Skirmish above Kellux

The **Skirmish above Kellux** was a small scale conflict that occurred prior to the Invasion of Naboo, in which a Lucrehulk-class battleship under the ownership of the Trade Federation came under attack from an unknown group of pirates. Darth Maul was sent by his master Darth Sidious to end the conflict. It was here that Maul learn about the Auction for Eldra Kaitis.

## Prelude

#### Previous: Eriadu Conference

As part of Sidious' Great Plan to overthrow the role of Supreme Chancellor, he used the disastrous Eriadu Conference to take control of the Trade Federation, placing Nute Gunray into the position of Viceroy, allowing Sidious to become the secret leader of the Federation, and the organization essentially became part of the Sith plot.

In the Kellux system, the Trade Federation began undergoing illegal mining operations without the approval or knowledge of The Galactic Republic.

## Recount

#### The Attack

While the Trade Federation had two Lucrehulk-class battleships in orbit above Kellux, a gang of pirates saw the presence as a lucrative opportunity. They used Orb-wing starfighters to attack the battleships and board, taking the Neimoidians aboard as prisoner. They initial conflict lasted long enough for the Federation to send word to Darth Sidious requesting aid. In response to the call for help, Darth Sidious sent Darth Maul, needing to protect the Federation as its new leader in the interest of protecting his potential invasion forces. Sidious was also aware that Maul had been becoming increasingly impatient with waiting for the time to strike against the Jedi.

#### Maul's Arrival

   Maul arrived in the Kellux system in his scimitar as Orb-wings continued to fight vulture droids in orbit. He cloaked himself, advancing on a pirate known as Dral. He sent after the pirate two proton torpedoes that quickly chased down the pirate and destroyed his ship, killing him. Maul flew straight through the explosion, uncloaking himself and making his presence known. He continued his attack, making short work of the airborne pirates, using mines and blaster fire to dispose of the remaining ships.

He then quickly boarded the captured Lucrehulk, making his way through forces onboard to find the locked off command center. Maul used his lightsaber to cut through the door to make his way inside. He quickly did so, breaking through the door, met by heavy fire from the pirates inside. Maul used both blades of his lightsaber to deflect the blaster fire, firing it back at the Neimoidians as well as the pirates, gunning down nearly everyone in the room. He then went through the remaining pirates, using his saber to cut them down.

One final pirate remained standing, pleading for his life. He believed Maul was a Jedi and claimed to have information that the Jedi would want and was willing to trade it for his life. Maul told the pirate to speak and her would judge if the information was worthy of mercy. The pirate went on to reveal that Xev Xrexus had captured a young Jedi Padawan and was holding an auction for the individual. Maul attempting to grasp a location from the pirate however was unable to. Maul killed the pirate despite his information. Once the conflict was settled, a surviving Neimoidian revealed himself to Maul, rejoicing in his victory and praising Maul for dispatching the pirates, stating that Lord Sidious would be most pleased. Maul, wanting to pursue the Padawan by himself in secret, planning on killing them for sport to vent his anger to the Jedi, killed the Neimoidian. He then left the Kellux system, leaving the bodies and destruction behind him as he began his journey to find the Auction of Xev Xrexus.

## Aftermath

#### Next: Auction for Eldra Kaitis

Maul was successful in locating the Jedi Padawan Eldra Kaitis at the Auction of Xev Xrexus. Maul used a crew comprising of Cad Bane, Aurra Sing and other bounty hunters to get him into the auction where he captured the Jedi and took her to a nearby moon where he fought and killed her for sport.

## Event Chronology

* A pirate gang attacks the Trade Federation above Kellux.
* Darth Maul is sent by Darth Sidious to destroy the pirates.
* Maul defeats the pirate forces, learning about the Auction for Eldra Kaitis.