Ten years of training turned us into soldiers. And the ARC program turned the best of us into, as you say, veterans.
—Dodge prior to the Battle for Balmorra
CC-1211, nicknamed "Dodge," was a clone commander and ARC trooper of the 56th Battalion that served under Jedi General Viera Cacete during the Clone Wars. Renowned for his strategic mastery, his earliest engagements included Balmorra and Hallis Prime.
Biography[]
Early life[]
1211 was cloned with the first batch of clone troopers on Kamino from the DNA of the notorious bounty hunter Jango Fett in 32 BBY. He was exclusively chosen to acquire an officer's position in the Grand Army of the Republic and underwent intense flash training over the next decade. By 22 BBY he had become a capable commander, taking command of the 56th Battalion.
The Clone Wars[]
Battle of Geonosis[]
The 56th Battalion was among the first clone units deployed to the surface of Geonosis at the onset of the Clone Wars. Under the leadership of the Jedi, whom by this point 1211 had viewed as competent warriors and potentially effective generals, the 56th Battalion engaged the Separatist Droid Army in an intense battle that lasted hours. At some point during the battle, 1211 acquired a scar along his left temple that would later serve as his grim reminder of the thousands of brethren lost on the accursed waste that was Geonosis. Following a Republic victory, 1211 was recalled to Kamino to participate in a specialized training program organized by the elite Advanced Recon Commandos.
ARC program[]
During the ARC Training Program, 1211 was among the chosen candidates of clone officers to undergo a unique form of training under the vigilance of the elite ARC troopers. On top of enhancing their physical capabilities through intense training simulations, clone officers learned what made them unique from each other, encouraged to embrace their own personalities. Because of this, 1211 adopted the nickname "Dodge" after being praised for his evasive maneuvering during training scenarios. He also befriended many of the other commanders, notably Commander Trigg of the 30th Battalion. Eventually, the two of them became early graduates as they were returned to their respective units.
Upon his return, Dodge established an informal branch of the 56th called Wraith Squad, which would comprise the battalion's most elite troops. Bestowing them with the knowledge he had learned on Kamino, they would become the 56th Battalion's backbone and vanguard in the many battles to come.
Battle of Balmorra[]
Dodge aboard the Valiance prior to the engagement on Balmorra
Prior to their first major engagement, the 56th Battalion was assigned to Jedi General Viera Cacete. Barely a Jedi Knight, Cacete was a young Asheran whose experience in the galaxy was notably limited; Dodge quickly took notice of this naivety and skepticism. The 56th's first assignment would be to the war-torn world of Balmorra with the purpose of launching an all-out invasion after the planet aligned themselves with the Separatist cause prior to the Clone Wars. En route to Balmorra, Dodge took the liberty of meeting with Viera on the bridge of the Valiance, the 56th's flagship, to report on the status of their infantry. Their discussion shifted to the topic of Viera's lack of confidence, to which Dodge attempted to encourage her by explaining how he witnessed the Jedi's heroics on Geonosis, confident himself that her abilities were no different. Dodge also admitted that this was to be his first major battle since Geonosis as he had been recalled to Kamino for the ARC program, a tale that Viera found herself intrigued by. Eventually, an officer on the bridge announced they would be exiting hyperspace soon, to which Dodge proposed to Viera they migrate to the main hangar bay to meet with the rest of the troops. Once they arrived, Dodge reviewed the attack plan with Wraith Squad and Viera, explaining that the invasion force would head straight for the capital city of Bin Prime, believing their aerial defenses would be tolerable enough to deal with. If prior reconnaissance proved correct, the occupation would be swift, and Balmorra would fall within hours.
Hunting Amadis[]
Word of Amadis's escape has already reached the Senate, and needless to say there is outrage. Many worlds in the Republic believe his freedom jeopardizes Balmorra's integrity and resolve. Balmorra's allegiance to the Republic is a necessity to the war effort; his capture must be absolute this time.
—Mas Amedda, to Dodge, Trigg, Zay, and Viera
The 56th Battalion continued to serve on various fronts, among them Hallis Prime, where Dodge orchestrated a plan to rout the droid forces and conquer the planet for the Republic. During one assault on an enemy outpost, Dodge took notice of their heavy reliance on defense in the form of Armored Assault Tanks; in response, he sent out a squad of AT-RT riders to disable the tanks and allow for the rest of their infantry to march on the outpost. After successfully routing the droid army, the 56th's forces captured the outpost and proceeded with their efforts to eradicate the enemy. In the midst of their efforts, Dodge and Viera were suddenly summoned to Coruscant, ordered to aid in a local issue effective immediately.
On Coruscant, Dodge and Viera traveled to the Republic Center for Military Operations, where they were met by Commander Fox and a squad of shock troopers. As they were escorted into the facility, Dodge and Viera wondered why their presence was requested, especially considering affairs on Coruscant were handled by the Coruscant Guard--not the 56th Battalion. Fox led them to a control center, where they were surprised to find General Zay Arlenn and Commander Trigg of the 30th Battalion awaiting their arrival. The group greeted each other fondly, Trigg commenting on Dodge's faded haircut, joking that he needed to "look fresh for the Seppies." Dodge also met Zay, the latter commenting on his exploits during the ARC program that he had heard of from Trigg; Dodge recalled the time the other commander took down a squad of droids within seconds, thus his namesake. Zay also greeted Viera, whom expressed some joy in seeing her old friend, stating that the war had been enlightening. Their informalities were interrupted by Fox, who questioned whether or not they could focus on the task at hand. He continued by explaining that they had been brought to Coruscant to aid in their investigation of the recently-escaped prisoner, Torm Amadis, the former Balmorran governor. Suddenly, Dodge and Viera were entirely attentive as they had dealt with Amadis before on Balmorra. As Fox briefs them, Trigg asks if surveillance cameras picked anything up, to which the former explained that several of the cameras were disabled during the escape. When asked, Fox explained to them that Dodge and Viera's prior connection to Amadis should aid in the investigation, and that Zay's experience in the Coruscant underworld--where Amadis was presumed to have escaped to according to local criminal discussion--would also be of aid. Zay admitted that he had been to the underworld a handful of times as a Padawan. Fox continued with the briefing as he pulled up a transmission from Mas Amedda, who explained to the group that Amadis's capture was vital to Balmorra's realignment with the Republic, and that it must be absolute this time. Without wasting anymore time, Trigg asked to see his prison cell. Meanwhile, Zay and Viera departed for the underworld to begin their own investigation.
While arriving at Amadis's cell, Fox explained to the commanders that the two guards stationed there had been found dead; one's neck snapped and the other shot in the head. Dodge questioned whether anyone was seeing Amadis in prison, to which Fox said his most recent and most common visitor had been Senator Adrias Rethera of Balmorra, though he was quickly dismissed as a suspect considering they were enemies, and the fact that the man had been campaigning for Balmorra's place in the Senate. Trigg suspected Amadis could have received outside aid, however Fox stated that nothing was certain considering their surveillance feed had been disrupted, hence providing little information. A shock trooper brought a tablet to Dodge to view what camera footage was available, noting that nothing was amiss until the screen went static, indicating some sort of sabotage or malfunction. Trigg wondered if the cameras had in fact malfunctioned, however Fox dismissed the possibility, deducing that it was highly unlikely considering the convenient timing. Upon further investigation using the tablet, Dodge realized that only specific cameras had been disabled during the escape, coming to the conclusion that if they followed the corridors represented by each camera they would reach the end eventually. The others were quick to catch on, realizing that if they followed the disabled cameras, they would likely discover Amadis's escape point. Dodge immediately took point as he used the tablet to identify which hall to follow, leading them through most of the facility's prison block. Eventually, he realized they had reached their destination as he noticed that the cameras of the corridors adjacent to this one, aside from the one they had come from, had remained active during the jailbreak. Fox immediately ordered his men to fan out and assess the perimeter. While they searched, Dodge and Trigg noticed a ventilation panel on the ceiling above them, deducing that this was likely Amadis's escape route. Fox told them that the ducts led to outside the facility, though it was possible that some segments were incomplete due to the ongoing construction since the start of the war. Dodge commented that if Amadis had successfully escaped the base, they were running out of time to apprehend him.
Personality and traits[]
A tough and hardy soldier, Dodge achieved a reputation among his brethren as a master strategist and reliable comrade
Born to be a leader, Dodge developed a tough but friendly personality through his time on Kamino. He became a master strategist through what he learned from the Kaminoan trainers, and the ARC Training Program, where he learned to organize his own tactics. Dodge understood that war came at a great cost, and while he prized brotherhood as much as the next clone, he was always willing to do whatever it took to achieve victory, albeit preferably with minimal casualties. His loyalty to the Republic earned him a reputation among the 56th, and other clone units.
He had a very particular relationship with Viera Cacete and those closest to him in the 56th Battalion. By the Battle of Balmorra, Viera had barely been a Jedi Knight with little combat and no military experience. Because of this, Dodge acted as her guiding light through the horrors of conflict, which through the various stages of the war he too was learning about. Despite their varying personalities, Dodge placed all his trust in his brothers in Wraith Squad, understanding that their brotherhood and synergy was what pulled them through adversity. That trust did extend to other units, such as in Commander Trigg of the 30th Battalion, whom he served with on numerous occasions throughout the war.
Skills and abilities[]
Initially a by-the-book and follow protocol type of officer, Dodge's tactical capabilities were enhanced during the ARC Training Program. Learning to organize his own strategies in the midst of all situations, Dodge quickly became a renowned combatant among his brethren during the Clone Wars. He specialized particularly in ground assault, although was capable of formulating plans across various environments.
Equipment[]
Dodge originally fitted himself with the standard clone commander gear during the Battle of Geonosis, bearing the yellow markings indicating his rank. After his graduation of the ARC Training Program, Dodge fitted himself with typical clone trooper armor including the blue markings of the 56th Battalion, as well as several accessories, including a pauldron, kama half-kilt, and rangefinder. Usually his choice of weaponry was a pair of DC-17 hand blasters, however he also frequently used a DC-15 blaster rifle in combat.
Behind the scenes[]
Early concept art for CC-1211 "Dodge" in The Clone Wars: Ultimates
Dodge was confirmed to be a protagonist of Clone Wars: Adventures when the series was first announced under the title "The Clone Wars: Ultimates." He was first canonically mentioned in the series' original pilot episode, "End of Peace," and later made his official debut in the first season's third episode, "Civil War," which was first published on December 9, 2016.
Dodge's character was originally created in May 2012 under the designation "CC-1121" and the nickname "Boomdodger," reflecting the character's creator. The character was based off an in-game character from the Sony Online Entertainment video game, Clone Wars Adventures. It was not until March 2016 that his designation and name were changed to "CC-1211" and "Dodge" respectively.
Appearances[]
|
