Battle of Christophsis/Legends

The Battle of Christophsis took place in 22 BBY, in Crystal City on the planet of Christophsis, during the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Seeking to force another world to join their cause, the Confederacy invaded Christophsis. Receiving a plea from the inhabitants of the planet, the Jedi High Council dispatched High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi General Anakin Skywalker to aid the inhabitant, accompanied by a contingent of the Grand Army of the Republic. However, Clone Sergeant Slick, disgusted with the Jedi's control over his clone brothers, betrayed the Republic and began to pass inside information to Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress.

The Republic forces prepared to attack the Confederate droid forces in Crystal City, but the Confederacy used the information Slick had passed and ambushed the Republic forces, alerting them to the possibility of a traitor. The Jedi went to search for more information behind enemy lines, while Clone Commander Cody and Clone Captain Rex stayed to find the turncoat. Upon arriving at the Confederacy base, the two Jedi confronted Ventress, and discovered the presence of an invasion force in far greater strength than they had originally believed. Meanwhile, Cody and Rex discovered that Slick was the traitor, and after he severely damaged the Republic's weapons depot, the two managed to apprehend him, and he was imprisoned for his crimes against the Republic upon the Jedi's return.

The Republic forces fought off the first wave of battle droids under the command of Confederate General Whorm Loathsom, but the Confederate forces soon returned. After Loathsom discovered that the Republic was using heavy cannons, he ordered his forces to pull back once more, and set up a deflector shield to negate the Republic's artillery use. During the lapse of fighting, Skywalker's new Jedi Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, arrived on the planet in place of the Republic's expected reinforcements. The Confederate forces returned, this time advancing behind their shield, rendering the Republic's artillery useless. Skywalker and Tano proceeded to sabotage the Confederacy's shield generator, while General Kenobi stayed to engage the Confederate forces. After Kenobi pretended to surrender to Loathsom, Skywalker and Tano were able to eliminate the shield. Kenobi captured Loathsom, and the Republic forces were able to defeat the Confederacy.

Prelude
"You be listening to the voice of the Confederacy o' Independent Systems. Yer planet, it belongs to us now."

- Confederate General Whorm Loathsom, to the inhabitants of Christophsis



In 22 BBY during the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Confederacy invaded the planet of Christophsis, seeking to force another world to join their cause. The inhabitants attempted to defend themselves, but were unable to hold out against the Confederate forces, and were overwhelmed. Confederate General Whorm Loathsom, via a massive holotransmission, stated to the inhabitants of the planet that they were under Confederate rule, and that their planetary leadership had abandoned them.

The inhabitants appealed to the Jedi High Council for help, and the Council dispatched High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi General Anakin Skywalker aid the planet. Skywalker and Kenobi were accompanied by a contingent of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Republic's clone army manufactured to fight in the war. After arriving on the planet and setting up a base, the Jedi sent a squad of several clone troopers&mdash;under the command of Clone Sergeant Slick&mdash;to perform a reconnaissance of the planet, in order to locate a strategical ambush site from which to attack the Confederate droid forces.

Unknown to his comrades, Sergeant Slick had developed a grudge against the Jedi, believing that in fighting in the GAR, he and his fellow clone brothers were acting as the Jedi's slaves. Infuriated with the corruption, Slick began to pass inside information to Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress, who had arrived on the planet, and he was given payment for his assistance. During the Republic's reconnaissance of an ambush site, Slick and his men located a strategical ambush point: the adjacent North and South towers in Crystal City, overlooking a major plaza. As they returned to the base, the clones came across a squad of B1 battle droids attempting to clear one of the main boulevards of Christophsians. When the droids came across a crippled man and discussed killing him, the clones intervened and eliminated the droids. However, once the clones had returned to the base, Slick secretly sent the Republic's plan to Ventress, and with the information, she and General Loathsom developed a plan to ambush the Republic forces and stay a step ahead of their enemies.



Ambush
"Obi-Wan, what's going on?''" "''We're cut off. The droids are onto us!"

- Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Kenobi, Clone Commander Cody and Sergeant Slick stationed their men in the South tower, while Skywalker and Clone Captain Rex were based in the parallel North tower. Kenobi's men set up several repeating blaster cannons, ready to ambush the Confederate B1 battle droids and Armored Assault Tanks as they passed through the plaza below. Suddenly, the droid force split into two. In the South tower, a turbolift door opened, and B1 battle droids flooded the room, making it apparent to Kenobi that their ambush point had been compromised.

Watching from the North tower, Skywalker contacted clone pilot Hawk and ordered an evacuation of the South tower. Skywalker's men fired the grappling hooks of their blaster rifles to the adjacent tower, sliding across the space to assist Kenobi. The droid forces watching from the plaza opened fire, killing one of the clone troopers. Skywalker and his men arrived to help Kenobi, and the Republic forces proceeded to the roof of the tower for the evacuation. The Jedi and clones were pursued by the droids, under command of a tactical droid. Hawk's LAAT/i gunship arrived and hovered near the roof, and the Republic forces began to board. In a last act before retreating, a trooper attacked the tactical droid and ripped its head off, taking the severed head onto the gunship.

Investigations
"Someone left his comlink on. Someone has been listening to everything we've said!"

- Cody, upon finding the activated comlink



Rex and Cody brought the droid's cranial unit back to the Republic base. However, during a robolobotomy, the tactical droid only confirmed that the Confederacy had been aware of the Republic's plan, and the droid stopped processing before it could reveal more. When the clones reported their findings to the Jedi, Skywalker suggested that the Republic had been left vulnerable to a breach in security systems. Kenobi, however, suspected that there was a spy among the Republic forces, and that action behind enemy lines was necessary to uncover information. Before the Jedi left, Kenobi ordered Rex and Cody to keep the mission confidential, and remain behind to find and apprehend the traitor.

Cody was alarmed to find an activated comlink on a nearby table; someone had been listening to the entire conversation. Rex noticed Slick in the hallway, but the traitor was too far away to be recognized. Once Rex called out, Slick immediately fled. Cody and Rex ran after him, but lost his trail during their pursuit. Because of the arrangement of the halls through which Rex and Cody had chased the eavesdropper, they deduced that he had definitely gone into the mess hall. Entering the mess hall, Rex and Cody discovered that the only people there were their clone brothers. Cody and Rex returned to the communications center to continue investigations in the systems. Through astromech droid R2-D2, a number of external communications were discovered, taking place every few days in an irregular pattern. The wavelength was tracked to a terminal in Slick's barracks, and Rex and Cody decided to individually interrogate Slick's men.

Trap for the Jedi
"My loyal informant let me know you were coming.''" "''Well then, we thank you for your hospitality."

- Asajj Ventress and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Under the cover of night, the Jedi approached the Confederacy base on BARC speeders. The Jedi noticed an increasing number of battle droids observing them; because the droids were not trying to stop them, the Jedi deduced that they were heading into a trap. This prospect boosted Skywalker's confidence, believing that this was unfortunate for the Confederacy. Upon arrival at the base, Skywalker and Kenobi were greeted by the hooded figure of Dark Acolyte Asajj Ventress, and ignited their lightsabers on sight of each other.



The Rattataki Dark Acolyte climbed nimbly to the top of the stairs, and Skywalker was the first to attack, slashing at Ventress, who drove him down to the foot of the stairs. Kenobi joined the duel and attacked Ventress as well. The Rattataki fought both Skywalker and Kenobi simultaneously, and used the Force to throw a piece of crystal rubble at them, which Kenobi sliced in half. Skywalker and Kenobi drove Ventress back up the stairs, and followed the Dark Jedi into another room. Ventress summoned books off of their shelves and hurtled them at her pursuers; Kenobi stopped them with the Force, and Skywalker's added assistance caused the books to fly back at the Rattataki. As Ventress assumed a submissive position, sitting cross-legged on the floor, the Jedi approached her to capture her. However, Ventress suddenly opened a large hole in the floor with her lightsabers, and Skywalker and Kenobi dropped down into the room below.

Revelation
"You didn't tell us you were bringing ''friends." "''Poor Obi-Wan. You've been betrayed! And now we're about to take control of this world."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Asajj Ventress



The Dark Jedi mocked the two before fleeing, and the two Jedi jumped back up into the room above and followed Ventress as she broke a window and hurtled out of it. Ventress jumped off the side of the building, and as the Jedi got closer, they discovered the full scale of the Confederate invasion forces: numerous C-9979 landing crafts were landing, bringing more and more battle droid troops, and many were already marching in formation on the ground far below. From atop the head of a tri-droid clinging onto the side of the building, Ventress taunted the Jedi, and stated that the Confederacy was preparing to assume control of the planet.

Despite the appearance of the invasion forces, Skywalker and Kenobi continued the duel. Jumping onto the legs of the tri-droid, the Jedi severed two of the droid's legs, breaking its hold on the side of the building. Ventress jumped off the droid's head and engaged Skywalker in brief combat upon one of the droid's legs, and Skywalker Force-pushed the Rattataki away before he stole an STAP from a B1 battle droid and escaped with Kenobi. Ventress landed on the ground, just as the tri-droid crashed to the ground behind her, and relayed orders through a tactical droid to General Whorm Loathsom, ordering the Kerkoiden general to march on the city. The Dark Jedi departed in her ship to execute the next part of her Sith master's plan, which included turning Hutt crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure against the Jedi Order.

A traitor revealed
"Sergeant, what did you mean, 'till the Jedi come back?' How did you know the Jedi were gone?''" "''I really wish you hadn't noticed that, sir."

- Commander Cody and Sergeant Slick

Cody and Rex proceeded to Slick's barracks, and Slick stated he wanted to talk to his men before they were interrogated, believing that the prospect of a traitor would undermine their morale. Despite the protest from Slick, Cody and Rex began to interrogate his squad. Clone trooper Jester appeared nervous, but had been cleaning his blaster after the battle. Sketch and Punch had been in the mess hall, and an injured Gus had been in the infirmary. Chopper claimed he was in the mess hall with Punch and Sketch, but Sketch objected to his claim. Under increased suspicion, Chopper admitted that he was hiding in the south exit, but only because he did not want to be seen making a necklace of droid fingers, which was forbidden by war protocols.



Seeking to ensure that he himself was not framed, Slick put Chopper's credibility in question and told him that a proper investigation would commence once the Jedi returned. Chopper lashed out at his sergeant, and claimed that he had seen Slick entering the command center rather than the barracks. Slick denied the claim, but his knowledge of the Jedi's absence revealed himself to be the traitor, as he would not have known the Jedi were gone unless he had been eavesdropping on the meeting through the open comlink that Cody had discovered. When Cody questioned Slick, he struck out at Cody and Chopper and bolted for the exit.

Cody and Rex tracked a signal in the gunship landing pad, but instead of finding Slick, they discovered a primed thermal detonator. The two clones took cover shortly before numerous explosives went off, completely destroying the landing pad, the AT-TE walkers and the weapon supply depot. Slick ran into the command center and hid in the vents above the room, and Cody and Rex gave pursuit. The two engaged in a ploy to bait Slick out of the vents. Cody left his blaster on the table, while Rex appeared to leave for the south exit. Slick stole Cody's blaster and held Cody at gunpoint, but was unaware that Cody had removed the ammo from his gun. Rex returned, and Slick was held at gunpoint by Rex and Cody.

Slick stole the captain's blaster and pointed it at him. Cody was able to disarm Slick, but lost hold of his own blaster in the process. Slick kicked Cody in the head, and attempted to run for the exit before being knocked down by Cody. Slick engaged him in close combat, and exchanged banter with him before Rex pulled him off of Cody. Slick impaled Rex in the head, and as Slick pushed him to the floor, he dislocated Rex's leg, while stating that although Ventress had offered him money, she had also offered him freedom. Cody knocked Slick out, and the traitor was locked in handcuffs. Once the Jedi returned, they were accosted by Slick, but the traitorous clone was turned in and taken to lock-up.

First campaigns
"We're gonna need reinforcements!''" "''We haven't been able to get through to the admiral."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi informs Anakin Skywalker of their inability to contact Admiral Wullf Yularen



Although the Republic forces were only able to salvage the artillery guns from the destroyed weapon depot, they regrouped and prepared for an attack. Kenobi and Skywalker defeated the first wave of battle droids under General Loathsom's command, and the Confederacy was forced to retreat. However, once the Republic Venator-class Star Destroyer Hunter &mdash;under command of Admiral Wullf Yularen&mdash;was dispatched for supplies and reinforcements, Loathsom launched another attack. B1 and B2 battle droids and several tri-droids advanced in the front lines, while Armored Assault Tanks followed close behind.

Despite Loathsom's surprise attack, the Jedi were able to rally their forces to beat back the droids, and used the artillery guns to hold their position. Kenobi led Ghost Squadron in a charge against the battle droids, and Skywalker, Rex and Torrent Company surprised the tri-droids from above, defeating them. Loathsom once again pulled back, and it was during the lull in fighting that a shuttle arrived from the galactic capital of Coruscant and landed in City Plaza. However, in place of the Republic's expected reinforcements was young Padawan learner Ahsoka Tano, who had been recently apprenticed by Jedi Grand Master Yoda to Skywalker, much to his surprise and alarm.

From the shuttle that had delivered the Togruta Padawan, the Jedi contacted Master Yoda through the Hunter and requested reinforcements. Skywalker and Kenobi discovered that the Jedi Council had been unaware that the Republic forces had engaged the Confederacy; the Council had also been unaware that all of the Republic supply ships dispatched to the planet had been shot down. However, the Hunter was being damaged under increasing fire from several Confederate Munificent-class frigates, and communications were soon cut, as the Hunter was forced to retreat to avoid further damage.

Destroying the shield
"Someone has to get to that shield generator and destroy it. That's the key.''" "''All right, then. Maybe you two can tiptoe through the enemy lines, and solve this particular problem together."

- Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi

Loathsom launched yet another attack, this time advancing his forces behind an expanding deflector shield, negating the Republic's use of long-ranged artillery. The Confederate droids and AATs were followed by tank droids. Kenobi and Rex marshaled a defense of the base while Skywalker and Tano devised a plan to infiltrate the Confederacy-held ground and destroy the shield generator with multiple explosive charges. Skywalker and Tano hid under a large box, and once the shield and the advance droid forces passed by, the pair made their way to the generator. However, Skywalker and Tano ran into a droideka, and after defeating it, they arrived at the generator.



Kenobi and Rex attempted to use the heavy cannons, but confirmed that they were indeed useless against the droids' deflector shield. The shield soon passed over the Republic forces, and Kenobi led the clones to attack the droids, attempting to draw them into the buildings and gain an advantage over them. Rex's unit was ambushed and was forced to retreat. Kenobi ordered Rex to organize a defense of the cannons while he himself engaged the droids and distracted them. Rex reluctantly agreed, but as Kenobi battled the droids alone, he was soon surrounded by a squad of B2 super battle droids and DSD1 dwarf spider droids.

Despite Skywalker's warning, Tano accidentally alerted pre-planted retail droids to their presence. Tano placed the charges around the generator, and Skywalker engaged the droids, but soon became overwhelmed. Tano noticed a wall behind Skywalker with a convenient hole in the middle, and brought it down with the Force, destroying the droids around her master without hurting him. Despite the fact that Tano had saved his life, Skywalker was infuriated with her recklessness, believing he could have been killed.

In order to gain time for Skywalker and Tano to eliminate the shield, Kenobi pretended to surrender to General Loathsom. Kenobi was brought to a crystal table, and over a cup of tea, Kenobi discussed the "terms of his surrender" with Loathsom, to the Kerkoiden's increasing impatience. Rex discovered that Kenobi had been captured, but he and his men continued to protect the cannons. Kenobi stated that if his troops were taken prisoner, they would require the proper food and supplies. Loathsom suspected he was stalling, and the Confederate general ordered two super battle droids to seize Kenobi. Loathsom demanded that Kenobi immediately call off his troops; if he refused, he would be eradicated. At that moment, Skywalker and Tano destroyed the shield generator. Kenobi, seeing the shield vanish, grabbed Loathsom around the neck. As the battle droids took aim, Loathsom ordered his troops not to attack, and the Kerkoiden surrendered to Kenobi. The clone artillery annihilated the droid forces, and Loathsom was taken into Republic custody.

Returning to the system in the Spirit of the Republic and several other Venator-class cruisers, as well as several Acclamator I-class assault ships, Admiral Yularen was able to break through the Confederate blockade. Grand Master Yoda accompanied Yularen aboard the Spirit of the Republic to deliver orders for Skywalker and Kenobi in person. After the cruisers landed, several clone trooper units were dispatched for further reinforcements on Christophsis. An LAAT/i gunship was sent to retrieve Skywalker and Tano to bring them back to the City Plaza. In the meantime, Skywalker and Tano resolved their differences, and began to form the bond of master and apprentice.

Aftermath
"Kidnapped, Jabba the Hutt's son has been. Negotiate the treaty with Jabba, Obi-Wan will. Find the renegades that hold Jabba's son, your mission will be, Skywalker."

- Yoda gives Skywalker and Tano their new assignment



The battle left much of the planet destroyed, and several Christophsians had been killed in the preliminary stages of the battle. Despite the Republic's casualties, the Confederate blockade around Christophsis had been eliminated, and the Confederacy's occupation of the planet had been compromised. In addition, General Whorm Loathsom had been captured, and Anakin Skywalker had accepted the prospect of training an apprentice.

After Loathsom had been taken prisoner, Grand Master Yoda informed Kenobi and Skywalker that crime lord Jabba the Hutt's son, Rotta, had been kidnapped by a group of renegades. Skywalker and Tano's mission would be to rescue the Huttlet, while Kenobi would enter negotiations with Jabba on his home planet of Tatooine. If Skywalker and Tano were successful, the Republic and the Jedi would gain Jabba's favor, and the crime lord would allow the Republic's clone army access to hyperspace lanes through Hutt-controlled space. Based on intelligence reports, Skywalker and Tano ventured to the planet Teth.

Behind the scenes
The battle appeared in the 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars film, as well as its novelization. As the film led into the 2008 television series of the same name, the battle was the first battle featured in the series. The battle featured both the introduction of the planet Christophsis and Skywalker's new Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, and also allowed Skywalker to assuage his hard-set beliefs against training an apprentice. The preliminary stages of the battle and the duel between Skywalker, Kenobi and Ventress appeared in the series' first season episode "The Hidden Enemy," which served as a prequel to the film. Sergeant Slick and his men's reconnaissance of the planet appeared in the web comic that led into the episode, Shadowed. In addition, the battle appeared in The Clone Wars young reader books The New Padawan and Meet Ahsoka Tano.



A musical score was composed for the battle by Kevin Kiner, who composed the score for the film and the television series. The score was used as background music during the battle's appearance in the film, and was released in the film's soundtrack. Additionally, an edited version of the score was used during the opening scenes of "The Hidden Enemy."

The battle was originally to appear in a "flashback" episode in the first season of the television series, entitled "The New Padawan." However, after producer George Lucas decided to merge several episodes together for a theatrical release of The Clone Wars, the episode appeared in the film with several other episodes from the first season.

Appearances

 * The Clone Wars: Shadowed
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars novelization
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars junior novelization
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The New Padawan
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Meet Ahsoka Tano
 * The Clone Wars: Wild Space
 * The Clone Wars: Cold Snap
 * The Clone Wars: Cold Snap

Notes and references
Schlacht von Christophsis Batalla de Christophsis