Recaps

Clone commander Slick sabotaged the Republic communications network at Christophsis and framed Dawn Star Planet Fleet A for an attack, prompting Republic Intelligence and Strategic Command to believe the fleet had arrived there. The chapter ended with the Chief of Staff ordering 19th Army Governor Sulama to respond to the apparent threat.

• Slick led his Clone squad to the communications tower, claiming they had orders to secure it and defend against the living dead.
• Slick tricked a Clone Trooper into installing a storage device, activating a Trojan horse that connected to the virus he had planted in the Clone Army command center.
• Slick shot the Clone Troopers, declared he had chosen to live rather than die for the Jedi Knights, and sent a false report claiming Dawn Star Planet Fleet A had arrived at Christophsis.
• The virus spread through the Republic army communications network and repeatedly sent requests for reinforcements based on the false fleet report.
• Sulama received the report and learned that Republic Intelligence had treated his earlier warning about Fleet A as confirmation that it was heading to Christophsis.
• The Chief of Staff blamed Sulama for letting the fleet slip away and demanded that he act against Dawn Star Planet.

Governor Sulama received orders to send his forces to Christophsis and support the battle there, but he and Admiral Magellan planned an offensive against Bespin and a strategy to divide Dawn Star Planet’s territory. The chapter ended with Sulama agreeing to proceed with Magellan’s plan to control the hyperspace route through Annaj Planet.

• Governor Sulama received a dispatch ordering his unit to respond to Dawn Star Planet’s fleet at Christophsis and support the battle there.
• Sulama asked Admiral Magellan how confidently they could attack Bespin, and Magellan requested eighty Hunter Class Battlecruisers for the offensive.
• Magellan proposed gaining support from the Ayrou and controlling the hyperspace route through Annaj Planet to divide Dawn Star Planet’s territory.
• Magellan told Sulama that Master Yah-Yah’s operations on Annaj Planet had made considerable progress.
• Sulama agreed to proceed with Magellan’s plan.

The Fourth Civilization prepared to defend Bespin as Admiral Magellan brought eighty Hunter Class Battlecruisers into the system and launched the Second Battle of Bespin. The chapter ended with Fourth Civilization forces massacring Bespin residents suspected of passing intelligence to the Republic.

• Igor Zavalov led five Kohl-class Battlecruisers and five Martha-class heavy cruisers to Bespin to organize its defense.
• Eighty Hunter Class Battlecruisers and twenty Aquitenes-class light cruisers arrived under Admiral Magellan, beginning the battle.
• Magellan identified the relocated Shefa City as a fortress city and ordered his fleet to attack.
• Selurite agents brought suspected informants to a Cloud City plaza and confirmed they had captured everyone who had contacted the Republic.
• A Fourth Civilization Army officer ordered Goliath Mechs and Selurite agents to kill the assembled people.

Matt Hona’s fleet attacked the Galactic Republic’s defenses at Planet Kaal while the Republic prepared a wider campaign against Dawn Star Planet. On Annaj Planet, Jedi Master Yah-Yah pressured the Ayrou Queen to resist Dawn Star Planet, warning that the Republic would otherwise act against the Ayrou.

• Matt Hona received orders from Qi Jian to take responsibility for Planet Kaal.
• Dawn Star Planet Fleet A emerged at Planet Kaal and attacked the Republic’s prepared defenses with railgun fire and fighters.
• Yah-Yah reported to the Ayrou Queen that Republic forces were assaulting Bespin Planet and preparing to threaten Dawn Star Planet Fleet B near Kinyen.
• The Ayrou Queen rejected Yah-Yah’s suggestion that her people confront Dawn Star Planet militarily.
• Yah-Yah warned the Ayrou Queen that the Republic would take action unless the Ayrou made their position clear.

After the Ayrou Queen’s speech sparked a violent riot on Annaj Planet, Yah-Yah lost faith in the Force and left to fight at Bespin Planet. Tang Xiao ordered Helmut Zemo to stabilize Annaj, and Elder Jacinda offered to send Selurite Special Operations Forces as the crisis threatened the Confederacy’s plans.

• The Ayrou Queen publicly accused Dawn Star Planet of dragging the Ayrou into war and urged her people to seize control of their fate.
• Angry Ayrou rioted across Annaj Planet, attacking human settlements, looting businesses, striking at spaceports, and seizing civilian ships.
• Yah-Yah told Master Windu that she would go to Bespin Planet and fight until she died, then destroyed her communicator.
• Tang Xiao ordered Helmut Zemo to keep Annaj Planet and its hyperspace route stable before the Confederacy defeated the Galactic Republic’s 19th Army.
• Elder Jacinda offered the Selurite Special Operations Forces to resolve the crisis, and Tang Xiao authorized her to act without seeking his approval.

The Galactic Republic attacked Bespin Cloud City and the unfinished Agonev-class Star Fortress, while Fourth Civilization forces fought to hold them back. The fortress survived a heavy torpedo strike, but the Republic’s bombing squadron was wiped out by a Martha-class heavy cruiser’s radiation missiles.

• A Republic squadron of twenty V-19 fighters and five Y-wing bombers flew through Bespin’s atmosphere toward the unfinished Agonev-class Star Fortress.
• The Republic fighters and bombers attacked the fortress, but dense defenses destroyed several fighters and three Y-wings before the remaining bombers launched their Proton Torpedoes.
• More than twenty Proton Torpedoes struck the Agonev-class Star Fortress and rippled its shields, while Wraith fighters engaged the V-19s and forced the Y-wings to retreat.
• A Martha-class heavy cruiser fired hundreds of radiation missiles, destroying at least a hundred Republic fighters, including the Y-wing squadron.
• At Bespin Cloud City’s command center, Igor Zavalov directed the defense as a Vaxian warned that the unfinished fortress, converted from Shefa City, could not withstand a shield breach.

The Fourth Civilization built a defensive line around Bespin Planet, centered on an Agonev-class star base, and prepared for the Galactic Republic’s 19th Army. The chapter ends as Admiral Magellan’s fleet pushes through the defenders’ fire and begins a brutal battle near Cloud City.

• Tang Xiao and the Fourth Civilization used Shefa City as the foundation for a new Agonev-class star base and recruited the Vaxian to build it.
• The Vaxian completed the star base in two months, while the Fourth Civilization added Gauss Fire Platforms, hangar platforms, and minefields around Bespin Planet.
• Igor Zavalov deployed the Fourth Civilization’s smaller warships beneath the star base’s protection against the Republic’s 19th Army.
• Admiral Magellan sent eighty Hunter Class Battlecruisers forward in an all-out assault he called the “Axe Tactic.”
• The Republic fleet lost five warships while forcing its way toward Cloud City, where it began a fierce battle with the Fourth Civilization’s defenders.

The Galactic Republic fleet gained the upper hand at Bespin, but Admiral Magellan realized the battle had gone suspiciously smoothly and ordered his ships to take a defensive formation. Igor Zavalov then revealed the hidden Javelin-class missile frigates in Cloud City and the other Floating Cities, which launched an attack on the Republic fleet.

• The Republic's Hunter Class Battlecruisers and fighter swarms overwhelmed the Fourth Civilization's carefully arranged defenses as the battle turned in the Republic's favor.
• Riots erupted across Annaj Planet, the Ayrou blocked reinforcements, and the Republic fleet attacking Planet Kaal failed to break through its defenses.
• Admiral Magellan grew uneasy about how smoothly the operation had unfolded and reviewed Dawn Star Planet's apparently cooperative actions.
• Magellan noticed there was no intelligence about the Floating Cities inside Bespin and ordered his ships to reduce their gunfire, strengthen their shields, and keep their distance from Cloud City.
• Igor Zavalov ordered the hidden Javelin-class missile frigates to sortie from Cloud City and the other Floating Cities, and they launched missiles at the Republic fleet.

Igor Zavalov’s concealed Javelin-class missile frigates inflicted heavy damage on the Republic fleet, but Admiral Magellan continued his assault on Bespin Planet. Reports then revealed that Dawn Star Planet’s Fleet A had left Planet Kaal and could reinforce Bespin, after the Ayrou riots were swiftly suppressed.

• Igor Zavalov launched five thousand Cross Gun Type I missiles from hidden Javelin-class missile frigates at the approaching Republic fleet.
• Admiral Magellan’s defensive preparations limited the strike, though two Hunter Class Battlecruisers were destroyed, twelve were heavily damaged, and many others were hit.
• Admiral Magellan ordered the Republic fleet to keep attacking Bespin Planet despite the losses.
• A messenger told Admiral Magellan that the Ayrou riots had ended, the hyperspace route had reopened, and Dawn Star Planet’s Fleet A could be heading to Bespin.
• On Annaj Planet, Selurite Special Operations Forces had beheaded the Ayrou Queen and other senior government leaders and captured more than a hundred officials.

Selurite forces seized control of Ayrou territory by killing Queen Winarta and other opponents, then compelled officials to form a provisional republic and end the riots. With Ayrou unrest extinguished and Fleet A returning to Annaj, Tang Xiao ordered a rapid campaign to raise the Fourth Civilization’s flag over Hoth within a month.

• Selurite soldiers forced Ayrou officials to suppress the riots, killing Grand Duke Liston and his family when officials feared his opposition.
• Ayrou officials declared Queen Winarta a traitor, announced a provisional republic, and displayed the executed leaders’ bodies in Annaj’s capital.
• Francis Underwood and Count Dooku publicly supported the new Ayrou government, while fifty Enforcer-class heavy destroyers deterred resistance.
• The engineered Ayrou unrest ended as Matt Hona’s Fleet A returned from Planet Kaal to Annaj, threatening the Galactic Republic 19th Army’s attack on Bespin from the rear.
• Tang Xiao told Helmut Zemo that Bespin and Christophsis needed decisive outcomes and demanded the Fourth Civilization capture Hoth’s capital within a month.

Anakin Skywalker and Rex discovered that communications between Christophsis and the Republic fleet had collapsed, while Obi-Wan Kenobi uncovered an infiltrated transmission falsely describing the fleet’s situation. Rex led a team to reclaim the occupied communications tower, where Slick’s clones opened fire on them.

• Rex reported that Republic communications had completely failed, and Anakin decided to head for the communications tower with Ahsoka Tano.
• Sefrans Tann attacked the Republic fleet from the north and south with support from Martha-class missile heavy cruisers, forcing Wullf Yularen to commit 5,000 fighters.
• Obi-Wan Kenobi discovered that an unauthorized message identifying the Separatist fleet as Dawn Star Planet Fleet A was being transmitted, but the communications officer could not stop it.
• Sergeant CI-3331 Slick prepared his clones to defend the central communications tower from an approaching Republic special forces unit.
• Rex led his team toward the tower, and Slick’s clones opened fire on them.

Anakin Skywalker discovered that Clone Troopers at the communications tower had mistaken his forces for enemies, while Slick manipulated the confusion and disrupted Republic communications. The Republic army’s command collapsed under false orders, droid assaults, and zombie attacks, and Anakin finally heard Obi-Wan Kenobi calling him.

• Anakin Skywalker and Rex halted their attack after realizing the defenders at the communications tower were Clone Troopers, and Anakin rushed over to investigate.
• Slick mistook Anakin for Ulu Ulix and ordered the tower defenders to hold their position, while Slick’s false communications orders sowed chaos across the Republic forces.
• A false order caused incendiary rounds to ignite a civilian shelter in White Light District as the droid army and zombie hordes broke through Republic positions.
• Volm Lotham led Kloiden militia into a gap in the Republic line, while isolated Republic units were overwhelmed and scattered.
• Anakin reached the communications tower and learned Slick had tricked the defenders, then found Clone Trooper corpses inside and heard Obi-Wan Kenobi call over the comm.

Anakin and Obi-Wan restored communications and learned that the Republic army had been scattered across Christophsis while the Separatists pressed their attack. Though Obi-Wan urged a retreat, Anakin decided to raid the enemy commander to buy time for the remaining forces to withdraw, and Ahsoka joined him.

• Anakin reconnected with Obi-Wan, who revealed that a Trojan had disrupted communications and sent false distress signals implicating Dawn Star Planet’s fleet.
• Anakin learned that fewer than two hundred thousand Republic and local troops remained, scattered into more than 170 isolated forces as the front collapsed.
• Ahsoka told Anakin that a Kloiden force pursuing her squad might lead them to the Separatist ground commander, Volm Lotham.
• Obi-Wan urged Anakin to retreat, warning that the Republic fleet was suffering catastrophic losses and that General Trench and Tann led the Separatist assault.
• Anakin kept his plan to raid the enemy commander and buy time for the retreat, and he agreed to let Ahsoka support him.

Admiral Magellan’s Republic fleet nearly destroyed the Agonev-class star base at Bespin, but learned that the mysterious fleet at Christophsis was not Dawn Star Planet’s Fleet B. As Magellan ordered a retreat, the damaged fortress delayed the fleet’s hyperspace departure and a large force approached.

• Admiral Magellan ordered the defenders on Planet Kaal to leave and threaten the Modell Sector while Fleet A was at Annaj Planet.
• A staff officer reported that the Separatist reinforcements at Christophsis were not Dawn Star Planet’s Fleet A or Fleet B, but had come from Hutt Space.
• Magellan ordered the Republic fleet to retreat from Bespin Planet, but learned it would take five hours to enter hyperspace because the Agonev-class star base was disrupting the fleet’s hyperdrives.
• The radar officer detected strong hyperspace fluctuations as a large fleet approached.

Lin Nanyi led Fleet B in a surprise attack on the retreating Republic 19th Army above Bespin, while Admiral Magellan ordered a desperate assault that destroyed the Agonev-class star base. The star base’s destruction rocked Cloud City, where Igor Zavalov collapsed in pain.

• Lin Nanyi commanded Fleet B’s sixty warships to attack the fleeing Republic fleet and prevent its escape.
• The Hiigaran-class battlecruisers destroyed two exhausted Aquitenes-class light cruisers as the Kohl-class battlecruisers prepared their Hypermatter Railguns.
• Lin Nanyi ordered the railguns to fire on Hunter Class Battlecruisers as they recovered fighters, destroying several ships and turning the battle against Admiral Magellan.
• Admiral Magellan learned that Dawn Star Planet Fleet A and the Planet Kaal garrison were heading toward Cerea, then ordered the Republic ships to make a final attack on the Agonev-class star base.
• After seven Hunter Class Battlecruisers were destroyed, Longbow and another Hunter Class rammed the star base, triggering a chain of explosions that devastated it and shook Cloud City.
• After the tremors subsided, Igor Zavalov clutched his chest in pain.

Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano captured Volm Lotham, but the Republic’s ground forces on Christophsis were defeated and the fleet was close to destruction. Anakin and the surviving ships escaped through hyperspace toward Tatooine, leaving Christophsis and many Republic forces behind.

• Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano escorted Volm Lotham aboard a shuttle after capturing him, then the clones locked him in a cell.
• Anakin ordered Ahsoka and the other pilots to launch as the Acclamator-class ships rose from Christophsis into the devastated space battle.
• Anakin and the Republic fighters fought the Vulture droids while Wullf Yularen warned that no more ships could escape the planet.
• Wullf Yularen told Anakin that General Kenobi had been seriously injured and that the fleet’s only escape route ran through Tatooine and Hutt Space.
• The Republic fleet left two damaged ships and over five hundred volunteer fighter pilots behind, then five Hunter Class warships and four Acclamator-class ships fled into hyperspace.

The Fourth Civilization destroyed the Republic’s 19th Army main fleet at Bespin and crippled its detachment near Cerea, while Republic authorities prepared to arrest several commanders. Tang Xiao then learned that the surviving Republic fleet had escaped through Tatooine despite his order to Gaddula to stop it.

• Sefrans Tann learned that General Wolm had been captured by Jedi and ordered an immediate attack, threatening his troops with execution unless they killed at least one hundred enemy soldiers each.
• Lin Nanyi’s Fleet B helped destroy the Republic fleet at Bespin, where Admiral Magellan rammed his flagship into an Agonev-class star base and all 607,000 crew members perished.
• Lin Nanyi ordered Garda Flak Frigates and Vulture droid fighters to eliminate a remaining squadron of Republic fighters that included a suspected Jedi.
• Matt Hona’s Fleet A defeated the Republic detachment near Cerea, destroying or capturing twelve Hunter Class Battlecruisers and opening the Planet Kaal defensive line.
• Governor Sulama set off for Coruscant to blame Christophsis for the defeat, while the Republic Supreme Strategic Command issued arrest warrants for Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Wullf Yularen.
• Tang Xiao learned that the Republic fleet had escaped through Tatooine and questioned why Gaddula had failed to block it.

Tang Xiao learned that Alok Besadi had agreed to Jabba and Gaddula’s marriage alliance, giving the Desilijic kajidic joint control of Tatooine and threatening Tang Xiao’s influence. He began plotting against the Hutts, then heard from Count Dooku about Separatist victories and a request for the Plague to help blockade the Hydian Way.

• Alok Besadi told Tang Xiao that Jabba would marry Gaddula and that the Besadi and Desilijic kajidics would jointly administer Tatooine.
• Tang Xiao concluded that Jabba’s proposal had secured Besadi support and that Alok intended to claim Titan Security and the Calamity Legion.
• Tang Xiao ordered Madam M to use hidden connections to turn Ziro Desilijic against Jabba and to make use of the ostracized Hutt Boorka.
• Count Dooku told Tang Xiao that the Separatists had destroyed a Republic battle group at Falrin Planet and praised Dawn Star Planet’s victory at Bespin.
• Count Dooku recognized Dawn Star Planet’s and the InterGalactic Banking Clan’s interests on Christophsis, then revealed that General Grievous was using the Malevolence along the Hydian Way.
• Count Dooku asked Tang Xiao to request that Lord Archangel of Death send the Plague to help blockade the Hydian Way and attack Kamino, and Tang Xiao agreed to convey the request.

Governor Tang celebrated the Confederacy of Independent Systems’ victories at a gala and enlisted Dryden Vos for a plan involving the Hutts. Meanwhile, the Republic’s battered 19th Army faced collapse, and Sulama stood trial for the defeat at Bespin, blaming the Christophsis command.

• Count Dooku celebrated the victories at Christophsis, Bespin, and Falrin Planet, praising Governor Tang, Passel Argente, and General Grievous.
• Dryden Vos approached Governor Tang, who invoked their shared connection to Hego Damask II and directed Vos to speak with Glosse-Shelbia about a matter concerning the Hutts.
• Sulama returned to Coruscant, resigned as governor of the 19th Army, and agreed to stand trial before the Supreme Military Court.
• Fourth Civilization fleets advanced toward Gerrenthum Planet and Planet Kaal as the Republic lacked mobile fleets to reinforce the 19th Army.
• At trial, Sulama blamed false intelligence from Christophsis for his attack on Bespin and accused the Christophsis commander, facing Wullf Yularen, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano.

After the Christophsis defeat, Anakin Skywalker visited the newly awakened Padmé Amidala and his mother on Naboo. Meanwhile, the Republic’s retreating forces encountered a massive Separatist warship near Phu Planet, but electronic jamming blocked their distress signal.

• Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano accepted responsibility for the Christophsis defeat before the military tribunal postponed its verdict and sent them back to the Jedi Temple.
• Sheev Palpatine told Anakin that Padmé Amidala had awakened and urged him to protect her, restoring Anakin’s resolve.
• Anakin rushed to Naboo, reunited with Padmé, and learned she had been awake for four days.
• Anakin visited his mother Shmi Skywalker, whose caretaker Rock Johnson said she was physically healthy but had limited intellectual capacity.
• A Republic fleet led by Jedi Master Ares Nune encountered a gigantic Separatist warship near Phu Planet, but jamming prevented it from sending a distress signal.

Ares Nune faced the Malevolence and tried to warn the Republic before its EMP disabled the fleet and General Grievous destroyed the battlecruisers. A day later, Plo Koon found Ares Nune’s body and recovered a data recorder that might contain evidence of the Separatist superweapon.

• Ares Nune judged the Republic’s inexperienced fighter force unable to threaten the Malevolence and ordered battlefield recorders to preserve information about the enemy ship.
• Ares Nune launched in his Delta-7 fighter, but the Malevolence released an EMP that disabled the Republic fleet and left his fighter drifting without power.
• General Grievous ordered the Malevolence forward, and its turbolasers destroyed the powerless Hunter Class Battlecruisers.
• Ares Nune recorded that the enemy weapon was an EMP, then entered a deep meditative state as his fighter’s life support failed.
• Plo Koon arrived in the Puy Star System a day later and found Ares Nune’s body in the wreckage.
• Plo Koon recovered a data recorder from Ares Nune’s robes.

The Jedi Council reviewed the defeats at Christophsis and Bespin, while Plo Koon revealed that the mysterious weapon attacking the Hedia hyperspace lane was a massive warship. Tang Xiao received updates on Separatist advances and plans, including efforts to control the Indjori, as the war continued to escalate.

• Mace Windu reported that Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano had been barred from military operations and ordered to reflect at the Jedi Temple, while Anakin departed for Naboo to protect Padmé Amidala.
• Yoda announced that he would travel to Toydaria to persuade it to join the Republic, and Plo Koon revealed that Master Ares Nune's fleet had been destroyed while leaving evidence of a massive warship along the Hedia hyperspace lane.
• Daphne Clement briefed Tang Xiao on Separatist campaigns, new funding and production deals, and the Republic's defenses slowing Fleet B's advance toward Nothoiin.
• Clement reported that Chief Engineer Rory Swann had beaten an InterGalactic Banking Clan representative, and Tang Xiao questioned why Swann had repeatedly assaulted people.
• Tang Xiao ordered a propaganda response to accusations over the Indjori Vengeance, and Clement reported that Shen Yuanhao had used addictive cigars to bring at least twenty Indjori tribes under his control.

Tang Xiao oversaw the Rebirth Plan and revived Lieutenant Li Yifei, one of the pilots killed at Bespin. After fixing Li Yifei’s memory rejection, Tang Xiao sent him to recover his battle memories and ordered him to keep the program secret.

• Tang Xiao ordered the Gran to fund and staff the army’s rearmament, while Daphne Clement agreed to manage the Ayrou situation.
• Tang Xiao reviewed the awakened personnel roster and selected someone for awakening.
• Lieutenant Li Yifei emerged from a medical pod and learned that he had died during the Battle of Bespin.
• Li Yifei suffered memory rejection, but Tang Xiao used the Force to stabilize him.
• Tang Xiao directed Li Yifei to receive his battle memories, return to his family, and keep the Rebirth Plan classified.
• The Mainframe told Tang Xiao that the newly awakened person had completed a physical examination and was waiting in his office.

Li Yifei returned home after the Rebirth Plan and spent his three days of leave with his wife, Juan'er, before reporting back to the front. Meanwhile, Tang Xiao received word that Gabriel Tosh had completed his assignment.

• Li Yifei woke from the rebirth procedure, traveled home to Silver Ash City, and reunited with his wife, Juan'er.
• Li Yifei told Juan'er about the Battle of Bespin and reassured her that he would keep fighting the Galactic Republic despite her plea for him to transfer away from the front lines.
• After Li Yifei's leave ended, Juan'er pinned his Nebula Medal to his uniform, and he departed in a military car as news reported Admiral Igor Zavalov's death and Admiral Sefrans Tann's attack at Hoth Planet.
• Gabriel Tosh told Tang Xiao that he had finished his assignment and offered to pose Sulama's corpse for inspection.

Tang Xiao hired Gabriel Tosh to capture Hoth Planet, while Sefrans Tann led the Fourth Civilization’s fleet to seize the Republic 19th Army headquarters. After Sulama was killed and the planet’s defenses were isolated, Tann began bombarding Hoth’s planetary shield.

• Tang Xiao offered Gabriel Tosh five million credits to capture Hoth Planet and required him to remain reachable.
• Sefrans Tann took five Kohl-class Battlecruisers and five Sova-class Carriers through hyperspace sub-routes to Hoth Planet.
• Sulama activated Hoth’s planetary shield and orbital defenses, but he was killed inside the Governor’s Mansion.
• With Sulama dead, the 19th Army lost command and its frontline troops received no orders for a day.
• Sefrans Tann’s fleet captured Hoth Planet’s seven spaceports on the night of August 17, cutting off the planet’s external connections.
• The next morning, Tann’s ten warships began bombarding Hoth’s planetary shield with high-yield nuclear bombs.