Recently the big thing in the Star Wars universe has been clones. Everything about clones, Karen Traviss is writing books about Clone Commandos, the sequel novel to ROTS- Dark Lord features a few rebellious clones, and even on the blogs everything recently has been about Order 66 and the clones that carried it out. But it seem that the recent talk and discussion about the clones has strayed from what has been laid down in the movies about clones. It seems that many have forgotten how the clones were actually created in AOTC.

The clones were created to be a swift, unbeatable, and intelligent military machine. They were created and trained from birth to be submissive warriors. You see while clones do make great fodder for new novels and blog entries, everyone, authors included, must keep in mind the fact that clones aren't fully human like us. They are genetically engineered human beings, designed specifically to grow at a faster rate and to be less independent than average humans. They are also trained to obey any order without question. End of story. This excludes the possibility of clone trooper rebellions, mutinies, and any chance of individual insubordination among their ranks. Despite the fact that all these would make great premises for thousands of novels they are out of bounds and all uncanon. It is impossible for a clone to rebel. They obey any order without hesitation, even Order 66. Despite their growing fondness for the Jedi they had no choice on the matter. They are bound by their very genetics to serve the Republic. Notice in Revenge of the Sith every clone commander executes his orders without hesitating for a moment, it is only in the books that the clone troopers seem to have a soft spot for the Jedi.

In a clone's mind their own logic, passions, and interests are all subservient to their authorities. This is why the clones are inhuman, because they are virtually puppets of their authorities. For the most part Palpatine allows them to function as a normal army with commanders heading the chain of command giving the orders but once Palpatine decides to step in he can order whatever he wants and they must respond and carry it out.

Now I may sound cruel and I know many of you would like to believe that the clones are full human beings, but they aren't. They are human, but not to the same extent you and I are. They are bound by their authorities; when given an order they must obey.

Knowing this makes Order 66 easy to explain- the chain of the command (as K-Fan spoke of today) is all that matters to the clones, they are truly loyal to no one other than those who give them their orders, and they will always stick to the chain of command. It is in their training, they have no choice on the matter, they are bound by their own genes to kill their Jedi friends and Generals if ordered to. As soon as the order comes down the chain they must obey it...without question.

"The time has come. Execute Order 66."

"It will be done, my Lord."

"A thought...anyone?"