Battle of the Kaliida Nebula

"*While our capital ships are vulnerable to the enemy's attack, I believe a squad of bombers can outmaneuver their ion weapon. Our target will be the bridge… and General Grievous.*"

## Battle of Kaliida Nebula

### Combatants

Galactic Republic vs Confederacy of Independent Systems

### Location

Near the Kaliida Nebula

The **Battle of the Kaliida Nebula** was a large scale battle that occurred nearby the Kaliida Nebula in the early years of the Clone Wars and was the final battle of the *Malevolence* Campaign. The Separatist warship *Malevolence* had terrorized the Republic ships throughout the Outer Rim. Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and Master Plo Koon created a plan to counter attack and destroy the ship. Obi-Wan Kenobi also provided aid at late stages of the battle. Senator Amidala was also lured into the battle by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to allow the Separatists to capture her as a prisoner and stall the destruction of the warship. Ultimately the Separatists lost the battle and *Malevolence* was destroyed.

## Prelude

#### Previous: Battle of Abregado / Battle of the Ryndellia System

The Confederacy of Independent Systems had unleashed upon the galaxy a secret weapon, *Subjugator*-class heavy cruiser; *Malevolence.* Lead by Supreme Commander General Grievous, *Malevolence* struck out against dozens of Republic *Venator-*class Star Destroyers in violent attacks that left no survivors. The Republic grew anxious about the rumors of this secret weapon. The Jedi High Council sent Jedi Master Plo Koon to hunt down the ship and defeat it. Plo Koon set out aboard the *Triumphant* alongside two other star destroyers to track the ship. Plo Koon's ship was also devastated but he survived the attack, allowing him to give a report to the Jedi High Council about the Separatists' secret weapon.

Jedi General Anakin Skywalker forged a plan to counterattack *Malevolence.* He plotted to use BTL-B Y-wing starfighter/bombers to target the bridge and the droid commander General Grievous. Clone pilot Matchstick was confident that they would be successful in their ambitious and aggressive plan. The clones were anxious to make an attempt to take out Grievous. While their plans unfolded another Republic ship was downed in the Ryndellia system. As reports of the attack reached General Skywalker he was able to suffice that the Outer Rim Medical Station must be his next target. A warning was sent to the Medical Station and Plo Koon decided to join the mission to fly fighter escort through the difficult area of space that lead to the Station. Obi-Wan Kenobi also heard news of the coming battle. He set out to reach the Medical Station to help along an evacuation process.

The Republic launched Shadow Squadron, lead by General Skywalker in his own Y-wing bomber with Ahsoka as his gunner. Plo Koon followed behind the squadron as fighter escort in his Delta-7B *Aethersprite*-class light interceptor. Admiral Yularen gave them clearance to launch to hyperspace where they would intercept with *Malevolence* and make an attack run. Shadow Squadron exited hyperspace on the far side of the Kaliida Nebula. From there they would fly through the Nebula to reach the Medical station where they would find *Malevolence.* As they passed through the Nebula, they came into contact with a nest of Neebray. The creatures made the traversal of the Nebula far more difficult. The wing of one of the Neebray almost destroyed Matchstick's ship. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine had been alerted of the mission to destroy *Malevolence.* He sent word to his dark side apprentice Count Dooku to alert Grievous of the coming attack. By the time Shadow Squadron exited the Nebula, the Medical Station was 50% evacuated.

## Recount

#### The Battle

The *Malevolence* exited hyperspace just before the Medical Station. Shadow Squadron were close enough to detect the ship's approach before it's arrival. General Grievous immediately opened fire on numerous medical frigates as they tried to escape, destroying them. Grievous also maneuvered the ship into an attack position to counter General Skywalker's approach. He sent out Vulture droids to fight the Y-wing bombers. Shadow Squadron engaged the vulture droids in violent dogfights. With the Republic forces distracted, Grievous fired an ion blast. The Y-wing fighters pulled up to avoid the blast. Matchstick's ship, already damaged by the Neebray, failed to perform the demanding maneuver to dodge the ion blast. His engine exploded, frying him inside his cockpit. His ship crashed into Tag's, killing them both. Meanwhile Shadow Squadron 6,7 and 10 were caught in the ray and their ships were disabled. The remaining ships faced heavy barrage from *Malevolence* cannons. Grievous disregarded Skywalker's remaining ships as a threat. He turned his attention to destroying the medical frigate.

Another clone pilot was shot down during the attack run by the heavy enemy barrage. Ahsoka pleaded with Anakin to end the attack to spare further loss of clone life. Anakin altered their target, calling for the remaining ships to fire proton torpedoes on the ion cannon as it charged to fire on the Medical Station. All proton torpedoes hit their mark and as the ion cannon prepared to fire it overloaded and was destroyed, causing vast damage to *Malevolence.* The Separatist ship was unable to jump to hyperspace with it's engine destroyed during the explosions. At that moment, Obi-Wan Kenobi's *Venator* fleet of three star destroyers appeared to reinforce Anakin's Shadow Squadron. *Malevolence* began a slow retreat, chased down by Obi-Wan and his ships that provided constant fire on the enemy. In the moment of reprieve before he was to be called upon by Obi-Wan, Anakin visited the Medical Station, speaking about the lives saved and lives lost.

##### Senator's Arrival

Under the constant fire from the Republic ships, *Malevolence* lost power to its primary shields and stabilizers. The only thing saving it was its massive size that hardened it against the barrage. Having not escaped into hyperspace the Republic could suffice that the ships hyperdrive must be damaged. Obi-Wan gave the order for all ships to target the bridge with full firepower. Count Dooku informed Darth Sidious of the deadly situation with their prized warship. As Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, Sidious sent Senator Padmé Amidala to the battlefield with false information that she was being sent on a mission to discuss the Banking Clans leaving of the Separatist Alliance. The plan would be that Grievous could then take the senator hostage and end the attack on *Malevolence.* The plan worked, as Senator arrived in the battlefield aboard her Nubian yacht alongside C-3PO. She was caught in a tractor beam and pulled onto the monstrous ship. Ahsoka had picked up the signal from her ships arrival, contacting her. Anakin was alarmed to see his wife appear amid the battle. He called for all ships to stop firing on *Malevolence.* In the momentary stall provided by the Senator's appearance, the crews aboard *Malevolence* could commence repairs on the hyperdrive system. General Grievous made his way down to the main hanger to capture their hostage. By the time he made it to Amidala's ship she had set the engines to detonate themselves and escaped the ship. She waited and watched as Grievous boarded the ship to find her. The ship exploded just as Grievous made his escape. He survived the explosion but was momentarily buried under the debris. He immediately sounded an alarm that stowaways were aboard the ship. Teams of battle droids searched the ship for the Senator while the hyperdrive neared a full repair.

##### Rescue Mission

Outside the ship Anakin Skywalker left his ship aboard the *Twilight,* in a daring rescue mission to *Malevolence.* Obi-Wan Kenobi joined Anakin in the mission. They flew the ship close behind the burning Separatist vessel to avoid detection before docking in one of the emergency air lock bays. The droids aboard the ship were too busy searching for Amidala and making repairs to notice the Jedi board the ship. Padmé was able to wire into a communications panel in the corridors of the ship. From there she contacted Ahsoka who then patched Anakin into the conversation. Ahsoka was able to locate a halfway rendezvous for the Jedi to find the Senator and then extract her from the ship safely. Grievous was alerted to the internal communications of the ship being used by the enemy. He began monitoring all internal communications aboard the ship. Both the Jedi and Padmé made it to the rendezvous point; the inside monorail tracks. Padmé was discovered by a battle droid search party and began being chased onto the tracks. The Jedi leapt down to rescue the Senator having spotted the blaster fire. The chasing lead to both the Jedi and the Senator standing atop the internal trains that worked through the ship. As the trains took them through the ship they were noticed and fired on by numerous battle droids. One B2 super battle droid launched a rocket at the tracks, threatening the train that Padmé stood on. Padmé leapt from the train, allowing Anakin to use the Force to pull her to his train. Obi-Wan set off to rescue C-3PO, who had fallen during the chase. Obi-Wan lost the droid who was hit by another passing train that took him to another part of the ship. Padmé told the Jedi that she had overheard their hyperdrive was almost back online. Obi-Wan, knowing his train was already headed in that direction, told them over the comlink that he would ensure the hyperdrive was not repaired. Grievous had been listening to their communications. He left the bridge to reach Obi-Wan and stop him.

Obi-Wan entered the hyperdrive station and was immediately descended upon by battle droids who surrounded his every exit. Grievous leapt down, revealing himself to the Jedi. He ordered the Jedi's execution. In a flash, Obi-Wan sent the droidekas nearby barreling away and into the surrounding droids, clearing him an escape path. He made an impressive escape but was pursued by the droid General, who left battle droids behind to continue to guard the hyperdrive. Meanwhile, Anakin and Padmé made their way to the bridge. Together they blasted and cut down the droid crew inside and took command of the vessel. Once in control of the ship, Anakin hotwired the navi-computer to adjust the angle of the ship to travel straight into a collision course with a nearby moon. Obi-Wan had been chased by Grievous back to the monorail. He leapt onto one of the passing trains still pursued by the droid general. Grievous ignited his sabers and entered into a duel against Obi-Wan aboard the train. Obi-Wan was able to fend off the violent attack and escape Grievous, leaping from one train to another that lead him away. Obi-Wan ran through the ship, chased now by droidekas. He finally reached the hatch leading to the *Twilight,* finding Anakin, Padmé, C-3PO and R2-D2 all convened by the entrance. They all escaped *Malevolence* together aboard the ship. As they pulled away from the Separatist warship, Grievous boarded his own personal Belbullab-22 heavy starfighter; *Soulless One.* With a contingent of vulture droids Grievous chased down the escaping senator and Jedi.

##### Destroy *Malevolence*

Seeing the Jedi begin their return, Plo Koon ordered the Republic fleet to commence their attack and reopen fire on *Malevolence.* Padmé manned the *Twilights* guns, shooting several vulture droids, which impressed Obi-Wan. While Grievous was away from the ship he was informed that the *Malevolence*'s hyperdrive was fixed. He ordered them to engage the hyperdrive immediately and retreat to the secret Separatist base in sector 4. As *Malevolence* engaged its hyperdrive the navi-computer kicked in, bringing the *Malevolence* on track to collide into the nearby moon. Grievous watched alongside the Republic as the Separatist warship flew straight into the moon and was destroyed, securing Republic victory. Grievous leapt into hyperspace to escape the Republic, to where he would need to face Count Dooku and inform him of his failure. The Republic crews were overjoyed to see the destruction of the massive ship, clapping and cheering at their victory.

## Aftermath

#### Next: ...

The Republic secured a large victory with the destruction of *Malevolence.* The Republic could more freely maneuver their ships across the galaxy without fear of annihilation.

## Event Chronology

* Anakin leads Shadow Squadron into an attack on *Malevolence.*
* Shadow Squadron combats vulture droids in their attack run.
* Matchstick is killed.
* Tag is killed.
* Anakin Skywalker changes target from the bridge to the ion cannon. The attack is successful and causes widespread damage to the ship.
* Obi-Wan Kenobi and his fleet arrives to reinforce Anakin.
* Grievous attempts to retreat from Obi-Wan's fleet.
* Dooku orchestrates for Senator Amidala to arrive in the battle and be taken hostage.
* Senator Amidala is taken hostage aboard *Malevolence.*
* Anakin and Obi-Wan board *Malevolence* to rescue Padmé.
* Obi-Wan duels Grievous.
* Anakin rescues Padmé.
* Anakin rewires the navi-computer to steer directly into a nearby moon.
* The Jedi and Senator escape *Malevolence.*
* *Malevolence* is destroyed, flying into a nearby moon.
* Grievous escapes aboard the *Souless One.*
* Republic victory.

## Appearances

1. Star Wars: The Clone Wars S1.E3 - "Shadow of Malevolence"
2. Star Wars: The Clone Wars S1.E4 - "Destroy Malevolence"