CL-9758, later designated TK-6214 and nicknamed "Rothax", was a clone trooper lieutenant that served as a Galactic Marine in the Grand Army of the Republic's elite 21st Nova Corps, and later in the Stormtrooper Corps of the Galactic Empire. Like all clones of bounty hunter Jango Fett, he was from the planet of Kamino. A veteran of Geonosis, he fought throughout the entire span of the Clone Wars, also seeing action at Coruscant, Utapau, and various other worlds. Following the Clone Wars, Rothax accepted the Galactic Empire's offer to serve in the Stormtrooper Corps. His commander, whom he was great friends with, CC-1138, was killed in one of the early Imperial period campaigns, making him the leader of the 21st. Unlike the Galactic Republic, the Empire did not rely on the Galactic Marines as an elite unit very much, replacing them with Storm Commandos and Imperial Special Forces. The number of recruits for the 21st dried up, and Rothax desperately kept the unit alive through the Galactic Civil War. Despite the shortages of men, Rothax and the 21st scored several key victories against the Alliance to Restore the Republic, though did not fight at Yavin IV, Hoth, or Endor. Him and the remaining clones of the 21st were given a life extension serum to keep them from dying of the accelerated aging by order of Darth Vader himself.
After the Battle of Endor, Rothax and the 21st fought all over the Outer Rim Territories to keep the now openly rebellious subjects under Imperial control. Many pro-New Republic uprisings were crushed by their efforts. That later proved useful to Grand Admiral Thrawn, who staged attacks from different star systems that they defended, as well got conscripts from for the Imperial Army and Navy. He made Rothax's Marines strictly under the control of Naval Command and the Admiralty, though they often fought along side normal Imperial Marines in ground operations on the Navy's behalf. When the admiral died at Bilbringi, Rothax and his unit were aboard a Star Destroyer who answered the call of the reborn Emperor Palpatine from Byss. Upon arriving in the Deep Core, his past efforts were noted as Rothax was awarded the Emperor's Will medal. He and the 21st were sent to capture Core Worlds for the Dark Empire, when the Emperor died for the final time. Afterwards, he served the Imperial Remnant as a Brigadier General on Stormtrooper Command. Shortly before the Yuuzhan Vong War, he met and married a Battle Station Operations officer on Battle Station Command named Sena Tavari. However, she was later killed during the war by the actions of a jealous colonel in Battle Station Command named Ilona Selin, who Rothax married later; not knowing of what she did. Rothax had a generally friendly personality to other Republic or Imperial troops, but hated the Confederacy of Independent Systems, as well as the Rebel Alliance and following Republic. He especially cared for the lives of fellow Galactic Marines, even more so after the Declaration of the New Order; as they did not receive any more Fett clones. Rothax later fell in love with a human female named Sena in Battle Station Operations Command, whom he met while planning an operation. Sena died due to the actions of Ilona Selin, a jealous member of Battle Station Operations. He later married Ilona, not knowing what she did.
Biography[]
Creation[]
Rothax as a clone lieutenant.
I never regretted becoming a Galactic Marine.
—CL-9758 "Rothax"
Rothax was one of the millions of clone troopers of Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett created on the Wild Space aquatic planet of Kamino to serve in the Galactic Republic's Grand Army of the Republic. Originally, he was bred as a clone trooper, a lieutenant, to be specific. However, Rothax displayed more skill in the simulators and training areas than most other clones in his unit. He was a deadly shot, good in hand to hand combat, and had good tactical-strategic skills. As a lieutenant, those qualities were required, but not at the caliber that Rothax had them.
Because of that, Rothax gained notice of several others, mainly clone commanders. Several Kaminoans thought he should be placed into training for Advanced Recon Commandos, but others argued by saying he was not bred for it and instead thought he should be trained as a commander. Rothax knew he was more skilled than his comrades, but did not know of the arguments of the cloners and officers of what to do about him. However, on clone officer who heard of Rothax was CC-1138. A strict, hardened soldier, he was nicknamed "Bacara" and led the Galactic Marines of the 21st Nova Corps.
He wanted clone troopers who could meet his high expectations in the Marines, having to reassign anyone who failed to meet them. Bacara thought Rothax would be a good second in command of the 21st, and had him unknowingly go through several tests. They tested Rothax's leadership, combat skills, tactical thinking, and other things. Not surprisingly to Bacara, Rothax passed nearly everything. He then requested Rothax's placement in the 21st, to which the cloners agreed, ending their argument.
After the selection, Bacara had him and several other 21st officers undergo advanced Marine training to make sure they were nothing but the best. It included various forms of combat; even Teras Kasi trained by ARC troopers. Rothax then went through more advanced marksmanship training, with the DC-15A blaster rifle, which he found to be his favorite weapon. Bacara noted he did a bit better than the other officers, and was wondering why Rothax was not placed into ARC or clone commando training. Eventually, they finished the training, and Rothax was made the second in command of the first 21st Marines. Though in most units, captains were the second in command, Rothax remained a lieutenant.
Up until 22 BBY, Rothax would aid Bacara and others in training more Marines. In the beginning of the year, Rothax and the 21st were one of the units sent to Geonosis.
Clone Wars[]
Battle of Geonosis[]
I was hoping these bugs would just be on the ground!
—Rothax over Geonosis
The Grand Army made it's first legendary assault on Geonosis to destroy the Geonosis droid foundries, but also in order to rescue the entrapped group of Jedi there. On the flight to the desert planet, Rothax was stationed aboard the Acclamator I-class assault ship Elitist. As Marines, they were to board the Separatist Droid Control Ships that took off from the surface. For a time, none came, and as Rothax witnessed his comrade clones on the ground get their first action of the war, he grew jealous. Bacara patiently told him to wait.
Rothax in his Marine armor during the Battle of Geonosis.
Finally, a commander from the ground reported that several control ships were on their way through orbit. Rothax boarded a boarding pod with Bacara and his personal guards. They targeted the ship Xael, which was carrying many escaping droid units, along with several Separatist Droid Army generals and Confederate Navy admirals. Each of the several pods carrying the 21st marines would hit a different point if the ship to breach. Rothax's pod was set on a course to breach one if the hangars on the northern top area of the Xael. All units were to make their way to the bridge.
Rothax's pod flew off to the Xael with starfighter cover, as well as fire from the Elitist. The defenses of the Xael were unable to stop the pods from hitting their designated area. Rothax and the others came under heavy fire from a squadron of battle droids sent in to stop them. During the ensuing firefight, Rothax got several kills as they returned fire. They then made their way towards the elevators tat led up to the bridge. Rothax got more kills as the squad ran into several other patrols.
Making their way aboard the bridge, Rothax got into multiple firefights. He gained more kills, and eventually they reached the bridge. A long fight broke out between the security droids there and the Marines. Rothax threw in several EMP grenades during the fight, eliminating most of them. After that, the Marines stormed the bridge, killing everyone there, including several generals and admirals. Rothax personally executed two officers, including the captain in command of the vessel.
Battle of Asran[]
This planet seems barren and empty, but it is of vital importance to the Republic war effort. It's crystals have been proved useful as a power source. The CIS could increase it's droid forces in battle with them.
—Rothax
The 21st were deployed aboard the Elitist to a planet called Asran in the Expansion Region. It had a mountainous surface, while the underground parts were rich with certain types of crystal called prismatic crystals. They were able to produce energy, as Republic scientists discovered on Coruscant shortly before the Battle of Geonosis. The planet's governing body, a mining corporation, decided to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems after urging from the Trade Federation. The 21st was deployed to take the planet from the local defense forces and a small CIS garrison that the Trade Federation was able to deploy on short notice.
The Elitist entered the system with no opposition and deployed the 21st to Asran. Rothax noted that the 21st were the only units deployed despite an entire legion of troops being stationed on the vessel.