Timeline 12: The Great Hyperspace War constitutes the twelfth installment within a sequence of in-universe cinematic presentations, elaborating on the foundational narrative underpinning the Star Wars: The Old Republic video game. This cinematic piece is structured as a recorded entry within the Jedi Archives, as documented by Jedi Master Gnost-Dural.
Across the vast expanse of millennia, the most significant existential threat faced by the Galactic Republic was the savage incursion masterminded by the Sith Lord, Naga Sadow. This era marked the zenith of the original Sith Empire's influence, while the Republic remained woefully unprepared to confront a conflict of such immense proportions. Master Gnost-Dural revisits the Great Hyperspace War, pinpointing the contentious decision that resulted in the Sith's banishment and laid the groundwork for the Empire's retaliatory campaign against the Republic. Initially, the war favored the Sith, but Naga Sadow's apprentice harbored his own agenda: the betrayal of his master. Bereft of seasoned leadership, the Sith were forced into retreat to their own territory by the Republic's military forces. Subsequently, the Supreme Chancellor issued an order to locate and eliminate all Sith, aiming to prevent any future devastation.
BTC 1347 – When two hyperspace prospectors inadvertently stumbled upon the isolated planet of Korriban, they could not have foreseen the chain of events they were about to initiate. Over the preceding centuries, the Sith Empire had expanded in both size and power, with Korriban serving as its central core. The then-reigning Sith Lord, Marka Ragnos, had recently passed away, igniting a fierce power struggle between rivals Ludo Kressh and Naga Sadow. The arrival of the explorers represented the inaugural contact between the Republic and the Sith Empire, presenting an opportunity to resolve the power struggle. Seizing the chance, Naga Sadow mobilized the Sith for a preemptive assault on the Republic under his command. The ensuing series of battles brought the Republic to the brink of destruction, but Naga Sadow's schemes ultimately backfired, and the Republic drove the Sith back to Korriban. The Supreme Chancellor then commanded Republic forces to ensure the Sith's permanent removal… by completely eradicating their civilization—an action that would later return to haunt the Republic centuries into the future…