Battle of Kiros

During the Clone Wars, specifically in the year 20 BBY, the Togrutan artisan colony planet of Kiros found its neutrality between the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Galactic Republic violated by a Confederate invasion. Governor Roshti, the Togrutan leader, learned of the impending attack and contacted Jedi Master Yoda, informing him of the situation. Yoda pledged to send assistance and cautioned Roshti against trusting Count Dooku, the Confederate leader who was personally commanding the Separatist forces.

As Roshti and Yoda concluded their communication, Confederate troops arrived via C-9979 landing craft vessels. Dooku disembarked from the YV-865 Aurore-class freighter Tecora upon landing, accompanied by an AAT driver battle droid, a T-series tactical droid, and the ship's owner, the Zygerrian Darts D'Nar. Dooku met with Governor Roshti and assured him that his forces' presence was not an invasion, but a peaceful occupation meant to protect Kiros's people. Dooku offered sanctuary for Roshti's people for the duration of the conflict, leaving Roshti with no choice but to accept. However, instead of being taken to safety, the Togruta were rounded up and secretly transported to Zygerria, where they were to be sold as slaves at an auction hosted by the Zygerrian queen, Miraj Scintel. Kiros was then occupied by the Separatist Droid Army, with D'Nar, as a Confederate commander, placed in command of the battle droids.

After ten planetary rotations, Republic forces finally arrived, led by High General Obi-Wan Kenobi, General Anakin Skywalker, Captain CT-7567, known as "Rex," and Skywalker's Padawan, Commander Ahsoka Tano. A Republic Venator-class Star Destroyer, accompanied by two Arquitens-class light cruisers, and a Consular-class cruiser approached the planet, after which the Jedi instructed Rex to deploy ground troops. An Acclamator I-class assault ship entered the planet's atmosphere, and LAAT/i and LAAT/c gunships transported clone troopers, All Terrain Recon Transports, and All Terrain Tactical Enforcers to the surface. The Jedi and Rex then led the ground assault on Kiros's capital city, heading towards the governor's tower. Riding BARC speeders, they destroyed numerous BX-series droid commandos on Flitknot speeders before encountering a pair of Armored Assault Tanks, supported by more commando droids and B1-Series battle droids. After eliminating the infantry droids, Rex destroyed one tank with a well-aimed missile launcher shot, while Tano took out the other AAT by throwing grenades inside it. With the tanks neutralized, the area around the tower was secured, establishing a perimeter to prevent anyone from leaving.

As the clone troopers continued to fight through minimal droid resistance, the Jedi noted the absence of any of the planet's inhabitants. Kenobi then received a message from Marshal Commander CC-2224 stating that D'Nar, who was holed up, had requested to speak with Kenobi alone to discuss surrender terms. CC-2224 played D'Nar's holographic message. Skywalker, who had been enslaved in his youth and harbored resentment towards the Zygerrian slavers, wanted to go to the tower instead of Kenobi. However, Kenobi insisted on going since D'Nar had specifically requested his presence. Instead, Kenobi asked Skywalker to locate the missing colonists, and Skywalker planned to have Admiral Wullf Yularen, in command of the Republic fleet, initiate a planetary bio-scan. Believing that D'Nar intended to surrender, Kenobi went to the governor's tower alone, leaving his comlink active so Skywalker could hear the conversation with D'Nar. Upon entering the main room of D'Nar's headquarters, Kenobi found the commander communicating with Dooku and the Zygerrian Atai Molec via a holoprojector, assuring them that the situation on the planet was under control. As Kenobi entered, he was taken into custody by two commando droids, and Dooku ordered D'Nar to bring the Jedi to him. D'Nar revealed that he actually wanted the Republic to surrender, disclosing that he had planted thermal annihilator bombs throughout the city and intended to detonate them, killing everyone if the Republic refused. To prove his point, he ordered the tactical droid present to activate one of the bombs, which detonated near the Republic encampment, injuring several clone troopers.

The explosion prompted Skywalker to change his plans, believing there was not enough time for the bio-scan. Having overheard D'Nar's plans through Kenobi's comlink, Skywalker and Tano immediately tasked Skywalker's astromech droid, R2-D2, with locating the bombs using his scanners. Meanwhile, Kenobi attempted to stall by negotiating with D'Nar, stating that he could not surrender until he was certain the Togruta were safe, and offered to settle their dispute with a duel. If Kenobi won, D'Nar would reveal the location of the Togruta and the bombs, but if D'Nar won, Kenobi would be brought before Dooku in a cage. The Zygerrian commander agreed, stipulating that they fight in the traditional Zygerrian manner, without weapons.

While they fought, Skywalker and Tano used a pair of AT-RTs to defuse the bombs one by one, using their lightsabers to sever the connection between each bomb and its detonator. During Kenobi's and D'Nar's fight, a B1 battle droid attempted to warn his Commander about Skywalker's and Tano's actions via the Commander's holoprojector, but Kenobi prevented him from finishing by smashing D'Nar onto his table and breaking the projector. Soon, only two bombs remained in a courtyard, guarded by a large number of B1 battle droids and B2 super battle droids. Skywalker and Tano destroyed all the droids, but discovered that the bombs were chain-linked, requiring simultaneous defusal to avoid detonation. However, they were then attacked by more battle droids appearing on an adjacent platform. Skywalker and Tano managed to dispatch the B2 super battle droids, but were pinned down by two sniper droidekas.

The droidekas' shields proved too strong, forcing the Jedi to take cover. Noticing the sniper droids' vulnerability from the sides, Skywalker and Tano used their lightsabers to deflect incoming blaster fire into the droids, disabling them. They then proceeded to deactivate the final two bombs. Meanwhile, Kenobi, who had been prolonging the duel, was defeated by D'Nar. However, the tactical droid approached the Zygerrian with another holographic transmitter. A battle droid contacted the Confederate Commander, informing him that the Jedi had disarmed all the bombs. Forgetting about Kenobi, D'Nar attempted to trigger the bombs, but failed. Kenobi, no longer needing to feign weakness, used the Force to crush the two commando droids and retrieved his lightsaber, demanding D'Nar's surrender. However, the Zygerrian revealed he had one bomb remaining, planted on the tactical droid. Activating the explosive, D'Nar threw the droid onto Kenobi, pinning him under the machine, allowing the Zygerrian to escape through a secret passageway in the floor. Regaining his footing, Kenobi pushed the panicking tactical droid through the tower's window, where it detonated in mid-air.

As D'Nar retreated toward the Tecora, Kenobi followed, contacting Skywalker and alerting him to the Zygerrian's escape. Kenobi was unable to catch up to D'Nar, who started his ship's engines and took off. However, Skywalker and Tano used their AT-RTs to jump high into the air, then used the Force to leap from the AT-RTs onto the Tecora's hull, where Skywalker damaged one of the ship's engines with his lightsaber. D'Nar, seeing the two Jedi on his tactical display, opened the cargo bay doors. When the two jumped inside, the Zygerrian released the tentacled blixus creature, one of his many pets. Skywalker instructed his Padawan to stabilize the ship, while he fought the blixus. Tano infiltrated the ship's cockpit and deactivated the second engine. D'Nar, noticing her, ignited his shock whip and prepared to fight the young Jedi, but was quickly defeated. Meanwhile, Skywalker, having killed the blixus, entered the cockpit. Skywalker demanded that D'Nar reveal the colonists' location, but the Zygerrian refused. Angered, Skywalker pressed his deactivated lightsaber to the slaver's neck, threatening to kill him unless he answered. Tano convinced her Master to stand down, and D'Nar revealed that the Zygerrian queen planned to sell the people of Kiros at a grand auction to restore the Zygerrian Slave Empire to its former glory, after it had lost its power following a conflict with the Jedi.

With D'Nar's capture and the destruction of the Confederate occupation army, Kiros was liberated. However, the colonists were still missing. Yularen conducted a planet-wide bio-scan, but it yielded no results, indicating the Togruta were not on the planet. To discuss their next move, Skywalker, Kenobi, and Tano contacted the Jedi High Council. Jedi Master Plo Koon deduced that the Zygerrians were seeking Dooku's assistance to rebuild their Slave Empire, and Skywalker was determined to stop them. However, Yoda sensed the colonists were in grave danger, and believed their rescue should be the Jedi's highest priority. Consequently, a rescue mission was launched, with Skywalker, Kenobi, Tano, and Rex infiltrating the Zygerrian homeworld. Records of the Battle of Kiros were compiled by the Jedi involved and later published as part of the Jedi Battle Logs, a collection of datafiles.

The Battle of Kiros was initially depicted in the 2008 comic book The Clone Wars 1, written by Henry Gilroy and illustrated by Scott Hepburn. It received multiple mentions in subsequent issues of the Slaves of the Republic story arc within The Clone Wars comic series. In 2011, Gilroy's story gained popularity with the animation team of The Clone Wars television series, and the writer adapted The Mystery of Kiros into the episode "Kidnapped" of the series. "Kidnapped" followed the same storyline, but featured several differences from the comic, most notably the replacement of the Besalisk Xerius Ugg with the Zygerrian Darts D'Nar as the Confederate commander. This change was made because the production team felt Ugg resembled fallen Jedi Pong Krell, who had appeared in the preceding storyline.

This article currently follows the events as portrayed in "Kidnapped," in accordance with Lucasfilm Holocron continuity database keeper Leland Chee's statement that the TV series supersedes the comic books in terms of continuity. While neither the comics nor the TV series provided a canonical name for the battle, it was later officially named the "Battle of Kiros" in the second volume of the "Jedi Battle Logs" collection of the Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures online multiplayer video game.

As "Kidnapped" occurs during season four, it features the main characters in new outfits introduced in mid-season three, conflicting with the comic, which depicts them in their pre-redesign costumes. In the comic, Dooku arrives on Kiros in a Punworcca 116-class interstellar sloop and informs Roshti that the Separatists have learned of the Republic's plan to establish a stronghold on Kiros to attack nearby colonies. After Kiros falls under Confederate control, Xerius Ugg, a Besalisk, is placed in charge of the occupation army. The Republic forces arrive nineteen planetary rotations later instead of ten. The comic also depicts V-19 Torrent starfighters engaging Vulture droid starfighters over the planet.

The Confederate forces also include regular droidekas stationed in Ugg's quarters. After the city's north quadrant is quickly secured, the Jedi reach the Separatist headquarters as Commander CC-2224 and Ghost Company approach from the south with minimal resistance. Ugg requests to speak with "the Negotiator," a nickname Kenobi earned for his diplomatic skills. Kenobi and Ugg agree to fight, though the winning conditions differ slightly. As Ugg converses only with a Zygerrian before the fight, Dooku does not order him to bring Kenobi to him. Ugg proclaims that if he wins, Kenobi will order his forces to surrender.

Skywalker and Tano disarm the bombs with Rex's help, who provides covering fire from the rooftops, destroying a single sniper droideka. During Kenobi's and Ugg's fight, a B1 battle droid attempts to warn his Commander about Skywalker's and Tano's actions via the commander's holoprojector. However, Kenobi crushes the projector with the Force before the droid can finish. Soon, another droid interrupts the fight to inform Ugg that the Jedi are disarming the bombs. Ugg rushes to trigger the bombs, hoping at least one will explode.

However, the only bomb that detonates is the one planted in Ugg's ship. Kenobi offers Ugg one last chance to surrender, but the Separatist commander refuses and attacks him. Kenobi grabs Ugg and throws him out the window. Ugg falls from the great height of his headquarters, sustaining heavy injuries upon hitting the ground, though he remains alive for a short time. Kenobi tries to ask him about the Togruta again, but the Besalisk refuses to reveal anything and dies.

After Yularen's planetary bio-scan reveals the Togruta are not on the planet, Kenobi analyzes records copied from Ugg's transmitter and notices frequent contact with someone in the Zygerria system, known as a system of slave traders. Using this clue, the Jedi decide to infiltrate the system, proceeding to the remains of the Shi'kar homeworld to gain more intelligence from Zygerrian slavers passing through that sector. Meanwhile, the Separatists spread propaganda falsifying the Jedi Order's reputation, claiming the Republic killed the entire population of Kiros during their assault.