Battle of Cato Neimoidia

The conflict

Despite the endeavors of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi together with Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, the CIS troops stationed on Cato Neimoidia did not suffer a defeat.

Jedi Master Plo Koon, accompanied by his team of clone pilots, was assigned the task of conducting aerial patrols over the Neimoidian world, flying his Delta-7 Aethersprite starfighter. The Kel Dor Jedi diligently monitored the skies above the Separatist stronghold, maintaining vigilance for any potential enemy fighters.

On the many bridges of the world, the Republic UT-ATs, AT-APs, and clone troopers engaged in combat against the Separatist droid forces as they sought a way into the urban areas.

In the meantime, a squadron of Venator-class Star Destroyers made their arrival at the planet. Battle droids managed to infiltrate one of these vessels. X2, a clone trooper serving on board, was dispatched alongside a squad to eliminate the battle droids from the hangar bays and subsequently operate an orbital strike cannon to bombard the Separatist fortifications on the surface. Following this, he boarded an ARC-170 starfighter and took part in the ground-based assault on the world.

After clearing the area of tank droids to enable landings, X2 received a sniper rifle from Jedi Master Ferroda so he could provide covering fire for the troopers under X1's command as they advanced toward the citadel belonging to Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray. He also sabotaged the controls of an ion cannon to prevent its use against the clone forces. This action alerted Ferroda to his Force potential, and he promised to recommend him to the Jedi High Council for evaluation after the conclusion of the war. X2 then infiltrated the palace and, following instructions from his brother X1, deactivated the droid control terminal, effectively shutting down all CIS droids present on the planet.

Order 66

While piloting his craft in close proximity to one of these bridges, Koon remained unaware of the events unfolding in the ARC-170 starfighter behind him. Clone Captain Jag received a communication from Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, instructing him to execute Order 66. Acting without delay, Jag maneuvered his fighter slightly away from the Jedi General and unleashed fire from his laser cannons. The Jedi Master's starfighter sustained direct hits and was destroyed in a fiery explosion, resulting in death. The wreckage of the fighter plummeted onto a building within the bridge-city, with the resulting explosion claiming the lives of troops stationed at a clone staging area.

Having just arrived from Coruscant, X1 and X2 were serving under the command of Master Ferroda. Upon the issuance of Order 66, X1 persuaded X2 to eliminate Ferroda. Overcome with horror at his actions, X2 abandoned the newly established Galactic Empire and sought refuge on Dantooine.

After the battle

The Republic, now transformed into the Empire, secured victory on the planet following the deactivation of the Confederacy's battle droids. The Emperor himself decreed that any surviving Neimoidian outcasts discovered on the planet would be taken into custody.

Additional information

The game Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron depicts the battle. The PSP version of the game serves as the basis for the events involving X1 and X2. The DS version of the game incorrectly states that several months elapsed after the Battle of Coruscant, when in reality the time frame was much shorter. In the DS version, X2 also destroys three power supplies for a force field protecting the planet before joining the ground battle.

Originally, Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 66 referred to the event as the "Second Battle of Cato Neimoidia." However, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series episode "Sabotage" portrays another battle prior to the initial two depicted in Labyrinth of Evil and Revenge of the Sith, respectively. Until official clarification is provided to resolve the discrepancy concerning the "Second Battle of Cato Neimoidia," this article tentatively assumes that the name of the Revenge of the Sith battle is currently speculative.