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- "Grievous has only delayed his pursuit of you. A few hours ago he picked up two more cruisers and coordinated attacks on three separate fronts. It's bad, Anakin. We've lost the battle group at Falleen."
- ―Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Anakin Skywalker
A battle took place in 22 BBY during the Clone Wars when a Confederate fleet under the command of General Grievous attacked the planet Falleen. A Galactic Republic battle group—including eight Jedi and numerous clone troopers—attempted to defend the planet but was ultimately unsuccessful. Grievous deployed ground troops to seize the planet, but the droids were unable to get past the shields of a fortress belonging to the planet's Falleen king. The Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress infiltrated the fortress and defeated the king's bodyguards, at which point the king himself tried to kill her. However, Count Dooku had also infiltrated the fortress. He subdued the king, forcing him to deactivate the fortress' shields and allowing the Confederacy to capture the planet.
Prelude
- "Have you not yet reached the Bothan system?"
"No. Unfortunately. Like I was telling Masters Yoda and Windu, every time we turn around Grievous is on our tail."
"So he still eludes you?"
"I think what you mean to say is Grievous has failed three times to blow us to smithereens. Even though he's got four cruisers to our three." - ―Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker
In 22 BBY, the first year of the Clone Wars,[6] the Jedi High Council discovered evidence that the Confederate General Grievous was planning to invade the Republic-aligned planet of Bothawui—home to the Bothans, who possessed unmatchable information collection skills. If Bothawui fell to the Confederacy, the Republic and the Jedi would loose a valuable ally. The Jedi Council therefore dispatched Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan, Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano, with a fleet of three newly constructed Venator-class Star Destroyers to protect the planet.[1]
En route to Bothawui, Skywalker and his forces were pursued by Grievous's fleet of four Munificent-class frigates. Skywalker engaged Grievous on three separate occasions, suffering several losses throughout their stalemate encounters. Grievous, however, delayed his pursuit of Skywalker in order to coordinate several attacks on Republic forces on separate fronts. The cyborg general soon decided to capture Falleen and picked up two more frigates to invade the planet.[1]
The battle
- "The city is ours, General, except for one fortress. We can't get past its shields."
"Continue landing your troops. That shield is being taken care of." - ―A B1 battle droid and Grievous
Grievous arrived at Falleen and engaged the Republic forces stationed there—consisting of the Jedi Knights Lobis Lobin, Kydra, and Tafasheel Arkan, as well as five other Jedi, numerous Republic officers, clone troopers, and cruisers.[1] Grievous dispatched Hyena-class bombers to aid in the attack, and C-9979 landing craft were deployed with ground troops aboard. B1 battle droids seized the planet's surface but were unable to get past the shields of a fortress that belonged to the king of Falleen.[7]
Ventress duels the king's bodyguards.
However, Confederate Head of State Count Dooku had arrived on the planet with the Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress. Dooku devised a plan for Ventress to duel the Falleen king's bodyguards and draw the king out of his palace, allowing Dooku himself to enter the fortress and subdue the king. Ventress approached the fortress, and the king sent his Dashade bodyguards to eliminate the intruder. The guards attacked Ventress with electrostaffs, but as they engaged the lightsaber-wielding Dark Acolyte in combat, Ventress gained the upper hand.[7]
As the king watched the duel through a gatekeeper droid stationed nearby the combatants, Ventress destroyed the droid, preventing the king from continuing to spectate the events unfolding outside his palace and consequently did not notice Dooku's arrival. The king armed himself with a blaster and left his secure command center to confront Ventress. As the Dark Acolyte eliminated the last of the guards, the king arrived and prepared to kill Ventress. However, Dooku was able to enter the fortress himself and appeared behind the king, holding the Falleen at lightsaber point. The Sith Lord ordered the king to lower his fortress' shields and submit to the Confederate cause.[7]
Aftermath
- "The Separatist fleet commanded by General Grievous is headed your way."
"Seems like that coward always knows where and when to attack us." - ―Obi-Wan Kenobi reports the loss of Falleen and Grievous's current destination to Anakin Skywalker
Dooku forces the king of Falleen to surrender.
By the time the battle was over, Falleen had fallen to the Confederacy.[7] The Republic battle group had been completely eradicated, including all eight Jedi. The Republic starship Bespin Dancer and its crew had also been eliminated. With his victory at Falleen secured, Grievous continued toward his original destination of Bothawui. Skywalker arrived at the Both system ahead of the Confederate general. Unaware of the Republic's defeat at Falleen, Skywalker contacted Jedi Masters Yoda and Mace Windu of the Jedi Council. As the pair was busy in a conference with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, Skywalker was relayed to Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Kenobi informed Skywalker of the Republic's loss of Falleen and reported that Grievous's fleet was headed to Bothawui. Although outnumbered in vessels, Skywalker intended to remain at Bothawui to protect the planet from falling into the Confederacy's grasp.[1]
Behind the scenes
The battle of Falleen first appeared in The Fall of Falleen, an issue of the weekly online The Clone Wars comic series that led into "Downfall of a Droid,"[7] an episode in the first season of the 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series.[8] The December 2008 novel Wild Space, based on the television series and written by Karen Miller, detailed the Republic's involvement in the battle and expanded upon the sustained casualties.
Appearances
- The Clone Wars: Wild Space (Mentioned only)
- The Clone Wars: The Fall of Falleen (First appearance)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Downfall of a Droid" (Mentioned only)
Sources
- The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Downfall of a Droid on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)
- The Essential Atlas
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 The Clone Wars: Wild Space
- ↑
"Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:4:14" — Star Wars Insider 67
- ↑ The New Essential Chronology
- ↑
"The Clone Wars #3 {{{3}}}" — {{{4}}} — [[{{{5}}}|{{{5}}}'s]] StarWars.com Blog (The Clone Wars #3 backup link (2012/10/12/chronicling-the-clone-wars-3//Chronicling The Clone Wars #3) not verified!)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Downfall of a Droid"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 The Essential Reader's Companion
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 The Clone Wars: The Fall of Falleen
- ↑ The Clone Wars Episode Guide: Downfall of a Droid on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)