77th Nighthawk Battalion

The 77th Attack Battalion was a unit that served in the Grand Army of the Galactic Republic's Special Operations Brigade during the Clone Wars. Infamous for their success in nocturnal engagements, they were nicknamed "Nighthawk Battalion". After several successful operations, they were given armour with high-tech HUD systems, and some of their personnel wore armour with a rare cloaking capability. Thus, Nighthawk troops were only selected from other units and veteran personnel.

## **History**

### **Clone Wars**

#### **First Battle of Geonosis**

On Geonosis, a company of clones made an impressive series of advances against the Separatists, and went on to perform night raids against the Separatists across various worlds in the early months of the Clone Wars. This earned them the nickname "Nighthawks", and their actions earned them a spot in the Special Operations Branch.

#### **Prison Ship Showdown**

At one point, a squadron of 77th were tasked with securing a priority CIS prisoner aboard a Republic cruiser. BX-Series commando droids, IG assassin droids, and a pair of IG-100 Magnaguards boarded the ship. Despite their losses, the 77th was able prevent the prisoner's release.

#### **Base Recovery**

When a CIS fleet attacked a Grand Army base that Republic High Command believed to be impenetrable and took it over, the Nighthawks were sent to discover how the battle droids entered the base before taking it back.

#### **Anti-Cult Operations, Coruscant**

At one point in time, a unit of Coruscant Guard sent to tackle an apparent cult hideaway in the Coruscant undercity went dark and troopers from the 501st and 77th had to be sent in their place.

During another operation where they worked alongside members of the 501st Legion to take down cultists, the task force was captured and regained consciousness aboard the cult's home frigate. They escaped, alongside prisoners from the Coruscant Guard and 812th Reconnaissance Battalion, as well as a senator who was being held for ransom.

#### **Artifact Escort**

When a Venator carrying a Sith artefact was disabled as a result of sabotage or an enemy ion cannon, the 77th Nighthawk protected it until reinforcements could arrive.

### **Information Retrieval**

When a Republic base went silent and the clones stationed there didn't alert anyone, the 77th were sent in to investigate the base, destroy any Separatist droids and retrieve key information from the base's databanks.

#### **Mygeetan Supply Run**

A lone Nighthawk venator was on the way to Mygeeto to deliver supplies to the 21st Nova Corps when a CIS capital ship and it's frigate escorts jumped out of hyperspace and intercepted them. A small number of the personnel aboard survived the incident.

#### **Rishi Ambush**

A second venator carrying secret technology was also ambushed, near Rishi Moon. The 77th stationed aboard the vessel managed to hold out.

#### **Battle Against Infiltraitors**

During one battle, the 327th Star Corps and 77th Night Hawk Battalion worked together to outflank and destroy a legion of commando droids who had disguised themselves in clone trooper armour.

#### **Second Battle of Geonosis**

When armoured assaults on a droid foundry proved futile, a squadron of Nighthawks were tasked with breaching and clearing the facility, and setting an adequate amount of explosives that they had detonated upon their escape.

## **Unit Summary**

The 77th Nighthawk Battalion was rather unique in that it contained six companies instead of the ordinary four: four of the companies were primary and the other two served support functions or were kept in reserve.

Fuse Company contained some of the Grand Army's best engineers, known for their enhancements made to weaponry, vehicles and artillery.

Shrapnel Company was entirely made up on infantry, who participated in siege and defense operations. They had the "Netherworld's Wrath", a modified mortar weapons system capable of destroying entire battle droid companies.

Comet Company had the nickname "Electric Eagles", and were made up of airborne troopers famous for entering battle by throwing EMPs onto the surface, shutting down nearby enemy droids and electrical devices.

Spectre Company were always the first to enter any large scale engagement, as they were the unit's reconnaissance force. They used walkers and snipers.

Republic Intelligence and the Special Operations Branch both created special squads in Spectre Company, whom participated in assassination missions, government coverup, undercover infiltration operations, and inspecting classified and prototype equipment. These units included Devil Squad, who specialised in close quarters combat, sniper usage, bladed weapons and the application of toxins.

## Personnel Roster

Trooper CT-#### "Theta" [Shrapnel Company]

Trooper CT-#### "Barrier"

Trooper CT-#### "Eye Blue"

Trooper CT-1812 "Whisper"

Trooper CT-2222 "Fast Dash"

Trooper CT-5529 "Shots"

Trooper CT-8696 "Chess" [Shrapnel Company]

Trooper CT-7103 "Hawk" [Comet Company] [Devil Squad]

Trooper CT-6352 "Twitch"

Trooper CT-5342 "Mythic"

Trooper CT-4190 "Eclipse"

Trooper CT-3202 "Godfire"

Trooper CT-3237 "Tub"

Trooper CT-4268 "Sketch"

Sergeant CT-#### "Vision"

Sergeant CT-7235 "Alpha" (?)

Lieutenant CL-#### "Spike"

Captain CT-#### "Grit"

Captain CT-#### "Fusion"

Captain CT-1860 "Hellfire"

Captain CT-8880 "Shadow" [Spectre Company] [Insanity Squad]

Secondary Battalion Commander CC-#### "Blackout"

Battalion Commander CC-7432 "Clik"

Jedi General Jarvdon Denelle