Battle of Korriban The Battle of Korriban was a conflict that occurred in the early days of the Great Galactic War between the reconstituted Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic , during which the Outer Rim planet Korriban fell back into the control of the Sith . Korriban was the ancestral homeworld of the Sith Empire , and had been a holy site and training ground for adherents to the Sith religion since its inception . Over one thousand years after the Sith ' s defeat in the Great Hyperspace War and their subsequent exile from Korriban , the dark side users returned to known space in the year 3681 BBY and launched a brutal campaign for dominance in the galaxy ' s Tingel Arm region . The attack prompted the Republic , which was severely under - prepared for such an assault , to rally its naval forces and send them into the Tingel Arm theater . The effort pulled defense vessels away from other planets , including Korriban , which was left without any substantive military defenses . A vigil over the world was maintained by the Jedi Order alongside a small number of Republic trooper s , but that proved to be ineffective against the full force of the Sith naval fleet . With an armada of over thirty " Harrower " - class dreadnaughts , the Sith Empire invaded the Horuset system and engaged the small number of Jedi and Republic defenders in orbit over Korriban . Aboard a Republic space station , Jedi Padawan Satele Shan , Master Kao Cen Darach , and several Republic troopers fought in vain against boarding Sith soldiers and Imperial battle droids . During their attempts to escape Korriban and warn the Republic of the Empire ' s return , the Jedi and troopers were met by the Sith Lord Vindican and his apprentice , Malgus . Although Shan and her Master held the two off for a time , the younger Jedi was eventually forced to flee and leave Darach behind to fight alone . While she and one of the troopers escaped the station with the assistance of an incarcerated smuggler , Nico Okarr , Master Darach remained aboard and continued to battle the avenging Sith . The Zabrak Jedi was killed by Malgus during the duel and the remaining Republic and Jedi forces were annihilated , clearing a path for the Sith to return to their homeland . After a thousand years of exile from the holy planet , the Empire retook Korriban and re - established it as a training ground , wherein students studied to continue the war with the Republic . Despite Shan ' s survival , the recapture was so efficiently and surprisingly performed that an extended period of time passed before the Jedi Council even learned of Korriban ' s loss . Prelude . The Outer Rim world Korriban served as the homeworld of the Sith species , as well as the Sith religious order and its Empire , prior to the Great Hyperspace War of 5000 BBY . Following the Empire ' s defeat in the war , the surviving Sith abandoned Korriban and fled into the Unknown Regions to build a revitalized Empire . During the Jedi Civil War , Darth Revan ' s Sith Empire reoccupied the world and used it as a training ground for new Sith recruits . After the defeat of Revan ' s forces , the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order seized Korriban and maintained a protective force around the planet . Over time , however , the fleet surrounding the world was gradually reduced , leaving only a token force of guardians to watch over the dark world . Centuries later , the rebuilt Empire from the Great Hyperspace War returned and initiated the Great Galactic War against the Republic in 3681 BBY . Early in the conflict , the Sith Empire launched a widespread campaign to secure the galaxy ' s Outer Rim Territories . Their first concentrated effort was in the Tingel Arm , where the Sith Emperor had already installed puppet governments on a number of worlds formerly allied with the Galactic Republic . In response to the Empire ' s offensive , the Republic Navy organized a fleet to retake the Tingel Arm . Ignorant of the Empire ' s puppet governments , the Republic haphazardly charged into the region and found itself deep in enemy territory . Republic military leaders , caught off - guard by the audacity and aggressiveness of the Sith advance , called upon every available ship in the navy to aid the fleet in the Tingel Arm , thereby leaving other strategically important regions in the galaxy undefended . Korriban stood among the worlds that lost nearly all of their military defenses , and the Sith , eager to retake their home planet , decided that the holy world was a top priority in their campaign to seize the galaxy . Although the Republic Navy had abandoned the world , the Jedi Order chose to maintain a small but dedicated vigil over the planet , in an effort to guard its dark secrets . Two Jedi — the Human Padawan Satele Shan and her Zabrak Master , Kao Cen Darach — participated in the protection of Korriban from a space station in orbit above the planet . The two were joined there by a number of troopers from the Republic ' s Republic Special Forces Division , who also assisted the Jedi as a police force for the region . In the year of the Empire ' s return to the known galaxy , Shan , Darach , and Corporal Jace Malcom , travelled to the planet ' s surface to intercept a freighter that had landed without authorization . There they discovered smuggler captain Nico Okarr , who was attempting to purchase artifacts of the old Sith Empire from the infamous grave robber Farel Wickes . The Jedi and trooper impounded Okarr ' s vessel , the " Redshifter " , before he was able to flee the world and ferried him to the orbital security station where they were joined by a Republic trooper who helped to take Okarr into custody . As the four of them escorted the smuggler through the space station , Shan sensed a considerable dark ripple in the Force . The battle . The return of the Sith . At that moment , an Imperial armada of over thirty Sith battlecruisers jumped out of hyperspace into the Horuset system , near Korriban and its space station . The warships , having taken advantage of hyperlane s opened by the Empire ' s Tingel Arm campaign , immediately dispatched numerous wings of interceptor starfighters that began strafing runs on the Republic ' s station . The first few volleys inflicted heavy damage on the installation , causing reactive explosions throughout the station and setting fire to several internal areas of the structure . Shortly afterward , boarding parties consisting of the Imperial Army ' s Sith troops and assault droids landed on the station and engaged Republic personnel on board . Darach understood the gravity of the situation and decided that the defenders ' first priority must be to warn the Republic of the Empire ' s new offensive . Corporal Malcom agreed , but informed the Jedi that their shuttles would have no chance of outrunning the Empire ' s much more agile interceptors . Having overheard the conversation , the detained smuggler offered his XS stock light freighter as a means of escape , given that it was the fastest ship in the Esstran sector . The Jedi agreed , and together with Okarr and troopers , rushed to the station ' s hangar in hopes of reaching the vessel and informing Republic authorities of the situation . Upon reaching the hall that led into the hangar , Shan and her Master rushed ahead to clear the landing zone of Imperial troopers while the Republic soldiers brought up the rear , holding off pursuing Imperial forces . While the two soldiers were distracted , a Sith soldier launched a missile at them , killing one and temporarily incapacitating Malcom . Witnessing the incident , the Captain drew his blaster pistols and quickly killed four of the approaching Sith troops . Having regained his faculties , the Republic Corporal armed himself with a blaster chaingun and joined the smuggler to destroy two advancing assault droids . As Imperial forces continued to make their way through the station , the Okarr and Malcom retreated into the hangar , sealing the entry behind them to prevent any further intrusion from enemy troopers . Shan and Darach simultaneously finished eradicating the troopers who had already taken position in the hangar , allowing the four of them to regroup and examine the " Redshifter " , which had been slightly damaged by the violent rocking of the station caused by the attacking vessels . The Captain lamented the state of his freighter , but reassured Darach that his vessel was resilient enough to take flight once more and flee the station . However , before any of the Republic defenders could board the vessel , a " Fury " - class Imperial interceptor landed in the hangar and two Sith disembarked : an Inquisitor Sith Pureblood , Lord Vindican , and his Human apprentice , the Sith Warrior Malgus . Their primary goal was to prevent the Jedi and others from leaving the station to warn the Republic of the attack ; the Jedi were determined to prevent the Sith from interfering in their escape . Shan and Darach engaged Malgus and Vindican in a duel while Malcom and the Okarr rushed onto the freighter to prepare for lift - off with the Captain ' s astromech droid , T7 - O1 . On the landing bay floor , the Jedi and Sith fought fiercely , with Malgus and Shan engaging one another while their Masters dueled a short distance away . During the melee , Malgus was able to outmaneuver Shan , ultimately disarming her before delivering a powerful knee thrust into her abdomen . While the young Jedi doubled - over from the impact , the Sith apprentice moved to finish her with an over - handed lightsaber swing . Just as his weapon was descending to kill Shan , Master Darach , who was himself engaged in combat with Vindican , broke from his own struggle long enough to throw his lightsaber in Malgus ' s direction . Malgus , who did not see the incoming blade , was caught off - guard by the impact of the Zabrak ' s lightsaber against his own . Shan used the borrowed time to kick the Sith away from her and reclaim her lost weapon . She proceeded to make an attempt at attacking the Sith Lord , but Vindican swatted her away with a blast of Force lightning . In response , Shan ' s Master Force - pushed the Sith Pureblood across the hangar so that he might regroup with his Padawan . A homeland reclaimed . Meanwhile , Captain Okarr managed to bring the " Redshifter " online and lift off from the hangar bay . Malcom descended the ship ' s boarding ramp in an attempt to collect the two Jedi , but was instead met by the two Sith , who were trying to halt the starship with waves of Force lightning . The Corporal responded with an ineffective shot from a missile launcher before turning his attention back to the Jedi . While he called for them to join him , Shan and Darach conferred ; the Zabrak informed his apprentice that their paths were about to deviate , and that she must flee on the freighter while he remained behind to hold off the Sith . The young Jedi complied and furnished her Master with her own double - bladed lightsaber before leaping into the departing smuggler ship . While the freighter narrowly escaped the hangar , the Jedi Master re - engaged the two Sith . Wielding both his lightsaber and that of his apprentice , he drove the two back while expertly defending himself against their lightsaber and Force attacks . After slashing Vindican across the face , Darach deactivated one end of Shan ' s weapon and continued to perform agile flurries of strikes . Darach was eventually able to maneuver himself into a position that allowed for him to activate Shan ' s weapon through the Inquisitor ' s abdomen , thereby incapacitating him for the remainder of the battle . Malgus seized the opportunity to appropriate his fallen Master ' s weapon and reciprocate his opponent ' s usage of three blades with his own . Although the Zabrak attempted to prevent the apprentice ' s advance by hurling large chunks of debris toward Malgus , the Sith apprentice was undeterred , and cut through all obstacles with ease . Upon reaching the Jedi Master , the two engaged one another for a short time , but the young Sith ultimately prevailed . Malgus cut Darach in half horizontally , killing him . Meanwhile , Shan and Malcom used the laser cannon turrets on the Okarr ' s freighter to destroy pursuing Imperial interceptors and fighters . After clearing a small asteroid field , the smuggler flew the " Redshifter " directly toward several incoming Sith battlecruisers , narrowly avoiding collision while simultaneously losing his pursuers . The freighter inflicted considerable damage upon one of the cruisers before clearing the attacking Sith fleet and jumping to hyperspace . When Malgus was informed of their escape , he confronted his wounded Master and accused him of failure . Although Vindican disagreed that the battle was a failed venture , the apprentice disregarded the elder Sith ' s words and instead took the opportunity to kill his teacher . The planet ' s only other guardians — a small force of Jedi security ships — were easily overwhelmed by Sith interceptors and destroyed . The invading Sith also captured Farel Wickes as he tried to flee the battle at Korriban , preventing the grave robber from getting away with the fortune he earned from Okarr . Having wiped out the Republic and Jedi , the Empire cleared the path toward the planet ' s surface , where the Sith once again walked in the Valley of the Dark Lords and reclaimed their ancestral homeworld . Aftermath . Despite Shan ' s escape from the battle , the Jedi Council had no knowledge of the Sith ' s return to Korriban for an extended period of time . The Republic meanwhile continued to lose ground in the war , facing devastating losses in the Sluis sector , a Sith invasion of the resource - rich Minos Cluster , and a blockade of the vital Rimma Trade Route in quick succession following the Korriban onslaught . In response , the Jedi Council and the Galactic Senate of the Republic attempted to formulate a defense plan in an emergency session of congress , but the meeting resulted in political gridlock and failure . On Korriban , the Sith interrogated Farel Wickes for information on the tombs of Korriban , and after weeks of torture , the once - successful grave robber succumbed to his injuries and died . Over the course of the war , the Empire turned the dry and arid Korriban into a bastion for the training and education of Force - sensitives , re - establishing the world ' s Sith Academy and dedicating it to the cultivation of a new generation of devotees who could continue the fight against the Republic . After participating in the capture of the planet , Malgus made several religious pilgrimages to the surface ; during the first of those journeys , the Sith experienced a vision of the galaxy engulfed in flames — a sight that he understood as a symbol of the Republic ' s fall . Korriban again became a battlefield in 3678 BBY , when the renegade Sith apprentice Exal Kressh betrayed the Empire and allowed a fleet of Republic warships to launch a failed attempt to retake the planet . Following the conclusion of the Great Galactic War with the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant , the Kel Dor Jedi Master Gnost - Dural made a holorecord documenting the opening battles of the conflict . In the record , the Jedi Master included the fall of Korriban and the events surrounding it . The Jedi Master also kept a journal during the Great War that included a first - hand account of the Jedi ' s reaction upon learning that Korriban had been retaken . After ascending to the rank of Grand Master of the Jedi Order , Satele Shan submitted the journal , which now included her personal reflections on the war and the fall of Korriban , to Jedi Archives on Tython . Behind the scenes . The Battle of Korriban was created as a historical plot element for LucasArts ' and BioWare ' s massively - multiplayer online video game , " " . The event was first mentioned on the game ' s website , in a short dossier on Korriban presented in The Holonet , an online databank for subjects important to the game ' s story . On January 22 of 2010 , the battle for Korriban was included in " " , the sixth installment of the " Galactic Timeline " . The timeline is a series of web videos presented as a historical accounting of the events leading up to " The Old Republic " time frame . The installments are available on the game ' s official site and are narrated by the Kel Dor Jedi Master Gnost - Dural , who is portrayed by actor Lance Henriksen . In June 2011 , during the yearly , " The Old Republic " team released " Return " , the third cinematic trailer produced by BioWare in anticipation of the game . The trailer featured the Sith ' s recapture of Korriban and confirmed Satele Shan ' s and Darth Malgus ' s participation in the conflict . Both characters had previously appeared in BioWare ' s " Hope " cinematic trailer . Later that year , the game itself was released alongside " The Journal of Master Gnost - Dural " , which was the first publication to reveal Captain Nico Okarr ' s name ; the smuggler had previously gone unnamed in his appearance in " Return " . In the 2012 reference book , " " , Okarr ' s ship was given the name " Redshifter " and his appearance in the battle was given context by the introduction of Farel Wickes .