The Clone Wars : Shakedown The Clone Wars : Shakedown is a six - page webcomic and the second issue in the . Posted on StarWars . com on October 2 , 2008 , " Shakedown " leads directly into the episode " Rising " Malevolence " " . It was written by Pablo Hidalgo , illustrated by Thomas Hodges , colored by Jeffery Carlisle , and lettered by Grant Gould . The comic introduces the Separatists ' new secret weapon , the " Subjugator " - class heavy cruiser " Malevolence " , which is destroying fleets of the Republic Navy in hit - and - run attacks . Plot summary . General Anakin Skywalker , aboard his flagship , the " Venator " - class Star Destroyer " Resolute " , arrives at a Republic staging area over a Bith - populated planet . Admiral Wullf Yularen informs Skywalker that the staging area is secure , to which Skywalker states that he doubts that the Bith will give them any problems , believing that the true threat is far from them . Yularen asks the Jedi Knight if he means the Separatists ' new secret weapon , to which Skywalker responds by reminding the Admiral that it has made almost twelve attacks on the Republic Navy . Yularen reminds Skywalker that High General Yoda believes that it is important to keep a foothold in this part of space ; Skywalker , however , thinks they are not doing enough . Skywalker ' s apprentice , Ahsoka Tano , then tells him that being in this system gives them a good vantage point to look at the Separatists ' movements and shows Skywalker a chart she compiled of the secret weapon ' s strike points . Unfortunately for the Republic , these attacks are simply too random to form a pattern , and a prediction of the weapon ' s next strike would be just a guess . Meanwhile , in the Phu system , a Republic task force , under the command of Jedi Master Ares Nune , is patrolling the system for enemy activity . Nune , aboard the bridge of his flagship , the " Venator " - class Star Destroyer " Laudable " , is talking to Clone Commander Kite about their mission . Nune jokes that Kite has a very singular outlook on life , to which Kite responds that he would prefer to fight the enemy on a planet rather than in space , so he can die with dirt under his feet rather than deckplate . As the two are finishing up their conversation , the Confederacy ' s secret weapon , the " Subjugator " - class heavy cruiser " Malevolence " , under the command of General Grievous , attacks the task force . The " Malevolence " fires an ion pulse at the Republic fleet , catching Nune and his men off - guard and disabling the entire fleet ' s deflector shields . The " Malevolence " proceeds to destroy Nune ' s task force , killing Kite , Nune , and everyone else aboard the Star Destroyers . Back on the Republic capital planet of Coruscant , Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and Jedi Masters Plo Koon , Mace Windu , and Yoda are discussing the loss of Nune ' s fleet in the Chancellor ' s Suite . Koon tells them that he has recommended an increase in the number of patrols in the region , and that he will lead the sweeps in the " Venator " - class Star Destroyer " Triumphant " . However , the others worry that it will still not be enough to stop the Separatists ' weapon . Conception . " The Clone Wars : Shakedown " is a six - page webcomic and the second issue in the , which ties directly into the . The comic leads into " Rising " Malevolence " " , an episode in the of the television series . " Shakedown " introduces the " Malevolence " and the reason why Plo Koon is patrolling the Abregado system in " The Clone Wars " television episode . " Shakedown " , along with other certain " The Clone Wars " events , takes place in the year 21 BBY according to the 2010 " Star Wars Annual 2011 " , which lists the " Hunt for the " Malevolence " as occurring in 21 BBY . The events of " Shakedown " involving the loss of Ares Nune ' s fleet were also reported in the in - universe " HoloNet News — A Galaxy Divided " , the first installment of the online HoloNet News podcast series that took place before the events of " Rising " Malevolence " " . However , unlike the comic , which makes it appear that the " Laudable " was destroyed almost instantly , the podcast states that an evacuation of the " Laudable " via its escape pods was attempted , but the crew was not quick enough to escape . Production . " Shakedown " was posted on StarWars . com on October 2 , 2008 , alongside the first issue in the series , " " . It was written by Pablo Hidalgo , illustrated by Thomas Hodges , colored by Jeffery Carlisle , and lettered by Grant Gould . Leland Chee , the keeper of the Holocron continuity database ; Sue Rostoni , the executive editor at Lucas Licensing ; and Dave Filoni , the supervising director of " The Clone Wars " TV series , were also given special thanks .