Alpha-23, also known as Vuun was an ARC Trooper who served in the Clone Wars. He led an elite squad made up of other ARC Troopers.
Vuun was activated early in the Clone Wars at the Battle of Kamino. He ended up serving in several campaigns during the Clone Wars, earning several honors, including Jaig Eyes. At the end of the Clone Wars, Vuun's squad received Order 66. Vuun pulled himself and his friend, Jedi Knight, Vorin Murc, off a ledge. Not realizing what Vuun intended, his squad labeled him as missing in action. Vuun survived, and retired and lived a quiet life.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Like all clone troopers, A-23 was born on Kamino. However, only ARC Troopers, such as himself, were genetically modified to be more independent. Shortly after beginning his training on Kamino, A-23 showed amazing fighting skills, as well as great intelligence. In the battle simulations, he proved to be a brilliant tactician, and was soon positioned as a Captain and squad leader, and assigned a squad of ARC Troopers.
A-23, like all first generation ARC Troopers, was trained by Jango Fett, the template for the Republic's clone army. Fett encouraged individuality, and many of the ARC Troopers adopted names, many of which were Mandalorian names. A-23 chose the name "Vuun", after a brave True Mandalorian officer, who had served with Fett in the Mandalorian Civil War.
Shortly before the break out of the Clone Wars, all ARC Troopers were put into stasis until needed.
Clone Wars[]
The Battle of Kamino[]
Not long after the Clone Wars began, Kamino was invaded by the Confederacy of Independent Systems in 21 BBY. In order to ensure Kamino was saved, the Republic unleashed its secret weapon: ARC Troopers.
All the ARC Troopers were activated, and Vuun led his squad into battle. They entered the heaviest parts of the battle on a landing pad. However, they were recalled to defend the clone growth chambers.
Vuun (center) leads ARC Troopers in the Battle Kamino.
His squad bravely defended the helpless clone embryos in the growth chambers in Tipoca City, the capital of Kamino. His squad suffered no losses, and successfully prevented the CIS forces from the embryos.
The Battle of Telti[]
Not long after the Battle of Kamino, Vuun was transferred to Telti. There, the Republic forces fought against a massive army of battle droids. While Delta Squad infiltrated the CIS droid foundries, Vuun and his squad dealt with some of the lethal B3 Ultra Battle Droids that had been unleashed.
Because B3s had not been used until then, Vuun and the ARC Troopers were confused and could not seem to defeat one of the B3s which confronted them. Vuun had one of his ARC Troopers fire a rocket at the Ultra Battle Droid. This did not succeed in destroying the droid, and the droid killed one of his troopers, so Vuun devised a more advanced plan.
Vuun had his troops fire at the droid where it couldn't easily reach them. The droid bent down and tried to crush the troops. However, when it did, Vuun jumped on its back, and shoved a thermal detonator in an open missile slot. He jumped off and detonated it. This also resulted in a chain reaction that detonated all of the B3's missiles, destroying it.
After the incident, the fallen member of Vuun's squad was given a formal burial.
Crisis on the Voyager[]
On the way back from Telti, Vuun was contacted by Governor Whilhuff Tarkin. Tarkin told Vuun that a luxury cruiser, the Voyager, carrying many civilians, and the senator of Rothana, Cordin Vimbork, had been attacked in orbit of Coruscant, by an elite mercenary/terrorist group called the Executioners, who were working for the CIS. The Executioners, he said, were holding the passengers hostage, and had killed most of the crew, as well as destroying the escape pods.
Tarkin was about to send a small squad of CSF officers up to free the passengers, but wanted to see if Vuun was near enough to assist. Vuun was, and suggested that Tarkin not send up CSF officers, as they were not as skilled as the ARC Troopers. Tarkin agreed, and Vuun once again readied his squad for battle.
Tarkin, however, did end up sending CSF officers, and, as Vuun had predicted, the officers could not handle the terrorists, and were killed.
Vuun and his squad were dropped off on the Voyager's hanger. The ARCs made their way to the bridge. Once there, they were confronted with the Executioners. Unwisely, one of the terrorists set off a grenade, blowing open the bridge windows, and consequently sucking out three of the terrorists.
However, the other four Executioners escaped, and the ARCs barely got out of the bridge. Vuun followed the Executioners to the main dining hall where the passengers were being held hostage.
One of the terrorists jumped on a table, and Vuun hurled a detonator at the table. The detonator killed the terrorist on the table and it collapsed, crushing the other terrorists. One survived, and was brought back to Coruscant for questioning.
Honors and awards[]
The battle on the Voyager ended in victory with minimal crew losses, and no civilian deaths, as well as no losses in Vuun's squad. Because of this, Vuun and every member in his squad were given Jaig eyes. They were also among some of the first troops to receive the new Phase II clone trooper armor, in 20 BBY.
Vuun wearing Phase II armor.
Battle of Kashyyyk[]
In 19 BBY, the CIS invaded the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. The Republic responded swiftly, sending Jedi Master Yoda,several other Jedi, Commander Gree's 41st Elite Legion, and several ARC Troopers including Vuun's squad.
Vuun fought valiantly alongside the other clones, Jedi, and Wookiees. Vuun and his squad managed to survive until the end of the battle with no casualties.
Order 66[]
At the end of the battle, Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, Palpatine issued Order 66, deeming the Jedi unfit to command, and enemies of the Republic who needed to be eliminated. Knowing something was wrong with the order, and Palpatine, Vuun was faced with the decision to save the Jedi, many of whom he'd served with throughout the war and killing his squad, or killing the Jedi.
Vuun invented a third option.
Vuun and one of the Jedi, Vorin Murc, a close friend of Vuun's, happened to be standing at the edge of a high platform above the jungle. When Vuun's squad aimed at Murc, Vuun grabbed his arm and pulled them both off the platform, sending them plummeting to the jungle below.
The Dark Times[]
Escape from Kashyyyk[]
Luckily for Vuun, his squad hadn't realized what had happened, and simply labeled Vuun as missing in action. When Murc and Vuun landed on the forest floor, Vuun explained what had happened to Murc. He told Murc that he could never speak of Vuun saving him, and that he must go into hiding. Murc agreed, and disappeared into the jungle.
Vuun then left the jungle and got on board one of the Republic, now the Galactic Empire's ships.
Reunion[]
Vuun returned to Coruscant and was reunited with his squad. His squad informed him that all ARC Troopers had been offered the opportunity to either retire or train the next generation of clone troops for the Empire.
Vuun decided to retire, while most of his squad went on to work for the Empire.
Fate[]
Vuun's fate is unknown, although archives of his credit spending show he bought the data needed to stop the accelerated clone growth that all clone trooper's had. He bought this with the retirement bond given to him by the Empire.
Personality and traits[]
Vuun was a loyal soldier. He was ultimately more loyal to friends than authorities, as seen in his actions following the issuance of Order 66. Vuun was a brilliant tactician and very intelligent. However, he was known to have certain personal flaws. He could be cold and obnoxious sometimes, but he also cared for his men.
Vuun was also dedicated to keeping his troops safe. When one of them died on Telti, it devastated him, as he felt he had failed his squad and was responsible for his death. In addition, Vuun was very proud of his Mandalorian heritage. He was very proud to wear Jaig Eyes as they were also a Mandalorian honor. He spent his spare time studying Mandalorian history and reading Mandalorian legends.