| Imperial_News_Network | Date: Tuesday, 10 May 2011, 4:41 PM | Message # 1 |
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Empire Announces Retirement of Clones
Imperial Center — Following a meeting of the Imperial Ruling Council this afternoon, Grand Vizier Sate Pestage announced that the Council has approved a plan to begin to phase out the clones comprising the Empire's Stormtrooper Corps and replace them, for the first time, with "natural born" stormtroopers recruited from Imperial worlds. The plan, Pestage explained, will open recruiting centers throughout the Empire and encourage humans to enlist, while beginning to retire clone stormtroopers over the coming year.
The decision to replace clones with "natural born" recruits has long been anticipated, with deteriorating genetic samples and the need for more genetically diverse forces cited as reasons for retiring clones, many of whom have served the Empire since the Clone Wars and, due to growth acceleration, are nearing retirement age.
"It is becoming unfeasible for us to maintain a pure clone force," said Senator Veritas (Deralia), the chairman of the Senate's defense committee. He also cited cost as another reason to reconsider clones. "We have studied this for years," he explained, "Ultimately, a clone cadet will cost more than a [natural born] recruit." However, the Senator added, "cloning, along with conscription, will always be viable options to increase the strength of our forces in a time of war."
The Grand Vizier, appearing beside Ars Dangor, Dorian Covell, and other members of the Imperial Ruling Council, announced today that the plan will expand upon training centers already in place for the Imperial Army and Navy—namely the Raithal Academy, the Corulag Academy and, in particular, the Carida Academy—and will result in an Empire that is better able to respond to the ever-present threat of separatists, insurgents, and Jedi. But the plan, which enjoys the support of Emperor Palpatine, does not specify how clones are to be "retired."
"I call upon the Imperial Senate to come up with a retirement plan for our clone forces," Pestage said, "I am confident that it will do so, and I expect that it will also approve the funding necessary for new recruitment and training."
"Eriadu will do its part," Senator Oswaldt (Eriadu) told the Imperial News Network, "Eriadu has long sent its sons to fight in the Imperial Army, and now they will be proud to fight in the Stormtrooper Corps as well." Senator Ordan of Anaxes, another world with a proud, martial tradition, also expressed his world's support for the plan.
Clones first served the Empire—then known as the Old Republic—during the Clone Wars, when they were hastily assembled to fight the droid armies of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Then known as "clone troopers," with the end of the war and the formation of the Galactic Empire, the clones came to comprise the Empire's new Stormtrooper Corps. They have continued to serve the Empire since, with units such as the 13th Legion and 501st Legion earning particular distinction in the hunt for Jedi fugitives on Shumari, New Plympto, and other worlds.
Emperor Palpatine, in his Declaration of a New Order at the conclusion of the Clone Wars, praised the Empire's clone forces. "The clone troopers, now proudly wearing the name of Imperial stormtroopers, have tackled the dangerous work of fighting our enemies on the front lines," His Majesty said, "Many have died in their devotion to the Empire. Imperial citizens would do well to remember their example." It is an example that is sure to guide the new, natural born recruits.
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