My Review of Karen Traviss’ Republic Commando - True Colors
Posted by: kalskirata in Book / Comic book reviewsHello and welcome to another “lazy” post from your old Uncle Kal. This time it’s my review of Karen Traviss’ Republic Commando novel True Colors.
Yes, I can see you’re all asking, But Uncle Kal are you backing out of that compare/contrast review of Lego Star Wars Complete Edition vs Indy game???” No, I am not. As I type this little bit of text, I’m working on that review. Please trust me :-). Until it’s ready, please enjoy the following review. And again, if you hate this. love it or are indifferent, let me know. 
Thank you all for reading this.
A question comes to mind in all Star Wars fans that one day we hope will get answered; What will happened to the Clones when the war is over? In Karen Traviss’ book Republic Commando - True Colors, third in the series of four books, we as Star Wars fans are not the only ones looking for an answer to this question. While reading this book you get to see the characters start to question who is a true friend or who the enemy really is. Also, in some small way they are even planning for life after the war, if it’s at all possible.
We start out with Walon Vau during a bank heist being helped by Delta squad. On the way out of the bank a silent alarm is tripped which alerts droid guards. Vau is so loaded down with loot that Boss offered to help but Walon warns him off and orders the troopers to leave because he is the only one that steals, not his clones. Once Delta gets off planet, they inform Skirata of what happens which makes he and Ordo mount a rescue mission. When the mission succeeds, Vau hands over part his loot to Skirata as a “donation to the clone welfare fund.”
We also follow Kal Shirata on his quest to find the renegade Kaminoan scientist Ko Sai and her research into clone DNA. He’s hoping that she knows how to turn off the genes that make the clones age faster the normal. He does eventually catch-up with her and “kidnaps” her. While in his custody, he and the clones use different interrogation techniques to persuade the scientist into helping him find the answer to his question. Ultimately, when we get toward the end of the book, the scientist was pushed to her limit and her research stops. You’ll have to read the book to find out more.
At the same time, we follow Besany Wennen of the Republic Treasury department as she is asked by Skirata to trace where the funding is coming from for the clone army. While she looks into this, another question presents itself to her; is there anything being done to treat the clones as living breathing men, not just flesh droids. Then, another question presents itself as she digs deeper, who is responsible for the treatment of wounded and injured clones. The part of this story line plays itself out with a blaster drawn and a favor called upon to evacuate a seriously wounded clone. This is another part that if you want the whole story, please read the book.
Jedi Knight Etain Tur-Mukan starts the book on the planet Qiilura leading a garrison of GAR troops and the local Gurlanin in a cleanup operation to clear the planet of human colonists. This is a carryover from the book Hard Contact when Etain met Omega squad, and the baby’s father clone trooper Darman, in a commando mission to sabotage a Separatist research facility creating a nano-virus designed to kill the clones. One of the main reasons she’s here is to keep her from view of the Jedi Council until the baby is born. She stays with this action for a while until she over does it and pushes herself to a possible miscarriage. To prevent losing the baby, Skirata has her evacuated to Mandator where she sits out the this little bit of the war until the baby is born.
Omega squad is on the planet Gaftikar in a rebel camp helping the locals get ready for a raid on the city of Eyat. While there, they come across an AWOL clone ARC Alpha-Thirty named Sull. Darman and Atin end up tracking the AWOL clone and capture him in his apartment. The two troopers bring him back to their camp where he is interrogated by A’den, Sull gives them all a warning that the clones will never “be able to just leave.” He warns them that the Chancellors hit men will come after any clone that goes AWOL. A’den and Sull go have a talk and come the conclusion that Sull will again disappear but this time with the help of A’den and the other clones. Darman is ordered to go to Sull’s apartment to “clean it up.” While there he’s jumped by two hit man who where looking for Sull because he was AWOL and deserters are executed. Darman was able to “slot” the two assassins after putting up a good fight. When it’s over, the one thing he didn’t expect to see was the hit-men being clones. Clones sent to assassinate other clones. This shakes him to the core and makes him start thinking about life. If it is possible to have a normal life outside of the GAR when the war is over. He calls in Fi to help clean up the mess and get rid of the bodies. Later, when Darman and Fi are sent back into the city Eyat once the raid is begins, they are tasked clear the Hologaftikar Channel Ten studios. They run into what could be considered a trap when the studio blows. The explosion throws the two troopers injuring one critically. If you want a cliffhanger, here it is ….. Read the book.
For me, I could go on and on about the different story lines that have I left out of my review. And if you read this book you’ll know I have skipped Jusik’s decision, what Walon Vau is actually after in the bank heist, the race to find Ko Sai, Senator Den Skeenah of Chandrilla coming forward to speak about “laws protecting planets sentient and semi sentient beings but nothing on the behalf of the clones, the birth of Jedi Etain’s baby and a bigger question, if the Jedi Order has completely lost it’s way and have forgotten how to be Jedi. I believe that giving you just this much of a taste should peak your curiosity about the book to make you go out and buy it. If you did, then I did my job.
When her last book in the series, SW Order 66 - Republic Commando Novel, is released in September as a hard cover, it will be interesting to see which of the clones will react to the order given. Also, Karen has included the actual written Order 66 in this book along with Order 65. We also know that within these Republic Commando books there are two Jedi working closely with these clones. Will these clones turn on the Jedi and what will happen to Etain’s baby? I guess we will have to stay tuned to find out.
I thank you for reading this review and comments are always welcomed, good or bad. Anything to help make these reviews improve are always welcomed.
This is your Uncle Kal, signing off!
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