Order 66 question (naturally spoilers).

[Lord Revan]

Was it explained what the clones would do if there were non-clone troopers near a Jedi during the execution of Order 66?

[Superman]

Wasn't the idea that the troopers thought the Jedis were ones who turned on everyone else? I would think non clones would fight too, thinking they were doing the right thing.

[Petrosjko]

In the graphic novel they blew up one of their own tanks to kill Quinlan Vos.

The idea was to kill the Jedi, no matter what the cost. Since the droid armies were scheduled for shutdown shortly after the order went out, it really didn't matter.

[Noble Ire]

Wasn't the idea that the troopers thought the Jedis were ones who turned on everyone else? I would think non clones would fight too, thinking they were doing the right thing.

Perhaps, but not right away, and they would no doubt have reservations about it. The clones, on the other hand, had the order hard-wired into their minds and complied immediately.

[Lord Revan]

Wasn't the idea that the troopers thought the Jedis were ones who turned on everyone else? I would think non clones would fight too, thinking they were doing the right thing.

that would work if the non clones are not near the Jedi general, but right nect to somebody in combat it possible you would notice if they got new orders, also unlike clones, natural borns would broadcast their douts abou the matter and alert the Jedi.

[Petrosjko]

Likely it was all simply run through the clones, and if any non-clones got caught in the crossfire, too bad for them.

[Imperial Overlord]

If the clone troopers are willing to blow up a tank full of their own buddies to kill Jedi, they aren't going to hesitate wasting anyone else who gets in the way.

[MKSheppard]

From WeeMadAndo via AIM on how hard it woulda been to keep this
order secret:

Hell, just imagine if a Jedi picked up a Clone Trooper field manual.

*flicks through pages*

"General orders eh?"

*flicks some more*

"57 - Do not ever try to trade places with another clone trooper to mess with a civilian. Or to get laid...."

*flicks the page over*

"General Order 66? Kill all motherfucking Jedi? what?"

[Cykeisme]

I'll just paste my post from the Episode III tech discussion page..

The clones spend hours upon hours of the younger parts of their lives (probably hours a day for years, between the ages of 2-6 years old, the equivalent of a normal child's 4-12 years) hooked up to those holographic learning computer thingies. With hours of curriculum being drilled into their heads, it's possible to slip in some side "programming" subliminally or somesuch, alongside their programming for with their absolute loyalty to the Republic.

Perhaps no one, aside from the Kaminoans (who were probably paid to do it), had the time to review the clones' hours upon hours of programming. Even the Kaminoans might have overlooked it.. with at least 66 "General Orders" (there are probably over a hundred, or more), they might not even have seen it as unusual.. just a standard contingency in case of insurgency.

Regardless of their programmed absolute loyalty to the Republic (and therefore the Supreme Chancellor who had executive power), you'd expect feelings of friendship or camaraderie some clones might have had with their Jedi generals to show some hesitation or remorse when executing their former comrades... that is, if Order 66 functioned the way an ordinary order would.
This is particularly evident with Cody attacking Obi-Wan, and Bly killing Aayla Secura.

Clearly the effect of Order 66 wasn't quite the same as other orders might have had. It triggered some subconscious routine that completely, utterly overrides any part of their mind that functions the way a normal human being's would. Given the context, their behaviour is aplomb to that of a droid.

In fact, I initially assumed there would be a scene where they show a shot of a clone's eyes glazing over like he was in a trance when it happened, but I guess that would have been too cheesy. It's done well the way it is.

[Darth Fanboy]

In the novel, doesn't it explain Commander Cody saying something along the lines of "Couldnt I have been given the order Before I gave him his lightsaber back?"

As nice as it is to think the clones couldn't consciously betray their befriended Jedi generals remember that the clones were deisgned to be professional, unwavering soldiers. The Republic comes first, following orders and accomplishing the mission goes along with that. While some of the clones might have not liked the idea, they had been raised and trained to do the jobs given to them.

Edit: I guess what im saying is, Theres no "subconscious routine". The clones are following orders as they had been trained to do and through their training and conditioning were not about to question Order 66.

[Darth Wong]

I would expect that despite fighting side by side with the Jedi, the clones (and everyone else in the Republic, for that matter) had been harbouring a certain amount of concern about the Jedi belief that they had the right to decide what does and doesn't happen in government. Add to that Palpatine's subtle mind influencing power and whatever media they have in place (whose editorials and machinations we never see, unfortunately) and it's possible that quite a lot of people in and out of the military have been fearing a Jedi coup attempt for some time (this would make particularly good sense if the Jedi had been making noise about their misgivings with the direction of the Republic).

So when Order 66 came through, it's entirely possible that the clones thought: "Well damn, the Jedi finally went and did it. They tried to overthrow the government. Traitorous bastards, I guess I know what I have to do now."

[Arthur_Tuxedo]

I don't see why everyone assumes that Order 66 needed Clonetroopers to work. If you're an officier in the military, and an order comes directly from your Commander in Chief that someone is a traitor and needs to be killed immediately, and that person belongs to a group that you have distrusted for a long time, are you going to question that order or warn the target?

[Admiral Valdemar]

Regardless of whether it was an indoctrinated order from when the Clonetroopers were being bred or was simply an after thought backed by military allegiance to the senate, they still carried it out without question. Having a military that goes from offering a lightsabre back to a Jedi to "Blast him" in seconds is a very potent tool.

[kheegster]

I don't see why everyone assumes that Order 66 needed Clonetroopers to work. If you're an officier in the military, and an order comes directly from your Commander in Chief that someone is a traitor and needs to be killed immediately, and that person belongs to a group that you have distrusted for a long time, are you going to question that order or warn the target?

Indoctrinating or genetic coding clonetroopers to kill all Jedi at the invocation of Order 66 is much easier than pre-training at least thousands of officers to do so, especially considering that it would at least a few hackles among the Jedi.

[Lord Revan]

Well General Order 66 can't be recorded anywere the Jedi have access to, since command "execute general order 66" is enough for the clones to know that they must kill all Jedi (and at least some witnessed it (Bail Organa for example)).

[Petrosjko]

I would expect that despite fighting side by side with the Jedi, the clones (and everyone else in the Republic, for that matter) had been harbouring a certain amount of concern about the Jedi belief that they had the right to decide what does and doesn't happen in government. Add to that Palpatine's subtle mind influencing power and whatever media they have in place (whose editorials and machinations we never see, unfortunately) and it's possible that quite a lot of people in and out of the military have been fearing a Jedi coup attempt for some time (this would make particularly good sense if the Jedi had been making noise about their misgivings with the direction of the Republic).

So when Order 66 came through, it's entirely possible that the clones thought: "Well damn, the Jedi finally went and did it. They tried to overthrow the government. Traitorous bastards, I guess I know what I have to do now."

That would contradict the novelization, which pointed out that the whole reason the clones were the perfect anti-Jedi weapon was because there was no hate, no anger, no doubt or conflict- they were just following orders.

The EU actually demonstrated that the clones had a certain sense of trained-in reverence for the Jedi as supreme warriors, the defeaters of their progenitor.

I think the simplest explanation works here- the average clone possessed a highly regimented, disciplined mindset. When the order came down, it was something like this...

"So, what do you think about Bob?"

"Oh, great guy. Always draws to an inside straight."

"Kill him."

"Oh hey sure, no problem. No disintegrations?"

As to why the order was never discovered by the Jedi, going back to that heavily regimented mindset via indoctrination from infancy, it was a completely taboo subject.

Furthermore, the Jedi trusted the clones. I've commented before on just how, well, insidious Sidious' plan was. By indoctrinating the clones to have that almost child-like reverence for the Jedi, they put the Jedi into an almost parental relationship with the GAR. The Jedi were the first ones to come out against the consideration of clones as being biological droids. The Jedi trusted them, completely. They were probably more concerned about lightsaber malfunctions than clone treachery.

Once Yoda validated their use by deploying them at Geonosis, they didn't even go back and question their origins, or why their progenitor was hanging around with Dooku.

(Strike fifteen or so for the Jedi Council, neh?)

[fgalkin]

Was it explained what the clones would do if there were non-clone troopers near a Jedi during the execution of Order 66?

well, there were Wookiees on Kashyyk, yet the clones tried to kill Yoda anyway.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

[Molyneux]

Was I the only person who thought that Order 66 was something more hardwired into the clone troopers - not even indoctrinated, but literally built into them? I mean, they were altered at least somewhat from the original (Jango), and I find it hard to believe that even highly-disciplined troops would be able to just turn on people who'd saved their lives, that quickly and with no sign of remorse...

[Iceberg]

Clearly some Jedi survived the purge besides Obi-Wan and Yoda; if there were no surviving Jedi, Yoda wouldn't have bothered to alter the emergency recall. I suspect that the few Jedi who were out scouting ahead of their forces or otherwise separated from them had enough warning to do something about their intended fate (either short-term precog or by sensing the deaths of thousands of other Jedi the way Yoda did), and that few extra seconds (or minutes, if separated from the troops) could make all the difference.

[Darth Wong]

Was I the only person who thought that Order 66 was something more hardwired into the clone troopers - not even indoctrinated, but literally built into them? I mean, they were altered at least somewhat from the original (Jango), and I find it hard to believe that even highly-disciplined troops would be able to just turn on people who'd saved their lives, that quickly and with no sign of remorse...

Why? I haven't read the novel, but in the film the Jedi appear to treat the clones as disposable toy soldiers. They don't seem to take much notice of it when a clonetrooper goes down, and the only people we ever see trying to help wounded clonetroopers are other clonetroopers. Jedi seem oblivious to clonetrooper casualties. So I personally didn't feel that they should expect that much loyalty from their men.

[18-Till-I-Die]

Excuse me if this is a stupid question, but does this seem like a plot hole?

The Clones are programed using those holographic learning things to be unqeustionably loyal to the Republic, right? What you'd expect right? Ok, so arent Jedi Republic peacekeepers?

If so...wouldnt their command to kill all Jedi contradict their order to be loyal to the Republic?

I havnt seen the movie (dont care much about spoilers though) so if i miss something, my bad.

[Spanky The Dolphin]

They are loyal to Palpatine first and foremost above all else, just like the future Stormtroopers are.

[Shroom Man 777]

And maybe Order 66 would be like "holy shit, the Jedi are traitors, kill them for the good of the Republic!!1 rar1". So that paradox with the whole "Jedi are the Republic's peacekeepers" stuff is avoided.

[The Original Nex]

Excuse me if this is a stupid question, but does this seem like a plot hole?

The Clones are programed using those holographic learning things to be unqeustionably loyal to the Republic, right? What you'd expect right? Ok, so arent Jedi Republic peacekeepers?

If so...wouldnt their command to kill all Jedi contradict their order to be loyal to the Republic?

I havnt seen the movie (dont care much about spoilers though) so if i miss something, my bad.

Would not then the leader of the Republic demand more loyalty than its simple peacekeepers?

[Cykeisme]

Hmm.. I think my initial opinion was incorrect. The way Clones process Order 66 probably wasn't any different from the way they process any other orders. However, I doubt that Clones really think the way normal people do in the first place.

What I'm saying is that what goes on in the minds of a Clonetrooper (all the time) isn't quite normal. I guess this should already have been obvious to me from the fact that they underwent genetic tweaking to be subservient and "docile".

The adjective "docile", which didn't make much sense before, probably means that they not only are unable to rebel against authority, they are unable to want to. While it's true that docility is a poor trait in a human soldier, although their docility allows them to feel no hostility, aggression or malice toward their enemies, they don't have to.. they just fearlessly follow their orders to charge into battle, using skills and executing tactics they've been trained with.

Mike is probably right that most of the Jedi shown in the movies seemed to view their Clonetrooper subordinates like droids, but clearly even those Jedi that treated clones as sentient beings probably received no better.
Even if those clones who were treated considerately by their Jedi leaders were capable of feeling remorse, regret, or reluctance, it probably didn't increase the duration between the moment of reception of the General Order and the moment at which they pulled the triggers on their blasters.. not one bit.

They're just "meat droids". When Lama Su drew the comparison between clones and droids, mentioning that the difference was their ability to think more creatively, that's probably the only difference.