#but outright evil to the level of a stormtrooper? in their right minds? no

[rexxdjarin]

using commander fox vs captain rex or arc trooper fives as either ends of a spectrum of

What happens to soldiers in the system they serve

Where - Arc Trooper Fives is the “leftist?” He was an immensely gifted soldier. A genius. A free thinking, talented leader whose valuable independence lead him to the truth that very, very few others in the entire galaxy ever knew. He discovered the terrible truth about the system he thought he served in, about who he thought he was and he, as a true arc trooper should, jumped into action to make it right. to find justice for the sake of all innocent life in the galaxy. because that is what the republic he served was truly supposed to be. He died for the truth. He died for justice. He was right and he died for it.

Where - Captain Rex is the “loyal just left of center?” He believes in the tenant’s of the system he serves. He’s an absolutely brilliant and steadfast leader. Men who outrank him value his insight and his skill above many others in the galaxy. He was a pillar of the grand army of the republic. He was everything a solider and a captain should be. He was loyal to his core. And yet …the deeper he got, the more hard learned truths he discovered, the harder and harder it was to maintain the loyal image he wanted to be. The system was set up to fail. It was set up to fail him. It was set up to fail the tenants of justice he propped up and held so dear. He survives by breaking from the system he swore to protect. It was the only way. He continued to move left and to rebel to hopefully bring back the justice and republic he fought for. The one the innocent people of the galaxy, including himself and his brothers, deserved.

And finally

Where - Commander Fox is the “right?” kinda ? He wholeheartedly believed in the system he served. And unfortunately blindly followed it, even if it harmed him. He didn’t want to believe that what he was created for wasn’t the justice he was told he was enacting. That he was being used. As long as he was loyal, as long as he did what his leaders told him then he was fulfilling his duty. But he obeyed too much. He, unknowingly did the bidding of an evil dictator because he did not seek to question his orders. Until it was too late. Until he was forced to forsake his brothers, his republic and everything he ever held dear. His loyal to a fault leadership wound up hurting him in the end and his fate was the same as all his brothers - a means to an end of violence, ultimate control and obsolescence no human being deserves.

Fives was willing to put his own life at risk to expose the truth to save the galaxy. He died for the right thing to do.

Rex gave up the only life he knew, a leader in the republic army, to carry out the tenants of justice against the will of the very system he was once vital to. He learned his lessons the hard way but ultimately rebelled and fought for the right thing to do.

And poor Fox, and most clones, stayed loyal to the fallen republic, albeit mostly against their will at first, meeting the ultimate bitter end of being decommissioned and cast aside despite all they fought so hard to uphold and with nothing to show for it, if they even survived at all.

They are each very real reflections of how soldiers are treated. Each with their own difficult paths and issues to overcome.

I’m mostly interested in a Commander Fox who learns the hardest way of all. I want to see the Commander Fox who realizes nearly too late that serving under Palpatine, in the Empire, isn’t what he wants. And even though he suffered, even though it’s so so hard, even though he’s been through unimaginable pain and likely committed even worse, his perseverance and commitment to justice and survival of his brothers would be far more inspiring to read and see develop than any other headcanon there could be.