"The Clone Conspiracy" feels like the start of season 2 with Admiral Rampart and the consequences of the season 1 finale! We open to Imperial City at sunset on Coruscant, three Venator-class Star Destroyers hove above the dark spires of buildings, we from the the tall, orange and blue marquee of 79’s cantina to the streets. This is the off duty drinking establishment for clone soldiers, a 8D-series smelter droid acts as bartender, while two troopers (both voiced by Dee Bradley Baker of course) in uniform whisper about Admiral Rampart. Cade brings up that Rampart lies have decieved the Galactic Senate. Slip, a trooper with a beard, just wants things to go on. Cade says Rampart ordered the destruction of Tipoca City, and the people in it, their home. He mentions that he sent a message to Rampart, mistake, to inform the Senate before he tells them. Breaking the chain of command. Cade leaves and Slip catches up to him. Then, Cade is shot, a sniper!, Crosshair or a bounty hunter? Slip takes cover, returns fire with Cade’s blaster. He uses a speeder bike to block the sniper fire and then pushes over the edge to escape!
At the Imperial Senate, an Ishi Tib senator, the species with a starfish-like face with eyes on stalks, speaks. He is Gani Riduli (Phil LaMarr) from the Banking Clan saying without the clone troopers, they are defenseless. Then, he mentions Rampart’s Defense Recruitment bill, gesturing to Rampart that will offer protection. This is seconded by a Commerce Guild senator (Jennifer Hale). I’m not certain how two former Separatist leaders could have a strong voice in the Senate, but such is politics. The bill is set aside by Senator Tynnra Pamlo (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), this is the senator we saw working for the Alliance in Rogue One (2016), the actress reprises her role here. Riduli counters that the Mid and Outer Rims are threatened by insurgents. Senator Bail Organa (LaMarr) brings up that the clone army was from the Emergency Powers Act and that recruitment of army is against the principles of the Senate. It is interesting to see the Senate post-Clone Wars and we can understand why it can’t work with how the Emperor set it up. This is countered by the Commerce Guild senator.
Bail Organa wonders about the Emperor’s opinion, but Grand Vizier Mas Amedda (Stephen Stanton) says the Emperor leaves the decisions to the Senate. The young Pantoran, Senator Riyo Chuchi (Hale), brings up why the clone troopers have no say with the new bill. She was introduced in the Clone Wars episode, “Trespass” (2009). Hale has returned to voice her. Riyo is the sensible voice who is countered by the Commerce Guild senator. She says that after the clone troopers’ sacrifice, they are being brushed aside. A recruitment bill can’t be put in place without dealing with the clone army. Admiral Rampart (Noshir Dalal) moves his Senate pod forward and he says a plan is already in place for them. Riyo wonders if the clones were consulted. Bail says the bill is tabled until the care for the clones is presented and this is seconded by Senator Pamlo. Amedda eyes Senator Chuchi. He walks the halls with Rampart and warns him if the bill doesn’t pass. Also, that the Kamino destruction will end the bill, but Rampart says he is prepared to deal with any problems.
At the 79’s bar, Slip is angry at the treatment of his fellow clones talking to Riyo. She wants to bring a pension plan for the clones, but Slip just wants to be a trooper. Riyo says that their time as troopers will finish with their age. The rest of the clones gather around her when she says she will bring their concerns to Rampart’s bill. It is about ten minutes in the episode and no appearance of the Bad Batch so this feels like an epilogue of the Clone Wars series. Slip, in the shadows, tells Riyo about Rampart’s lies. He tells her about the attack on Kamino and that he was there when Rampart gave the order. Any clone that tried to speak about it were silenced. He says she can check his service record as CT-0409. This makes me think of the four part 2014 Clone Wars arc; “The Unknown”, “Conspiracy”, “Fugitive”, and “Orders.” Trooper Tup’s chip malfunctions and the truth about it is found out by his fellow trooper Fives who tries to reveal the mystery. At her apartment, a guard announces the arrival of Admiral Rampart. At the industrial area of Coruscant, Slip rides a speeder bike, and he goes to alley to contact an unknown person (I’m thinking Captain Rex or Cody). He needs to leave Coruscant.
The next day, Rampart walks with Senator Chuchi and he says that she wants to the Empire to pay for the pensions for millions of clones. She counters, cleverly, that if it is too much of an expense than it would not be time for his recruitment bill! He brings up the insurgents again. Clones could be sent in small units to take care of these “insurgents.” This must be the beginnings of the Rebellion. At his office, Rampart says the clones should be recognized for their service, he notes that Riyo looks troubled. She brings up the storm that destroyed the Kamino cities. A weak cover story, the cities were built to withstand storms. She questions his survival and Rampart says he needs to go off world. Under giant statues of clone troopers, Senator Chuchi walks with her guard, past marching clone troopers. An aide tells her that she has a secure communication. She reaches a Coruscant street on a landspeeder with her guard and a blue Astromech droid, R2-C4, greets her. Riyo has the guard wait to the side of the alley and then she is surprised by Senator Organa!
Bail says that Rampart says what others want to hear, but he still keeps secrets. He brings up the growing insurgency that is starting to make the Emperor afraid. The Clone Wars was his creation and this is outside of his plans. Bail notes that with Kamino gone, it is convienent to recruit a new army. Riyo brings up the clone she met who said Rampart gave the order to destroy the cities. She says he has gone into hiding and Bail warns her about others who will searching for the clone. In his office, Rampart activates the hologram for the assassin, he wears thin armor, a helmet like a Kabuki mask, and has a rifle strapped to his back. He is identified as Clone X in the StarWars.com databank. He has not found the clone and Rampart tells him to follow Riyo. This is too much like Darth Maul looking for Padme’s ship. Slip has reached the rendevous point, a clone voice says he is on the way, then he hears footsteps so he draws his blaster pistol! He of course meets Senator Chuchi and Slip explains his contact will make him disappear. Clone X is waiting! “The Clone Conspiracy” is full of intrigue, this makes me think that this is how Bad Batch season 2 should have started, but they should be added in their own show!
Four Vibro-knives out of Five!
#BadBatch, #TheCloneConspiracy, #DeeBradleyBaker, #PhilLaMarr, #JenniferHale, #SharonDuncanBrewster, #StephenStanton
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