Attack on the Endar Spire

The Attack on the Endar Spire was an event that took place during the Jedi Civil War, in 3,956 BBY. Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Malak set up an ambush for the young Jedi Padawan Bastila Shan, whose talents with battle meditation had been crucial to the Galactic Republic’s effort against the Sith Empire. Malak successfully ambushed the Hammerhead-class cruiser Endar Spire above the planet of Taris by using his flagship, Leviathan, to pull it out of hyperspace and attack it. Meanwhile, Darth Bandon, Malak's apprentice, led a boarding party of Sith troopers and Dark Jedi onto the Endar Spire.

Malak’s former Master, the amnesiac ex-Sith Lord Revan, was serving aboard the Endar Spire, believing himself to be solely a Republic soldier. Also on board were Republic soldiers Trask Ulgo and Carth Onasi, in addition to Revan and Shan. The Sith troopers, intent on capturing Shan alive for Malak, attacked the various military personnel on board. The evacuation order was called by the Republic, and the soldiers on board the Endar Spire attempted to make their way to the escape pods. Revan and Ulgo, attempting to make their way to the escape pods, encountered Darth Bandon. Ulgo sacrificed himself to give Revan time to escape. Revan, reaching Onasi and the final escape pod, fled from the ship with the others who had reached the pods. Shortly after, the Sith destroyed the Endar Spire.

Prelude
During the Jedi Civil War, when the Galactic Republic came under attack from the Sith Empire, the Republic Hammerhead-class cruiser Endar Spire was assigned to transport Jedi Padawan Bastila Shan. Darth Malak, Dark Lord of the Sith, aimed to pull the Endar Spire out of hyperspace with his flagship, Leviathan, and attack it with his forces.

Also on the ship was former Sith Lord and Sith Master of Darth Malak, the amnesiac Revan, had been enlisted as a soldier for the Republic, and assigned to the Endar Spire. Republic ensign Trask Ulgo had awoken Revan, who had no recollection of his past life, instructing Revan to follow him to the bridge.

The battle
When the Leviathan did as planned, the Sith fleet attacked. Darth Bandon, Malak’s apprentice, led a boarding party of multiple Dark Jedi and Sith troopers aboard the Endar Spire, in an attempt to capture Shan alive so that Malak could turn her to the Dark Side. Were Shan to turn to the Dark Side, she would willingly use her battle meditation ability for the Sith Empire to coordinate Sith ships against those of the Republic in battle.

Ulgo and Revan fought their way towards the bridge against the Sith troopers, The Sith troops who had boarded had engaged the Republic. The Sith fleet, not wishing to kill Shan, did not direct firepower that would destroy the Endar Spire.

After fighting their way to the bridge, Revan and Ulgo found it devoid of Republic soldiers. Overran by the Sith, a group of Sith soldiers attacked the pair. Fending them off, they knew Shan would be attempting to flee in an escape pod. Realizing that, with Shan gone, the Sith would make no hesitation to destroy the Endar Spire, they headed for the escape pods in the starboard section of the ship. As they left the bridge, however, the two were ambushed by Malak's apprentice Darth Bandon.

In order to save Revan, Ulgo instructed him to flee for the escape pods, whilst he would hold off the Sith apprentice. Revan, making use of Ulgo's sacrifice, fought his way to the pods. Having received word from Onasi that Shan had departed in one of the pods, he made his way to the bay where the escape capsules were situated. Met by Carth Onasi, Revan was informed by the commander that all the other capsules had been jettisoned, and that the last one was for them. Revan and Onasi boarded the pod, and fled to the planet's surface. With Shan having escaped the ship, the Sith fleet destroyed the Endar Spire.

Aftermath
With Shan, Onasi, Revan and other Republic soldiers having fled to the surface of Taris, the Sith pursued them. In order to stop any of the fugitives from escaping, the Sith used their fleet to blockade the planet. Deploying troops to the surface, they searched for the escape pods and those who had occupied them. Revan and Onasi, landing safely, used an apartment in the Upper City of Taris as their base of operations to search for the former passenger on the Endar Spire. Shan had been captured by a Swoop gang known as the Black Vulkars, offering the Jedi Knight as the prize for the Tarisian Season Opener swoop race.

Revan and Onasi affiliated themselves with another Tarisian Swoop gang, the Hidden Beks, and Revan raced for the Beks in the swoop race. After Revan won, the Vulkar leader Brejik refused to surrender his prize. This started a battle in which Shan broke free of her confinement and the Black Vulkars were defeated. With Brejik dead, Revan and Shan returned to Onasi in the base of operations they'd been using. They eventually found a way off the planet in the form of the Ebon Hawk, a ship owned by criminal boss Davik Kang. The Sith, deciding the search for Shan was taking too long, decided to destroy Taris using orbital bombardment techniques. Although the trio escaped in the Ebon Hawk, the Sith destroyed Taris.

Behind the scenes
The Attack on the Endar Spire was the first level featured in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The attack is a plot device that formally introduces the characters of Trask Ulgo, Revan, Darth Malak, Darth Bandon and Carth Onasi. It features tutorial points as to the general gameplay in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. It also introduces the conflict featured throughout the game. For the plot to continue, the escape pods must be reached by the player.

Unlike in later locations in the game, there is very little that the player can do to change the course of the game through gameplay options. Furthermore, nothing the player says or does can influence the light or dark sides of the Force, and gain the player light or dark side points. The sole role play options open to the player in this level involve choosing what to say and how to kill the enemies featured on the Endar Spire.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Notes and references
Hyökkäys Endar Spirelle