Defense of Cato Neimoidia / Legends The defense of Cato Neimoidia took place in 19 . 1 BBY , the final month of the Clone Wars , when a Confederate Navy fleet invaded Cato Neimoidia , a Galactic Republic world and major base of the Trade Federation . Despite the planet ' s ties to the Confederacy of Independent Systems through secret Trade Federation dealings , the Republic authorized a defense of the former Neimoidian purse world , with Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan , Ahsoka Tano , commanding an assault force from the 501st Legion . While a fleet from the Republic Navy held off the Separatist frigates in orbit , Skywalker and Tano breached the enemy aerial defenses with an escort of starfighters , clearing the way for LAAT / i gunships with Clone Captain CT - 7567 and his 501st clone troopers aboard . They then moved in to engage the squadrons of droid tri - fighters that the Confederate fleet , which was occupying the Neimoidian bridge cities , deployed . Both Jedi were separated from their squadron when a swarm of buzz droids disabled Skywalker ' s starfighter , forcing Tano to stage a mid - air rescue of her Master before his ship crashed . While the 501st Legion continued its efforts to repel the Separatists , Jedi Grand Master Yoda recalled Skywalker and Tano from Cato Neimoidia to investigate a bombing of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant . Prelude . Cato Neimoidia , a former Neimoidian purse world , served as a major holding of the Trade Federation , which claimed neutrality during the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems . Lott Dod , the Trade Federation ' s delegate to the Republic Senate , maintained a palace on Cato Neimoidia , from where he conducted dealings with the Separatists , isolated from the scrutiny of Republic Intelligence . As a result of one such contract in late 22 BBY , the first year of the war , Dod and the Federation elite were forced to sign over their assets — allegedly , Cato Neimoidia itself — to another pro - Separatist megacorporation , the InterGalactic Banking Clan , in exchange for a share in a new Confederate battle droid foundry on Geonosis . Although Dod ' s deal with Banking Clan Senator Rush Clovis collapsed when the Grand Army of the Republic destroyed the Geonosian droid foundry , the Clone Wars eventually engulfed Cato Neimoidia itself . In 19 . 1 BBY , the final month of fighting , the Confederate Navy mounted an invasion of Cato Neimoidia , which — through the Trade Federation — was still part of the Republic , in spite of the Separatist ties held by Dod and Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray . In response , the Republic and Jedi Order mobilized the Grand Army ' s 501st Legion , led by Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan , Commander Ahsoka Tano , to stage a defense of the world . The defense . By the time Skywalker ' s Republic Navy fleet reached the Cato Neimoidia system , the Separatists had divided their defenses between the surface and orbit . Three " Munificent " - class star frigates and a " Providence " - class carrier / destroyer occupied one of Cato Neimoidia ' s bridge cities , while another trio of frigates were saved for orbital support . In response , Skywalker had his flagship and his task force ' s other two " Venator " - class Star Destroyers remain in orbit to engage the enemy frigates stationed there . While the opposing fleets exchanged turbolaser fire , Skywalker and Tano boarded their Eta - 2 " Actis " - class interceptors , leading a squadron of clone trooper – piloted Z - 95 starfighters to provide escort for their ground forces , the soldiers of the 501st Legion under the command of Clone Captain CT - 7567 , nicknamed " Rex . " With Rex and his troops following in six LAAT / i gunships , Skywalker and Tano worked with their clone pilots to clear a path for the gunships , blasting through groups of Vulture droid starfighters that the Confederate frigates launched . The Jedi - led squadron breached the droid aerial defenses and entered the atmosphere , heading to assault the " Providence " - class carrier / destroyer and the three frigates flanking it . As Skywalker , Tano , and their troopers approached the Separatist fleet occupying the bridge cities , the " Providence " - class destroyer deployed several squadrons of droid tri - fighters in retaliation . The tri - fighters swarmed the clone pilots from behind and shot down several of their Z - 95 starfighters before moving in on Skywalker and Tano . The two of them evaded the tri - fighters ' discord missiles but fell prey to the munitions ' contents : Pistoeka sabotage droids , more commonly known as " buzz droids . " While Tano and her astromech droid co - pilot , R7 - A7 , escaped the buzz droids unscathed , a number of the sabotage droids landed on Skywalker ' s starfighter , quickly getting to work doing as much damage as possible with their buzz saw s . Skywalker ' s astromech droid , R2 - D2 , smashed a buzz droid with one of the solar panels , while the Jedi Knight himself used the Force to telekinetically repel the rest of the saboteurs within sight . Unbeknownst to Skywalker , the majority of the buzz droids had crawled onto the underside of his starfighter , drilling into the cockpit and sparking an explosion that knocked him unconscious . The blast also compromised the engines , preventing R2 - D2 from flying the starfighter back to Skywalker ' s flagship . Tano pursued her Master ' s starfighter , with their flight path separating them from the rest of their squadron . With Skywalker in trouble , Tano told R2 - D2 to land on an approaching cliff ledge while she resorted to staging a mid - air rescue attempt . Having R7 - A7 match her own starfighter ' s speed with that of Skywalker ' s , Tano jumped ship just as R2 - D2 crashed his starfighter onto the cliff , crushing the buzz droids underneath . With the long drop at the opposite edge of the plateau drawing near , Tano activated her lightsaber shoto and sliced open the cockpit , dragging out the still - inert Skywalker and pulling him to safety . R2 - D2 ejected from his astromech socket before the starfighter careened over the edge to its destruction many meters below ; the astromech droid joined Skywalker and Tano back on the cliff face . After Skywalker regained consciousness , Tano reported her actions to her Master , as he had been comatose throughout the entire incident . Skywalker contacted Captain Rex via comlink to request a retrieval , and Rex had his gunship , the " Lucky Lekku " , and the rest of his 501st troop convoy adjust course for their position . The Republic ' s assault continued without the leadership of Skywalker and Tano , with their task force ' s " Consular " - class cruiser moving in to provide support amidst the bridge cities . One of the Separatists ' " Munificent " - class frigates was crippled as a result of the Republic ' s efforts . Several bridge cities also suffered damage , with fires erupting amidst the canopies . While waiting for Rex ' s arrival , Skywalker and Tano received a high - priority holograph ic message from Jedi Grand Master Yoda , who informed them that the Jedi Temple on the galactic capital of Coruscant had been bombed . Despite Skywalker and Tano ' s ongoing efforts on Cato Neimoidia , Yoda recalled them to Coruscant to assist in the investigation of the bombing . Rex eventually returned to Coruscant with them as well . Aftermath . Upon Skywalker and Tano ' s return to Coruscant , the Jedi High Council assigned them to lead the investigation of the bombing in the Jedi Temple ' s hangar . As the Trade Federation ' s ties to the Republic eroded over time , the Neimoidians fortified their defenses of Cato Neimoidia , doubling the conscription rate of the Neimoidian Home Defense Legion s and installing other countermeasures in preparation for potential Republic reprisals . Such action came a month later in 19 BBY , when the Grand Army launched a campaign against the Neimoidian pursue worlds . As part of those efforts , Skywalker returned to Cato Neimoidia with Jedi Master Obi - Wan Kenobi , overseeing an assault on Viceroy Nute Gunray ' s citadel to apprehend him and the rest of the Trade Federation elite . Although Gunray and his staff escaped , the Republic captured Cato Neimoidia from the Neimoidians . Nevertheless , scattered pockets of resistance thwarted total Republic control . Behind the scenes . The defense of Cato Neimoidia was created as the opening act of " Sabotage , " an episode of the that aired on February 9 , 2013 . The episode served to establish the character of Ahsoka Tano as the protagonist of the following four - part story arc that ended the series ' . Prior to the release of " Sabotage , " scenes from the battle were initially previewed in a trailer for the fifth season that was featured at the " Star Wars " Celebration VI convention in August 2012 . An entry for the buzz droid on the StarWars . com Encyclopedia was the first publication to reference the events on Cato Neimoidia . The battle showcased the series ' debut of the Eta - 2 " Actis " - class interceptor , made famous notably by the 2005 film . Because of a lack of information presented in the episode , the battle ' s result cannot be identified .