- "What are you doing down there?"
"We are taking cover. Now get down!"
"You're not serious?! There's only a thousand droids down there, tops!" - ―Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi
The Battle of Yerbana, also known as the Yerbana campaign, was a battle that took place on the planet Yerbana during the Outer Rim Sieges, in the final year of the Clone Wars. Under the command of Clone Marshal Commander CC-2224 and Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi, clone troopers of the 212th Attack Battalion engaged the Separatist Alliance's droid forces on the planet, which resulted in significant Republic losses and their desperate need for additional reinforcements. As a result, Kenobi received support from the clone troopers of the 501st Legion led by fellow Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, which led to the destruction of the Separatist commander alongside his forces and the Republic's capture of Yerbana.
Prelude[]
- "Master, I mean no disrespect. If you want, I can hide here with you, and we can let the people in the city suffer longer."
- ―Skywalker is sarcastic toward Kenobi for hiding behind cover
In 19 BBY,[3] during the final months of the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems, the confederate government organized a major offensive throughout several star systems across the Outer Rim Territories under the direction of the Kaleesh General Grievous. In response to the Confederacy's assaults, the Republic dispatched its Jedi Generals far from the Core Worlds in order to assist their beleagured forces. As such, the clone troopers of the 501st Legion and 212th Attack Battalion, led by Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, were ordered to the Outer Rim world of Yerbana[2] in the war's final days[5] to engage the Separatist forces.[2]
The battle[]
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Commander Cody during the battle.
Following their arrival on Yerbana, the clone troopers of both the 501st Legion and 212th Attack Battalion were ordered to separate their forces to two fronts on the planet, with Kenobi's forces mounting an effort to liberate a city controlled by the Separatist forces. However, as 212th Clone Marshal Commander Cody and his forces suffered significant losses and was thereby in desperate need of additional reinforcements, the Republic's Clone Z-95 Headhunters and Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry gunships continued to engage the Confederacy's droid tri-fighters in the air around Kenobi's front. After the 501st had managed to claim victory in the engagements on their front, Skywalker proceeded to assist Kenobi and 212th, who had struggled to advance through the Separatist forces on a bridge leading into the occupied city.[2]
501st Legion clone pilots provided air support during the engagement.
Forced into a standstill on the bridge as a result of a Separatist blockade of B1-series battle droids, B2-series super battle droids, DSD1 dwarf spider droids, Octuptarra tri-droids, Armored Assault Tank Mk Is, and NR-N99 Persuader-class droid enforcers, Cody ordered his troopers to take cover as the Separatist forces fired a series of explosives on their position. However, as Cody was nearly killed by a projectile, alongside the destruction of an All Terrain Tactical Enforcer, Kenobi arrived and saved the Clone Commander as he deflected the explosive with his lightsaber. With Kenobi on the battlefield, the Jedi General commanded his forces to once more take cover and was in turn informed by Cody of their inability to locate the Confederacy's ST-series super tactical droid commander as a result of the battle droid's continued barrage. Despite their haltered advancements, however, Skywalker arrived on the bridge and proceeded to walk out into the open while the droids continued to fire upon the 212th, as the Jedi Knight evaded the shots fired on him.[2]
Clone jetpack troopers attack the Separatist forces on Yerbana.
While he walked further out on the bridge, an OOM command battle droid identified Skywalker and ordered the droid forces to divert their aim onto the Jedi Knight, but were offered with a feigned surrender from Skywalker. In his false surrender, the droid commander contacted the super tactical droid while Skywalker's astromech droid, R2-D2, informed Clone Captain CT-7567, otherwise known as "Rex," and several clone jetpack troopers of the Jedi Knight's progress. As the super tactical droid responded to his OOM command battle droid's summons, the droid commander realized that Skywalker was forcing them into a strategem and ordered his battle droids to commence fire. However, Skywalker was able to destroy the droid leader as he used the Force to pull the droid leader to his lightsaber, while his clone troopers revealed themselves and began their attack on the Separatist blockade as they forced the battle droids to retreat with Kenobi's forces on approach from the bridge.[2]
Aftermath[]
- "You capture Maul. I'll take care of Grievous. With any luck, this will all be over soon."
"Master Kenobi always said there's no such thing as luck."
"Good thing I taught you otherwise."
[Skywalker begins to leave]
"Anakin! Good luck." - ―Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano's final words to each other as friends
Ahsoka Tano and Bo-Katan Kryze contact Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.
As the battle was wrapping up,[2] ending in a Republic victory and granting it control over Yerbana,[4] the Jedi were called back to the ship after receiving a message from an individual using Anakin's subspace frequency "Fulcrum," who they believed to be Saw Gerrera requesting their assistance in the siege at Onderon. However, the person using the frequency was actually Skywalker's former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, and Bo-Katan Kryze,[2] the sister of the late Duchess Satine Kryze,[6] seeking the assistance of the Republic and the Jedi to help defeat and capture the renegade Sith Lord Maul.[2]
After meeting with Tano and Kryze onboard a Venator-class Star Destroyer and hearing their request, Kenobi insisted on waiting for the approval of the Jedi High Council before committing to the operation. Kryze told Tano she had known this would be a waste of time, but Skywalker had a surprise for his former apprentice, taking her to meet Rex and a unit of the 501st who had repainted their helmets after her facial markings in her honor once they knew she was coming back. The reunion was interrupted, however, by the klaxons going off. When Kenobi arrived at the scene, Skywalker asked if the attack on Mandalore had been approved as the clone troopers ran off to prepare for battle, but the Jedi Master explained that Grievous had attacked Coruscant and the Supreme Chancellor was in danger.[2]
Tano was upset, pointing out that the Jedi playing politics instead of helping people who really needed them was why the general public had lost faith in the Order. Skywalker proposed splitting the 501st and creating a new unit under Tano's command, but Kenobi pointed out that as she was no longer a member of the Republic Military, she could not officially command anyone. Skywalker's solution to this was to promote Rex to Commander so he could lead the new unit, with Tano officially designated as his advisor, which she was amenable to. As Kenobi, Skywalker and their forces headed for the capital of the Republic to stop Grievous, Tano, Rex, and Kryze set out for Mandalore with their forces, beginning a siege to draw Maul out of hiding.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
The battle appears in the episode "Old Friends Not Forgotten" of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, streamed April 17, 2020.[2]
Appearances[]
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Old Friends Not Forgotten" (First appearance)- Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Aftermath" (In flashback(s))
Sources[]
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Official Trailer | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (First pictured)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Final TV Spot | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- "Old Friends Not Forgotten" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Clone Wars Download: "Old Friends Not Forgotten" on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Final Season (Episodes 9-12) (First identified as Battle of Yerbana)
- "Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Final Countdown" — Star Wars Insider 200 (reprinted in Special Edition 2023)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Character Encyclopedia - Join the Battle!
- Skywalker: A Family at War
- The Batch is Back | Star Wars: The Bad Batch | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- "Anakin Skywalker" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- "The Clone Wars" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- "General Equipment (2)" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- "The End of the Clone Wars" — Star Wars Encyclopedia (First identified as Yerbana campaign)
- Scene to Stats: Clone Commander Cody on Atomic Mass Games' official website (backup link) (Picture only)
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
- Yerbana in the Databank (backup link)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Star Wars: Timelines
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 2.34 2.35 2.36 2.37 2.38 2.39 2.40 2.41 2.42 2.43 2.44 2.45 2.46 2.47 2.48 2.49 2.50 2.51 2.52 2.53 2.54 2.55 2.56 2.57
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Old Friends Not Forgotten"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Star Wars: Galactic Atlas places the Battle of Coruscant in 19 BBY. Since the Battle of Yerbana occurred directly prior to the Battle of Coruscant, it can be deduced that it took place in 19 BBY.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2
"The Clone Wars" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Character Encyclopedia - Join the Battle!
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Lawless"