Mission to Cato Neimoidia(Kenobi and Skywalker)

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Mission to Cato Neimoidia (Kenobi and Skywalker)

Early in theClone Wars,Jedi MasterObi-Wan Kenobi of theJedi High Council was sent on amission to Cato Neimoidia to find the cause of theCadesura disaster on theplanetCato Neimoidia in theColonies region ofthe galaxy. Joined byhis formerPadawanAnakin Skywalker, who had recently become aJedi Knight and disobeyed orders by arriving on planet to help Kenobi, the two Jedi became involved in a dangerous incident, which nearlycost Kenobi his life. During the mission, Kenobi first metDark AcolyteAsajj Ventress, theSith apprentice ofConfederacy of Independent Systems leaderCountDooku. Skywalker considered it one of manytimes he saved his former mentor, yet Kenobi disagreed.

Prelude[]

In22 BBY,^[5] thepolitical crisis ongoing in theGalactic Republic over thousands ofstar systems attempting to secede and form theConfederacy of Independent Systems erupted into full-scale war at theFirst Battle of Geonosis, beginning theClone Wars. AlthoughViceroyNute Gunray, leader of theTrade Federation, was a member of theExecutive Separatist Council,^[6] the Federation officially claimed neutrality in the conflict, stating that Gunray was an extremist who no longer represented its views.^[7] As a result, theColonies^[8]planetCato Neimoidia, where the corporation's headquarters were located,^[9] was also considered neutral.^[1]

A fewweeks after the beginning of the war, abombing occurred inZarra, Cato Neimoidia'scapitalcity, which resulted in significant damage anddeaths. With the planet's neutrality threatened, the Republic and Confederacy both sent emissaries to investigate the incident. The Republic was represented byJedi MasterObi-Wan Kenobi, whileCountDooku,^[1] the fallenJedi turnedSith Lord who publicly led the Separatists,^[6] senthisapprentice, theassassinAsajj Ventress.^[1]

The mission[]

Arriving on Cato Neimoidia, Kenobi was met byMinisterAlluv Eyam. He also met Ventress, who made a show out of inspecting him for recording devices and took an interest in an elaborately-platedscanning device Kenobi had received as a gift from a friend. Claiming she had never met a Jedi before, Ventress stated that Dooku had spoken highly of theJedi Order. While Kenobi's belongings were delivered to his assigned quarters, the Neimoidians took him and Ventress on a brief tour of Zarra.^[1]

During the tour, Kenobi attempted to suss out Ventress' personality and motivations by questioning her, although she deflected them. Kenobi was, however, intrigued by a slip of thetongue theDark Acolyte made where she referred to Dooku as "Master", wondering if it referred to the Separatist hierarchy or something more. After the tour, the visitors were taken to the blast site, where an inspector showed Kenobi and Ventress the damage that had been done, discussing casualties and those who had survived. Ventress noticed something and asked that theshuttle be stopped, pointing out a series of six blast points to Kenobi which suggested a deliberate attack. The weeks Kenobi had spent getting to know theclone troopers of theRepublic Military suggested to him that the attack was some kind of military operation, which Ventress directly questioned him about. As Ventress wondered what they would find in other areas, Kenobi diplomatically suggested that it required investigation.^[1]

Eyam said he would be bringing them to view the damage at the surface level, which Kenobi agreed to, requesting to see as much of the destruction as possible for investigative purposes. Kenobi also suggested to Ventress that they might find common ground between their governments, to which Ventress responded that such a thing might be possible if he could win her over.^[1]

As the mission continued, Kenobi teamed up withNeimoidian Royal GuardswomanRuug Quarnom.Jedi KnightAnakin Skywalker, Kenobi's recently-promoted formerPadawan, disobeyed orders to come to Cato Neimoidia, accompanied by promising but conflictedJedi younglingMill Alibeth and theastromech droidR2-D2.^[1] In the course of events, the Jedi became involved in a dangerous incident which nearly cost Kenobi his life, although Skywalker claimed to have saved him;^[4] in theGrand Theatre of Judgment, Kenobi called upon his hiddenlightsaber upon being surrounded by Neimoidian guards, only for Skywalker to rush in to Kenobi's surprise, helping to block the blaster bolts but also getting in the way of Kenobi's blade before Kenobi could do it himself. Skywalker and Ventress then clashed, with Ventress revealing she already knew him.^[1]

Aftermath[]

The Cato Neimoidian government's attempts at remaining neutral^[1] ultimately ended in failure. The planet eventually fell under Separatist control, which inspired the Republic^[10] to launch aconquest of Cato Neimoidia.^[11] The world continued to be a center for fighting afterward,^[4] with Skywalker, arriving alongside his apprenticeAhsoka Tano and his501st Legion, returning to the planet^[12] when the Separatists tried to take back Cato Neimoidia.^[10] The Separatist victory led to anotherBattle of Cato Neimoidia during theOuter Rim Sieges.^[13]

By19 BBY, the finalyear of the Clone Wars,^[5] Skywalker considered himself to have saved Kenobi's life on at least nine other occasions, including during theBattle of Coruscant. In the aftermath of that battle, Skywalker mentioned to Kenobi that he had saved him ten times, but Kenobi corrected him to nine, insisting that what had occurred on Cato Neimoidia did not count.^[4]

Behind the scenes[]

The mission to Cato Neimoidia was first mentioned, indirectly, in the2005 filmStar Wars: Episode IIIRevenge of the Sith.^[4] It first appeared in the2022 novelBrotherhood, written byMike Chen.^[1]

In theStar Wars Legends continuity, the event was depicted as theBattle of Cato Neimoidia in the 2005 novelLabyrinth of Evil, written byJames Luceno and set immediately prior to the events ofRevenge of the Sith.^[15] "Anakin Skywalker," a2021 booklet in theStar Wars Encyclopedia published byDe Agostini, gave a description ofKenobi and Skywalker's mission which roughly corresponded with the Legends depiction, stating they had gone on the mission just before theBattle of Yerbana,^[16] which occurred just before theBattle of Coruscant^[17] that opensRevenge of the Sith.^[4] Chen has stated fans are able to continue to believe the events ofLabyrinth of Evil are the business mentioned inRevenge of the Sith because nothing in his book contradicts its events.^[14]

Appearances[]

• Star Wars Battlefront II(Indirect mention only)(DLC)
• Brotherhood(andaudiobook)(First appearance)(First identified as mission to Cato Neimoidia)
• Star Wars: Episode IIIRevenge of the Sith(First mentioned)(Indirect mention only)

Sources[]

• Ultimate Star Wars(Indirect mention only)
• Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition(Indirect mention only)
• New Books Starring Luke and Lando, Obi-Wan and Anakin, and More Revealed – Exclusive onStarWars.com(backup link)
• Anakin and Obi-Wan Are Ready for Battle on the Cover ofStar Wars: Brotherhood – Exclusive Reveal onStarWars.com(backup link)
• "Launchpad" —Star Wars Insider 207
• Obi-Wan Kenobi Meets Asajj Ventress inStar Wars: Brotherhood – Exclusive Excerpt onStarWars.com(backup link)
• Obi-101: Everything You Need to Know About Obi-Wan Kenobi onStarWars.com(backup link)
• "Dexter Jettster: Pan-Galactic Besalisk of Mystery" —Star Wars Insider 223
• Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
• Who Is Asajj Ventress? onStarWars.com(backup link)

Notes and references[]