The foundations of the battle were laid several months before the Republic's full assault. On intelligence that a government official on neutral Orto was plotting to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Jedi Nem Bees went under the guise of the deceased trader Ydde to the planet to root the traitor out.
Nem Bees and Ortolan civilians witness the invasion.
Nem was too late, and when Financial Minister Belo Tusus announced his allegiance to the Confederacy, Bees posed as a scared citizen as battle droids swarmed the capital. For months he remained in hiding, engaging in acts of sabotage to hamper Confederacy efforts, until he obtained the chance to call in Republic forces.
Bees proceeded to the Ortolan palace to destroy the planetary shield generator, thus allowing the forces, led by Commander Deviss, to land. He then rendezvoused with Deviss and the K Company, and they began driving the entrenched droid army out of the system. One week later, Order 66 came through. While leading an assault force on enemy lines, Deviss and his squad cut down Bees.
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia