Battle of the Phu system

"We are still analyzing the data from the attack, but we can confirm that General Ares Nune's task force did encounter enemy forces on patrol."

- A Republic starfleet official reports on the battle

This battle took place around 22 BBY during a Galactic Republic patrol of the Phu system by Jedi General Ares Nune and Clone Commander Kite. The Confederate warship Malevolence was also in the system, under the command of General Grievous, and quickly eradicated Nune's fleet of three Venator-class Star Destroyers with its ion cannons. Following the attack, Jedi General Plo Koon took a task force of several cruisers to find and destroy the Confederate weapon.

Prelude
"I compiled all the reports, seeing if there's any pattern so we can find whatever it is the Seppies are doing out here.''" "Well done, Snips." "Not well enough. It's just too random''."

- Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker, on tracking the Confederate weapon's strike points

Around 22 BBY during the Clone Wars, the Confederacy of Independent Systems built a superweapon, the Subjugator-class heavy cruiser Malevolence, that was capable of destroying numerous Galactic Republic fleets with its ion cannons. The cannons neutralized all power in their targets, leaving them defenseless and vulnerable without the ability to use deflector shields to protect themselves. This allowed the Malevolence to destroy its unprotected prey with its numerous turbolaser cannons. The Confederacy soon began to use the Malevolence in numerous strikes on Republic task forces that left no survivors. The Jedi High Council became increasingly worried with the losses, and the attacks drove fear into the citizens of the Republic, even more so because the targets were unpredictable and did not form a pattern.

The battle
"Commander Kite, all hands to escape pods! Abandon ship! Abandon ship! Abandon ship!"

- A recording retrieved from the battle

Jedi General Ares Nune and Clone Commander Kite took three Venator-class Star Destroyers&mdash;including the Laudable, Nune's flagship &mdash;on a regular patrol of the Phu system. However, the Malevolence was also in the system, under the command of the Confederate General Grievous. The cyborg General immediately ordered the Malevolence ion cannons to fire. As the wave from the cannons obliterated the shields of the Laudable, Nune ordered Commander Kite to organize an evacuation of the cruisers via escape pods. However, the Malevolence moved in and destroyed the vessels before Nune and his crew of clone troopers could escape.

Aftermath
"Finding it is one thing. Finding a way to stop it is another."

- Mace Windu on the Confederate superweapon

The defeat of Nune's fleet was reported in the HoloNet News, to the increasing worry of the citizens of the Republic. A recording that was taken from the lead ship during the battle survived and was played during the broadcast. Following the report of the loss, Jedi Masters Yoda, Mace Windu, and Plo Koon of the Jedi Council met with Supreme Chancellor Palpatine in his office on the galactic capital of Coruscant. Koon volunteered to take several Venator-class Star Destroyers to find and destroy the "mystery weapon," as the Malevolence had been dubbed. Aboard the Star Destroyer Triumphant, Koon tracked the Malevolence to the Abregado system and engaged it in battle.

Behind the scenes
The Battle of Phu was featured in The Clone Wars web comic The Clone Wars: Shakedown, which was released on October 2, 2008 and led into "Rising Malevolence," one of the episodes featured in the October 3, 2008 premiere of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series on Cartoon Network. The battle was also mentioned in the in-universe HoloNet News report A Galaxy Divided on October 2 as part of an ongoing podcast featuring The Clone Wars series and was released both on StarWars.com and iTunes.

Appearances

 * The Clone Wars: Shakedown
 * HoloNet News — A Galaxy Divided

Notes and references
Schlacht im Phu-System Batalla de Phu Bitwa w układzie Phu Phun taistelu