What Did the Non-Clone Officers Think About Order 66?

While it is often portrayed that most officers were indifferent to Order 66, there were indeed those who held strong beliefs opposing the indiscriminate destruction of the Jedi. One notable example of such an officer is Commander Teron, who, after witnessing the Clone Wars, sided with the Jedi rather than the Galactic Empire.

Commander Teron, like Master K'Kruhk, understood that the Jedi were not the ones guilty of betrayal. They never would have betrayed the Republic, and the true treachery lay with the Empire and its leadership. After the rise of the Empire, Teron discovered that K'Kruhk and a few younglings survived. Teron then approached K'Kruhk privately, explaining to him that he had no knowledge of Order 66 until it was too late. Despite this, Teron was hopeful about the future of the Jedi, as evidenced by his actions in aiding K'Kruhk and the younglings in hiding.

Loyalty vs Dissent

For many non-Clone officers, the situation was different. The resentment towards the Jedi was evident, especially as they were made into commanders and generals over the clone troopers. As a result, many officers showed little remorse when the Empire disbanded the Jedi Order through Order 66. It was not unusual for them to comply with such orders, as it was with many orders given in the Clone Wars. The threat of treason and immediate military execution for disobeying such orders was a common deterrent among Imperial officers.

This can be seen in The Clone Wars Season 7, where the strict adherence to Emperor Palpatine's orders is evident. Even those officers who might have been shocked by the willingness of clone troopers to follow such orders, such as Crix Madine and Jan Dodonna, still complied. However, the seeds of dissent were already planted in their minds, leading them to defect to the Rebel Alliance.

Defection to the Rebel Front

Crix Madine, who would go on to become a Rebel Alliance head commander, and Jan Dodonna, who became a senior Rebel Alliance general, were just two of the many officers who would defect to the Rebel Alliance. Their transition from Imperial officers to Rebel leaders demonstrates the broader struggle against the Empire's oppressive ideals and rule.

Other Non-Clone Officers

Officers like Wullf Yularen also did not question Imperial orders. Just as they didn't disobey Order 66, they continued to follow Imperial directives without question. This demonstrates the overall compliance of many non-Clone Navy officers during the Empire's reign.

Order 66, while a critical turning point, was part of the pattern of orders given in the Clone Wars. The Empire's strict enforcement methods ensured compliance, even when it went against the officers’ better judgment. However, as shown by the few examples of dissent and rebellion, the tides of power were not set in stone, and officers like Teron and Madine played pivotal roles in the eventual downfall of the Empire.