The conflict known as the Battle of the Ryndellia system unfolded in the Ryndellia system during 22 BBY within the broader context of the Clone Wars. Before this engagement, a Galactic Republic medical convoy, consisting of three Pelta-class frigates and a single Venator-class Star Destroyer as escort, navigated the Ryndellia system, crewed by clone troopers and led by a Jedi. As the [convoy](/article/convoy] traversed the star system, it fell victim to an ambush orchestrated by the Separatist Subjugator-class heavy cruiser Malevolence, under the command of the Kaleesh General Grievous.
Consequently, the warship utilized its formidable arsenal to obliterate the entire convoy, employing its ion cannon to cripple the last remaining frigate as it attempted to flee. Following the assault in the Ryndellia system, acting upon directives from Separatist leader Count Dooku, the Malevolence proceeded towards the Republic's clandestine Outer Rim medical center, aiming to attack and destroy the facility where over 60,000 injured clone troopers were receiving treatment.
In the initial year of the Clone Wars, specifically 22 BBY, the Confederacy of Independent Systems completed construction of the Subjugator-class heavy cruiser Malevolence. This starship possessed the capability to neutralize the power systems of entire fleets of capital ships through its powerful mega-ion cannons. Following its completion, the Confederacy's naval forces deployed the Malevolence against the Galactic Republic and its navy across more than a dozen star systems, launching attacks that left no survivors to recount their experiences. The Malevolence earned the moniker "mystery weapon" due to its unique and previously unknown method of attack.
After the destruction of a Republic task force within the Phu system, Jedi General Plo Koon successfully tracked the Malevolence to the Abregado system. There, he and his fleet were instructed by the Jedi High Council to eliminate the mystery weapon before it could inflict further damage on Republic fleets. Under the leadership of the Kaleesh Separatist General Grievous, overseen by Head of State Count Dooku, Koon's entire fleet suffered the same fate as previous Republic fleets. However, the Jedi Master managed to escape the destruction of both his fleet and eventually the Malevolence itself with the assistance of Jedi General Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. After escaping the Malevolence, Koon reported his findings on the warship to the Republic, resulting in a loss in trust for Grievous by Dooku, but the Kaleesh continued his attack on Republic fleets while Dooku left to discuss Grievous's failure with his master, the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious, where he eventually arrived in the Ryndellia system.
As a Republic medical convoy consisting of three Pelta-class frigates and a lone Venator-class Star Destroyer under Jedi protection was moving through the Ryndellia system, the Malevolence, with its droid crew under Grievous's orders, intercepted the Republic warships in proximity to Ryndellia. The heavy cruiser ambushed the Star Destroyer and two of the frigates, disabling their power systems with a blast from its mega-ion cannon. This allowed the crew of B1-series battle droids to commence turbolaser fire upon the now-helpless warships. However, the convoy's remaining frigate attempted to disengage from the system, and its clone trooper pilots began powering up its hyperdrive.
The Separatist general, upon noticing the last frigate's attempt to escape, ordered the Malevolence's bridge crew to fire the heavy cruiser's ion cannons to prevent the frigate from jumping into hyperspace. Grievous then commanded his droids to unleash a barrage of turbolaser fire from the Malevolence to destroy the frigate. As the frigate was taking fire from the heavy cruiser, one of Grievous's battle droids mentioned his inability to accurately hit the frigate, resulting in Grievous destroying him in a fit of frustration.
Dooku, who was observing through a holographic transmission, commented on the expensive cost of B1-series battle droids after Grievous destroyed one. The Sith Lord then contrasted the Jedi's treatment of their clone troopers to the Kaleesh. Grievous responded by stating that the Jedi's compassion for the clone army was a weakness to be exploited. The Separatist leader then gave Grievous instructions for the Malevolence's next target: the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center, the Republic's secret medical station in the Outer Rim Territories which was treating over 60,000 wounded clone troopers. Dooku ordered Grievous to destroy the station in order to cripple the Republic's ability to care for its wounded soldiers, hoping to shift the war in their favor. After receiving his instructions, the general ordered the Malevolence to target and destroy the jettisoned escape pods from the medical frigate in order to retain his reputation.
Following Dooku's orders, the Malevolence jumped into hyperspace and set course for the medical center. However, while en route to the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center, General Anakin Skywalker received intelligence from Admiral Wullf Yularen about the ambush of the Republic medical convoy near Ryndellia. This prompted the Jedi to deduce that the medical center was the Malevolence's next target. Skywalker then organized a counterattack against the Separatist heavy cruiser, intending to intercept the warship before it could attack and potentially destroy it along with Grievous to further the war effort.
Skywalker led the Galactic Senate-commissioned Shadow Squadron in BTL-B Y-wing starfighter/bombers through a shortcut in the Kaliida Nebula alongside his Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, and General Plo Koon. The Republic starfighter squadron succeeded in inflicting heavy damage on the Malevolence and disabling its mega-ion cannons, forcing it to retreat and ultimately leading to its destruction.
The Battle of the Ryndellia system was first shown in "Shadow of Malevolence," the third episode of the first season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, which was broadcast on October 18, 2008. It was later identified in the forty-third issue of De Agostini's Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon magazine, which was published around October 28, 2015.