Stormtrooper classification: Stormtrooper. Previously a jet trooper during the Clone Wars but was "demoted" to a basic trooper classification due to his age. He always resents this and swears he can still fight as well as he did in the "good old days."
Designation: CT-1547
Military Ranking: Sergeant
Nickname: During the clone wars, his nickname was "Velker," an aerial predator native to Bespin. His brothers gave him this name due to his love of airborne ordnance and his skill in jetpack flight. Nowadays, however, most just disrespectfully call him "old man." Others call him "clone" or other derogatory terms.
Race/species: Human Fett-Clone
Planetary Origin: Kamino
Gender: Male
Armor appearance: His standard stormtrooper armor is painted in the same manner as his old Phase 2 trooper armor from his time in the 327th Star Corps: white with dark yellow stripes in the center of the arms, legs, helmet, and chest-plate. A black spade insignia with a stylized green velker is emblazoned on the upper-left of his chest-plate and his right shoulder guard.
Personality: Velker has seen and dealt with a lot in his time, and therefore has learned to keep an even keel. His years of training (and experience with severe --and often painful-- consequences) keep him from lashing out when he becomes the butt of a joke or the victim of berating. To some, his incredible coolheadedness can be frightening, and he does often use it for intimidating rookies.
Being a clone and having previous combat experience has given the man quite a superior attitude, and he often informs his new "greenhorn" comrades of this fact, but usually in a sarcastic manner. Similarly, Velker has a very dry sense of humor and frequently makes jokes at the expense of his squadmates.
Appearance: Velker is a standard Fett-clone with no distinguishing facial scars, but now bears the signs of aging. The wrinkles around his eyes and mouth make his face even more rugged and adds a certain sternness to his expression. His hair is greying slightly, but it is not directly noticeable since he keeps his hair shaved in a short warhawk. Many joke that he does this to hide the fact that he is going bald, but the truth of the matter is that he had worn the style since joining the 327th and it reminds him of his "glory days." He also has a tattoo of a winged Galactic Roundel on the back of his neck.
History: Like all other clones, Velker was born, raised, and trained on Kamino. As a member of the 327th Star Corps, he took part in many significant battles of the Clone Wars, including the battle of Felucia. In fact, he was on the planet during Order 66, though not being part of Commander Bly's "favorites," he was not near General Secura when the actual order came through.
After the fall of the Jedi and the domination of the Empire, Velker and the rest of the remaining clones were quietly shuffled over to the new power and refitted with new armor, weapons, and in some cases classifications. However, it wasn't until the Empire began recruiting and otherwise "acquiring" non-clone soldiers that Velker was demoted to the rank of Stormtrooper instead of an Imperial Jumptrooper. It seemed that the "powers that be" had declared his batch of clones to now be "too old" for such specializations and it was "for his own benefit" that he was reclassified. While this fate was better than that of other clones -- especially those that spoke out -- Velker still resented the change and is always trying in subtle ways to get his old job back. After all, he was one of the best fliers in his squad back in the day and, given his nickname, he always feels that flying is part of who he is. He just tries to ignore that his aim isn't what it used to be and his reflexes aren't quite as quick.
Aside from his rank change, he did not much mind working for the Empire. There were some -- hell, a
whole resistance force -- that claimed the Empire to be unfair, cruel, and downright evil. But was the Empire really in the wrong? He did not really know, and frankly, he did not much care. All he knew was fighting. Hell, that was what he had done since the day he was born, and he was now continuing to do what he did best. He had a job and the comforting feeling of cold steel in his hand, and that was all that mattered. What else could he do, after all? He was going to continue on for as long as he could, before they sent him to the fabled "old clone's home" -- or worse. But when it really came down to it, he just wanted to die on the battlefield like his brothers did, and not stick around long enough to sit around at let the reality of his existence sink in.