Around the end of the Clone Wars, a cataclysmic event caused the destruction of the planet Anaxes, and the world's shattered remains formed an asteroid belt. The cataclysm was theorized to have been caused by a shipyard's main reactor failing, igniting a hypermatter stockpile that destroyed the planet. One remnant of the planet, designated PM-1203, was the original site of Fort Anaxes, a military installation used by the Galactic Republic during the Battle of Anaxes during the Clone Wars that miraculously survived the cataclysm. Following this event, the facility became a fuel depot.
Prelude
Anaxes, a terrestrial planet home to important shipyards,[5] had previously been threatened with destruction during the Clone Wars.[6] In 19 BBY,[7] the final year of the conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems,[8] the Separatists launched an attack on Anaxes led by Admiral Trench. The Separatist forces initially had the upper hand due to having gained access to a secret, highly-effective Republic strategy algorithm[5] from a captured ARC trooper, Echo.[6]
After Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, Clone Captain Rex and Clone Force 99 rescued Echo,[9] the Republic launched a counterattack against the Separatists. When it became clear the battle droids were being driven back, Trench activated his backup plan: "total annihilation" in the form of a bomb hidden in the assembly complex which was powerful enough to destroy most of the planet. With the help of Skywalker and Echo, Jedi General Mace Windu was able to disarm the bomb, and Skywalker killed Trench and blew up his flagship, Invulnerable, ending the threat the Harch had posed.[6] However, a Separatist stronghold still remained on the planet.[4]
The Clone Wars ended later that year[8] with the reorganization of the Republic into the Galactic Empire and the destruction of the Jedi Order, which was falsely accused of treason by Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious, publicly Supreme Chancellor and Galactic Emperor Palpatine. The new Emperor promised to bring about a new era of "peace" for the galaxy.[10]
The destruction
Around the end of the Clone Wars,[2] Anaxes was destroyed in a cataclysmic event.[3] All that remained of the planet was an asteroid belt.[1] Fort Anaxes, a Republic Military base which had been the Republic's headquarters during the Battle of Anaxes, miraculously survived the cataclysm on a new planetoid[3] which was later designated PM-1203.[11] The Separatist stronghold also survived on the planetoid PM-6986. It was theorized that the cataclysm had been caused by a shipyard main reactor failing and igniting a hypermatter stockpile.[4]
Aftermath
Fort Anaxes was abandoned for military purposes after the cataclysm and became a fuel depot,[3] which was also occasionally used by smugglers or rebels such as the Spectres for supply drops.[1]
Behind the scenes
The destruction of Anaxes was first mentioned in Fort Anaxes' StarWars.com Databank entry, which went online[3] after the airing of the Star Wars Rebels first season episode "Out of Darkness," the first appearance of the fort itself.[1]
Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition[12] and Dawn of Rebellion state that the destruction of Anaxes happened within the Clone Wars.[4] However the Databank entry of Fort Anaxes[3] and Star Wars Helmet Collection 2 place the event after the end of the Clone Wars.[13]
Sources
- Star Wars Helmet Collection: Boba Fett Databank A-Z: Alzoc III–Antilles
- Dawn of Rebellion
- Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- Star Wars Bestiary, Vol. 1: Creatures of the Galaxy
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
Fort Anaxes in the Databank (backup link) (First mentioned)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3
Star Wars Rebels — "Out of Darkness"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition establishes that the destruction of Anaxes occurred after the Battle of Anaxes but before the end of the Clone Wars which Star Wars: Timelines both dates to 19 BBY. Star Wars Helmet Collection 2 places the destruction after the end of the Clone Wars. So it can be assumed the event occurred in 19 BBY around the end of the war.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5
Fort Anaxes in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Dawn of Rebellion
- ↑ 5.0 5.1
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Bad Batch"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Unfinished Business"
- ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of "Unfinished Business" to 19 BBY.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Star Wars: Galactic Atlas
- ↑
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "On the Wings of Keeradaks"
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Ezra's Duel with Danger
- ↑ Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- ↑ Star Wars Helmet Collection: Boba Fett
