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- "We're under attack by the Separatist garrison. Looks to be a full invasion."
- ―Commander Thorn
The invasion of Scipio took place on Scipio between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems in 20 BBY, towards the end of the Clone Wars.
Prelude[]
Initially Republic and Separatist forces had met on Scipio to jointly preside over the installation of Rush Clovis as leader of the InterGalactic Banking Clan after corruption within the Clan was exposed. The Republic's representative, Senator Padmé Amidala was accompanied by clone shock troopers of the Coruscant Guard under the command of Commander Thorn.
Shortly after his installation, Clovis was contacted by the Separatist leader, Count Dooku, who demanded that Clovis allow the Separatists to take full control of the banks. When Clovis announced that the banks would remain unbiased, Dooku threatened that the Confederacy would not pay back their loans, an act that would collapse the banks. To keep the banks afloat, Clovis was commanded to raise interest rates towards the Republic. This action infuriated the Galactic Senate.
Meanwhile, Dooku plotted with his master, Darth Sidious—in truth, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine—to make Clovis look like a Separatist supporter, as part of a ploy to place the banks under the control of the Supreme Chancellor. To accomplish this, Dooku commandeered a fleet from the Confederate Navy and launched an invasion on Scipio.
The battle[]
Confederacy invasion[]
- "You may begin your attack. It is time to make Rush Clovis look like a powerful Separatist."
"Right away, sir." - ―Count Dooku and Kraken shortly before the battle
Commander Thorn and his men come under attack.
Dooku exited hyperspace with a fleet comprised of one Providence-class carrier/destroyer, three Munificent-class star frigates, and a pair of Separatist supply ships. Shortly upon arrival, the fleet deployed several Vulture droid starfighters, Hyena-class bombers, and droid gunships to engage Republic forces on the planet's surface.
Alerted to the Separatist's arrival, Commander Thorn ordered his forces to retreat off the landing pad and contacted Senator Amidala and warned her of the impending attack. Soon afterwards, the Republic forces were assaulted by droid bombers, who destroyed the Consular-class cruiser and LAAT/i gunships, stranding Thorn and his men on the landing pad. As the remaining shock troopers retreated to the entrance of the neutral zone, droid gunships arrived and deployed a garrison of B2 super battle droids and droid commandos, who engaged the shock troopers in a firefight on the landing pad. Surrounded and outnumbered by the droid garrison, the shock troopers quickly fell to enemy fire, with Thorn being the last clone standing. Though Thorn attempted to repel the droid forces, he was overwhelmed and ultimately killed.
With the clone garrison defeated, Dooku arrived on the planet and the Separatists took control over the planet. Senator Amidala informed Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi of the invasion before subsequently being taken prisoner by the Confederacy. When news of the invasion reached Coruscant, the Galactic Senate voted to launch a counter-invasion. A detachment of the 501st Legion under the command of General Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex was subsequently deployed to retake the planet from Separatist control.
Republic counter-assault[]
- "Rex, have you gotten a fix on Senator Amidala's position?"
"We'll have a better lock once we get near the city, but initial scans suggest she's still alive, sir."
"Good. Hawk, we're gonna need air support once we're on the ground."
"You'll have it, General. Me and the boys are ready to fly." - ―Anakin Skywalker, Captain Rex and Hawk upon arriving at Scipio
The Republic fleet commences their assault on the Separatist armada.
Arriving out of hyperspace, Skywalker's fleet, comprised of three Venator-class Star Destroyers and two Arquitens-class light cruisers, immediately commenced fire upon the Separatist blockade. Squadrons of LAAT/i gunships carrying Skywalker and 501st troopers were deployed from the cruisers to engage the Separatist ground troops while squadrons of Clone Z-95 starfighters led by Hawk were deployed to provide air support. In retaliation, the Separatist fleet deployed legions of droid fighters to engage the Republic starfighters. As the battle raged on in space, it soon became apparent that the Separatist fleet was outmatched. Dooku, having accomplished his objectives in framing Clovis for the Separatist invasion, commanded that the fleet withdraw from the system. The blockade's retreat allowed the LAAT/i gunships to push forward to the planet's atmosphere
As Republic forces made their way to the city, they were attacked by droid starfighters and bombers. While Hawk and his forces battled the droid forces in the air, the LAAT/i gunships deployed General Skywalker and his men on the landing platform, where they engaged the droid garrison in battle. General Skywalker commanded Rex to keep the droid forces occupied while he searched for Amidala, a task that Rex and his men accepted. As the clones dealt with the droid infantry, Skywalker set off in search of Amidala.
The death of Rush Clovis[]
- "Such plans I had. You know, I've spent so much of my life misunderstood. What will they say about me now? What will I have left behind?"
"Clovis, you have to turn yourself in." - ―Rush Clovis and Amidala
Upon learning of the Republic's invasion and Dooku's subsequent withdrawal, Clovis lamented to Amidala that all of his work had been for naught. Amidala advised Clovis to surrender to Republic forces, but before Clovis could respond, Skywalker stormed into his office and dispatched the security droids. Out of desperation, Clovis took Amidala hostage, holding her at gunpoint. He attempted to plead his innocence to Skywalker, who refused to believe him. Their standoff was abruptly ended when a disabled Vulture droid crashed into the central spire where Clovis' office was located, toppling the office and nearly causing the three occupants to plunge off the side of the structure. As the three slid off the ledge, Skywalker managed to grab Amidala and Clovis before they fell, but struggled to hold them both. In order to save Amidala, Clovis willingly sacrificed himself by freeing himself from Skywalker's grip, plummeting to his death below, allowing Skywalker to pull Amidala to safety. Shortly after Clovis' death, the remaining droid forces were defeated, securing a victory for the Republic.
Aftermath[]
In the aftermath of the battle, Clovis was blamed for the Banking Clan's corruption. To prevent the banking system from falling into Separatist control, the Muun government ceded control of the banking system to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, a responsibility the Chancellor accepted with humility. After Order 66, The Banking Clan was completely taken over by the Empire, and the Munn Government was eventually dissolved.
Appearances[]
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Crisis at the Heart" (First appearance)
Sources[]
- "Crisis at the Heart" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (First identified as Battle of Scipio)
Notes and references[]
- ↑
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Rise of Clovis"
- ↑ Star Wars Character Encyclopedia
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Disappeared, Part I"
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39 4.40 4.41 4.42 4.43 4.44 4.45 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Crisis at the Heart"
- ↑ The Official Star Wars Fact File Part 46 (20 BBY 61-64: Banking Clan Conspiracy) dates the events of "Crisis at the Heart" to 20 BBY.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Crisis at the Heart" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)