Vassek 3, also known as the third moon of Vassek, was a moon of the planet Vassek located within the Vassek system of the region known as the Outer Rim Territories. During the Clone Wars, the moon served as the location of the personal fortress of the Kaleesh Separatist Alliance General Grievous. In 21 BBY, during the war, Galactic Republic forces led by Jedi General Kit Fisto tracked the fugitive Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray to Vassek 3. In the resulting engagement with Grievous, Fisto was forced to escape the moon as the lone Republic survivor.
The Vassek system, the star system in which Vassek 3 was located
Vassek 3, otherwise known as the third moon of Vassek, was one of three moons that orbited the planet Vassek in the star system of the same name, located within the Wazta sector of the Outer Rim Territories. Situated in grid square I-17 on the Standard Galactic Grid, the moon had a standard gravitational pull as well as a breathable atmosphere, which provided tolerable conditions for most of the galaxy's oxygen-breathing beings. Vassek 3 and the rest of the Vassek system were located far enough off the Koda Spur hyperspace route that the moon did not receive many visitors.
The moon was shrouded in dense, perpetual mists and possessed no signs of vegetation larger than lichens. Its fogs also obscured the view of the moon's surface from space, with only glimpses of the satellite's rocky landscape permitted by breaks in the mists. Furthermore, attempting to land on Vassek 3's surface was difficult as a result of the moon's vapors, which forced pilots to utilize scanning equipment and sensor systems to locate suitable landing areas. Vassek 3's landscape was marked by craggy, moss-covered, and fog-filled canyons as well as sharp, towering rocky mountains, plunging gorges, and tall columns.
Sometime during the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Kaleesh Separatist General Grievous constructed a personal fortress on the surface of Vassek 3. Throughout the war, the fortress was utilized as Grievous's place of rest between battles as well as his safe haven and the location where he would receive repairs for his cybernetics when they became damaged in battle.
Kit Fisto arrives at Vassek 3.
In 21 BBY, Jedi General Kit Fisto traveled to the Vassek system in search of Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray, who had previously escaped Republic custody through the assistance of Separatist forces. Locating the tracking beacon from a Republic vessel utilized in Gunray's supposed escape to Vassek's third moon, Fisto landed on the moon in his personal starfighter. After landing, Fisto became reunited with his former Padawan, Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb, and the latter's detachment of clone troopers led by Clone Commander Fil, who had arrived on the natural satellite in a Republic shuttle.
Fisto and the Republic task force unknowingly entered Grievous's fortress and continued their search for Gunray. While they moved through the citadel, the Jedi and the troopers overheard the viceroy relaying orders to several B1-series battle droids. The Jedi destroyed the droids shortly thereafter but discovered that Gunray had been speaking through a hologram. In the transmission, Gunray was then replaced by the Confederate Head of State, Count Dooku, who proceeded to offer the Republic an alternative target in the viceroy's place—Grievous, who, as the task force then learned, owned the citadel and had presently arrived in Vassek 3's orbit. Fisto, Vebb, and the clone troopers then began to prepare a trap in order to capture the general.
Grievous is ambushed by a Republic task force in his personal fortress.
As Grievous entered the citadel, Fisto and the rest of the task force revealed themselves and demanded that Grievous surrender. In response, the general engaged the Jedi and their troopers in combat, killing several of the clones while also taking damage to his cybernetics, forcing him to retreat in order to receive repairs from his medical droid, EV-A4-D. Following his repairs, as well as the death of Commander Fil at the hands of the general's pet roggwart, Gor—who was in turn killed by Fisto—Grievous exited his command center and fought and killed Vebb. Following his former Padawan's death, the Jedi Master began to make his escape from the moon but was briefly confronted by Grievous in Vassek 3's mists. Despite the Separatist general's efforts, however, Fisto was able to escape into his starfighter and withdraw from the moon as the sole survivor of the mission. Sometime after Grievous chased the Jedi from the moon, the general abandoned his fortress and relocated elsewhere in the galaxy, repairing his destroyed doctor as well, since the Republic had found the location of his base.
Hidden within a mountain on Vassek 3 was the personal fortress of General Grievous, who returned to the citadel between Clone Wars engagements for rest and repairs to his cybernetic limbs. The looming fortress was a depressing and gloomy structure filled with deadly traps and also served as the home of Gor, the general's roggwart pet. The fortress was protected by several IG-100 MagnaGuard droids and maintained by at least five B1-series battle droids and Grievous's EV-series medical droid, EV-A4-D, who was responsible for carrying out any repairs on Grievous's damaged cybernetics.
Vassek 3 was introduced in the opening newsreel of "Rookies," the fifth episode of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series' first season, which aired on October 24, 2008. The moon later made its first proper appearance in "Lair of Grievous," the first season's tenth episode, which aired on December 12, 2008.
In the new Star Wars canon, Vassek 3 was identified in the 2017 reference book Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia. In the Star Wars Legends continuity, the StarWars.com episode guide for "Lair of Grievous" identified the natural satellite as the third moon of Vassek.