Mission to Grievous's castle
Kit Fisto, a Jedi Master, accompanied by Jedi Knight Nahdar Vebb, and a clone trooper squad, embarked on a mission during the Clone Wars in 22 BBY. Their objective was to recapture Nute Gunray, the Trade Federation Viceroy, who had recently escaped from Republic imprisonment. However, Count Dooku, the Confederate Head of State, dissatisfied with General Grievous's performance, orchestrated a trap. Using a Republic homing beacon, he lured the Jedi and clones to Grievous's castle on the third moon of Vassek to test the general's abilities. Gunray deceived the Jedi and troopers via a holotransmission. Once the deception was revealed, Dooku contacted the Republic agents, redirecting them to pursue Grievous as an "alternative prize."
The Jedi and their troops laid in wait for Grievous, engaging the cyborg general upon his arrival. Grievous, however, managed to eliminate several clone troopers before retreating to the castle's secret command center due to sustained injuries. The Confederate general sealed the exits, trapping the Jedi and clones within. While his caretaker droid repaired Grievous, the general subjected the Jedi and remaining clones to the castle's defenses: a molten incinerator pit and his pet roggwart, Gor. The clones perished, but the Jedi triumphed over Gor. As Grievous prepared to confront the Jedi personally, Fisto and Vebb infiltrated the castle's command center. Vebb, remaining outside, engaged Grievous in combat but was killed by the general. Fisto dueled Grievous on the castle's exterior platform before successfully escaping.
Prelude
During the Clone Wars era in 22 BBY, Nute Gunray, the Trade Federation Viceroy previously captured by Republic forces on Rodia, was slated for transfer to Coruscant aboard the Star Destroyer named Tranquility for his trial. Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and Padawan Ahsoka Tano maintained a strong guard over the viceroy. However, Asajj Ventress, a Dark Acolyte, and Captain Faro Argyus, a turncoat Senate Commando, facilitated Gunray's escape. The Confederate agents absconded with a Republic frigate, utilizing the ship's homing beacon to enable the Republic to track the stolen cruiser. Kit Fisto, a Jedi General whose fleet was in proximity to Gunray's last known location, was contacted by Unduli to pursue and recapture Gunray.
Concurrently, Count Dooku, the Confederate Head of State, grew dissatisfied with the protracted stalemate between his premier general, Grievous, and the Republic alongside the Jedi Order. Grievous had suffered setbacks in recent operations, leading to Confederate defeats in the Battle of the Kaliida Nebula and the Battle of Bothawui, in addition to the loss of Skytop Station, a listening post. Darth Sidious, Dooku's Sith Master, pressed for more dead Jedi. Consequently, Dooku devised a trap for Grievous to re-evaluate the cyborg's capabilities. The Sith Lord remotely deactivated the general's IG-100 MagnaGuard bodyguards at his castle located on the third moon of Vassek. He then deployed the Republic tracking beacon from Gunray's stolen ship to Grievous's lair, intending to lure Jedi to the castle for Grievous to hunt as a test.
The mission
Bait for the Jedi
Equipped with his Delta-7B starfighter and R6-H5, his astromech droid, Fisto tracked the Republic beacon's signal to the Vassek system, deep within Confederate-controlled space. The Jedi Master contacted Unduli and Tano at the Outer Rim Command Center, who informed him that Nahdar Vebb, Fisto's former Padawan, had also traced the beacon to the system. Vebb had already landed on Vassek's third moon, the beacon's location, aboard a shuttle with several clone troopers. Fisto detached his starfighter from its hyperspace docking ring and proceeded to the moon to meet with Vebb.
Upon landing, Fisto linked up with Vebb. Clone Commander Fil had pinpointed the beacon's source to the gorge's south end. Leaving troopers Bel and Niner to guard the shuttle, the team advanced towards the castle. While Vebb and Fil intended to breach the entrance with lightsabers and thermal detonators, Fisto discovered a hidden switch that opened the castle door. Approaching the castle's sanctum overlook chamber, the Jedi and clones overheard a hologram of Gunray issuing commands to a squad of B1-Series battle droids, led by a Lieutenant, from behind a high-backed chair. Mistaking the hologram for the real Gunray, Fisto and Vebb led an assault on the droids, eliminating them. However, upon Vebb using the Force to turn the chair, they discovered Gunray's hologram. The viceroy taunted them before disconnecting.
Count Dooku then contacted the Jedi, offering Grievous as an "alternative prize" for their failed Gunray capture. Uncertain of their quarry's identity, Vebb activated a mechanism on the chair, revealing another hallway. As the Jedi and clones advanced, rooms opened, revealing statues of Kaleesh warriors, some with cybernetics, resembling Grievous. The group entered Grievous's secret armory and workshop, deducing the castle's owner. While inspecting Grievous's trophy room, filled with trophies from murdered Jedi, Fisto received a report from Bel and Niner that Grievous's personal starfighter, Soulless One, was approaching. Fisto ordered the guarding clones to remain hidden, while the Republic infiltrators decided to capture Grievous to fulfill the "dead or alive" warrant.
Capturing a cyborg
As Grievous entered his castle, the Jedi and clones ambushed him. Grievous activated two stolen Jedi lightsabers, engaging Fisto and Vebb in combat. During a saberlock, Grievous split his arms, activating two more lightsabers. The Jedi disengaged to avoid the extra weapons, and Fisto ordered the clones to fire their blaster rifles' cables at Grievous. The clones targeted the general's legs, and as Grievous engaged the Jedi in another saberlock, Fisto severed the cyborg's legs.
Despite being crippled, Grievous leaped onto a roof beam. The clones' grappling hooks remained attached, and the troops pulled Grievous down. As Vebb crossed blades with the cyborg, one of Grievous's lightsabers spun away. Grievous jumped up, throwing one clone backward and pulling another towards him. He batted the dead clone against Fisto, forcing him back, before throwing the trooper onto Vebb. Grievous's faceplate was damaged by a laser shot. As the general escaped, Vebb and several troopers pursued. Grievous killed two more clones before entering the castle's secret command center. Only Fil and another trooper remained alive.
The Confederate general learned from EV-A4-D, his caretaker droid, that his IG-100 MagnaGuards were deactivated for recharge. Grievous reactivated his droid bodyguards and ordered a perimeter lockdown. As Fisto, Vebb, and the clones attempted to escape, the general sealed the exits, trapping them. Commander Fil contacted Niner and Bel at the shuttle, ordering them to signal the Republic outpost at Bestine for reinforcements. However, Grievous's MagnaGuards destroyed the shuttle with a rocket. The droids closed in on R6-H5 and Fisto's fighter. The astromech droid escaped with the starfighter, dislodging a clinging MagnaGuard.
Hunted
Grievous opened a hololink, taunting the Jedi and clones before disconnecting. He then activated a molten incinerator pit. Fisto and Vebb jumped to safety, but two clones fell in. Fil used a grappling hook to the ceiling, and the Jedi rescued him, but the other trooper perished. Fisto destroyed a holocam Grievous used to watch them. The Confederate general then signaled his pet roggwart, Gor, to "entertain their guests." EV-A4-D began repairing Grievous's injuries.
As the Jedi and the clone trooper gathered in a hallway junction, Gor appeared. Fil opened fire, but Fisto's lightsaber was knocked away. Gor lunged, and the three split up. Fil directed blaster fire at Gor's neck. Vebb jumped onto Gor, plunging his lightsaber into its back until thrown off. The roggwart seized Fil with its tail, batting Vebb. Fisto slashed Gor's head. Fil was slammed against the ground before Vebb severed Gor's tail. Fisto cut off Gor's arms, then killed it by stabbing its neck. Vebb, shaken by Fil's death, followed Fisto to the command center.
A repaired Grievous, angered by Gor's death, learned from Count Dooku that the trap was a test. Resolving to eliminate the Jedi, Grievous left the command center with three MagnaGuards, despite EV-A4-D's warnings. As Grievous departed, Fisto and Vebb approached the command center's entrance. Fisto tried to find the opening mechanism, but EV-A4-D alerted Grievous. As the general turned to confront them, Vebb decided to fight Grievous himself, against Fisto's protests. EV-A4-D remotely closed the door, separating Fisto from Vebb.
Vebb quickly eliminated the three MagnaGuards, but Grievous arrived with two more. After eliminating the remaining MagnaGuards, Vebb engaged Grievous in lightsaber combat. EV-A4-D watched from the command center until Fisto entered and destroyed the droid. Unable to aid Vebb, Fisto watched as Vebb and Grievous engaged in a saberlock. The general used an extra arm to kill Vebb with a blaster, taking his lightsaber. R6-H5 contacted Fisto, who told him to meet him at the castle's south landing platform. Knowing Fisto was watching, Grievous declared him his next target. Fisto damaged the command center's controls before escaping.
Duel outside the castle
Fisto exited the castle onto the outer platform. Grievous climbed onto the platform from below. As they activated their lightsabers, Fisto saberlocked with the cyborg general. Using the moon's foggy atmosphere, Fisto deactivated his lightsaber and vanished into the mist. Grievous spun his lightsabers defensively. Fisto attacked from behind. They bladelocked again, and Grievous pushed Fisto back, slashing at him. Fisto avoided the blow and severed the hand holding Vebb's lightsaber. Catching his former Padawan's weapon, Fisto used both lightsabers in combat against Grievous.
Fisto landed a blow and Force-pushed Grievous down. As the cyborg rose, three MagnaGuards appeared, forcing Fisto to disengage and confront them. Surrounded and outnumbered, Grievous ordered Fisto to surrender. However, as Fisto deactivated his lightsabers, R6-H5 piloted Fisto's fighter to the platform. The MagnaGuards slashed at Fisto, but he backflipped onto his fighter and escaped the moon of Vassek.
Aftermath
Upon his return to his castle, Grievous proceeded to the sanctum overlook chamber, where Count Dooku awaited a report. Grievous claimed victory over the Jedi. Dooku, revealing that Vebb's and the clones' defeat was expected, was pleased, believing Grievous had bested Fisto. However, Dooku was disappointed by Fisto's escape and stated there was "room for improvement" before disconnecting. Fisto returned to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and reported to Masters Yoda and Mace Windu of the Jedi High Council. Yoda, upon learning of Vebb's deviation from the Jedi way in attempting to overpower Grievous, warned that the war risked "losing who they were."
Behind the scenes
The mission first appeared in "Lair of Grievous," a first season episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars that aired on December 12, 2008. There is disagreement over whether the mission occurred on Vassek's third moon or Vassek itself. The Visual Guide and Visual Guide Ultimate Battles state it was on Vassek, while the online guide for "Lair of Grievous" states it was on the third moon. This article assumes the mission was to Vassek's third moon due to the online guide's closer ties to the episode.
Different portrayals
The non-canon computer game Path of the Jedi, released on Cartoon Network's official site, presents an alternate storyline where Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, or Yoda is sent to aid Fisto.
The Nintendo DS version of the 2009 video game Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes offers a different portrayal. Nahdar Vebb is absent. Instead, Kit Fisto is assisted by Clone Captain CT-7567—"Rex"—and two clone troopers. While the troopers remain outside, Fisto and Rex infiltrate Grievous's castle. After navigating mazes and fighting B1 battle droids and B2 super battle droids, they confront Grievous. After a brief duel, Grievous retreats. Rex tells the troopers to contact the Republic fleet at Bestine for reinforcements, but their Nu-class attack shuttle is destroyed by a Vulture droid. Fisto and Rex continue their pursuit but split up. Fisto defeats an IG-100 MagnaGuard and faces Grievous again.
After a lengthy battle, Fisto escapes aboard his interceptor. Grievous leaves the base but increases security. Later, the Republic needs Confederate clearance codes to bypass the defenses of Juma 9, a Separatist-controlled space station. Fisto recalls his starfighter's scanners picking up energy readings inside the castle during the mission to Vassek, suggesting a Separatist archive containing the codes. Jedi Master Luminara Unduli and Clone Commander CC-1004 are dispatch to retrieve them. This article assumes the video game's mission is non-canon due to the confusing storyline.
The 2011 non-canonical video game LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars features the mission in its humorous depiction of "Lair of Grievous." Fisto and Vebb engage Grievous's forces—MagnaGuards—before fighting Grievous himself.