Mission to Onderon (3627 BBY)

A mission took place on the planet in 3627 BBY as part of the Third Galactic War between the reconstituted Sith Empire and Galactic Republic. As Onderon was a key refueling station for a Republic fleet intended to reinforce Corellia, where the Empire was planning to assault the Meridian Complex, Savik plotted to destroy the fleet by seizing control of the planet's anti-orbital defense cannons.

Prelude

In 3627 BBY,^[4] during the third Galactic War between the Galactic Republic and the reconstituted Sith Empire, the Sith Lord Darth Malgus assembled one of the largest attack fleets in galactic history in order to strike the Meridian Complex, the most advanced Republic shipyard, on Corellia. General Ardinondu Dipolus Daeruun was tasked to take command of several Republic fleets in order to bring reinforcements to defend the Meridian Complex. However, Daeruun could not bring its fleets to Corellia without refueling, and predicted that the Republic forces would be attacked where they were refueling, before they could reach Corellia. The General therefore requested the help of the Eternal Alliance in order to defend these reinforcements and secure refueling operations. The Commander of the Eternal Alliance stated his willingness to help and was dispatched to Onderon, where the Eleventh Fleet was assembling to refuel and replenish supplies before sailing to Corellia.^[1]

While Onderon had been a Republic planet for centuries, the political situation there was very tense. Following his ascension to the throne three years prior, King Regalun Petryph greedily sought to strip-mine his planet's rich resources to line his coffers, but his plans were opposed by the council of nobles and Senator Deja Nebet, official representative of the Galactic Republic. Petryph retreated to his Royal Hunting Lodge to avoid their scrutiny, unintentionally subjecting himself to the manipulations of Darth Savik of the Dark Council. Savik plotted to catch the fleet unaware by seizing control of the planet's anti-orbital defense cannons. In order to that goal, she manipulated Petryph into believing that Nebet and the nobles were plotting to usurp him. Her objective was to start a civil war that would serve as a diversion for her agents to reach the cannon controls.^[3] To that end, Savik commanded a group of Imperial operatives to secure an agreement with the Untamed, a group of Onderonian traditionalist warriors who wanted to drive all outsiders from the planet. After the Imperials defeated the pritarr Krashilok, Beast-Lord Akoru was much impressed and accepted to support the Empire in an attack on Iziz.^[9] In addition, Darth Savik even managed to convince King Petryph to participate in the assault and lead his own troops against the Royal Palace.^[7]

The mission

The Attack on Iziz

The Alliance Commander arrived on Onderon with Jedi Arn Peralun, Tau Idair's Padawan. They landed at the Iziz Royal Palace, in Onderon's capital city of Iziz. They were welcomed by Lana Beniko who informed the Commander that an encrypted transmissions from the hunting lodge containing a complex code not originating from Onderon, likely of Imperial origin, had been recently intercepted. Fearing the worst, Senator Nebet and Jedi Knight Tau Idair had made the decision to prepare the city of Iziz for an attack. The Commander and Arn Peralun decided to join Tau Idair in the city.^[3]

Upon arriving at the marketplace, the discussion with Tau Idair was interrupted by an explosion. More explosions followed, and panic broke out among the civilian population. The Alliance Commander ordered Tau and Arn to return the Palace so they could consult with Lana. Theron Shan joined the Commander and both headed to the site of the explosions. In the next alley, the two found an open city gate and were attacked by a group of Untamed and their pritarrs. After defeating them, the Commander and Theron went into the sewers, which had been opened by the explosions and were being used by the Untamed as an access route to the royal palace. The Untamed left some guards in the sewers but the bulk of their forces, led by Beast-Lord Akoru, attacked the palace.^[3] Using the diversion, Imperial operatives working for Darth Savik stormed the control room of the anti-orbital cannons located in the palace. There, they killed the Jedi Master Denfa and his padawan.^[7] On his side, King Petryph and his royal guards attacked the throne room where Senator Nebet and the nobles commanded the battle. In the meantime, the Alliance Commander and Theron Shan defeated the Untamed in the sewers. Although many of the passages had collapsed, the Commander was able to open a small hatch through which he could enter the palace. From there, an elevator led them up to the upper floor. The two joined the Onderonian troops in the fight against the Untamed and their beasts.^[3]

After clearing a few corridors, the Alliance Commander and Theron Shan arrived in the planetary defense cannon control room. They were met by Imperial battle droids, including one with a holographic head of Darth Savik who spoke to the Alliance Commander. She explained that they had arrived earlier than expected but that a firing sequence for Onderon's cannons had already been determined. She then ordered her droids to attack Theron and the Commander. After the droids were destroyed, the Commander went directly to a console and contacted the Republic fleet and explained that they intended to deactivate the cannons. The Republic fleet officer immediately ordered the fleet to activate their shields and move to a safe distance.^[3]

Immediately afterward, the Alliance Commander contacted Tau Idair and informed her that the entire attack had been a diversion to destroy the fleet. She replied that the throne room was still a battleground and asked for his assistance. Theron and the Commander therefore headed there, defeating more Untamed along the way. When the two arrived in the throne room, the battle was already over. Akoru and his Untamed were all dead, along with some king's guards and Imperial battle droids. King Petryph hor his part had managed to escape. As the battle ended, it appeared that hundreds of civilians and Onderonian had been killed but the city was minimally damaged. Nevertheless, the Republic fleet remained undamaged and was expected to be fully refueled within an hour. The mission on Onderon was therefore complete.^[3]

The hunt for Darth Savik

The Alliance Commander and Tau Idair intended to leave the planet, as the Empire was still en route to Corellia. Arn Peralun, however, urged them to stay on Onderon. The Jedi explained that Darth Savik was probably still on Onderon since her droids' signal range was limited. The Commander and Tau both recognized the value of the capture of a member of the Dark Council. Senator. Nebet suggested starting the search with King Petryph, who had presumably retreated to the Royal Hunting Lodge. Lana Beniko then arrived, accompanied by Jakarro and C2-D4, two former associates of the Commander. As both were familiar with the planet Onderon, they proposed to help the Commander his the search for Darth Savik.^[6]

The Alliance Commander, along with Jakarro and C2-D4, made their way through the Onderon wilderness to the Oasis, from where they gained access to the Hunting Lodge's catacombs. In the catacombs, the strike team encountered several Imperial battle droids and Imperial soldiers. The group fought their way through the partially dilapidated catacombs, engaging in minor skirmishes. They then reached an elevator that led them to the royal chambers, where they hoped to find King Petryph. After navigating a few corridors, the Commander finally reached a throne room where a conversation was taking place. King Petryph and Darth Savik, via droid, reported to Darth Malgus via hologram. Savik informed Malgus that the 11th Republic Fleet had escaped. She argued that Onderon still held value for the Empire but Malgus countered that the focus should now be on Corellia. He therefore ordered the evacuation of the remaining troops. Petryph then panicked, fearing that the Empire's retreat would leave him alone with the nobles and the Republic and that he would be executed. Darth Savik attempted to give him some reassurance when the Commander, Jakarro and C2-D4 entered the room. Savik promptly activated a force field to allow the king to escape. The Sith then activated a neutron emitter, stating that when fully charged, it would obliterate all organic life in the building. Jakarro then began firing at the force field, deactivating it, and the Commander readily destroyed Savik's droids. They then rushed to the side exit Petryph had used to escape and reached a balcony. From there, they were able to escape the building thanks to the timely arrival of Jakarro's XS stock light freighter, that C2-D4 had opportunely summoned via a beckon call.^[6]

Back at the Iziz Royal Palace, the Alliance Commander reported about the incidents at the Hunting Lodge. Nebet suggested turning their attention to the Untamed. The warriors were furious to have been manipulated by the Sith and therefore wanted to take revenge on Darth Savik. Nebet further explained that she had ordered the dead Untamed warriors to be returned to the tribe so that their traditions could be observed. She advised the Commander to meet them and follow their rituals to gain their acceptance.The Commander, Jakarro and C2-D4 therefore traveled to the Untamed territory and lit three ceremonial beacons. Afterward, they entered the Untamed Lair and met with their new leader, Bregan. As the Commander had showed respect and respected traditions, he allowed them to explain their request. The Commander did so but Bregan was reluctant to help an outworlder. However, he finally agreed that it was in their best interest to help the Commander. As soon as the hunt for Savik ended, the Republic and the Sith would leave the planet, leaving fewer strangers on Onderon. Bregan then revealed that Darth Savik was hiding at the old Proving Grounds and that he suspected Petryph to be there as well.^[10]

After the Commander returned to the royal palace, the Republic and Eternal Alliance forces planned their attack on Darth Savik's hideout. The Alliance Commander demanded that Arn and Tau attacked from the opposite side along with Onderonian troops, acting as a diversion. Jakarro announced that he would assist with the diversion.^[5]

As the Alliance Commander approached Savik's hideout with Theron Shan, they already heard the diversionary attack advancing. The pair entered the Proving Grounds and encountered several Imperial soldiers, war droids and Sith apprentices. They defeated them and advanced further into the heart of the facility, where they hoped to confront Darth Savik. However, the door to the main hall was blocked by a force field. She congratulated the Alliance Commander on his diversionary tactic but remarked that she knew his methods all too well. Savik subsequently granted Petryph launch clearance, allowing the king to escape the planet. Darth Savik later explained to the Commander how she had long prepared to face him after he defeated her during the Battle of Corellia. Determined to confront him, she deactivated the force field and attacked. A fierce duel ensued, which the Commander ultimately won. Afterwards, Darth Savik reflected on her defeat, saying that years of hatred and rage should have made her stronger. She asked the Commander why he was so powerful. The latter explained that he fought for others while the Sith fought for themselves. Savik then declared that after her defeat she could not return to the Sith and surrendered to the Commander.^[5]

As Tau Idair, Arn Peralun and Jakarro arrived and explained that the king had escaped, Savik offered her assistance and proposed to hand over the codes of the sensor jammer covering Petryph's ship. Idair then inquired about other targets of the Empire, and Savik immediately mentioned Mek-Sha.^[5]

Aftermath

Back to the Iziz Royal Palace, Tau Idair contacted General Daeruun who confirmed that a Republic fleet was en route to Mek-Sha for refueling. Idair wanted to depart immediately with her Padawan. As other fleets had not yet been attacked, she predicted a chance to defend Corellia if the Republic was as successful as it had been on Onderon. The Jedi and the Commander therefore departed from Onderon, leaving Senator Nebet and the Onderonian nobles deal with the succession of King Petryph.^[5] Nebet would later contact the Commander to announce the capture of the fallen monarch.^[11]

The subsequent mission to Mek-Sha was another success for the Republic as the Alliance Commander and the Jedi prevented the Empire to destroy the 29th Republic Fleet there.^[12] Eventually, the Republic fleets rescued at Onderon and Mek-Sha would arrive safely at Corellia to participate in the Battle of the Meridian Complex. The Republic would successfully defend its shipyards and emerge victorious, causing a decisive defeat for the Sith Empire.^[13]

The conflict on Onderon brought the attention of Mandalore the Avenger onto the world. She discovered the whereabouts of the Mandalorian deserters known as the Ash'ad.^[14] Their leader Mirli Lok had made an agreement with King Regalun Petryph that in exchange of being allowed to hunt the beasts of his world, they would give tribute of their quarries and bring offworld creatures to him for time to time.^[15] Mandalore would have her people set up on Onderon and eventually give task to have the Ash'ad hunted down and their armor retrieved from their bodies.^[14]

Behind the scenes

The mission first appeared in Star Wars: The Old Republic: Onslaught, a 2019 expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic. If the player character is a Republic Loyalist or an Imperial Saboteur, they will save the fleet from being destroyed by the Empire.^[3] However, if the player character is an Imperial Loyalist or a Republic Saboteur, they will successfully destroy the fleet and prevent it from being present during the defense of the Meridian Complex.^[7]

Appearances

• Star Wars: The Old Republic: Onslaught (First appearance)

Sources

• The Making of Onderon on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)
• New Subscriber Reward: Nautolan Species on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)
• The Onslaught Expansion is Live! on The Old Republic's official website (backup link)

Notes and references