Unlocking the Secrets: Decoding the Star Wars Control Chip
Discover the secrets behind the Clone Troopers' transformation from loyal soldiers to mindless pawns of the Galactic Empire in Star Wars: The Control Chip, Explained Delve into the malfunctioning chip, Fives' shocking revelation, the sinister Order 66, and the true mastermind behind it all, Palpatine
Chancellor Palpatine's pursuit of "unlimited power" in the Star Wars saga heavily relied on his secret use of control chips to manipulate the minds of Clone Troopers, turning them into foes of the Jedi. Towards the conclusion of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Grand Army of the Republic appeared poised for victory. General Grievous had been defeated by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Count Dooku was apprehended, and the odds seemed to favor the GAR. However, everything changed when Marshall Commander Cody received a mysterious communication from Chancellor Palpatine.
In a final bid for power, Chancellor Palpatine activated Order 66, forcing the Clone Troopers to carry out his dark commands through their implanted control chips. Yet, ARC Trooper Fives nearly unveiled the Chancellor's sinister plan before the end of the Clone Wars. His investigation came dangerously close to exposing the ugly truth, prompting the development of a special scheme to eliminate him. Nevertheless, this was not the first time that Chancellor Palpatine's grand scheme was at risk of premature discovery.
Tup’s Chip Malfunctions
Tup, a character from Star Wars, met a tragic end signaling a deceitful plan. He served alongside well-known characters such as Captain Rex, Ahsoka Tano, and Anakin Skywalker. In The Clone Wars, Tup initially had a quiet demeanor but stood up for his beliefs. His defiance against a Jedi during the Umbara Arc demonstrated his goodness. However, the Conspiracy Arc revealed a disturbing revelation.
In episode 1 of season 6, titled "The Unknown," Tup is brought back to Kamino after unexpectedly killing Jedi General Tiplar. He repeatedly mutters the phrase, "Good soldiers follow orders," before succumbing to brain trauma. Unfortunately, further investigation into an inhibitor chip present in his brain could not occur. The Kaminoans attempted to justify the chip's existence as a means to control any anti-Jedi aggression inherited from Jango Fett, who served as the model for Clone Troopers. However, the truth turned out to be far more terrible than anyone could have imagined.
Fives Uncovers the Truth
Most of the other characters in The Clone Wars were willing to move on from Tup's death and accepted the explanation of the control chips as behavioral modification biochips. However, Fives was unsatisfied with this and decided to investigate further. With the assistance of a medical droid named AZI-3, he uncovered the Kaminoan scientists' cover-up of a horrifying truth about the chips.
Efforts to uncover more of the truth were impeded when Nala Se secretly drugged Fives during their journey with Jedi General Shaak Ti to Coruscant. Ironically, Fives learned about the control chips' truth directly from Chancellor Palpatine himself, who then falsely accused Fives of an assassination attempt. Fives became the first character to discover Chancellor Palpatine's plot without any prior knowledge. Later, Fives contacted 501st medic Kix, who arranged a meeting with Rex and Anakin Skywalker. Unfortunately, Commander Fox killed Fives before he could make a difference and prevent the impending events.
Order 66
The Kaminoans' knowledge of the control chips' actual purpose is irrelevant. What mattered was that they were aware that a Sith Lord had sinister intentions for the Clone Troopers and that the control chips were crucial in executing these plans. As the Clone Wars drew to a close, Chancellor Palpatine initiated Order 66 through the only Clone Trooper capable of disseminating the command to all battalions. Instantly, Clone Troopers across the galaxy transformed into mere automatons, viewing all Jedi as traitors.
On the battlefields, soldiers turned their weapons against the very generals they had formed bonds with. Meanwhile, on Coruscant, Anakin led an assault on the Jedi Temple, resulting in the devastation of all its inhabitants, including the younglings. The violent emergence of the Galactic Empire would not have been possible without the control chips. Once the Clone Troopers had fulfilled their purpose, they were eventually phased out and replaced by Stormtroopers. Chancellor Palpatine's plot to seize complete control over the galaxy had finally come to fruition.
Palpatine All Along
When Chancellor Palpatine made his first appearance in Star Wars, he projected an image of a kind and benevolent senator. He served as a mentor to a young Anakin and portrayed sincerity and good intentions while representing Naboo. However, as the Clone Wars progressed, it became evident that Palpatine was amassing an alarming amount of power beyond his designation as chancellor. Concerned about this, Senators Padmé Amidala, Bail Organa, and Mon Motha decided to investigate Chancellor Palpatine's political maneuvers. It didn't take long for them to discover that he had acquired an unprecedented level of authority, surpassing the limits imposed on his position.
In a deleted scene from the Star Wars prequels, these senators started laying the groundwork for a rebellion that would one day overthrow Palpatine, bringing an end to his rule once and for all. Unfortunately, they were unaware of his sinister plan to use control chips to manipulate the Clone Troopers and turn them against the Republic, the Jedi, and the very essence of freedom itself. Moreover, they were oblivious to the fact that Chancellor Palpatine was, in reality, the Sith Lord orchestrating the Clone Wars from both sides. By the time Palpatine ascended to the position of Emperor, all they knew was that the Clone Troopers had paved his path to victory with bloodshed.
Not only did the control chips compel Clone Troopers to betray the Jedi and anyone considered a threat to Emperor Palpatine and his newfound galactic order, but they also transformed them into mindless followers, unconditionally dedicated to servitude. What's even more devastating is that these chips completely wiped out their unique personalities, which they had meticulously nurtured over time. In "Battle Scars," episode 7 of season 1 of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, this manipulation altered Wrecker from someone who cherished his family into an individual who viewed them as traitors deserving annihilation.
Not all Clone Troopers had their control chips activated during Order 66. Captain Howzer and Cut Lawquane, for example, were spared as they did not collaborate with Jedi. The remaining troopers faced the grim reality of living with the horrific actions they were compelled to commit, with some unaware that they were not acting of their own free will due to their lack of knowledge about the control chips. In the Star Wars universe, while democracy may have perished amidst a chorus of "thunderous applause," the freedom of the Clone Troopers met a chillingly silent demise brought about by the control chips.
