In the year 3643 BBY, during the Separatist War that pitted the Galactic Republic-supported government, the Ord Mantell Central Authority, against the rebellious Mantellian Separatist Movement, the separatists successfully shot down a Republic transport vessel. From the wreckage, they absconded with a ZR-57 orbital strike bomb. Subsequently, Havoc Squad received orders to recover the stolen ordnance.
Following the Treaty of Coruscant's signing in 3653 BBY and the commencement of the Cold War, the Galactic Republic made every effort to prevent member worlds from seceding. This involved providing benefits and support to corrupt local administrations, such as the Central Authority governing Ord Mantell. Local political opponents viewed this as an overreach, leading them to establish the Mantellian Separatist Movement, which garnered significant public support.
In their attempts to force the Republic's departure from Ord Mantell, the separatists succeeded in destroying a Republic transport. This transport happened to be carrying a highly dangerous weapon: a ZR-57 orbital strike bomb. Before the Republic could react, the separatists seized the bomb and concealed it somewhere on the island of Avilatan. The Republic Military feared the bomb's potential use against the island, which would result in complete destruction, including Fort Garnik, the Mantellian Army's headquarters, and the focal point of loyalist operations on the planet. To retrieve the bomb, they deployed Havoc Squad, an experienced unit from the Republic Special Forces Division, under the leadership of Harron Tavus.
However, due to being undermanned, the high command assigned a new member to the elite unit, a sergeant. While en route to Ord Mantell to join his fellow commandos, his shuttle became entangled in a space battle. Despite the conflict, the ship managed to land safely at the Drelliad village spaceport, where Lieutenant Bex Kolos of Havoc Squad was awaiting his arrival. The two soldiers departed the village in a Manka-class armored transport towards Fort Garnik, and Kolos began to brief his new comrade on the situation. Their conversation was cut short when separatists launched an assault on Drelliad village, disabling the APC with armor-piercing missiles. Following Kolos' instructions, the sergeant took immediate action to eliminate the unexpected threat. Kolos and the sergeant then proceeded to Fort Garnik separately.