I would build up your roster progressively instead of chasing a GL right away. That's a long term investment. Not that you can't always build up your Imperial Troopers in the background as they are a great team in and of themselves in addition to being needed for SEE. If your goal is to use him with Wat, even if you are in a guild that is getting 49 Wat shards (sounds like your bugs might not be good enough yet), that's 7 months to 7*, although just 3 for a simple unlock. If you are not in a great guild it will take you longer. But it will take you at least as long to relic all the characters needed as a new player without taking out a second mortgage.
I would keep going for CLS and/or follow the other farming guides. Again, troopers can be a fun team but honestly, when you're ready for a GL, we'll have at least one other new one after Kenobi.
Also remember that ahnaldt has just about everything high relic and is kind of living in his own world.
