Wookieepedia:Featured article queue/January 9, 2010

The raid on the Iziz Royal Palace took place in 4,000 BBY, and was a preconceived plot developed by the Beast Riders of the planet Onderon's wilderness, to abduct Galia, Princess of Onderon. After spending years in exile from the lone city of Iziz, the Beast Riders managed to secretly infiltrate the city, and began trading information with the citizens who were against the rule of Queen Amanoa. It was also during this time that Beast-Lord Oron Kira, met and fell in love with Galia. Because the couple knew that the Queen would not allow their union, they developed a plot in which the Beast Riders would attack the Royal Palace of Iziz and kidnap Galia. As part of the abduction, the Princess would be taken to Kira’s forest stronghold to wed the Beast-Lord. Waiting for the right time, an opportunity arose when three Jedi Knights arrived on Onderon to facilitate peace negotiations between the Beast Riders of the planet's wilderness and the citizens of the Iziz.

Through their underground contacts, the Beast Riders learned that the city-dwellers had requested aid from the Republic. The Riders then planned to use the Jedi's arrival as the distraction they required to carry out their planned abduction. The mounted warriors encountered the Knights in the Onderonian atmosphere and attacked their starship, paying out blaster fire before the Knights could even land. The Jedi received assistance from Iziz's defense towers, however, who covered their landing and repelled Kira’s forces with turbolaser bombardment. The Beast Riders momentarily halted the chase as the Jedi successfully landed in the city, where they were brought them before the Queen and her daughter.

As one of the Jedi offered the protection of both the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order to the Queen, Kira and his men managed to penetrate not only the city wall defenses, but the palace, as well. Several warbeasts and their Riders overtook the throne room as Amanoa's Royal Protectors ushered her and Galia to safety while the Jedi met the intruders in combat. Two of the warriors, special Beast Warrior Commandos, slipped passed the Jedi and followed after the Queen's entourage. The warrior pair defeated the Royal Protectors and successfully abducted Galia. Amanoa was lightly stunned in the commotion, and the Beast Riders promptly departed, having successfully carried out their mission. In turn, the Queen demanded that the Jedi have the Princess returned at once.