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- "So much for the Jedi escort!"
- ―General Grievous
The Battle of the Ryndellia system was a battle that took place in 22 BBY during the Clone Wars in the Ryndellia system. Prior to the battle, a Galactic Republic medical convoy of three Pelta-class frigates escorted by a lone Venator-class Star Destroyer, commanded by clone troopers and a Jedi, passed through the Ryndellia system. While traveling through the star system, the convoy was ambushed by the Separatist Subjugator-class heavy cruiser Malevolence, under the command of the Kaleesh General Grievous.
As a result, the warship managed to eliminate the entire convoy with its extensive weapons array, while it disabled the final fleeing frigate with its ion cannon. Following the attack in the Ryndellia system, on orders from Separatist leader Count Dooku, the Malevolence headed to attack and destroy the Republic's secret Outer Rim medical center that had been treating over 60,000 wounded clone troopers.
Prelude[]
- "Now the Republic will learn of our ion cannon!"
"Your failure is most unfortunate. I will have to discuss this with my Master." - ―Grievous and Dooku, after the former fails to stop a Republic ship from fleeing
Under the command of General Grievous, the Malevolence launched a series of attacks against the Galactic Republic throughout over a dozen star systems.
During the opening year of the Clone Wars, in 22 BBY,[5] the Confederacy of Independent Systems had constructed the Subjugator-class heavy cruiser Malevolence, a starship capable of disabling all power to fleets of capital ships with its mega-ion cannons. Following its construction, the Confederacy's naval forces deployed the Malevolence against the Galactic Republic and its navy in over a dozen star systems, in attacks that left no survivors to report what they had encountered. Due to its method of attacking, which had been unknown to the Republic, the Malevolence was dubbed a mystery weapon.[1]
Following the destruction of a Republic task force in the Phu system,[7] Jedi General Plo Koon managed to track the Malevolence to the Abregado system, where he and his fleet were ordered by the Jedi High Council to destroy the mystery weapon before it could conduct more strikes against their fleets. Commanded by the Kaleesh Separatist General Grievous, who was overseen by the Head of State, Count Dooku, Koon's entire fleet had been destroyed just as the other Republic fleets before it, although the Jedi Master managed to escape the destruction and eventually the Malevolence with the help 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,[1] 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.[3]
The battle[]
The Republic medical convoy is destroyed by the Malevolence.
As a Republic medical convoy of three Pelta-class frigates escorted by a lone Venator-class Star Destroyer under protection from Jedi forces traveled through the Ryndellia system, the Republic warships were intercepted by the Malevolence and its droid crew under Grievous's command near Ryndellia. Under ambush by the Malevolence, the power systems of the Star Destroyer and two of the frigates were rendered inoperable by the heavy cruiser following its utilization of its mega-ion cannon, which allowed its crew of B1-series battle droids to commence turbolaser fire upon the deactivated warships. However, despite their destruction, the convoy's remaining frigate began to make its attempted withdrawal from the system as its clone trooper pilots began to activate its hyperdrive systems.[3]
In an effort to prevent the final frigate's withdrawal, following the Kaleesh's notice of its retreat, the Separatist general ordered the Malevolence's bridge crew to fire the heavy cruiser's ion cannons and thereby disable the frigate's ability to escape into hyperspace. As a result, Grievous prompted his droids to unleash a barrage from the Malevolence's turbolasers and destroy the frigate. While the frigate sustained fire from the heavy cruiser, one of Grievous's battle droids expressed his lack of accuracy in striking the frigate, resulting in his destruction in response to the general's frustration.[3]
The Malevolence targets the fleeing frigate.
Observed by Dooku through a holographic transmission, who explained the expensive costs of B1-series battle droids in response to the general's destruction of one of his droids, the Sith Lord expressed the Jedi's treatment of their clone troopers to the Kaleesh. In response, Grievous stated that the compassionate treatment for the clone army by the Jedi was a weakness they were to exploit. As a result, the Separatist leader provided Grievous with instructions on the Malevolence's subsequent target as the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center, the Republic's secret medical station located within the Outer Rim Territories which had been tending to over 60,000 wounded clone troopers. In hopes of transferring the war effort in their favor, Dooku ordered the Kaleesh to destroy the station in order to prevent further attendance to the Republic's wounded soldiers. 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.[3]
Aftermath[]
Shadow Squadron intercepts the Malevolence at the Kaliida Nebula.
Following in accordance with Dooku's instructions, the Malevolence entered hyperspace and proceeded to make its way for the targeted medical center. However, while on their way to the Kaliida Shoals Medical Center, General Anakin Skywalker received intelligence from Admiral Wullf Yularen regarding the ambush of the Republic medical convoy near Ryndellia, which prompted the Jedi's deduction of the medical center as the subsequent target for the Malevolence. In response, Skywalker organized a counterattack against the Separatist heavy cruiser, with the intention of intercepting the warship before it could conduct its assault and potentially destroy it along with Grievous to further the war effort.[3]
As a result, 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. In their efforts, the Republic starfighter squadron was able to inflict heavy damage upon the Malevolence and disable functionality to its mega-ion cannons, leading to its withdrawal[3] and eventual destruction.[4]
Behind the scenes[]
The Battle of the Ryndellia system was introduced in "Shadow of Malevolence,"[3] the third episode of the first season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, which aired on October 18, 2008.[8] It was later identified in the forty-third issue of De Agostini's Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon magazine,[9] published around October 28, 2015.[10]
Appearances[]
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Shadow of Malevolence" (First appearance)- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Landing at Point Rain" (In flashback(s))
Sources[]
- "Shadow of Malevolence" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 43 (Starship Fact File: Heavy Cruiser Malevolence) (First identified as Battle of the Ryndellia system)
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Rising Malevolence"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Supply Lines"
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Shadow of Malevolence"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Destroy Malevolence"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star Wars: Galactic Atlas places the early events of the Battle of Ryloth and the mission to Rodia to 22 BBY. As the episode this event takes place within takes place between the events of the pieces of media the other events are attached to according to Star Wars: The Clone Wars Chronological Episode Order on StarWars.com (backup link), this event must also take place in 22 BBY.
- ↑ "Shadow of Malevolence" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 43 (Starship Fact File: Heavy Cruiser Malevolence)
- ↑ "Shadow of Malevolence" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 43 (Starship Fact File: Heavy Cruiser Malevolence)
- ↑ The second issue of the De Agostini weekly magazine Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon was set to be published on January 14, 2015, according to De Agostini Publishing: Build the Millennium Falcon Magazine & Model by Chris Wyman on TheForce.net (January 8, 2015) (archived from the original on November 6, 2016). Therefore, Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 43 was published around October 28, 2015.