The Bad Batch’s “Plan 99” Is So Much Bigger Than We Thought

One of Star Wars’ most devastating moments arrived in Star Wars: The Bad Batch when Tech enacted Plan 99, a plan that saw a member of the squad sacrifice themselves for the sake of saving others. Of all the Bad Batch’s numbered plans, Plan 99 was no doubt their most devastating, one that has since continued to haunt those who mourn the loss of Tech. As it turns out, however, Plan 99 isn’t just something Clone Force 99 came up with on their own. In fact, Plan 99 may have even been common during the Clone Wars.

In Marc Sumerak’s Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers, written from Captain Rex’s perspective, Rex recounts the clone 99’s sacrifice during the Battle of Kamino and brings up Plan 99 in his discussion of his brother’s legacy. Rex says, “After [99’s sacrifice on Kamino], when one of our own kind chose to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the squad, it became known as Plan 99.” This means that Plan 99 wasn’t just limited to Clone Force 99; it was widely known throughout the clone army, and seemingly enacted more than once.

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What Plan 99’s Bigger Context Means For Star Wars

This Plan Is A Tragic Yet Heartfelt Tribute

This massive context added to Plan 99 adds yet another layer of tragedy to the story of the clones during the Clone Wars. Unfortunately, based on their circumstances, clones likely found themselves enacting Plan 99 quite often, especially given the fierce loyalty the clones had toward one another. While it may not have been seen outside The Bad Batch, the fact that Rex knew about it and generalized it to the entire clone army rather than just Clone Force 99 speaks volumes.

In a more positive sense, this bigger context also acts as a touching tribute to 99, whose sacrifice must have truly moved everyone in the clone army. 99 wasn’t always treated well; the maintenance clone was often on the receiving end of jabs from cadets during his time on Kamino. Despite that, the clones were able to recognize the meaning behind 99’s sacrifice, in that he wasn’t afraid to act to protect his brothers and their home, even when he had no true combat experience. Plan 99 is a heavy yet meaningful tribute to his own sacrifice.

Plan 99 Was Used More Than We Previously Thought

It Wasn’t Limited To Clone Force 99

Given the fact that we thought Plan 99 was exclusive to the Bad Batch, this new context proves that it was used a lot more than we thought. Only Tech enacted Plan 99 in The Bad Batch, and Crosshair attempted to, but was thankfully dissuaded from doing so by both Hunter and Wrecker. If Rex knows about Plan 99, however, and speaks about it as something the entire clone army was in on, then that must mean that this plan was used by many more clones than just Tech.

This is hardly a surprise, given the way the clones are always so eager to set themselves aside for their brothers and the Republic itself, but it certainly makes Plan 99 a lot more devastating. In the context of just Clone Force 99, it seemed like the ultimate contingency plan, something they thought about but never hoped to use. With this bigger context, however, it’s clear that many more clones were not only ready to give their lives, but also truly did. The Bad Batch may have introduced it, but Plan 99 has grown beyond the show’s most devastating moment.

Source: Star Wars: The Secrets of the Clone Troopers by Marc Sumerak

Star Wars: The Bad Batch is an action-adventure animated series set after the events of The Clone Wars, following Clone Force 99 (a.k.a. the Bad Batch.) Finding themselves immune to the brainwashing effects of Order 66, the Bad Batch become mercenaries for hire while outrunning the empire, now seeing them as fugitives of the law.

Cast

Dee Bradley Baker , Michelle Ang , Noshir Dalal , Liam O’Brien , Rhea Perlman , Sam Riegel , Bob Bergen , Gwendoline Yeo

Release Date

May 4, 2021

Seasons

3

Writers

Jennifer Corbett , Dave Filoni , Matt Michnovetz , Tamara Becher , Amanda Rose Munoz , Gursimran Sandhu , Christian Taylor , Damani Johnson

Directors

Brad Rau , Steward Lee , Nathaniel Villanueva , Saul Ruiz

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