Kidnap attempt on Serenno In 990 BBY , the Anti - Republic Liberation Front terrorist organization attempted to kidnap former Supreme Chancellor Tarsus Valorum while he was on a diplomatic mission to the planet Serenno . The terrorist group , led by the Lethan Twi ' lek Kelad ' den , murdered servants of the Serenno House Nalju and replaced them with their own members . The party landed on a remote landing pad provided by the House and , when Valorum disembarked with his guard , the Chiss female Cyndra detonated explosives which destroyed the former Chancellor ' s ship and killed the entire crew . Johun Othone , a Jedi who voluntarily headed Valorum ' s security , defended the Chancellor against the assassins . Two Human assassins were killed first by Othone and a third was killed by Kelad ' den when he attempted to flee from the battle . The Twi ' lek warrior was the last to remain after Cyndra and Paak fled the encounter , and he alone sparred with Othone . Although Kelad ' den initially overpowered Othone with his skills , the Jedi Knight eventually attempted to sacrifice himself for the former Chancellor by taking himself and the Twi ' lek into a plunge off the fifty meter high landing platform . Kelad ' den ' s neck had been broken during the fall but , due to the Force , Othone survived . In gratitude , Valorum decided to grant a request of Othone ' s , and petitioned the Galactic Senate to create a memorial for all the Jedi who died in battle on Ruusan . Prelude . In 990 BBY , the Sith Lord Darth Zannah was sent to the planet of Serenno by her Master , Darth Bane , to sow seeds of confusion that would distract the Galactic Republic from the Sith ' s subtle acts . The Sith apprentice gathered contacts , seducing a red - skinned Lethan warrior Twi ' lek named Kelad ' den over a period of a few months under the pretense that she was Rainah , an employee at the Republic embassy . Zannah had known that the Twi ' lek was part of a small , radical anti - Republic faction and was determined to use that to the advantage of the Sith . She convinced Kelad ' den to bring her to a meeting of the group , known as the Anti - Republic Liberation Front , to further bring them under her control . The Twi ' lek gave a speech to those present at the gathering , using words largely fed to him by Zannah . The Sith relied on Kelad ' den ' s eloquence and her own prodding with the Force to convince the members of the organization to follow through with the plan she had persuaded the Twi ' lek to suggest . Within minutes , members involved began to undertake the details of the plot which involved taking captive diplomatic emissary Tarsus Valorum , who was the Republic ' s previous Supreme Chancellor . The anti - Republic faction would strike when the former Supreme Chancellor arrived to appeal to the Counts of Serenno about ceasing to fund organizations critical of the Republic . The morning after , Zannah left the group to its own devices and traveled to the Sith encampment on Ambria . The members in charge of executing the strategy were required to take the place of six of House Nalju ' s employees and to lay out explosives on the landing pad selected for the diplomatic mission by the Great House , one of the most powerful families on Serenno . The ARLF selected Kelad ' den to lead the five others on the mission , including two senior members — a Chiss female named Cyndra and a male Human known as Paak — as well as three other members of the faction . The attempt . Arrival . The " New Dawn " touched down on a platform which protruded from a cliff and extended over the ocean , a landing that Johun Othone , Valorum ' s Jedi adviser , was not fond of . A few moments after descending the ramp to the platform , the Jedi was disturbed by a strong warning through the Force . He noticed that those ahead on the platform whom he had presumed to be members of House Nalju were armed , and that explosives were hidden under the landing platform . However , this forewarning did nothing to save those who were still aboard the " New Dawn " when the Chiss woman Othone had also noticed detonated charges which destroyed both the ship and much of the platform . As the end of the walkway twisted and began to bend downward due to the missing landing pad , Valorum was thrown off the edge . Othone managed to save him , though , catching the former Chancellor by his cape , while simultaneously deflecting blaster fire with his lightsaber . Othone ' s three assailants abandoned their blasters in favor of vibrosword s and swept towards him , slashing at his neck and stomach . In an attempt to whittle down their numbers one on one , the Jedi pushed the female attacker into one of his other opponents and faced the remaining one . Othone now pushed aggressively , ending his adversary ' s life . The woman and the other man were upright again , and the female charged . Instead of parrying , The Jedi dodged her blow and grabbed her by the wrist , pulling her down onto him , while placing his feet on her stomach and hurling her off the edge of the platform . Seeing that he was now alone against a superior foe , the remaining assailant fled . As he ran past Kelad ' den , however , he was slashed in the throat by one of the crescent - shaped weapons wielded by the Twi ' lek , effectively preventing his desertion . However , Cyndra and Paak were able to flee without retribution as they were too far away to be reached . The Twi ' lek warrior . The Twi ' lek offered his challenge and Othone , in order to finish the battle , charged forward to impale his adversary with his lightsaber . Kelad ' den dodged , and slashed the former Chancellor ' s bodyguard ' s right arm . Readjusting to his enemy ' s skill , the Jedi attempted to drive the Twi ' lek back , knowing that his weapons were less effective at range . As his frustration grew with his inability to land a blow , Othone overstretched , and fell prey to Kelad ' den ' s blades . The Jedi took two hits , one to his face , the other to his left side , then head - butted the Twi ' lek , breaking his nose . After Kelad ' den landed several blows and drove him to the edge of the platform , Othone recognized that his opponent could best him easily no matter how hard he fought . He decided on sacrificing himself for Valorum as a course of action , remembering the Jedi adage , " " There is no death ; there is only the Force . " " Dropping his weapon , the Jedi Knight lunged for his enemy and grabbed the Twi ' lek ' s shirt . He then leaned back over the brink and fell down towards the water . The shock of the fall caused Kelad ' den to break his neck but , due to the Force , Othone survived . Somehow , the Jedi still found the strength to climb the fifty meters to the landing pad , where Valorum helped him up . Aftermath . The outrage generated from the attempt to abduct Valorum caused the Counts of Serenno to pledge to eradicate separatist movements . It also affected Valorum in that he had the gratitude to petition the Galactic Senate to erect a monument for the Jedi slain on Ruusan . Darth Zannah ' s involvement in this event caused her to be captured by Cyndra and brought to Hetton , the leader of the ARLF . Behind the scenes . The Duel on Serenno was written and conceived by Drew Karpyshyn for his 2007 novel " " . The event was used to further develop the character Johun Othone . The repercussions of Zannah ' s involvement led to the Duel on Ambria .