Clone Wars

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Previous: Separatist Crisis, Huk War Concurrent: Caramm V civil war, Sepan Civil War, Summertime War Next: Great Jedi Purge, Imperial Period conflicts Clone Wars Beginning: Battle of Geonosis, 22 BBY End: Mission to Mustafar, 19 BBY Place: The known galaxy Outcome: Dissolution of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Absorbtion of the Trade Federation, Commerce Guild, Corporate Alliance, and Techno Union by the Empire. Reformation of the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire. Transition of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine into Emperor Palpatine. Transformation of Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. Extermination of most Jedi and the dissolution of the Jedi Order. Major battles: Battle of Geonosis, Battle of Thule, Battle of Muunilinst, Battle of Jabiim, Operation Durge's Lance, Outer Rim Sieges, Battle of Coruscant, Battle of Boz Pity, Battle of Utapau, Battle of Kashyyyk, Siege of Saleucami, Mission to Mustafar Combatants Galactic Republic Jedi Order† Order of the Sith Lords (Palpatine) Confederacy of Independent Systems† Order of the Sith Lords Dark Jedi Commanders Supreme Chancellor Palpatine Republic High Command† (Turned into Imperial High command) Jedi High Council† Darth Sidious Count Dooku† General Grievous† General Sev'rance Tann† Separatist Council† Master Sora Bulq † Commander Asajj Ventress (MIA) Commander Durge† Admiral Pors Tonith Commander Merai† Alpha-Ø2 Master Depa Billaba

[Source]

The Clone Wars (22 BBY–19 BBY), also known as the Clone War and the Great Clone War, was the name given to the major galactic conflict fought between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The war was named after the clone troopers utilized by the Republic against the battle droid forces of the CIS. These armies were two of the largest ever pitted against each other in galactic history, and the fighting between them rapidly spread to countless inhabited worlds. Both sides scored significant victories over the other, and at different times during the war either seemed likely to triumph. The death of Count Dooku and Grievous, coupled with the issue of Order 66 and the deactivation of the droid army brought an end to the fighting. At the time, it was the largest galactic conflict to date.

Unbeknownst to most of those involved, the conflict was started, maintained and eventually ended by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, whose ultimate goal was the transformation of the Republic into the Galactic Empire with him as Emperor as well as the eradication of the Jedi Order. The conflict would lead to the Sith Order controlling the dominant galactic government.^[1]

Contents 1 Origins 1.1 Preparing the Way 1.2 Allies of the Confederacy 2 History 2.1 The Battle of Geonosis 2.2 Year one (22 BBY–21 BBY) 2.2.1 Early campaigns 2.2.2 Dark Reaper crisis 2.2.3 Defense of Kamino 2.2.4 Further campaigns 2.2.5 Conquest of Muunilinst 2.2.6 Capture of Mon Calamari 2.2.7 Battle of Dantooine 2.2.8 The Defense of Ilum 2.2.9 The Battle of Hypori 2.3 Year two (21 BBY–20 BBY) 2.3.1 The capture of Brentaal IV 2.3.2 Minor Republic victories 2.3.3 The Haruun Kal crisis 2.3.4 Assassination on Null 2.3.5 Mid-year campaigns 2.3.6 The Bassadro massacre 2.3.7 Late-year campaigns 2.3.8 The Battle of Jabiim 2.3.9 The Battle of Aargonar 2.3.10 Pursuit at Riflor 2.3.11 Conquest of Duro 2.3.12 Victory versus Bulwark 2.4 Year three (20 BBY–19 BBY) 2.4.1 MedStar 2.4.2 The devastation of Honoghr 2.4.3 Atrocities of Grievous 2.4.4 Republic terrorism 2.4.5 Victory on Praesitlyn 2.4.6 Dreadnaughts of Rendili 2.4.7 Outer Rim Sieges 2.4.8 The battle of Boz Pity 2.5 Final campaigns (19 BBY) 2.5.1 The hunt for Darth Sidious 2.5.2 The Battle of Coruscant 2.5.2.1 Rescue Mission 2.5.3 The Battle of Utapau 2.5.3.1 Death of Grievous 2.5.4 The Battle of Kashyyyk 2.5.4.1 Early conflicts 2.5.4.2 Delta Squad's mission 2.5.4.3 The battle begins 2.5.4.4 Aftermath 2.6 The seduction of Anakin Skywalker 2.7 The end of the war 3 Aftermath 4 Civilian perception 4.1 Galactic Republic 4.2 Confederacy of Independent Systems 5 Timeline of battles 6 Behind the scenes 6.1 Similarities to real history 7 Appearances 8 Sources 9 Notes and references 10 See also 11 External links

[edit] Origins

[edit] Preparing the Way

Although the Clone Wars officially began in 22 BBY at the Battle of Geonosis, their origins can be found ten years prior, during the blockade of Naboo by the Trade Federation in response to Outer Rim trade route taxation. The aftermath saw the election of Naboo Senator Palpatine to the office of Supreme Chancellor of the Republic. He promised to bring an end to the corruption that had so often plagued the Galactic Senate. The first few years of his tenure saw very little to fulfill that promise, however. The demilitarization of the Trade Federation was viewed by many as little more than a slap on the wrist, and Nute Gunray, Viceroy of the Trade Federation, managed to avoid any serious charges against him due to his role in the Naboo conflict (despite opposition from Padmé Amidala.)^[2]

During this time, Palpatine (in his alter ego as Darth Sidious) had contacted the experienced Jedi Master Count Dooku. Having lost Darth Maul during the Naboo conflict, Palpatine was in need of a new apprentice. And Dooku, whose own faith in the Republic had been shattered following the Battle of Galidraan, seemed the perfect one to mold. Having killed his old friend Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas to seal his fate and become Darth Tyranus, Dooku was then ordered to eliminate any reference to Kamino from the Jedi Archives, preventing the Jedi from discovering the clone army secretly being grown for them until they were ready to learn about it. After being deemed worthy, Jango Fett was commissioned by Dooku to be the template for this army.^[3]

While the future Grand Army of the Republic was being prepared on Kamino, however, other forces of clone warriors were already active in the galaxy. Cloners and their products were no secret to Jedi like Obi-Wan Kenobi and fringers like former gunrunner Dexter Jettster, and around the time that Outbound Flight was destroyed in 27 BBY, the Galactic Republic's military forces were engaged in combat with clone warriors, rendered dangerously unstable and prone to clone madness by being very rapidly grown to maturity. Veterans of these campaigns, such as the future Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, would later consider these campaigns as the start of the Clone Wars, but to most people, they were probably only a symptom of the unrest in the Republic at the time.

In 24 BBY, Palpatine's eight year term as Supreme Chancellor was coming to an end. At roughly the same time, Dooku emerged on Raxus Prime, declaring his intentions to form the Confederacy of Independent Systems, a group of disenfranchised organizations and governments whose goal was to secede from the Republic. Fearing what would happen if this breakaway faction was allowed to do so, Palpatine was allowed to stay in office longer than the Galactic Constitution permitted.

Over the next two years, many systems left the Republic to join the Confederacy, Ando, Geonosis, Tynna, Sy Myrth and Yag'Dhul among them. They would be joined by the Elrood, Danjar, Tantra and Sluis sectors, bringing the entire Rimward leg of the Rimma Trade Route under the control of the Confederacy. These sectors would be followed by the Abrion Sector which provided the Confederacy with some 200 agricultural worlds and the Lahara Sector which brought over Agamar, Oorn Tchis and the Mirgoshir hyperspace crossroads. However, though Ando joined the Confederacy, the Andoan Free Colonies remained loyal to the Republic.

Later, they would be joined by the corporate entities of the galaxy: the Baktoid Armor Workshop, the Commerce Guild, the Corporate Alliance, the Techno Union, the Intergalactic Banking Clan and the Trade Federation. Coruscant also found itself the target of many terrorist attacks, including an attack on Naboo Senator Amidala upon her return to vote on the Military Creation Act, which would give the Chancellor the right to create an army to defend the Republic against the Separatist threat.

After a second attack on Amidala's life, the Jedi Council selected Obi-Wan Kenobi to investigate who was behind the attempted assassinations on the Senator, while Anakin Skywalker escorted Senator Amidala back to Naboo. Kenobi's search took him to Kamino, where he discovered the clone army, by this time numbering two hundred thousand units with a million already in production. He also met Jango Fett, who attempted to escape to Geonosis, but was followed by Kenobi. Obi-Wan managed to send a message to the Jedi Council, but was captured. On Tatooine, Anakin was ordered by Mace Windu to stay where he was and protect Padmé. Padmé, however, decided to travel to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan. Anakin and Padmé were then captured as well and they, along with Obi-Wan, were sentenced to be executed.^[4]

With the knowledge of the Separatist Army, the Senate, at behest of Representative Jar Jar Binks (himself manipulated by Vice Chair Mas Amedda) gave Chancellor Palpatine emergency dictatorial powers. The Chancellor legalized the creation of the clone army to serve in the Grand Army of the Republic^[4]

[edit] Allies of the Confederacy

Count Dooku, prevented from openly taking his own apprentice by the Rule of Two, nonetheless sought out several Force sensitives to act as Dark Acolytes. These individuals included Shu Mai, Asajj Ventress, Sev'rance Tann, Sora Bulq, Tol Skorr, Kadrian Sey, Artel Darc, Karoc, Vinoc, Saato, Trenox, and even Jedi Master Quinlan Vos for a time. All of them, with the exception of Ventress and Vos, were killed during the course of the war.

In addition to this group of Dark Jedi, he recruited the Chistori warrior Cydon Prax and the Gen'Dai bounty hunter Durge. Durge gladly joined the Confederacy, if for no other reason than to eliminate the Republic's army of clone troopers bred from the DNA of Mandalorian Jango Fett, as Durge hated Mandalorians.

The most important and the most famous ally recruited to the Confederate cause was the Kaleesh warrior Qymaen jai Sheelal, whose body was horribly maimed in a shuttle crash arranged (though not known to Sheelal) by Dooku himself. His broken body was taken to Geonosis where he was offered a new life and the help of the InterGalactic Banking Clan for his people by the IGBC Chairman San Hill. All the Kaleesh had to do in exchange was lead the Confederacy Droid Army against the Republic who had wronged his people.^[5]

Sheelal took the opportunity afforded to him, merged with his new droid body and he became the feared General Grievous, Supreme Commander of the Droid Army.

[edit] History

[edit] The Battle of Geonosis

The Battle of Geonosis was the first battle of the Clone Wars. The battle occurred after Separatist forces captured Obi-Wan Kenobi on Geonosis and charged him with spying for the Republic. Anakin Skywalker and Senator Padmé Amidala attempted to rescue Kenobi, but were also captured and sentenced to death. A Jedi strike team led by Mace Windu, stormed the arena. The ensuing battle resulted in the deaths of many Jedi and the bounty hunter, and template of the clone army, Jango Fett.^[4]

The Jedi managed to hold their own for some time but were being beaten back by the outnumbering droid forces. As they prepared to fight to the end, the clone army, under Yoda's command, dropped from the sky in Republic gunships. Managing to rescue the Jedi from the arena, the clones engaged the droid army on the fields of Geonosis, in order to prevent their escape.^[4]

However, the battle on the surface was not the only conflict. In the space battle, the clone pilots, led by Adi Gallia, took out valuable Trade Federation battleships,^[6] and in the subterranean battle, fought between clone commandos—most notably the commandos of Delta Squad—and Separatist forces, saw victory for the Republic by eliminating foundries and Geonosian leaders, such as Sun Fac.^[7]

Count Dooku, seeing the battle lost, took the plans for the Separatists' Ultimate Weapon (the Death Star plans) and fled to a secret hangar. Intercepted by Obi-Wan and Anakin, he managed to best them both, even severing Anakin's right arm at the elbow. However, he was unable to defeat Yoda as easily, and was forced to resort to trickery in order to escape.

Traveling to Coruscant, Dooku met with Darth Sidious at The Works. It seemed clear to the two Sith Lords that, while the Battle of Geonosis was a defeat, it was but the first move in a much larger game.

[edit] Year one (22 BBY–21 BBY)

[edit] Early campaigns

Although the Battle of Geonosis was a victory for the Republic, the prospect of a war between the Republic and the Confederacy was now inevitable. Millions of clone trooper units departed from Coruscant on missions to find and defeat the Confederacy. The clones were led in these missions by the Jedi Knights, the first time that the Jedi Order had taken up arms en masse since the Battle of Ruusan a thousand years prior.

Following the battle, Jedi Knights Sora Bulq and Tholme were sent to Dooku's hidden base on Bakura to confront him. Unfortunately for them, Dooku captured and seduced Sora Bulq to the dark side though Tholme managed to escape. Seven days after the Battle of Geonosis, Mace Windu sent two Jedi spies (Aayla Secura and Ylenic It'kla) on a mission to Corellia to find the Techno Union scientist Ratri Tane, who possessed very valuable information. Unexpected help came from the Corellian Jedi Master Nejaa Halcyon, having just returned from a failed mission to halt the Freedom's Sons' attempts in the Sluis Sector.

This was followed by a Separatist/Trandoshan invasion of the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. There, the Trandoshans rounded up countless Wookiee captives and imprisoned them in concentration camps. Though the Republic managed to drive the Trandoshans off, war would continue to take place on Kashyyyk.

Later, the Chiss Separatist Commander, Sev'rance Tann, led an assault on Tatooine where her agents learned of a new Republic weapon known as the "Decimator" being built on Eredenn Prime. On Eredenn Prime, she captured several Decimators and then captured Alaris Prime, a Wookiee colony world which had just recovered from the Dark Reaper crisis. Tann then made a strike on Sarapin which generated enough geothermal energy to supply a significant amount of the power for the Core Worlds. This created massive blackouts that affected countless Core Worlds including Coruscant. Jedi General Echuu Shen-Jon then led a counter-campaign against Tann and slew her on Krant with his lightsaber after calling on the dark side.^[8]

[edit] Dark Reaper crisis

Separatist forces then commenced a massive attack on the seemingly unimportant Republic outpost of Rhen Var. Anakin and Obi-Wan managed to successfully evacuate most Republic presence there, but the Separatists took the planet regardless.

Shortly afterwards, the Republic sent Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to Raxus Prime where they discovered Separatist forces on the planet. Millennia earlier, in 3,996 BBY during the Great Sith War, the Dark Reaper was unleashed upon the Jedi. However, the superweapon was disabled by Ulic Qel-Droma and would remain on the planet for millennia until Count Dooku and his Chistori mercenary Cydon Prax discovered an important component of the Reaper called the Force Harvester and unleashed a wave of energy killed roughly half of the thriving forest on Kashyyyk moon, along with its indigenous population.

The Sith Lord then took off and found the pieces of the Dark Reaper. The exact locations are not mentioned, but Mace Windu mentioned that it was separated into the furthest reaches of the galaxy. Dooku went to Thule and activated it in an ancient Sith city on the planet. Meanwhile on Rhen Var, Skywalker went to the grave of Ulic Qel-Droma for information on how to withstand the effects of the Dark Reaper. Shortly after the revival of the Dark Reaper, Skywalker led an attack on the city, destroying the weapon, disobeying an order from Obi-Wan Kenobi to await Republic backup forces. Despite Anakin's almost single-handed defeat of the Reaper weapon, his feats in these battles served to fuel his ego and create an even greater personal rift between himself and his master. However, the Confederacy managed to conquer Bespin and Ossus with the Republic preoccupied at the Battle of Thule.^[9]

[edit] Defense of Kamino

This was followed by another Separatist assault on Kamino where Separatist forces under the Corporate Alliance Magister Passel Argente and the Mon Calamari Merai assaulted Kamino in an attempt to destroy the Republic's cloning facilities. However, the Jedi learned of their plans and sent a defense fleet of Jedi starfighters to defend Kamino. Although the Jedi pilots battled bravely above, they could not stop the droid forces from landing in Tipoca City. The arrival of the newly-activated ARC troopers and Jet Commandos served to turn the tide, and Merai was forced to launch a desperate strike at the supposed location of the city's shield generator.

However, the Jedi proved too wily for the Mon Calamari tactician; the data gathered by the Corporate Alliance was false, and Merai's efforts were in vain. In a last-ditch attack, Merai flew into the Jedi hyperspace rings, destroying his flagship the Shark in the process, and giving his battleships time to retreat. Though apparently a victory for the Republic, the battle was actually engineered by Darth Sidious and his apprentice Darth Tyranus to root out and destroy the traitors in the Confederacy. Following that, more clone troopers from Kamino were deployed, thus allowing the war to continue. The Republic also began research into other methods of cloning such as Spaarti cylinders and conscription was introduced throughout the Republic.^[10]

[edit] Further campaigns

Despite losing the Dark Reaper, the Confederacy still continued research on developing weapons. On the Techno Union world of Queyta, researcher Jenna Zan Arbor had developed a bioweapon known as the "swamp gas" which appeared as a green mist and caused blisters and eventually death in many humanoid races. The Separatist Commander Asajj Ventress decided to test the virus on the Gungan colony of Ohma-D'un, a moon of Naboo. This killed all the Gungans on the moon. In response, four Jedi Knights including Obi-Wan, Anakin Skywalker, Master Glaive and Zule Xiss were sent to investigate what had happened. To stay unnoticed, the team flew to the moon in a single LAAT/i gunship. The Jedi were soon attacked by battle droids fitted with swamp gas sprayers along with Asajj Ventress and the bounty hunter Durge. Their escort clone troopers, along with Glaive, were slain though Anakin, Obi-Wan and the ARC trooper Alpha-17 succeeded in defeating the Separatist duo and their forces for the time being. They then destroyed the capsules of the virus that were being loaded onto ships destined for Naboo and rescued the spice miners that were to be implicated in the disaster. Zule Xiss lost her arm to Asajj Ventress during the fight but survived to fight again thanks to Obi-Wan's intervention. Naboo was saved, but Ventress and Durge managed to escape.^[11]

This victory was later followed by the Battle of Pengalan IV which saw a full platoon of clone troopers sent to Pengalan IV to destroy a diamond boron missiles facility in the city of Tur Lorkin. These missiles were outfitted with a shell too tough to be destroyed by a starfighter's laser cannons and when they exploded their massive blast radius could take out several small ships. The Republic had to destroy the factory or their fighter squadrons would be slaughtered. To the relief of every GAR fighterpilot they pulled it off.^[12] Later, a mission to Qiilura saw Omega Squad being deployed to capture a Separatist research facility on the planet where an anti-clone virus was being manufactured.

Later, Mace Windu was sent to Ruul to investigate reports of defecting Jedi. Ruul was the private estate of Sora Bulq, who called a meeting of the Jedi dissidents refusing to fight in the so-called Clone Wars. Secretly, he hired the dark assassin Asajj Ventress to kill the Jedi, but Mace Windu was able to uncover Bulq's treachery and drove the assassin away.

On Coruscant, a group of Korunnai terrorists took Senator Meena Tills hostage as part of an attempt to turn the Corporate Sector against the Republic. However, their efforts were thwarted by Omega Squad. This was followed by the Mission to Queyta, a Jedi mission to obtain an antidote for the chemical weapon known as 'swamp gas', used to wipe out the Gungan colony on Ohma-D'un. Though the mission was successful, the Republic had not seen the last of the deadly swamp gas. Unknown to the Jedi, a second laboratory had been established on the far side of Queyta, the Separatists had loaded its creations aboard the Lucrehulk-class Core Ship Gahenna. This vessel would roam the galaxy for the next two years, modifying the swamp gas to become the TriHexalophine1138 toxin that devastated Honoghr .

[edit] Conquest of Muunilinst

Palpatine dispatched Anakin and Obi-Wan to lead an assault on Muunilinst. Muunilinst was the headquarters of the InterGalactic Banking Clan which was a heavy monetary and battle droid contributor to the Separatists. During the battle, the Republic unleashed a fleet of Acclamator assault ships on the Separatist defenses. Obi Wan led the ground assault while Anakin led the space battle.^[13]

Ground battle
On Muunilinst, Kenobi's army quickly took the advantage. The Muunilinst 10 under the command of Captain Fordo were on a mission in the city of Harnaidan, though their gunship was shot down behind enemy lines. The ARC Troopers, however completed their mission, to destroy a massive defensive artillery emplacement at the heart of Muunilinst. SPHA-T artillery decimated huge sections of the city and Separatist forces. In reply to this, the Separatist bounty hunter Durge led an squadron of IG lancer droids against Kenobi's ground forces. The strike force cut swaths through the columns of SPHA-Ts and their trooper protection. In response, Obi-Wan led a force of Clone lancer troopers on 105-K lancer bikes and defeated Durge's force, with Obi-Wan even defeating Durge in single combat. He then met up with the Muunilinst 10 at the InterGalactic Banking Clan's Command Center, and took the Banking Clan leader San Hill into custody. It was then that, Durge, who had survived the first duel, appeared and charged into the command center, where he was met with a volley of fire from the troopers. He was badly damaged, but survived thanks to his unique Gen'Dai abilities and attacked Obi-Wan. Many clones were killed, but Durge was eventually defeated by Kenobi with aide from Captain Fordo. The surrender of the Banking Clan leadership spelled victory for the Republic. However, due to his regenerative abilities, Durge was able to survive.^[13]

Space battle
Meanwhile in space, Anakin Skywalker was leading the Republic forces to victory. During the space battle he used an unorthodox move: ordering the clone fighters to shoot their missiles in a direction that looked clear of enemy units, across the bow of an Acclamator—class assault ship. As Anakin flew up past the Republic battleship, many droid starfighters followed him. The missiles just missed Anakin, but destroyed numerous fighters. He then flew past a CIS cruiser, while the missiles, still tracking his position, were led into the hangar. The ship was destroyed.^[13]

Asajj Ventress
Later in the battle, a mysterious starfighter dropped out of hyperspace, destroying many clone-piloted starfighters. Anakin immediately engaged the unknown ship in a space duel. The heated, twisting dogfight raged from orbit, down to the surface and then back into space again. When the pilot, a mysterious Force-sensitive protégé of Dooku later revealed to be the infamous Asajj Ventress, jumped into hyperspace, the impetuous young Jedi followed, disobeying a direct order from Obi-Wan. He pursued her to the jungle moon of Yavin 4 where they engaged in a lightsaber duel through the jungles and finally led to the top of a Massassi temple. In the end, Ventress was defeated, though not killed. Despite this, the Galactic Republic had won another major victory against the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

[edit] Capture of Mon Calamari

Meanwhile, on the ocean planet Dac, the Mon Calamari Knights under the Jedi Master Kit Fisto defeated the CIS-backed Quarren Isolation League. After the battle, Kit Fisto discovered the League was allied with the Moappa, whom Kit discovered were also sentient. Kit informed the Mon Calamari that they needed to make peace with and respect the sapience of the Moappa. Despite this, many members of the predominantly Quarren Free Dac movement fled Mon Calamari, settling on the CIS worlds of Pammant and Minntooine, where the Free Dac Volunteers Engineering Corps created shipyards. Using designs based on Mon Calamari Shipyards blueprints stolen by the CIS as a basis, these yards created Recusant-class light destroyers at Minntooine and Providence-class carrier/destroyers at the Pammant Docks for the Confederate Navy.^[13]

[edit] Battle of Dantooine

The Confederacy was using the planet Dantooine as a staging point to launch a counterattack against the Republic blockade around Muunilinst. However, Jedi Master Mace Windu learned of the Confederate presence on Dantooine and left with a force of clone troopers to halt the progress of the Separatists. War erupted on Dantooine as clones and droids clashed in a vast, open plain. With Master Windu at their side, the clones quickly gained the upper hand, despite being outnumbered nearly four to one by Confederate B-2 super battle droids.

However, the battle was suddenly turned upside down with the arrival of a large siege weapon—the seismic tank. This tank used its seismic driver—once used in peace-time for mining operations—to cut a swath through the clone trooper ranks, either crushing them outright or sending soldiers flying from the shockwave. In the confusion, Windu lost his lightsaber, and was forced to fight a number of droids unarmed. Retrieving his lightsaber amid another seismic shockwave, Windu flew towards the seismic tank. Windu cut his way in, disabled the seismic driver, destroyed the tank's droid crew, and knocked out the controls. Flying clear, Windu watched on as the seismic tank smashed into the ground and exploded. The battle was won for the Republic.^[13]

[edit] The Defense of Ilum

Meanwhile, CIS mine-laying Chameleon droids entered the lightsaber crystal temple on Ilum. At the time of the attack, Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and her newly knighted former Padawan Barriss Offee were in the temple, the latter making her lightsaber. They defended the temple valiantly, but the Temple eventually succumbed to heavy damage.^[13]

The two Jedi were trapped by a cave-in until Master Yoda, who was traveling with Senator Padmé Amidala realized what had happened and persuaded Captain Typho to rescue them. The Jedi master left the Naboo Yacht alone to rescue the Jedi. Senator Amidala became worried about him and set out with R2-D2 and C-3PO by her side. Artoo's scanners picked up three objects moving in, which attacked them. The trio dove for cover from the ambush. Unfortunately, the chameleon droids had their own cloaking devices which allowed them to stay hidden. To foil them, Padmé threw out her coat as a decoy. As the droids opened fire, the senator pin-pointed the source of fire. She quickly shot down the final two droids.^[13]

Yoda returned from the Temple shortly with Luminara and Barris. Yoda wondered who could have given the location of the temple. Artoo plugged into a destroyed chameleon droid and uncovered a recording from Count Dooku:

[edit] The Battle of Hypori

It was during the Battle of Hypori that one of the greatest threats the Republic would face during this time made his dramatic debut. General Grievous led a massive droid army on Hypori in the downing of several Republic ships, the obliteration of an entire Republic army, and the deaths of several Jedi, including Tarr Seirr, Daakman Barrek and Sha'a Gi. Only the timely intervention of ARC Captain Fordo and a squad of ARC Troopers sent from General Kenobi on Muunilinst prevented the remaining Jedi from being killed as well.

Only Shaak Ti, Ki-Adi Mundi, Aayla Secura, and K'Kruhk, along with the ARC squad, survived the battle.^[13]

[edit] Year two (21 BBY–20 BBY)

[edit] The capture of Brentaal IV

When the Republic received intelligence (later proven false) that a Separatist stronghold on Brentaal IV would be lying dormant for a few weeks, Jedi Master Plo Koon led an assault on the planet, overseeing a task force of three Jedi and a strong compliment of clone troops and support vehicles. The world was a vital link in the Perlemian Trade Route, and taking it would be a boon to the war effort. The Jedi would soon realize their error, however- the stronghold was indeed operational and under the direction of local warlord Shogar Tok, whose personal band of mercenaries was in the process of taking control of the planet in the name of the Confederacy. Regardless, the Republic won.^[14]

[edit] Minor Republic victories

Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker also assisted in the destruction of a droid factory at Nivek before going on to retake Terra Sool. Simultaneously, Republic forces led by Jedi Masters Mace Windu and Saesee Tiin liberated Iktotch at the Battle of Iktotch.^[15]

On Nadiem, General Grievous attempted to invade a major city, but was forced to retreat after Jedi Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee herded his droid army into a canyon and set off explosive charges that crushed the droids under the crumbled canyon walls.^[16]

[edit] The Haruun Kal crisis

The Haruun Kal Crisis began six months after the battle of Geonosis with the dispatching of Senior Jedi Councilman Mace Windu to his home planet of Haruun Kal. A holovid recovered by the Republic had shown Master Depa Billaba, who had been dispatched by the Council to train the Korunnai natives against the Separatist-backed Balawai settlers, in a state of what appeared to be bloodthirsty insanity. Billaba had been sent to the planet because although its location was of strategic importance for trade, the Republic was not yet ready to commit to a full offensive against the world. After surviving an assassination attempt orchestrated by a treasonous Republic agent and journeying upcountry to confront Billaba, Mace led the Korunnai troops, in concert with clone reinforcements under the command of CRC-09/571 from the Republic transport Halleck, against the Balawai militia.

He moved against the capital city of Pelek Baw and using an ingenious strategy that combined sneaking in transports down the path of a waterfall, eventually managed to corner Balawai militia Colonel Lorz Geptun. Despite a last-minute betrayal by a number of elite Korunnai soldiers led by the dark Korunnai Kar Vastor, Windu forced Geptun to surrender the system and shut down attacking droids. This victory came at a heavy cost, however, as Billaba fell into a possibly self-induced coma at the end of the battle from which it was believed she never recovered.^[17]

[edit] Assassination on Null

At the time of the Haruun Kal Crisis, Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker were sent to Null after they recieved information from Lorian Nod about a meeting arranged by Dooku with the rulers of Vicondor, Delaluna, Bezim, and Junction 5. Unfortunately, there was an assassination attempt on Samish Kash, ruler of Delaluna. Kenobi and Skywalker took off after the assassin on speeder bikes but were unable to stop it. Soon, after Dooku arrived they discovered that it was he who hired the assassin, a man named Robior Web.

During the meeting the rulers chose to support the Republic. Dooku was furious, and trapped the delegates by making the roof cave in on top of them. However, all survived with the help of the Jedi, save for Nod, who was killed by Dooku. Dooku then escaped.< ref name="Legacy of the Jedi">Legacy of the Jedi</ref>

[edit] Mid-year campaigns

When a Separatist fleet blockaded Balamak, an important agricultural world, Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Nanda-Ree Janoo led a Republic strike force of starfighters, while Anakin Skywalker engaged a Trade Federation Droid Control Ship carrying a HoloNet jamming device that had blacked out sector communications since the arrival of the fleet. The jamming vessel was destroyed and the Separatist fleet was routed in the battle.

On Devaron, a Jedi task force consisting of Kit Fisto, Aayla Secura, the Dark Woman, Tholme and T'ra Saa arrived to halt a smuggling operation that Aurra Sing and Senator Vien'sai'Malloc had started. Sing was captured and imprisoned at the Oovo IV asteroid prison, though she would manage to escape.

On Antar 4, Antarian Separatists backed by Count Dooku overthrew the Jedi-allied Antarian Rangers that enforced law on the moon, while Quinlan Vos succeeded in infiltrating Dooku's cadre of Dark Jedi.

[edit] The Bassadro massacre

A series of events at this time caused significant changes in the wartime politics and led to an increase in security and propaganda on both sides of the conflict.

On Bassadro, Jedi Knight Empatojayos Brand led his forces to the dormant volcanic ranges that were providing cover to Separatist droids. Brand ordered concussive missile strikes against the rock formations, creating a storm of shrapnel that sliced through the mining village of Agao-Nir, destroying many droids and several hundred innocent miners. The public outcry from this incident impacted both sides—the Confederacy, in response, founded the Hyper-Communications Cartel to broadcast anti-Republic propaganda, while the Republic formed the fanatic pro-Human COMPOR and SAGroup and instituted deportation of 'enemy' species from Coruscant.

During an assault on Coruscant, Count Dooku infiltrated the capital world with a small force of Cortosis battle droids and attempted to destroy the Jedi Archives in the Jedi Temple but was driven off by Anakin Skywalker. This battle, coupled with the blackout on Sarapin, made many of Coruscant's citizens feel unsafe and security increased even further. Huge stretches of the cityscape were transformed into military staging areas and clone troopers were on patrol everywhere. Jedi Generals Etain Tur-Mukan and Bardan Jusik led Omega Squad, Delta Squad, and a unit of Null ARC troopers in a purge of a Separatist terrorist group along the skylanes and underworld of the ecumenopolis.

[edit] Late-year campaigns

On Cartao, Palpatine discovered the existence of Spaarti cloning cylinders. A battle with Separatist forces ensued, and most of the cloning cylinders were destroyed. Those that remained were sent in secret by Palpatine to Wayland and Byss.

Meanwhile, the Jedi discovered a new type of Force-sensitive droid on Ord Cestus—the JK-thirteens. In response, Kit Fisto and Obi-Wan Kenobi were dispatched to the planet to ensure good relations with the Republic, to make sure these "Jedi-killer" droids were not being sold to the CIS. Diplomacy failed, but the ruling Five Families were killed in a bombardment targeted by A-98.^[18]

Later, during a mission to the Chaykin cluster, Delta Squad liberated the Acclamator assault ship Prosecutor from Trandoshan mercenaries aligned with the CIS.^[7]

[edit] The Battle of Jabiim

The Battle of Jabiim would prove disastrous for the Republic despite the defeat of Confederacy leader Alto Stratus. The Republic encountered generally poor conditions- the ground was muddy and the clone troops could not count on air support due to electrically charged atmospheric disturbances. Instead, they relied on a strong mechanized ground assault, led by the newly produced AT-AT walkers. The Jabiim Separatists, however, having lived amidst the rain and mud, were much better suited for combat. In the second week of the battle, they routed the Republic's Shelter Base, moving the captured commanders Obi-Wan Kenobi and Alpha-17 to Rattatak. Although Anakin Skywalker led a force of Padawans in a counterattack that resulted in the death of Stratus, the Republic would ultimately be forced to cede the planet to the Confederacy.^[19]

Following increased threats to Coruscant in the wake of the battle, a special batch of Clone troopers known as the Clone shock troopers were raised and trained on Coruscant itself, rather than Kamino, where they became a familiar sight, operating as martial police. Preying on citizen's fear, Palpatine founded the War Council Advisory Panel and the Homeworld Security Command.

[edit] The Battle of Aargonar

Shortly after the Battle of Jabiim, Jedi Knights A'Sharad Hett, Bhat Jul, and Anakin Skywalker were sent to Aargonar to repel a Separatist presence. The battle was a disaster, and Jul and many clone troopers were slaughtered. Ki-Adi Mundi gave the order to retreat, while Bultar Swan was tasked with destroying the Republic camp to keep supplies from falling into the hands of the enemy. Meanwhile, Anakin and Hett, who had gone into a cave to hide, found a disabled gunship and used it to lure a Gouka dragon into the Separatist forces, giving the Republic time to retreat. The Jedi then returned to New Holstice.

On Parcellus Minor, the Separatists routed Republic defenses at the cost of igniting the flammable native plants through a wave of orbital bombardment and starting a fire that spread to much of the surface, wiping out or injuring most of both the ground forces on both sides.

[edit] Pursuit at Riflor

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the ARC trooper Alpha-17 were interrogated and tortured by Asajj Ventress on Rattatak, though they managed to resist. In response, she fed Kenobi muscle maggots that ate away his strength and also placed him in a Sith torture mask to stifle his Force presence. He overcame it, however, and though it took nearly a month, Kenobi managed to slowly bend the water pipes in his cell and free himself, Alpha, and the other prisoners. They repelled a final confrontation by Ventress and escaped. Obi-Wan alerted Anakin Skywalker to his survival through a Force message, which the latter received while battling pirates in Ki-Adi-Mundi's task force. Obi-Wan and Alpha meanwhile had arrived on nearby Riflor where they fought through Ventress's pursuers before being reinforced by Ki-Adi-Mundi and Anakin.

Anakin then led a strike team to liberate the planet Virujansi, and, after having done so, the grateful natives dubbed him their "warrior of the infinite". However, the Republic suffered another loss when Togoria seceded.

[edit] Conquest of Duro

Worse was to come for the Republic when Grievous launched Operation Durge's Lance which saw the Confederacy conquer Duro. Separatist warships destroyed the defending Republic fleet and captured one of the planet's orbital cities in less than a week. This was followed by a wave of orbital bombardment and the landing of a massive droid army on a conquered Duro. Following the battle, the Senate Bureau of Intelligence investigated causes of the defeat. Grievous led his triumphant troops across the Corellian trade spine becoming victor again and again. The droid General became a symbol of fear in the eyes of the Republic. A month later, in a report issued by Agent Inglemenn Barezz, it was revealed that the three Venator-class Star Destroyers that were to have been assigned to protect Duro had been reassigned to "shakedown cruises" by the Senate Action Subcommittee for Corellian Trade Spine Defense.

It was also revealed that, in reality, the Committee's chairman, Rodian Senator Onaconda Farr, had reassigned the ships to Iseno after being bribed with contracts for rebuilding on Ando by the Isenese senator, Ronet Coorr. After the release of the report, both Coo