In the year 1 BBY, forces aligned with the Alliance to Restore the Republic launched a raid on the planet of Cato Neimoidia. Although its members were dedicated to restoring the Galactic Republic, the nascent Alliance was not considered a significant threat to the superior military forces of the Galactic Empire. Consequently, the Alliance adopted guerrilla tactics, relying on surprise attacks against vulnerable Imperials followed by swift retreats before reinforcements could arrive.
Shortly after the commissioning of the Salvation as the flagship of the Rebel fleet, Captain Juno Eclipse, formerly of the Imperial ranks, was assigned as its commanding officer. To evaluate the readiness of the new starship and its crew, Captain Eclipse directed the vessel towards Cato Neimoidia, a former Separatist world under Imperial occupation since the end of the Clone Wars. Unbeknownst to all but Eclipse, Jedi General Rahm Kota and his squad secretly shadowed the flagship aboard the Rogue Shadow, Marek's former vessel, equipped with a unique cloaking device for covert operations.
However, the raid deviated sharply from its intended course, resulting in a strategic setback for the Rebellion. Alliance Intelligence significantly underestimated the Imperial naval strength defending Cato Neimoidia. Kota, disregarding the anomaly, proceeded to land the Rogue Shadow on the planet's surface. Dissatisfied with the Alliance leadership's cautious approach to war, Kota decided to assassinate Baron [Merillion Tarko](/article/merillion_tarko], the oppressive governor of Cato Neimoidia, aiming to weaken the Empire's image of invincibility. Ignoring Eclipse's recommendation for a tactical withdrawal, a massive explosion near Tarko-se caused the Rogue Shadow to vanish from the Salvation's sensors. Believing Kota and his squad had perished with Marek's starship, Eclipse ordered an immediate retreat into hyperspace, directing the ship to rendezvous with the Rebel fleet near the Itani Nebula.
With the outbreak of the Galactic Civil War following the formation of the Rebel Alliance, the Galactic Empire moved swiftly to crush what it saw as a new challenge to its dominance across the galaxy. Inspired by the Alliance's founder, the redeemed Sith assassin Galen Marek, Juno Eclipse dedicated herself to the organization's primary aim: the restoration of democracy and the Old Republic. Formerly an Imperial Navy captain and accomplished pilot, Eclipse was devastated by Marek's death and sought to ensure his legacy lived on.
Driven by her devotion to Marek's memory, Eclipse formed a bond with General Rahm Kota, Marek's unofficial Jedi mentor. As Kota grew increasingly disillusioned with the Alliance leadership's ineffective strategies, Eclipse permitted him to secretly accompany her on various missions, allowing the Jedi to undertake unauthorized operations. Despite the clear breach of protocol, Eclipse's intention was solely to prevent Kota from abandoning the Alliance due to his frustration with its leaders.
After being appointed captain of the Rebel flagship, the Salvation, Juno Eclipse received orders to conduct a test to assess the readiness of the new starship and its inexperienced crew under combat conditions. However, she was also instructed to prevent any damage to the Salvation. Given the Alliance's limited access to starships, Eclipse's vessel was considered a vital asset to the struggling Rebel fleet. If the Imperial military presence on Cato Neimoidia proved more formidable than anticipated, Eclipse was required to withdraw from the engagement.
Simultaneously, General Kota planned to exploit Eclipse's mission for his own purposes: the assassination of Baron [Merillion Tarko](/article/merillion_tarko], the corrupt governor of Cato Neimoidia. Accompanied by a specially trained squad, Kota piloted the Rogue Shadow, covertly following Eclipse's ship. Because Kota's objective lacked authorization from Alliance leaders, only Eclipse was aware of the Jedi's clandestine presence. She even had to deceive her first officer, Nitram, who had astutely observed that the Salvation was being trailed by Kota in an unidentified vessel.
Upon reaching their destination, Captain Eclipse adhered strictly to her orders, immediately initiating a test of Cato Neimoidia's defenses by deploying a squadron of BTL Y-wing starfighters to engage a small contingent of Imperial TIE fighters. While General Kota pursued his objectives on the planet's surface, Eclipse concealed the Jedi's actions by attributing them to a local uprising, keeping her crew unaware of Kota's involvement in the raid.
However, it soon became clear that Alliance Intelligence had underestimated the strength of the planet's Imperial defenses, as more TIE fighters began to overwhelm the Rebel squadron. Outnumbered and caught off guard due to faulty intelligence, Eclipse felt pressure to consider a rapid retreat from the battle, particularly to safeguard her starship. But when she attempted to warn Kota to withdraw as well, the Jedi General dismissed her concerns about the Imperials' superior numbers and continued his assault on Tarko-se.
Before she could further attempt to persuade Kota to execute a tactical withdrawal, an explosion near the city caused the Rogue Shadow to disappear from her ship's sensors. Eclipse instantly feared the worst, and when Marek's former starship failed to reappear on her radar, she concluded that it had likely been destroyed—along with Rahm Kota and his men. After silently bidding farewell to the aged Jedi, Eclipse commanded the bridge crew to jump the Salvation into hyperspace, ending their attack and retreating to the Rebel fleet's secret location near the Itani Nebula.
As a consequence of the failed raid and Rahm Kota's unauthorized involvement in the mission, Captain Eclipse was temporarily suspended from her command. Although she considered leaving the stagnant Alliance, a decision that also caused her distress at the thought of betraying Galen Marek's legacy, Eclipse ultimately resolved to serve the Rebellion in a manner similar to Kota's: advancing the Alliance's interests with or without the approval of its leaders.
Consequently, she embarked on a mission with Bail Prestor Organa and his adopted daughter, Leia Organa, to the oppressed world of Dac. Given the Alliance's critical need for more personnel and advanced ships, the three Rebels hoped to persuade two of Dac's native species, the Mon Calamari and the Quarren. The mission not only achieved its objectives but also resulted in the recruitment of Admiral Ackbar into the Rebel fleet, as well as a significant embarrassment for the Empire.
Contrary to Eclipse's belief, Rahm Kota and the Rogue Shadow survived the Imperial assault. However, with his squad dead and the Salvation in retreat, Kota was unable to avoid capture. For his own amusement, Baron Tarko had the captured Jedi thrown into his city's arena. However, the Baron underestimated Kota's resilience and his command of the Force. Utilizing his skills with a lightsaber, the general battled wave after wave of gladiators and beasts. Despite his injuries and exhaustion, the aging Jedi continued to fight and prevail against all his adversaries for days, much to Tarko's frustration.
When news of Kota's capture on Cato Neimoidia reached the attention of the Sith Lord Darth Vader, he journeyed to the Cloning Facility in Timira City on Kamino, where he had spent the previous six months unsuccessfully attempting to create a more powerful and obedient version of his late apprentice, Galen Marek. Following a series of failures and disappointments, Vader was training a highly stable clone of Galen Marek. The clone's development, however, was hindered by the imprinted memories and emotions he inherited from his genetic donor—a side effect that caused all the clones to experience identity crises, ultimately leading to utter madness.
Although Darth Vader initially intended to dispatch the clone to Cato Neimoidia to eliminate General Kota, he was compelled to deem him yet another disappointing failure. Anticipating his creator's intention to eliminate him, the clone turned against Vader and ultimately escaped from Kamino. Having developed the same feelings for Juno Eclipse that Marek had before his death, the clone resolved to rescue Kota from Cato Neimoidia, but only to ascertain Eclipse's location.