Bly

Biography

Beginning of the War

CC-5052 was a male clone grown from the genetic material of the bounty hunter Jango Fett on the planet Kamino. Being a first-generation clone, CC-5052 underwent training directly under Fett's supervision, and was subsequently selected for the demanding ARC program alongside a select group of other future Clone Commanders, with the goal of producing the most capable clone trooper officers for the Grand Army of the Republic. The training program was structured to amplify the inherent abilities of the clones deemed most promising, while also instilling in them the necessary leadership qualities to effectively command other soldiers. CC-5052's innate combat prowess and strategic thinking were inherited from his genetic source, but the training program refined his skills as a soldier and fostered greater independence.

CC-5052 rose to the rank of Clone Marshal Commander and Advanced Recon Commando, and was granted the privilege of choosing his own name, deciding on "Bly." Like many of his clone brethren, his initial combat experience occurred during the First Battle of Geonosis, marking the beginning of the Clone Wars. Jedi Knight Aayla Secura's performance in the battle led to her being assigned command of her own clone corps and fleet group. Bly was appointed as her second-in-command, and she was given leadership of the 327th Star Corps.

The newly appointed Commander Bly joined Jedi General Secura on the battlefield. The 327th quickly adapted to being deployed to various locations on short notice, and they took pride in their adaptability. Throughout his tenure as commander of the 327th, Bly led his troops through numerous battles, demonstrating exceptional courage. He participated in the battle of Honoghr and the battle of New Holstice. At some point, he also commanded the 327th on Saleucami, a planet that was the site of several significant events during the war. He developed a relationship of mutual trust with Secura, with whom he fought on many exotic battlefields. Bly's 327th occasionally collaborated with General Anakin Skywalker's 501st Legion.

Escander

During the war, General Secura and Bly traveled to the planet Escander following intelligence gathered by Jedi General Quinlan Vos. The intelligence indicated that Count Dooku's scientists were developing a new battle droid at a Separatist base there. Members of a company within the 327th, including Secura and Bly, disembarked from Republic gunships. A clone trooper noted the treacherous nature of their approach, to which Bly responded with instructions on how they should proceed. As the clone troopers became stuck in the mud, battle droids on speeders ambushed the group.

After a clone trooper suggested they hijack the speeders to escape the ambush, Secura and several clone troopers along with "Flash" were the only ones to accompany him further. Secura had sent the wounded clones back to their gunship, including Commander Bly. The clone trooper then assumed command. Republic forces moved towards the base, with the clone trooper and Secura discovering that the intelligence was a trap and had engaged the Sith assassin Asajj Ventress. Eventually, Republic forces escaped the area and returned to their gunships to retreat from the world.

Battle of Quell

During the Clone Wars, Bly and Secura were attacked over the planet Quell by a Separatist fleet. Anakin Skywalker, his Padawan apprentice Ahsoka Tano, and Clone Captain Rex orchestrated a rescue of Secura and her troops. Storming Secura's Star Destroyer Liberty, Skywalker, Tano, Rex, Lucky, and Cameron were able to locate and successfully rescue Secura, Bly, and Flash. However, Skywalker was seriously injured during the mission and Bly assisted in piloting a frigate to the Resolute in order to get the Jedi appropriate medical attention. While attempting to dock, the frigate's hyperdrive was activated, forcing them to detach from the Resolute. The cruiser then quickly entered hyperspace just moments after detaching. Later as the frigate traveled through hyperspace, Bly was able to notice that the coordinates were set to take them directly into a star. After a successful attempt at avoiding the star, the frigate crash landed on the world of Maridun, and the group were forced to search for help to aid an injured Skywalker.

Along the way, Bly discovered a signpost indicating that there were sentient lifeforms nearby. Leaving Skywalker and Rex behind, the remainder of the group journeyed across the flatlands to look for someone who might be able to assist the wounded Jedi. However, during their travels, they were viciously attacked by mastiff phalones, and the three other clones accompanying them were killed by the creatures. Shortly afterwards they were able to find a Lurmen village, populated by many Lurmen villagers. At first the village elder, Tee Watt Kaa, refused to help but when he learned of their friend's plight, he allowed his son Wag Too to accompany them back to Skywalker. Bly, Tano and Wag Too headed back to the injured Jedi. Once there, the trio, along with Rex, managed to subdue another mastiff phalone that was attempting to kill the Jedi and the Clone Captain. Bly and Rex then carried Skywalker back to the Lurmen village where he rested and was nursed by the Lurmen people.

Defense of Maridun

Later, Bly was resting in the Lurmen village when he witnessed a couple of Lurmen struggling to pile baskets of food. He helped them with their troubles and they thanked him by giving him a jogan fruit, which he gladly ate. Bly was then informed by Rex that a Separatist C-9979 landing craft was setting down near to the village. Along with the rest of the group, he helped Skywalker escape as the battle droids searched the village for contraband. As they watched and hid in the tall grass, a probe droid discovered them, but before it could transfer any information, Bly jammed its signal. He, Tano and Rex pursued whilst Secura calmly assessed the situation. Deciding it best not the chase the droid, she separated from the others and was able to cut the droid off from the front.

Not long after, Bly and the others discovered a Separatist outpost on the planet. The group watched as the Separatist General Lok Durd announced his new weapon: the Defoliator Deployment Tank. Accompanying Rex on a scouting mission, the two clones went in for a closer look at the weapon. Unbeknownst to them, however, was that Durd was about to perform a weapons test. The Defoliator fired a shell and, as it descended, the clones were forced to retreat. Rex was able to fire his ascension cable and return to a nearby tree but Bly tripped as he attempted the same. As the shell's blast came towards him, Secura, using a vine, swung down from the tree and lifted Bly to safety just before fire encircled the clone. Bly thus was eternally grateful for Secura saving him. The group waited for nightfall, before returning to the outpost. Whilst Secura and Tano opened the front gate, Bly and Rex assisted Skywalker in destroying the battle droids guarding the outpost. The two clones then stole two valuable shield generators and loaded them onto a Separatist shuttle before leaving for the village.

Upon reaching the Lurmen settlement, Bly and the others warned the villagers about the Defoliator tank and how Durd planned to use their village as the site of his next test. Tee Watt Kaa refused to engage the Separatists in battle, stating that he'd rather die than let his people resort to violence. Despite his objections the group established a defensive wall around the village and the clones raised the shields, protecting the Lurmen from the Defoliator shell's impact. As Durd's battle droids closed in on the Lurmen, Bly and the others stood their ground. The group were able to destroy the battle droids with help from the Lurmen villagers and Skywalker was able to capture Durd. Bly and Rex then took Durd aboard the shuttle as Admiral Wullf Yularen's fleet arrived to extract the group from Maridun.

Further Republic service and Order 66

In the final days of the Clone Wars during the Outer Rim Sieges, Bly was present in a Jedi High Council meeting alongside Clone Marshal Commander Bacara and Jedi Generals Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, Mace Windu, Yoda, Depa Billaba, Secura, and Jedi Commander Caleb Dume. He was also present in another meeting including Secura, Windu, Koon, and Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi. Clone Commander Bly was then present on Saleucami alongside Clone Commander Neyo and Clone Commander Faie. Eventually, Commander Bly and the 327th Star Corps was dispatched to the Outer Rim world of Felucia to track down Executive Separatist Council member Shu Mai, with Bly as the leader of a Republic task force under Secura. Shu Mai's Commerce Guild decided to poison the planet's water supply to prevent the world from becoming Republic territory. Secura led Commander Bly and his 327th into a mission to attempt to stop the poison from spreading.

Eventually, shortly after landing on Felucia, Secura and Bly were sent to capture Commerce Guild leader Shu Mai. While on Felucia, Commander Bly received and relayed Order 66, a directive that activated every inhibitor chip in each clone trooper and forced them to kill their Jedi leaders. During their advance through the Felucian jungle, Secura and Bly were at the front of a Republic column of vehicles that included All Terrain Tactical Enforcers, All Terrain Open Transports, and Infantry Support Platforms alongside a clone trooper infantry group and gelagrub mounts. Facing Separatist armored columns ahead, Secura immersed herself in the Living Force in preparation for the battle. Then distracted by a low-flying bird, briefly entranced by its energies, Secura was shot from behind by Commander Bly. He and his troopers continued to fire, understanding that even a wounded Jedi was a threat. Jedi General Secura died quickly, and Commander Bly ordered his men to examine Secura's body to confirm her death after the shooting. Bly and the 327th received the communication that the Clone Wars ended after having fulfilled Order 66 during the Felucia campaign. Eventually, Darth Sidious transformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire, which Bly then served in.

Imperial service

Following the Empire's formation, Commander Bly served Darth Vader when the Dark Lord of the Sith contacted him personally to help him capture two rebellious Padawans. Bly's experience with the Jedi made him an ideal candidate for the mission, and he collaborated with Vader to exterminate them. Commander Bly then continued serving Darth Sidious during his time as Galactic Emperor within the Imperial Army, submitting countless star systems. Serving in the Stormtrooper Corps, Bly was dispatched on various critical missions, such as chasing Force users who survived the implementation of Order 66.

Personality and traits

Being a clone of the bounty hunter Jango Fett, Bly was approximately 1.83 meters tall, with brown eyes and tanned skin. Distinctive yellow stripes adorned each of his cheeks. Throughout the Clone Wars, he proved to be a reliable soldier, always supporting Aayla Secura, and sharing her commitment to completing their objectives. Bly and Secura developed a bond of mutual trust, yet this bond was inconsequential when Order 66 was enacted, compelling Bly to comply and fatally shoot Secura. Bly did not hesitate to fire upon Secura, under whose command he had participated in numerous military campaigns during the Clone Wars, and whom he had defended with his life until that moment. Bly and his soldiers continued to fire into Secura's body, even after she had fallen.

Bly held Secura in high regard for her combat resilience and dedication to duty, believing that she did not allow personal emotions to interfere with a mission. Consequently, Bly adopted the same approach on Felucia during Order 66, despite the close relationship they had developed. Bly was a seasoned commander with extensive experience in the Clone Wars. While Secura respected and trusted her former Jedi Master, Quinlan Vos, Bly remained cautious. Despite his reservations, Bly maintained a professional demeanor that did not impede his responsibilities within Secura's 327th Star Corps. Bly considered Escander to be as desolate as his homeworld of Kamino. Bly was an inspiring leader, frequently assuming full command of the 327th Star Corps when Secura was deployed elsewhere. Throughout the Clone Wars, Bly consistently demonstrated his competence as a soldier, often prioritizing his sense of duty above all other considerations.

Skills and abilities

As a Clone Marshal Commander and ARC trooper, Bly underwent rigorous training in the ARC program. He possessed expertise in combat techniques, military strategy, leadership, aerial maneuvers, and reconnaissance. Bly was also a proficient marksman with all types of weaponry, but he favored his DC-17 hand blasters. As a highly trained combat soldier, he was also capable of piloting a variety of standard vehicles used by the Republic Military, including Consular-class frigates.

Equipment

Throughout the Clone Wars, Bly utilized several sets of armor, starting with the Phase I clone trooper armor. As one of the most distinguished ARC troopers and clone officers, Bly displayed specific markings to denote his status. In his Phase I armor, he wore a kama crafted from lightning-resistant material, providing added leg protection. Bly also wore a pauldron on his left shoulder, along with powerful retractable macrobinoculars attached to his helmet. These macrobinoculars enabled him to have an extended field of vision of the terrain when needed, without having to carry external binoculars in his utility belt or backpack. His helmet also featured a high-powered subspace antenna for communication between himself and his troopers at a command post. Bly also customized his battle uniform with two DC-17 hand blasters in holsters on each leg.

Later in the Clone Wars, Bly adopted the new Phase II clone trooper armor, while retaining his kama, macrobinoculars, blasters and holsters, as well as his unique markings. He used a double shoulder pauldron, which was another symbol of his ARC status, though he occasionally used a different single-sided left shoulder pauldron. Bly also used standard clone trooper weaponry during the war, including the DC-15A blaster rifle and DC-15A blaster carbine. During his service to the Empire, Bly exchanged his clone trooper armor for stormtrooper armor, and wore a flexible single-panel pauldron on his right shoulder, similar to other Stormtrooper Commanders.

Behind the scenes

CC-5052 first appeared in the canonical film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith in 2005, with Temuera Morrison providing his voice, as he did for all the other clone troopers in the film. Similar to Aayla Secura, Bly was conceived by writer John Ostrander for the Star Wars Legends comic book series Star Wars: Republic, where Bly briefly interacted with Aayla Secura. According to Star Wars Helmet Collection 73, Bly did not participate in the Battle of Geonosis due to his ARC training, but the later released source Star Wars Bust Collection 53 indicated that he did serve in that battle.

In Revenge of the Sith, Bly was originally intended to have red markings, but they were changed to yellow to better complement the visual aesthetic of Felucia. The clone trooper with red markings was later identified as Commander Deviss. Although Bly's appearance in the final version of the film is silent, a single line was attributed to him in the illustrated screenplay of Episode III. The line was "No," which he said to Secura in response to her inquiry about whether he thought there were droids nearby, just before he attacked her.