- “We're loyal to each other. Not some empire.”
- ―Hunter to Crosshair.
Sergeant Hunter (birth number CT-9901) is a minor character in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the main protagonist in Star Wars: The Bad Batch.
Hunter is a genetically defective clone of Jango Fett and the leader of Clone Force 99, also known as the Bad Batch, a squad of clone commandos who each bore genetic mutations where Hunter possessed great tracking abilities.
Background[]
Physical appearance[]
Unlike the other members of Clone Force 99, Hunter geared a close resemblance of regular clone troopers and of his progenitor Jango Fett, finding it hard for others to point any distinctions Hunter had between his squad and other clone troopers.
The entire left side of Hunter's face was tattooed with half of a skull while the right side of his face was completely normal. He had brown eyes, longish dark brown hair, and wore a red bandana at most times with a small white skull symbol.
Personality[]
As a team leader, Hunter is the most cool-headed member of the team (along with Tech). Like his deviant comrades, Hunter possesses a less submissive personality than regular clone troopers, which gives him independent freedom of thought and the ability to make his own decisions. Despite being more rebellious than most clones, he still often tried to act diplomatically and cooperative with them, mediating conflicts between them and his teammates when they worked together.
Hunter also showed a strong sense of morality and understanding of right and wrong. He was extremely disturbed by Order 66 and quickly rejected the tyrannical and cruel methods of the Galactic Empire, especially after being ordered to eliminate the so-called Separatists whom turned out to be innocent civilians and refugees, going on to desert the only army he has ever served under. Subsequently, he slowly accepted that things were no longer the way they used to be, but still had doubts about the new path to take.
Hunter tended to act gruff, but was not unfriendly. His warmer and more protective side is especially evident around Omega; while he initially warned her not to associate with his squad despite her admiration of them, he quickly grew fond of her and sought to protect her from the Empire and other threats, to the extent he insisted on going back to Kamino to rescue her despite the risk of doing so. He has since acted as a sort of surrogate parental guardian for her and often acts overprotective, trying to keep her out of any dangerous situations, especially in the early going after they've fled the Empire, though he often finds himself relenting when she insists she knows the risks and wants to be an active and helpful part of the team.
Abilities[]
- Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Hunter is a good melee and stabbing fighter, often using a knife against droids. He also proved a better fighter than Crosshair, having defeated the latter in their last confrontation.
- Soldier Training: Trained from birth, Hunter is a sharp shooter and battlefield expert.
- Expert Tactician/Leadership: Hunter is an accomplished leader, having always led his teams to victory during the Clone Wars.
- Enhanced Senses: Hunter's main ability. He is able to perceive electromagnetic frequencies, granting him an increased talent for tracking.
- Expert Tracker: Hunter's enhanced senses makes him an extremely skilled tracker.
- Expert Pilot: Hunter is extremely skilled in piloting every type of flying crafts, from speeder bikes to starships.
Weapons and equipment[]
- Vibroblade: Hunter kelp a knife-like vibroblade in a sheath on his armor.
- DC-17 hand blaster: Hunter utilized a DC-17 hand blaster as his weapon of choice. He sometimes utilized a dual pair.
- DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System: Hunter utilized a DC-17m Interchangeable Weapon System, as his second weapon of choice.
- DC-15a blaster carbine: Hunter utilized a DC-15a blaster carbine, as his third weapon of choice.
- E-5 blaster rifle: Hunter utilized a E-5 blaster rifle, as his fourth weapon of choice.
- Rawlings TK5 speeder bike: Hunter stole a Rawlings TK5 speeder bike while searching for Omega on Pantora.
Appearances[]
The Clone Wars[]
Hunter first appears when meeting with Anakin Skywalker, Captain Rex, and Commander Cody. Hunter and his squad are assigned to help Anakin and his clone forces retake Anaxes from the Separatist forces.[1]
Age of the Empire[]
Order 66[]
Hunter first appears meeting with Jedi master Depa Billaba and her Padawan Caleb Dume on the planet Kaller. He and his squad take Caleb with them to take out some Separatist forces as they hear the Clone Wars is coming to end. Suddenly, the members of the Bad Batch witness to their disbelief Billaba's clone troopers suddenly turning against her under the influence of Order 66 which does not affect any of the deviant clones. Billaba finding death and Caleb fleeing in the forest, Hunter and Crosshair go looking for him while Echo and Tech extract information on Order 66 while Wrecker stops the regular clones from following them. When they find Caleb, Crosshair suddenly tries to shoot him much to Hunter's misunderstanding, the sniper claiming to be obeying orders from Order 66 but Hunter orders him to calm down until the situation is clear, not realizing that Crosshair has been affected by Order 66. Tech then informs Hunter that Order 66 is to eliminate all Jedi for high treason. The second encounter with Caleb briefly leads to a confrontation where Crosshair deliberately tries to kill the young Padawan until he is knocked unconscious against a tree while Hunter tries to reason with the frightened young boy who flees towards a cliff. Despite Hunter's best efforts to convince him they're on the same side, Caleb uses the Force to jump over the cliff, allowing him to get away for good. Crosshair arrives on the scene and asks if the padawan escaped, so Hunter states that he dropped him to his death in a vacuum.
Meeting Omega[]
Some time later, the Bad Batch return to Kamino where they notice the increasingly strange behavior of their comrades in arms as well as the announcement that the Clone Wars have ended with the death of General Grievous. Back in their neighborhood, they talk again about Kaller's events and Crosshair takes the opportunity to accuse Hunter of having let Caleb run away. Hunter states that he dislikes the order to eliminate his hierarchy, Crosshair replies that an order is an order but Hunter sourly disagrees with this assertion. As soon as Tech is mentioned that the clone troopers are genetically altered at birth to be subject to orders and the team's deviant nature prevents this from happening to them, the team heads to a meeting where Chancellor Palpatine declares the Republic's transformation into the Galactic Empire, with Hunter briefly noticing a mysterious little girl staring at him. This same child then comes to meet the squad and introduces himself to them as Omega before being called back by Nala Se, Hunter also senses that strange things keep happening.
While the Bad Batch are having lunch in the mess, they are joined by Omega, who starts an all-out fight with the regular clones when they disrespect his "friends". Echo ends up in the infirmary and when the rest of the team comes to see him, they inform them of Admiral Tarkin's presence on Tipoca City to assess things, a bad thing according to him due since Tarkin is known for have a very low opinion of clones. The team is then summoned to the training center by order of Tarkin to assess their usefulness within the Empire under a combat simulation. They first defeat the first assault wave but are caught off guard when the Admiral activates droids firing live ammunition while they only have useless practice weapons. Fortunately, their unusual tactics allow them to prevail once again. Back at their quarters, everyone except Crosshair is frustrated at being treated like cardboard targets. Tarkin introduces himself to them, commenting that the Empire's way of doing things is not very different from their unorthodox ways. Hunter guesses that Tarkin has a mission for them when he begins to praise their improved ability, the mission being to eliminate Separatist insurgents on Onderon.
Before leaving on the mission, Hunter meets Omega again who expresses her concerns about Tarkin but the sergeant does not think the concern is in order so Omega asks to come with them, which Hunter refuses as she is not a soldier. and that would be dangerous for her. Omega claims that Kamino is also not safe and should not be left there. The squad later arrives in the jungles of Onderon and tracks the insurgents back to their camps. Hidden in the heights, Hunter quickly notices that something is wrong when Echo informs him of the presence of children. He orders his teammates to do nothing, although Crosshair is ready to shoot without any qualms. Onderonian soldiers suddenly surround them, forcing Hunter to order surrender. The clones are brought before insurgent leader Saw Gerrera, who warns them that the Empire is only using them to silence anyone who opposes Emperor Palpatine, even if it's just innocent civilians. Gerrera then orders her to break camp and let the clones go with advice to adapt and survive or die with the past. Back at the Marauder, Hunter finally confronts Crosshair for his absurd loyalty to the Empire. As the sniper appears to defy his behavior, Hunter shoots down a probe droid that Tarkin had sent to spy on them. Hunter realizes Omega was right about Tarkin, prompting Tech to reveal that Omega is actually an enhanced clone like them, prompting Hunter to return to Kamino for her. Crosshair still opposes his leader's decision but Hunter ignores his criticism.
Escaping Kamino[]
Back on Kamino, the Bad Batch are arrested by the Shock Troopers and Tarkin who charge them with treason for conspiring with Gerrera and have them locked up. In the brig, they are reunited with Omega who had been locked there earlier. Again, Crosshair expresses his frustration with Hunter for disobeying orders but Tech and Wrecker are unconvinced because they have always disobeyed orders before, prompting the exasperated sniper to accuse Hunter of only taking bad decisions since they went to Kaller but Hunter has no desire to talk about it and prefers to concentrate on their escape from the brig. After Crosshair is taken away on Tarkin's orders, Omega manages to sneak into a ventilation duct and breaks out his friends.
The Bad Batch retrieve their gear from the hangar before being ambushed by Shock Troopers led by a brainwashed Crosshair. Outraged, Hunter confronts Crosshair who mentions the Padawan's escape again, to which Hunter states he only did what he thought was right, which Crosshair disparages before ordering that they surrender. Despite Crosshair's betrayal, the Bad Batch manage to reach the Marauder and flee Kamino.
Trivia[]
- Like Din Djarin, Hunter becomes the guardian and protector of a mysterious child.
- Hunter is the only member of the Bad Batch to have a tattoo. Hunter is physically more like Jango Fett than the rest of the original Bad Batch.
- In Episode Six of Season Two, Hunter is revealed to understand the language of the Wookiees.
- Hunter almost looks like Rambo, but Dave Filoni confirms he was based off of Billy from "Predator".
Gallery[]
References[]
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