Battle of Teth/Legends

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

- Master Yoda informing General Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker about their new missions. on Christophsis

The Battle of Teth took place on Teth during the Clone Wars. The battle was part of one of Ahsoka Tano's first missions with her master.

Prelude


"Could you kill a child? Could you?"

- Ziro the Hutt and Count Dooku.

Working with Ziro the Hutt, the Separatists kidnapped Rotta, son of Jabba Desilijic Tiure. Jabba sent bounty hunters out to find his son, as well as request the Republic's help. But the Jedi Order could only spare Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan went to Jabba, promising to save Rotta in exchange for passage through Hutt space. But when he left, Count Dooku then entered the palace, convincing Jabba that the Jedi were the kidnappers.

The bounty hunters and Republic scouts tracked Rotta to a Bo'marr Monastery on Teth. The former were captured and decapitated, their heads sent back to Jabba.

Shortly before the battle itself commenced, a single Acclimator-class cruiser arrived in orbit, rendezvousing with the Republic scouts. The scouts intel on the monastery stated that it had at least two battalions of droids guarding it, and being heavily fortified, the Republic couldn't land in it. Electing instead to commence with a ground assault, the Acclimator descended into the atmosphere and sent out several gunships holding two walkers, and the Torrent Company of the 501st, led by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano.

As the gunships advanced on the Monastery, Skywalker received a communication from Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had been negotiating with Jabba. Jabba had given the Republic one planetary rotation to rescue his son, after that, all negotiations were off. Even as Skywalker stated that it wouldn't take them that long, Kenobi advised extreme care, as they had no idea who could be holding Jabba's son.

The Battle
"Welcome to paradise, rock jumpers.''"

- Clone Trooper Pilot while landing on Teth

As the gunships closed in on the monastery, the droids guarding it sighted them. As the droids opened fire on the gunships, Skywalker ordered them to close the blast shields and get under the guns. As the gunships angled in for landing on the jungle floor, the red light went green, and the troopers were set loose. As the troopers crept through the foliage under heavy fire, the droids spotted Ahsoka and concentrated fire on her. The Republic responded by having the walkers open fire on the droids. In the resulting confusion, the Jedi and troopers were able to reach the foot of the monastery mesa, taking cover in an overhang.

Ascending the Cliff
"So, this is where the fun begins. Race you to the top. I'll give you a head start. Your mistake."

- Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker



To get to the citadel, the clones started using grappling hooks or climbing the vines on the cliff, while the walker used the claws in its footpads to ascend. As the fire from the ascending walkers devastated the droids, the droids countered by having the DSD1 dwarf spider droids climbing along the cliff concentrate fire on the AT-TE's, sending one of them plummeting to the ground. To protect the remaining walker, Ahsoka Tano swung onto it and stood on its windscreen, deflecting the droids fire at it. However, the walker was suddenly assailed by STAP platforms, their fire almost causing the walker to lose its grip on the cliff face. Fortunately, Skywalker leapt off the cliff at them, killing the droid pilots and stealing the last for himself. As Anakin used the STAP to clear a path for the Torrent Company, the AT-TE regained its purchase on the wall.

In the meantime, Skywalker's STAP was shot down just short of the landing pad entrance to the monastery. However, he managed to leap the remaining distance and massacre the droids on the pad. Unfortunately, he was suddenly assailed by three destroyer droids deployed from withing the courtyard.

Unfortunately, Skywalker lost over half of his men before reaching the top of the cliff.

Locating the Hutt
"The droids have done their part, now its your turn."

- Asajj Ventress to 4A-7

After a moment of strategizing with Captain Rex, Skywalker and Tano entered the monastery, encountering a silver droid named 4A-7. The droid claimed to be the monastery caretaker, and told them that the Separatist kept their prisoners in the lower levels. Little did they know, the droid was a spy droid working for Asajj Ventress. Ordering Rex and his men to guard the door, Anakin and Ahsoka went deeper into the monastery to retrieve the Huttlet. Unfortunately, Ventress and her droids were waiting, concealed elsewhere in the monastery exterior. Ordered to collect the data that her master, Dooku, needed to frame the Jedi for Rotta's kidnapping.

Meanwhile, Skywalker and Tano worked their way though the dungeons, assailed by several battle droids, before finally finding Rotta. Receiving word from Rex that the monastery was apparently clear of droids, Skywalker and Tano realized that Rotta was unwell. Meeting Rex in the courtyard, they placed Rotta in a backpack for easy transport, despite the Huttlet's resistance, and unaware that they were being recorded by 4A-7. The recording was sent to Dooku, as proof that Rotta was kidnapped by the Jedi, and of their inhumane treatment of him. Ventress was given a new objective; recover the hutlet alive to be delivered to Jabba.

Renewed Assault


"Get inside!"

- Anakin Skywalker

As Skywalker and Tano delivered a status report to Kenobi, they realized that Dooku was likely using them to convince Jabba, and by extension all the Hutt clans, to join the Separatists. Before they could speak further, they were attacked by the Separatists, who quickly used Vulture droids to establish air superiority and sent in two large troop carriers. Joined by R2-D2, who had brought in Anakin's now destroyed starfighter, the Republic attempted to hold their ground, but forced back by sheer numbers. The clones and the Jedi quickly retreated into the monastery, closing the main entrance door behind them.

With the Jedi and the clones barricaded within the main vault of the monastery, the droids set up a cordon outside and worked to hack the door controls. While inside, Tano convinced Skywalker to try and find a way out and escape with the Huttlet. Ordering Rex and his men to hold position and guard the door, Skywalker and Tano retreated further into the monastery. Eventually coming upon an old Hutt throne room, they took refuge within it while R2 analyzed the building schematics to find a way out, resting in the meantime.

When Ventress' droids failed to open the door, she simply sliced through the door controls with her lightsaber, causing it to open; a safety mechanism to ensure people wouldn't get trapped in the event of power failure or some other such disaster. Due to overwhelming numbers of enemy forces, Torrent Company was defeated and captured. As Ventress ordered the droids to cover all the exits, she was suddenly attacked by Rex. Deflecting his blaster fire, she clamped down on his neck and raised him off the ground, demanding Skywalker's location. Getting nothing from him, she dropped Rex and performed a mind trick on him, ordering the captain to contact Skywalker.

Pit Fight
"We held the droids, whats your location? Ventress... Dooku's assassin? She's here to kill the Hutt, c'mon."

- Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano receive Rex's bogus communication.

Hearing the sounds of battle, and receiving the bogus communication from Rex, the Jedi retreated began retreating to an exterior landing pad on the rear of the monastery, led by R2-D2. However, before they could get far, they were confronted by Asajj Ventress, accompanied by several battle droids and super battle droids. Backed into the throne room and surrounded, Skywalker began exchanging banter and threats with Ventress when R2 suddenly activated a trap door in the floor.

Falling down long narrow chute, they landed in a large, high-ceilinged round room. As everyone regained their feet, Skywalker engaged Ventress while Tano dealt with the droids. As Ahsoka finished the droids, Skywalker managed to deprive Ventress of one of her lightsabers, only to be knock down and disarmed himself. Ventress raised her remaining blade for the kill, only to be confronted by Tano. Reclaiming her lost weapon, the Dark Jedi turned to engage the Togruta, only for Skywalker, having recovered his weapon, to rejoin the fray.



As Ventress called on the Force to strengthen herself, Skywalker ordered Ahsoka to escape with Rotta while he dealt with Ventress. As Tano did so, opening a large door on the side of the room, she accidentally set loose a captive Jungle rancor. As the beast attacked the two duelists, Ventress and Skywalker leapt onto the rancor's back and continued their battle. Deprived of it's intended meal, the creature rounded on Ahsoka and Rotta. Seeing this, Skywalker slashed the rancor's back, causing it buck violently. As Skywalker and Ventress continued their duel, a number of battle droids entered the overhead gallery and opened fire on Skywalker.

To help her master, Tano attacked the rancor, stabbing it in the foot, causing it to buck off Skywalker and Ventress. Above, the battle droids found themselves being assailed by R2-D2, who had not fallen down the trap door and had made his way to the gallery. Below, the Jungle rancor rounded on the source of it's irritation and attacked Ahsoka, only to have it's nose impaled on Tano's lightsaber. Falling back in pain, the rancor landed on Ventress, who promptly went limp.

The rancor, cowed by the pain, left the Jedi alone as they fled. However, it didn't remain calm for long, leaping up in agony as Ventress' lightsaber ignited into it's rear. Slightly dazed, Ventress quickly followed the Jedi's example and left herself.

Retreat
As Ventress renewed her pursuit of Skywalker, being met by two destroyer droids, she received word that Republic reinforcements had arrive. Reinforcements took the form of the Star Destroyer Spirit of the Republic and several flights of clone starfighters led by General Kenobi. In response, the Separatists launched all their Vulture droids to take to take the Republic squadrons.



At that moment, Skywalker, Tano and R2 arrived at the back landing pad and called for a backup medical crew to help Rotta. As the evac gunship arrived, it was suddenly shot down by a Vulture droid, which immediately attacked the Jedi, landing on the platform and engaging in walk-mode. Batting Ahsoka almost off the platform, the Vulture focused on Anakin, backing him against the opposite edge. Pulling herself back onto the platform, Tano attacked the droid from behind, slicing off one of it's leg/wings. With the Vulture off balance, Anakin leapt on top of it and stabbed his blade into it's braincase, essentially deactivating it.

As the droid carcass fell off the platform, Anakin tried contacting Kenobi for back up, he found that the Separatists were jamming all the transitions. Attempting to call Rex, he provided what remained of the Torrent company with the necessary distraction to break free. As a firefight began in the courtyard, Anakin and Ahsoka found themselves confronted by a pair of destroyer droids and Ventress. R2 quickly closed the landing pad door, buying the two Jedi some time. Not much, however, as Ventress drew her lightsabers and began cutting through the door.

As Asajj tried cutting through the door to the palace, the Jedi noticed another landing platform on a nearby mesa. When asked how they would reach the other platform, Skywalker leapt off the platform onto a can-cell, a large flying insect. As Anakin attempted to tame or gain some measure of control over the beast, Ventress made it through the door. With Anakin occupied, Ahsoka was left alone to deal with Ventress. Despite a valiant struggle, Ahsoka was brought down by a heavy power blow that knocked her off her feet.

Tide Turns
"Where is Skywalker? Right here, Ventress!"

- Asajj Ventress and Anakin Skywalker.

As Ventress demanded Skywalker's location, Skywalker appeared, having successfully trained the can-cell. Skywalker quickly attacked the Dark Jedi with the beast, knocking her back. As fire from spider-droids below brought down the platform, Ahsoka joined Skywalker on the can-cell, and they flew over to the other mesa, R2 following with his booster jets. Just at that moment, Ventress was told by a battle droid that Dooku was demanding a status report. After a snide remark on the part of the droid, Ventress seized it in a Force grip and hurled it over the brink.

When Skywalker and Tano reached the other landing platform, they encountered 4A-7. The spy droid attempted to keep up the charade of being the monastery caretaker, but was given away by the presence of battle droids on his freighter, Twilight. They destroyed the droids and captured the freighter. Meanwhile, the Spirit of the Republic sent out several gunships containing the 212th Attack Battalion to help what remained of the Torrent company. As the Torrent company was ordered to surrender, the droids were suddenly obliterated by Kenobi, who leapt out of his starfighter and joined Rex and what was left of his men. Demanding Skywalker's location, Kenobi was told that he was likely still in the monastery. Kenobi quickly left to go find him.

As Kenobi entered the monastery to search for Skywalker, he encountered Asajj Ventress. Instead deciding to pursue Ventress, Kenobi dealt with her two super battle droid bodyguards and chased her further into the monastery. Meanwhile, Skywalker and Tano took off in the Twilight, after a furious battle to get the ship started, and attempted to go help the Torrent company. However, Tano managed to convince Skywalker that they had to fulfill their primary mandate to keep Rotta safe. After regretfully telling Rex that he wouldn't be their to help him, Skywalker took the ship up so as to rendezvous with the Spirit of the Republic.

Kenobi vs Ventress


"Well, now I'm impressed. Now you die."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Asajj Ventress

As Rex and his men continue to hold up in the courtyard, Kenobi finally finds Ventress, beginning a vicious duel with her. After a short bout in which Kenobi is temporarily disarmed, the two begin their lengthy battle, at Kenobi's behest. Meanwhile, Skywalker takes the Twilight and attempts to land on board the Spirit of the Republic. However, they are harassed by a squadron of Vulture droids, and the Spirit itself, which thought it was an enemy ship. After contacting the Spirit and getting them to cease fire, Skywalker attempts to land on board the cruiser, but the Vulture Droid squadron destroys the hangar, forcing them to go directly to Tatooine in the freighter.

As Skywalker takes the Twilight out of the battle to make the hyperspace jump, Ventress continued to drive Kenobi back, despite Kenobi's attempts to rally. As Kenobi breaks off and leaps through a window onto an external rampart of the monastery, Ventress in close pursuit, the Twilight makes the jump into hyperspace. As the two duelists sensed Skywalker's sudden absence, an agitated and enraged Ventress attacks Kenobi, driving him back along the rampart. However, Kenobi suddenly takes the initiative, depriving Ventress of one of her weapons. Outmatched with only a single blade, Ventress activates a beacon that summons a Vulture droid, which she uses to escape.

Without Ventress their to lead them, and with their ships destroyed, the remaining droid forces are easily cleared away by the 212th Attack Battalion.

Aftermath


The Twilight makes it to Tatooine without a problem, but once there, they are shot down by IG-100 MagnaGuard-flown starfighters. Crash landing in the Dune sea, they are forced to trek to Jabba's palace on foot. Sensing Count Dooku's presence on the planet, they split up, with Tano taking Rotta while Skywalker played decoy. As Tano made her way to the palace, Skywalker was confronted by Dooku. After a fierce duel with the Count, in which his role as decoy is revealed, Dooku himself reveals that he had left MagnaGuards at the palace in anticipation of such a trick.

Skywalker broke off from the duel and raced to Jabba's Palace, proceeding inside under the presumption that the young Togruta would be there as Jabba's prisoner, to face his vengeance for the death of Rotta. She was, however, at the other side of the palace and still battling the MagnaGuards. Once inside, he was seized by Jabba's henchmen and ordered to be executed. Tano, having defeated her foes, arrived in the throne room and returned Jabba's son to him. Still believing the Jedi plotted to destroy him, the gangster ordered both Padawan and Master to be killed immediately.



A timely communication from Republic Senator Padmé Amidala revealed Jabba's own uncle, Ziro, to be the culprit behind the kidnapping along with Count Dooku. Jabba, now acknowledging the Jedi had honestly rescued his son, granted the Republic military safe passage through Hutt space. Skywalker and his Padawan-learner were then retrieved by Jedi Masters Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Behind the scenes
Two notable parts of the battle were cut from the final movie and, despite being shown in the promotional material for the film, only appear as Deleted Scenes on the DVD.

The first one included heroes falling into the rancor pit, and it depicted Anakin and Asajj dueling on a back of a Jungle rancor before making escape. Dave Filoni later commented that he cut out the Rancor sequence, because Rancors were already common in EU stories, like The Force Unleashed game and he wanted to tell new stories that "feel" like Star Wars without repeating the original Star Wars.

The second one took place on the rear landing platform and featured the destruction of the evac gunship, and the duel of the two Jedi against the vulture droid.

Neither of these scenes appears in the adult novelization or the film, however they are described in the junior novelization and The Visual Guide, which makes them canonical.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars novelization
 * Battle at Teth

Notes and references
Schlacht von Teth Batalla de Teth