Sterling, a nickname given to a clone trooper from the 332nd Division within the Galactic Republic's 501st Legion, participated in the Siege of Mandalore during 19 BBY. During this siege, Sterling and his fellow soldiers were dispatched to reinforce C-deck located in the Undercity of Mandalore's capital city, Sundari; however, they were caught in an ambush orchestrated by the rogue Sith Lord, Maul. In the ensuing combat, Sterling sustained injuries from a blaster shot to his chest, and his unit suffered substantial losses. Following the attack, Sterling reported the details of the ambush to Ahsoka Tano, the division's military advisor, and informed her that Jesse, an Advanced Recon Commando, had been taken prisoner by Maul.
Sterling originated as a clone derived from the human male genetic template of Jango Fett, with his creation taking place on the world of Kamino. As the Clone Wars, a galactic conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems neared its conclusion in 19 BBY, Sterling served within the 332nd Division. This division was instrumental in the siege of the planet Mandalore, operating under the command of Rex, who had recently been promoted to Clone Commander, and alongside Ahsoka Tano, a former Jedi Padawan acting as a strategic advisor. Sterling was among the clone troopers who successfully made planetfall at Sundari, the capital city of Mandalore, where he fought in the initial battles against the Mandalorian super commandos and survived.
Later, Sterling's squad, accompanied by Jesse, a Clone Lieutenant who was also an Advanced Recon Commando, was dispatched to reinforce C-deck within the Undercity of Sundari. However, they were ambushed by the renegade Sith Lord Maul, who devastated the Republic forces. Sterling sustained a blaster wound to his torso, but survived, unlike many others in his unit, which experienced significant casualties. Sterling also witnessed Maul capturing Jesse after using a Force mind probe to determine that he was older than the other clones.
Shortly thereafter, Ahsoka Tano received word of Maul's assault and quickly traveled to the location of the battle alongside Commander Rex. Upon her arrival, Sterling, who was being supported by a fellow clone and was seated against a wall due to his injuries, called out to Tano, respectfully addressing her as "Commander," despite her lack of official military rank. He proceeded to explain the events that had transpired, emphasizing Maul's brutality, and he grasped her arm to underscore the fact that Maul had taken Jesse prisoner.
Like the other clones of Jango Fett, Sterling's physical characteristics included a height of 1.83 meters (6 ft) and a weight of eighty kilograms. He possessed [brown](/article/color] eyes, a tan complexion, and a short, black haircut. Sterling's respectful address of Ahsoka Tano by her former military title reflected her past role as a Jedi and leader of the clones. Sterling was adamant that Tano needed to be informed about the events of Maul's attack.
From the moment of his creation, Sterling, like all other clone troopers, had a behavioral modification biochip implanted by Kaminoan scientists. This ensured his compliance with specific orders. Sterling was outfitted with Phase II clone trooper armor, which, along with that of his fellow troopers in the 332nd Division of the 501st Legion, was customized to reflect Tano's Togruta skin tones and lekku markings.
Sterling made his debut in "The Phantom Apprentice," the tenth episode of the seventh and final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Dee Bradley Baker provided the voice for Sterling, as he did for all other clones in the episode. The episode was released on the Disney+ streaming service on April 24, 2020. However, a preview clip featuring Sterling had been released earlier, on April 14 of the same year, on the official Star Wars YouTube channel.