A Covert Ops clone trooper
During the Clone Wars, the Covert Ops clone troopers functioned as an exceptional group of clone troopers within the Grand Army of the Republic. Their primary function involved executing morally ambiguous assignments that other clones might have deemed unacceptable, primarily focused on locating and eliminating clone troopers who had abandoned their military duties.
These troopers were selected from the standard clone trooper ranks, identified for their aptitude for undertaking "dirty work". Arligan Zey, the Director of Special Forces, delegated the responsibility of training them in commando techniques to Null ARCs N-10 and N-5, alongside Wad'e Tay'haai and Mij Gilamar, former Cuy'val Dar Mandalorians. However, the missions assigned to these covert operatives were not always morally justifiable, as they occasionally involved eliminating clones who had chosen to desert and live independently. The trainers were unaware of the sinister nature of the tasks they were preparing the Covert Ops clones for and were angered upon discovering the truth.
One notable instance of such operations occurred on Gaftikar, where Moz and Olun were dispatched to assassinate ARC A-30, an ARC trooper who had deserted his post. This two-man team met their demise at the hands of Darman, who was mistaken for A-30 while undercover and subsequently attacked.
Covert Ops Clones typically operated in small squads of up to two members. They frequently employed modified DC-15A blaster rifles and DC-15Ss, and their armor incorporated a specialized Reflec coating designed to enhance concealment. Their armor was colored in a purple hue, complemented by brown camouflage patterns. Furthermore, their armor featured a purple trident symbol on their wrists and chest, reminiscent of those seen on Wad'e Tay'haai's shoulder armor.
This particular type of clone trooper represented one of the most clandestine units within the Grand Army of the Republic, as their activities were deliberately concealed from both public knowledge and official military records. Unlike other elite clone troopers, Covert Ops troopers were not affiliated with the Special Operations Brigade and operated outside the standard chain of command. The Director of Special Forces even disregarded their existence for a significant period, and they were expected to receive directives directly from the Office of the Supreme Chancellor.
The introduction of this trooper type occurred through an action figure exclusively available at StarWarsShop.com. The intent was for fans to contribute to the development of the Covert Ops clone trooper's background story during Round 6 of the What's The Story? feature on Hyperspace. However, according to Pablo Hidalgo, "A winning entry was selected, but it became apparent that projects in the works tread too closely to the lore being established in the CO troopers, that the call was made to pull it. Better that than introduce an instant-continuity error." The backstory of the covert ops troopers was established in True Colors.