well trained in basic combat tactics, members of the 401st had no training to combat the Separatist battle droids, however fortunately for the Republic, the Separatists were preoccupied with defending their transports that were trying to escape into space. 
Despite the circumstances, the troopers of the 401st Legion fought against the latest droid forces, such as the B2-series super battle droid. Led by Clone Commander CC-7427 "Rayvis," he and his clone troopers fought well during the action at Geonosis, which earned them a status of high prowess within the clone army. Veterans of the battle earned critical frontline experience, which was passed down to rookie troopers meant to replace the casualties incurred by the unit. In the aftermath of the battle, the 401st was placed under the command of Morrigan, following his promotion to Jedi Knight and the military rank of Jedi General. Established as an official unit, the 401st Legion was deployed to numerous battlefronts as the war swept across the galaxy, and more Jedi began serving on the frontlines. 
====Battle of Zygnost====
Early in the Clone Wars, the Jedi High Council assigned Morrigan a new Padawan, Kenan Verso, and he also commanded the 401st with the rank of Jedi Commander. Verso saw his first action during the Battle of Zygnost, which occurred after Senator Ladan Duran undertook a diplomatic mission to Zygnost to ensure the allegiance of the Far Tech Alliance, which was a member of the Republic for decades. The Republic also dispatched Rayvis and the 401st Legion's Alpha Company alongside the Coruscant Guard's diplomatic service to escort Duran during the mission. However, the President of the Far Tech Alliance, Meeko Shrike, revealed that he was conspiring with the Separatist Head of State Count Dooku. Members of the Zygnostian Guard attacked the Republic forces to cover Shrike's escape, and once Dooku arrived on Zygnost, the battle initiated. The 401st sustained heavy casualties against the combined forces of the droid army and Zygnostian guards, and they failed to arrest Shrike so he could face judgement for his crimes against the Republic.
====Order 66====
At the end of the war, during the Outer Rim Sieges, the 401st participated in a number of battles, including the Battle of Abrion Major. The Republic dispatched the 401st and Jedi General Ran-Bo Nori's battalion to capture Abrion Major. According to Morrigan's plan to split the 401st into two groups for the invasion, he created the 401st Division, as a means to defeat the droid army on the planet then invade the Separatist Research Center. However, as the Republic forces pushed back the Separatists' defenses, Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine relayed a transmission to all the clone troopers, declaring the activation of Order 66. The secret protocol was designed to activate an inhibitor chip in the minds of all the clones which caused them to turn on the Jedi for treason against the Republic. Palpatine was secretly the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious, who utilized the clone army as the instrument for the fall of the Jedi Order and the Sith's rise to absolute power over the galaxy.
While on Abrion Major, Apollo and half of the 401st executed General Nori, as part of the order, while Morrigan, Verso, and the 401st Division were onboard the Venator-class Star Destroyer Integrity. After Rayvis and the division received the order, they formed search parties in pursuit of Morrigan and Verso, who managed to escape the clones' initial attack. With the help of the astromech droids, R3-D3 and R4-P11, the group made their way to the hangar of the Star Destroyer to look for an escape ship. After locating a number of remaining Nu-class attack/transport shuttles in the hangar bay, Rayvis and his troopers stormed the hangar and waited for the Jedi to leave the control room. With a plan in mind, Morrigan led Verso into the hangar and attempted to plead Rayvis for mercy, although, really attempting to stall for R4 to arrive with a shuttle. As the plan backfired, Rayvis ordered his men to fire on the duo and they began defending themselves again. As the skirmish coincided, R4 returned with an attack shuttle, only to be destroyed by Rayvis' reinforcements. Despite the loss, R3 retrieved another shuttle and returned to the hangar, firing the cannons of the ship at the opposing clone troopers. With an opening, Verso and then Morrigan boarded the shuttle and fled the Star Destroyer as the remaining clones attempted to shoot them down.
===Imperial Era ===
====Occupation of Abrion Major====
Despite the division's failure to eliminate Morrigan and Verso, the Jedi Order began to crumble across the galaxy, and Sidious transformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire, declaring himself Galactic Emperor. The remaining clones of the 401st were absorbed into the Imperial Military and ordered to invade the Separatist Research Center. After arresting General Greez Findo, the 401st stormed the cities on Abrion Major and conquered the planet in the name of the New Order.
===Legacy===
In the aftermath of the Great Jedi Purge, Morrigan and Verso recall the moment that Rayvis, their closest companion during the Clone Wars, instantly turned on them and ordered their execution. While Verso continued his training on Batuu, Morrigan taught him to be prepared for anything, even the unexpected betrayal of allies. The 401st's betrayal affected the Jedi's way of life and caused them to lose faith in the galaxy, before deciding to fight against the Empire themselves.
==Behind the scenes==
The 401st Legion will appear in the upcoming films Star Wars: The Spark of War and Star Wars: The Fallen Order. It is also set to appear in flashback scenes of the Clone Wars and Order 66 in the upcoming film Star Wars: Rise of the Rebellion.
==Appearances== 
*Star Wars: The Spark of War 
*Star Wars: The Fallen Order
*Star Wars: Rise of the Rebellion 
Category:Grand Army of the Republic legions
Category:Imperial Army legions
Category:Members of the 401st Legion
Category:Stormtrooper units