Iziz defense tower The Iziz defense towers were a series of battlestation s that were designed to protect the walled city of Iziz , the capital and only settlement on the Inner Rim world of Onderon . The towers were armed with ranged energy weapons , such as turbolasers and ion cannons , that were capable of repelling both land - based and aerial assaults . The network of defense towers saw action in 4000 BBY , during the Battle of Iziz , where they were employed against the Beast Riders from Onderon ' s wilderness . These emplacements were subsequently destroyed , when Iziz was virtually leveled after the battle . However , they would be replaced some fifty years later by a network of air defense tower s . The new defensive network would see action during the Onderon Civil War , when the Jedi Exile returned to that world to help Queen Talia fend off the Sith - backed coup d ' état staged by her cousin , General Vaklu . Description . Defense towers were planetary emplacements , built and stationed along the walls of Iziz , the capital city of Onderon . They carried armaments of both long - range defensive turbolaser batteries and ion cannons . These weapons were manned on swiveling platforms by Wave gunner s , a faction of Iziz ' s army . The towers were specifically designed to combat the flying beasts ridden by the Beast Riders of Onderon ' s wilderness . While offering ample protection from land - based attacks , defense towers were less protected from aerial assaults , as their tops were open to allow for greater firing mobility . However , the towers were easily destroyed when subjected to precision strikes from the Beast Riders ' heavy blaster rifles . Turbolasers and ion cannons were mounted on the uppermost section of the tower , allowing for full range when targeting drexl s or invading aircraft alike . Laser fire from the batteries manifested as a concentrated blast of yellow energy , capable of vanquishing a Drexl - mounted Beast Rider with a direct hit . Also , the recharge time between turbolaser blasts was relatively short . This allowed the Wave gunners to fire at targets constantly , and stir enough apprehension within approaching enemies to cause them to rethink their attack strategy . A new network of defensive structures was put in place some time prior to 3951 BBY . These towers were enclosed structures , manned by at least four gunners , led by an officer , and equipped with one pair of laser cannons apiece . History . Beast Wars . In the year 4000 BBY , Iziz requested aid from the Galactic Republic , who in turn sent a number of Jedi Knights on their behalf to quell the prolonged civil war which had plagued the planet . When the Jedi arrived , they were attacked by Oron Kira ' s Beast Riders , who knew of their arrival before the citizens of Iziz did . The Jedi immediately called for assistance from the city , and the defense towers were ready ; they opened fire with their defensive batteries , downing several of the pursuing Riders . During the Battle of Iziz of the same year , the defense towers again saw action against those same Beast Riders , who were led this time by Oron Kira ' s father , the Beast - Lord Modon Kira . Four defense towers were situated along the northern wall of Iziz , and these were the first to meet the oncoming Beast Riders in battle . Upon sight of their approach , Queen Amanoa of Iziz instructed her servant Novar to order the Wave gunners to fire their turbolasers and ion cannons , in an attempt to repel the attack . The gunners did as commanded , but had quickly become overwhelmed by the onslaught of Beast Riders , who had amassed the largest army the city - dwellers had ever seen . As the Beast Rider ground troops made their way over the city ramparts , several of them were able to scale the defense towers . " Gunner 1 " , the Wave gunner from the first of the defense towers , noticed the Beast Riders preparing to attack the fourth tower , and commed " Gunner 4 " in an attempt to warn him . Gunner 4 received the link , albeit static - filled , just as the first defense tower was destroyed by incoming blaster fire . The transmission gave way to full static at the same moment that Commander Gobee of the Beast Riders appeared behind him . Gobee proceeded to shoot the gunner down while mocking his fallen comrade , Gunner 1 . The remaining defense towers were destroyed toward the end of the battle when the forces of Iziz were defeated . Onderon Civil War . By the time the Jedi Exile visited Iziz nearly fifty years later , the defense towers had been replaced by a network of air defense tower s . During the Onderon Civil War ' s second battle , these towers attempted to shoot down a modified Basilisk war droid that had been loaned to the Exile by the Mandalorians under Mandalore Canderous Ordo , which she used to return to the planet in order to relieve Onderon Royalist forces protecting Queen Talia . The towers failed , as the assault vehicle was too fast and too heavily - armored for them to destroy . The Exile and her companions successfully landed amidst the ruined Merchant Quarter and set out to engage those troops loyal to General Vaklu ' s Sith - backed attempted coup d ' état . After its crew was killed by Royalist forces , one of these towers was hijacked by the Exile , which she then used to shoot down a number of Vaklu - aligned Aurek fighters that were attacking Royalist positions within the Iziz Royal Palace . Behind the scenes . These structures first appeared in the " " story arc " " , and were mentioned in the audio dramatization . In the computer and video game " " , they again make an appearance , however the structure of the towers is depicted differently . They are described by Captain Riiken as an " air defense tower " in the game ' s dialogue ; in addition , the officer will give the player a small briefing on the Beast Wars if asked .