A Forward Command Center represented a mobile command headquarters utilized by the Grand Army of the Republic during the period known as the Clone Wars. During the first battle of that war, Republic clone troopers put such a center into operation on the front lines of the planet Geonosis. As the Jedi began to function as de facto generals of the clone army, leading thousands of soldiers in combat against the droid army of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the whole battle was supervised from the Forward Command Center by Grand Master Yoda of the Jedi Order.
A Forward Command Center was a compact command hub employed by the Republic Military. Its design was circular, featuring multiple computer screens that enabled clone troopers to issue directives to various locations, including clone crews operating artillery like Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolasers. These centers could be manned by a commanding officer, potentially a Clone Commander, a Jedi General, or even a senator. During the First Battle of Geonosis, a Clone Captain was also stationed within the center. However, higher ranking clones and officials were not always in command at these stations. During the Battle of Christophsis and Second Battle of Geonosis, Forward Command Centers were staffed solely by regular clone troopers.
From such a Forward Command Center, a Clone Commander and their Jedi officer could direct Galactic Republic forces against their adversaries, or it could serve as the central point for a Galactic Senate aid mission. The command centers also included small ramps that could be elevated above ground level to access Republic Gunships with greater ease for disembarking.
In 22 BBY, the newly established Grand Army of the Republic sent thousands of clone troopers to the Separatist planet of Geonosis. Under the leadership of several Jedi generals acting in a de facto capacity, the forces of the Galactic Republic issued commands and coordinated their strategies from a Forward Command Center. This center was manned by a Clone Commander, a Clone Captain, and several clones during the Battle of Geonosis. After transporting the survivors of Jedi Master Mace Windu's assault team to the battle's front lines, a Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry gunship transported Grand Master Yoda, the leader of the Jedi Order, to the Republic's mobile command station.
As Republic troops advanced against the enemy, securing dominance in the air and on the ground under the skilled direction of the Jedi High Council, Yoda instructed the Republic Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery Turbolasers to focus all their firepower on the closest Trade Federation core ship. After the commander informed Yoda that the Separatist Droid Army had started a complete withdrawal from the battle, the Grand Master left the command center to pursue the Separatist Head of State, Count Dooku.
Not long after the Battle of Geonosis, the Outer Rim planet of Christophsis was invaded by Separatist forces. The Confederacy navy established a blockade around the planet, isolating Christophsis from the rest of the galaxy. To assist the native Christophsians, the Galactic Senate authorized a relief mission to Christophsis, led by Bail Organa, the senator representing Alderaan in the galactic Senate. Organa directed the Republic's humanitarian efforts from a Forward Command Center, facing opposition from the battle droids commanded by General Whorm Loathsom.
As the Republic's supplies on Christophsis began to run out, Organa requested aid from Coruscant, but the Separatist fleet, under the leadership of Admiral Trench, prevented the Republic Navy from breaking through the blockade. Consequently, the Republic deployed an experimental stealth ship to Christophsis, commanded by Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and Admiral Wullf Yularen. Trench sent a squadron of Hyena-class Droid Bombers to destroy Organa's command center, hoping to expose the cloaked vessel, which prompted Skywalker to take offensive action. Organa contacted Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi and informed him about the impending attack on his command station, knowing that survival from a bombing run was unlikely. However, Skywalker managed to outmaneuver the admiral, leading to the destruction of his flagship Invincible. With the loss of the Separatist command ship, Skywalker and Yularen successfully delivered supplies to Organa and the Republic forces on Christophsis.
The destruction of Trench's flagship enabled the Republic fleet to penetrate the Separatist blockade, allowing Republic troops to land on the planet. Some time after Kenobi and Skywalker deployed their soldiers to engage the enemy, the CIS reinforced their blockade, trapping the Jedi on the ground with diminishing supplies. Furthermore, Skywalker, Kenobi, and their clone troopers had to contend with the approaching droid army commanded by Loathsom. During this period, the Jedi utilized a Forward Command Center to direct their troops.
Later in the battle, Ahsoka Tano was assigned to Skywalker as his Jedi Padawan. Skywalker, Kenobi, Tano, and Clone Captain Rex discussed their strategy to counter the Confederacy's deflector shield near this command center. They devised a plan in which Kenobi, Rex, and the rest of the clones would lure the droids into the city, while Skywalker and Tano would infiltrate enemy lines to disable the deflector shield generator. This strategy allowed the Republic to eliminate the shield, enabling their AV-7 Anti-vehicle Artillery Cannons to obliterate the enemy battle droids and armored cavalry.
In 21 BBY, due to crucial intelligence obtained by Senator Padmé Amidala during the Mission to Cato Neimoidia regarding a droid factory on Geonosis, the Republic initiated a second invasion of Geonosis. They successfully breached the defenses and destroyed the primary foundry. Following this victory, the Republic established a Forward Command Center near the destroyed factory, staffed by several clone troopers. This command center was surrounded by LAAT gunships and Consular-class cruisers. Nearby were several Acclamator-class transgalactic military assault ships, and one of the Acclamators was also used as a command center by the Jedi.
After the Command Center and surrounding vehicles were in place, Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and clone trooper Buzz embarked on BARC speeders to locate Poggle the Lesser, the leader of the Geonosians. This led to an encounter with Karina the Great, the current queen of the Geonosians, but Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and a group of clones from the 212th Attack Battalion arrived to support Luminara. This group rescued her, captured Poggle, and defeated Karina the Great. A command center was established near the wreckage of the Progate Temple and close to the Pelta-class frigate TB-73. This Forward Command Center was staffed by a group of clone troopers.
The Forward Command Center was first seen in the 2002 movie Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones.