The Wampa is back, with a new nugget of wisdom! (or nonsense)



Ok, so there's been much discussion about the way fans see the clone troopers (which should extend to to Stormies, but doesn't always, which is weird). Some people think because their clones they don't have a lot of humanity. To some extent, this is the view of the 'population' in the SW universe also. In-universe, the population seemed to truly believe this about the Stormtroopers.

Here's a very small passage fro the new Timothy Zahn book, Allegiance:

Regulations unequivocally stated that stormtroopers were always to be in armor whenever outside their barracks section. But Captain Ozzel resented their presence aboard his ship, and didn't like seeing armored men wandering around during their off hours. Since the stormtrooper commanders had, in turn, refused to confine their men to barracks when they were off duty, they'd come to a more unofficial arrangement.

So, as far as the stormtroomer ranks go in the Empire, the intent, even WITHIN the military, is to make them seem something beyond a normal soldier. They aren't supposed to be seen - ever - without the armor. They're supposed to be faceless, nameless formations that strike fear in the hearts of everyone, enemy and friend alike. And the Empire wouldn't have it any other way. On a Star Destroyer, there could be a company of stormtroopers, or a brigade, or a squad. The general crewers would really never know the difference.

The book goes on to show more of the 'behind the helmet' of the stormies, but this passage very succinctly (in my mind) sums up how the Empire wants their stormtroopers to be seen.


(Ok, and now a light-hearted tangent...can you imagine the way the troopers harass the fleet grunts? Here's what I see:
Two troopers, with their private helmet-comlinks, are off duty. First one starts off down the hall, runs into newly-minted Ensign Smith - excuse me, SW here - Ensign Psmythe. The first trooper barks at the youngster to get out of the way. Psmythe continues on and runs into troop two, who say "Didn't I JUST tell you to stay out of my way?" Now, multiply this by, say, 5 or 6 troopers, and the next thing you know Ensign Psmythe is in the MedBay seeking psychological counseling. Good time, good times....)