As the Clone Wars entered their final stage, the clone shock troopers of the Coruscant Guard earned the nickname «stormtroopers» in their capacity as militaryenforcers of martial law on the Republic capital. Their presence on Coruscant was a visible symbol of the planet’s new security measures, enacted by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in order to transform the ecumenopolis into a virtual fortress world.
The term «stormtrooper» was officially adopted by all clone troopers in 19 BBY following Emperor Palpatine’s reorganization of the Old Republic into the first Galactic Empire. The newly formed Stormtrooper Corps served as the Emperor’s elite military wing throughout the era of the New Order, using clones of the same template that produced the original clone army of the Republic. For a time, the Empire maintained the same army that enabled Palpatine—the public persona of the Sith LordDarth Sidious—to gain absolute power of the galactic government. Though the majority of clone soldiers were still produced in the cloning facilities of Kamino, the Empire also retained the services of Arkanian Microtechnologies, a corporation that used Spaarti technology to grow adult clones in a full year’s time.
During the galaxy’s transition from democracy to despotism, the stormtroopers retained the Phase II battle armor they customized with unit colors and markings during the Clone Wars. But the alterations that the New Order introduced soon affected the Empire’s shock troopers, particularly their armor and weapons. Prior to the creation of stormtrooper armor, the Empire brought an end to the Republic tradition of unit markings and armor customization. Stormtroopers restored their clone armor to a blank white condition, thus emphasizing the Empire’s preference for uniformity and obedience in contrast to individuality and creativity.