Rescue on the Tranquility/Legends

"Gunray's capture could be a serious threat to us, my friend. The viceroy will not last long under Jedi interrogation.''" "''I have already put a plan into action, my Lord. My best agent, Asajj Venress, will infiltrate the Jedi ship, and either free Gunray, or silence him."

- Darth Sidious and Darth Tyranus Around 22 BBY during the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems launched a mission to free Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, who had been captured on Rodia by the Galactic Republic. Gunray was being taken in the Star Destroyer Tranquility to Coruscant for trial by Jedi General Luminara Unduli, Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano, Clone Commander CC-1004, and Senate Commando Captain Argyus. However, the latter was a long-time ally of Count Dooku, and had been paid to participate in freeing Gunray. As the Jedi began interrogating the viceroy, Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress took a boarding party of Vulture droids and several boarding craft to the Tranquility.

Once battle droids had boarded the Star Destroyer and attacked Unduli and clone troopers of Green Company, Ventress planted explosives in the engine room before confronting Tano outside of Gunray's cell. After Unduli arrived with Commander CC-1004 on the detention level, Ventress activated her explosives, crippling the entire ship. Ventress escaped, and while Unduli instructed Tano to stay and guard Gunray, the Jedi Master herself pursued the Dark Acolyte to the engine room. However, Tano disobeyed Unduli's orders and proceeded to assist the Jedi Master in her duel against Ventress. Meanwhile, Argyus betrayed the Republic and freed Gunray. The captain engaged CC-1004 in close combat, but Gunray managed to sneak up behind the clone commander and knocked him out with a blaster. Argyus and Gunray stole a frigate and escaped from the Star Destroyer, and Ventress joined them, taking an escape pod to the fleeing vessel.

Prelude
"Don't let your overconfidence give Gunray another advantage, Ahsoka. Even now, his allies may be conspiring against us."

- Luminara Unduli to Ahsoka Tano

Around 22 BBY during the Clone Wars, Trade Federation Viceroy was captured on Rodia by Senators Padmé Amidala and Onaconda Farr of the Galactic Republic. Gunray was to be taken to Coruscant to stand trial for his war crimes, and Jedi Master Luminara Unduli was assigned to oversee his transfer to the galactic capital.

Jedi General Anakin Skywalker was meanwhile battling enemy forces on another planet, but learned that Amidala, his secret wife, had been involved in Gunray's capture and was in potential danger from the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As Skywalker himself was needed on the planet to command the Republic forces, he sent his Padawan, Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano, to protect the senator and assist in the transfer of Gunray. En route to Rodia, Tano was contacted by Masters Yoda and Mace Windu of the Jedi High Council, who believed that Skywalker should have consulted them before assigning his Padawan to the mission; Unduli was already handling the transfer of Gunray. However, Yoda gave Tano clearance to proceed, and the Padawan joined Unduli and Clone Commander CC-1004 on a Consular-class cruiser to escort the viceroy to the Venator-class Star Destroyer Tranquility.

Meanwhile, Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious learned of Gunray's capture, and contacted his Sith apprentice, Darth Tyranus. Count Dooku&mdash;as Tyranus was also known&mdash;stated that he already had a plan in operation involving Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress, and while Sidious was doubtful of her abilities, he allowed Dooku to proceed. Ventress planned to infiltrate the Tranquility, and as B2 super battle droids attacked the clone troopers aboard the Star Destroyer, Ventress would plant explosives to cripple the cruiser. Once the Tranquility had been damaged, Ventress planned to lure the Jedi away from Gunray and signal Senate Commando Captain Argyus&mdash;a long-time ally of Dooku who had been given a hefty payment to participate in the mission&mdash;to free Gunray. Ventress departed the Confederate fleet with a squadron of Vulture droids and several Droch-class boarding ships to attack and board the Tranquility.

Entering and planting explosives
"Droid fighters, incoming. They've brought boarding ships!"

- The navigation officer of Tranquility reports the arrival of the Confederate boarding party

The Jedi and CC-1004 arrived with Gunray aboard the Tranquility, but as the Jedi began to interrogate Gunray inside his detention block, the Confederate boarding party arrived. The Vulture droids attacked Tranquility, and the navigation officer on the bridge of the Star Destroyer reported the boarding craft to CC-1004, Argyus, and the Jedi below on the detention level. Commander CC-1004 alerted Green Company, and the troopers prepared to repel the enemy. The three Confederate boarding ships breached the hull of Tranquility, and lodged themselves in the Star Destroyer near its hangar bays. The clone troopers of Green Company arrived, and took cover behind nearby crates as the super battle droids were deployed from the boarding craft and advanced toward them. The droids attacked the clones with lasers and rockets, and the advance clone forces were defeated, including Green Leader.

Ventress emerged from one of the boarding craft, and quickly decapitated the last surviving trooper with her lightsabers. Stealing the trooper's comlink, Ventress cut a hole in one of the vents in the roof and proceeded to the Tranquility ' s engine room. The Dark Acolyte was able to slip past the eyes of 327-T, the WED-15 Treadwell that was inspecting the area, and planted several thermal detonators around the Star Destroyer's main reactors before escaping to the detention level.

Tano remained with Captain Argyus to protect Gunray from the possibility of attack while Unduli and CC-1004 went to assist the clone troopers in repelling the droids. Elsewhere, super battle droids marched through a hallway, engaging six remaining Green Company troopers. The troopers' numbers were cut in half, but they were saved by the arrival of Unduli and CC-1004. The Jedi and the troopers attacked the battle droids, and were able to defeat their opponents, leaving the hallway ridden with fallen battle droids. However, Unduli sensed that their troubles were not over.

Confrontation on the detention level
Argyus received word that the enemy had been repelled, and reported this to Tano. However, Ventress suddenly cut a hole in the room's roof right above the Senate Commandos manning the control station; entering the room, the Dark Acolyte knocked the two Senate Commandos unconscious. Tano and Ventress exchanged insults before engaging in a duel. As the Padawan and Dark Acolyte exchanged blows, Unduli overheard the lightsaber clashes, and quickly headed back for the detention block with CC-1004 and the other remaining clones. Tano ordered Argyus and the Senate Commandos to open fire on Ventress. The three Senate Commandos complied; Tano ducked out of the way from their shots, but Ventress was able to deflect and rebound the lasers, killing all but Argyus. The Senate Commando captain himself blocked the reflected shots with his shoulder armor, but Ventress Force-pushed Argyus toward the control station, knocking him unconscious as well. Tano and Ventress engaged in a saberlock; Tano broke the lock, and Ventress flipped over her, slashing at her opponent as she proceeded to free Gunray.

Ventress deactivated the laser gate of Gunray's cell, and as Tano arrived and slashed at the viceroy, Ventress kicked the Padawan into the block. Gunray quickly stepped out of the cell and reactivated the laser gate, savoring the "delicious irony." However, Unduli arrived at the detention blocks with the clone troopers; as the Jedi Master ran to engage the Dark Acolyte, Unduli telekinetically deactivated the laser bars of Tano's cell. Ventress dueled both Jedi at once, but as Unduli ordered her to surrender, the Dark Acolyte activated the explosives planted in the engine room. The Tranquility shook under the explosions, and as everyone lost their balance, Ventress took the opportunity to Force-push Unduli to the ground. The Jedi Master rolled aside, avoiding several lightsaber slashes aimed at her head.

The clone troopers opened fire at the Dark Acolyte. However, Ventress jumped over them and opened an elevator shaft door with the Force; entering the shaft, the Dark Acolyte escaped, plunging her lightsabers into the side of the shaft to control her descent. Checking the controls, Argyus reported that all systems, including communications, had been disabled from the explosives. Ventress had crippled the entire Star Destroyer. While Gunray was taken back to his cell, Unduli resolved to face Ventress alone, despite Tano's advice and offer for help.

Duel in the engine room
"Now you fall, as all Jedi must."

- Asajj Ventress, to Luminara Unduli

Unduli jumped into the elevator shaft and landed, following a trail of fallen clone troopers to the engine room. As the Jedi Master entered the room, Ventress appeared and slashed at Unduli. However, the Dark Acolyte diffused a pipe close to the Jedi Master, releasing smoke that injured Unduli's left eye. The Jedi Master back flipped onto another reactor, and Ventress followed. As the two exchanged blows, Unduli commented on the sloppiness of Ventress's fighting style, seeking to distract the Dark Acolyte. Enraged, Ventress fiercely continued the duel. Back on the detention level, Tano decided to disobey Unduli's order to guard Gunray and assist the Jedi Master in her duel, believing that Ventress was too powerful for any one Jedi.

As the lightsaber battle continued, Ventress and Unduli employed Force-pushes against each other. As both Jedi Master and Dark Acolyte released the energy, the two were pushed backward. Unduli jumped over Ventress, aiming several blows as she passed the Dark Acolyte and landed behind her. Unduli and Ventress turned back around to face each other; Ventress lunged at the Jedi Master, but instead of slashing at her, she kicked her off the reactor down to the ground below. As Unduli fell, Ventress jumped up and detached several fuel pipes from the ceiling. Unduli tried to use the Force to avoid being crushed by the debris, but her leg was caught under one of the pipes.

Ventress leaped, lightsabers spinning, to deal Unduli a killing blow, but Tano arrived in time to save the Jedi Master. The Padawan Force-pushed Ventress into an open pipe and freed Unduli, using her lightsaber to cut a hole in the pipe. Tano retrieved Unduli's lightsaber for her, and the Jedi Master accepted the Padawan's help. Ventress climbed out of the pipe; trained by Dooku to duel more than one Jedi at once, she engaged the two Jedi before ascending one of the large reactors. As the Jedi jumped up and searched for the Dark Acolyte, believing her to be after Gunray, Ventress used her stolen comlink to signal Argyus to free the viceroy.

Betrayal and escape
"General Unduli, we've been betrayed. Argyus has freed Gunray!"

- Clone Commander CC-1004 reports Argyus's betrayal to Unduli and Tano

On the detention level, Argyus killed both of his Senate Commando companions and engaged CC-1004 in blaster combat, forcing the clone to take cover. The two exchanged lasers as the captain freed Gunray and used the viceroy as a living shield. Back in the engine room, Unduli and Tano came across 327-T, who had been trapped under some debris. Freeing the treadwell droid, the Jedi continued their search for Gunray, but Unduli received word from CC-1004 on Argyus's betrayal. As the Jedi headed back to the detention level, Ventress threw a pipe at them with the Force. Turning around, Unduli severed the projectile, and the two Jedi engaged the Dark Acolyte in a saberlock.

CC-1004 shot Argyus's blaster out of his hand, but as the clone commander ordered Argyus to surrender, the captain shoved Gunray at the clone. CC-1004 pushed the viceroy aside, and Argyus used CC-1004's momentary distraction to kick the clone's blaster out of his hand and his helmet off. As CC-1004 confronted Argyus on his loyalty to the Republic, the captain bent down to grab the clone's fallen blaster. CC-1004 punched Argyus in the head, knocking him to the ground. However, as CC-1004 took aim, Gunray sneaked up behind the clone and knocked him out with the butt of Argyus's blaster.

Back in the engine room, Tano and Unduli took turns advancing at Ventress, forcing the Dark Acolyte to give ground. However, Ventress Force-pushed rubble at the Jedi; Tano and Unduli managed to cut through the debris, and the Jedi Master rebounded the last piece back at the Dark Acolyte. Ventress Force jumped, avoiding the projectile, and started toward the Jedi again. As the duel continued, Argyus signaled Ventress with his comlink that Gunray had been freed. The Dark Acolyte broke off from the duel and jumped off a reactor into a nearby air vent. When Tano followed, Ventress threw a thermal detonator back at the reactor. The Dark Acolyte escaped and Force jumped through the vent away from the inferno.

Tano fell off the walkway of the engine room, but Unduli caught her and managed to pull her back up. Argyus and Gunray escaped in Unduli's Consular-class cruiser docked in the lower hangar, while Ventress disposed of two clone troopers guarding the Star Destroyer's escape pods. Stealing a pod herself, the Dark Acolyte departed the Tranquility. Tano and Unduli pursued Ventress, but arrived too late. With the Star Destroyer still crippled, the Jedi could only watch from one of the Tranquility ' s viewport windows as the Confederate agents escaped.

Aftermath
"A coward, Viceroy Gunray is, but powerful allies he has. Swiftly we must move if we are to recapture him.''" "''Master Fisto's fleet was near Gunray's position. I've already contacted him to follow the signal."

- Yoda and Luminara Unduli

In space, Ventress docked to the Consular-class cruiser and arrived aboard the frigate. However, when Argyus claimed credit for the mission, the Dark Acolyte exterminated him, stating that she would report the successful liberation of Gunray to Count Dooku herself. Back aboard the Tranquility, Tano and Unduli informed Skywalker and Jedi Grand Master Yoda of Gunray's escape via holotransmission. However, Argyus and the viceroy had used a Republic vessel to escape, and Unduli was able to track the ship through its tracking beacon. The Jedi Master had alerted Master Kit Fisto and his fleet, who had been near Gunray's position, to follow the viceroy's signal and recapture him. Tano departed the Tranquility to rendezvous with her master, but not before parting with Unduli.

Count Dooku had come to doubt the abilities of his best general, Grievous, and resolved to set a trap for the cyborg general in order to reassess his powers. The Confederate Head of State planted the Republic tracking beacon in Grievous's own lair on Vassek to lure Fisto and his former Padawan, Nadhar Vebb, to the planet. Once the Jedi were in place, Grievous would be able to hunt them for sport, and display his capabilities as a Jedi hunter.

Behind the scenes
The battle first appeared in "Cloak of Darkness," an episode in the 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series. It featured the series introduction of Captain Argyus, who had previously appeared throughout the series' supplementary online comic series, and also featured Luminara Unduli, who first appeared in the series as a hologram in the episode "Destroy Malevolence."

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels

Notes and references
Escaramuza a bordo del Tranquilidad