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Continuity & Analysis

Star Wars: Clone Wars - Chapter 22 (2005) [S3]
(The first 2:30 does not occur at this time)
Throughout extended campaigns in the Outer Rim Sieges, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi
have managed to turn the tide and defy the odds. But the Separatist forces are spreading
everywhere, and hunting down General Grievous becomes the gravest concern. To this end,
Skywalker and Kenobi venture to Nelvaan, a strange planet where Grievous was supposedly spotted.




CONTINUITY
The part of 'Chapter 22' set near the end of the war showcases the last days of the Outer Rim Sieges and sets up the final three chapters
of this series which lead directly to Episode III. These chapters take place more than 5 months after Anakin was last seen on Anaxes
in The Clone Wars episode 'Unfinished Business' (S7E4). Four new unidentified locations and the planets Bal'demnic, Orto, and
Nelvaan are seen for the first time. Nine worlds are seen in the relevant portion of this chapter:


Season 3 of Clone Wars was also released as 'Volume 2'. The beginning of Season 3 takes place three years before these chapters.
Chapters 22 through 25 take place at this time, except for the first 2 minutes and 30 seconds of 'Chapter 22'. The first 2:30 occur much
earlier, and can be found 3 years earlier in this chronology.

- The Clone Wars are late in their third year, having begun during the beginning of 7955 (22 BBY), and having lasted over three and a half years at this point.
The last several months have not yet been shown in any shows. The war will end in about one week.

- Obi-Wan, Anakin, and elements of the Third Systems Army have been campaigning on an unidentified Separatist planet for around a month, and have isolated
the remaining Separatist forces in a single city which is protected by a powerful shield. Cody, and the 212th Attack Battalion are present as they are a primary
unit of the 7th Sky Corps, a division of one of the two Sector Armies that make up the Third Army. Cody estimates that the battle could last two more months.
The 501st may also be there, as they are also part of the Third Army and escort Anakin just as the 212th Battalion escorts Obi-Wan.


- The shield employed to defend the Separatist city is strong enough to absorb the maximum energy yield of the weapons employed by the Republic, meaning
that it can only be overcome by taxing its power source until it fails. It will take about two months to bring it down with continual bombardment, a figure
which is almost certainly based on the limits in fuel and sustained output of the reactor which powers the shield.
Main Article: Shields, Deflectors, and Ray Shields

- The Separatists launch an invasion of Kashyyyk, as part of a series of final offensives designed to destroy as many peaceful and vulnerable worlds as possible,
particularly those like Kashyyyk which have a strong affinity for the Jedi, and who benefit from the Republic. The Wookiees are formidable warriors, but are
facing an invasion by the droid army and its advanced and deadly technology. Republic assistance, which is in short supply, will be required.

- As part of this rapid and unpredictable offensive, huge numbers of Republic citizens are rounded up by the Separatists and sold into slavery. One world that is
seized in an unidentified planet presumed to be a loyal Republic world, or at least a neutral one. The city is seen to be in flames, and is likely being sacked as
the inhabitants of the city, an unidentified species of humanoids, are being taken away in restraints.


- The Battle of Bal'demnic was a significant Separatist siege in the Outer Rim. Bal'demnic is located in the Auril Sector, in the Slice region of the Outer Rim,
near the highly contested Perlemian Trade Route, as well as the central sectors of the Separatist state. Bal'demnic was invaded by the Separatists to
gain access to the planet's extensive cortosis deposits for use in building their war machine. With their supply lines shrinking and their construction
facilities under siege, the Separatists require materials they can source regionally. The planet is the homeworld of the Kon'me, who are
technologically advanced, and are resisting the Separatist invasion.


- On an unidentified rocky planet with a luminescent atmosphere, Separatist forces have routed the Republic and taken the surviving clones hostage.
This is the same planet where Obi-Wan and Anakin fought in 'Chapter 1', over three and a half years earlier, immediately after Episode II.
It is unknown what the eventual fate of clone POWs will be this close to the end of the war.


- The Separatist's occupy the planet Orto, homeworld of the Ortolans, in support of a government that has come to power seeking to join the Alliance.
Orto is located in the Sluis Sector, in the Western Reaches of the Outer Rim, and is adjacent to some of the Separatist's most significant strongholds
in the galaxy, lying in a region the Republic does not fully recover until the Separatist surrender. The occupation is portrayed as menacing to
the citizens in some way, meant to illustrate the many tolls of the war.



Where is Dooku is training Grievous? It is possible this unidentified location is somewhere in Castle Serenno, although
nothing about the architecture suggests that. It could be anywhere really, although it is also possible that they were
ordered here by Sidious to train and await his call. If that is the case, they are likely at a staging location in
the Western Reaches of the Outer Rim, which is where the two will depart from to attack Coruscant, traveling along
the unmonitored Nexus Route, immediately after their conversation with Sidious.


- Dooku is training Grievous in lightsaber combat, something he has certainly done in the past as this was mentioned early in the Clone Wars. Nevertheless,
mastering sword fighting and the particulars of this weapon are something that requires time and practice, and Grievous is ready for training that is
a bit more advanced. Dooku is teaching him more refined techniques, necessary for sustaining lightsaber combat when it doesn't end quickly. Dooku also
instructs him not to use standard attacks, and to rely on unorthodox approaches. Grievous has always relied on his superhuman abilities to make him
a legitimate threat to the Jedi, and has attempted to use the "fear, surprise, and intimidation" that Dooku reminds him are the only way he will be able
to overcome the best of the Jedi. He also tells Grievous to retreat if any of these elements are lacking, for the Jedi is dangerous when they are calm,
passive, and free of fear. Grievous has never had a problem running away when it is clear that a Jedi is too much for him to handle at the moment.


- One of the lightsabers that Grievous was using to duel Dooku used to belong to K'Krukh, a Jedi Master who was killed by Grievous during the Battle
of Hypori, over three and a half years earlier near the beginning of the Clone Wars, seen in 'Chapter 20'. Grievous is carrying around an impressive
collection of sabers, however likely only his most favorite trophies, as we have seen that he keeps the rest of his Jedi spoils at his lair.

- Sidious' has his final conference with both Darth Tyranus and General Grievous. He asks Grievous for an updated report on the Outer Rim Sieges,
which have rapidly unraveled due to the unpredictable and widespread offensives the Separatists have launched in the last few weeks. As a result
the Jedi are now littered around the galaxy, particularly in the remote Outer Rim. Sidious therefore orders them to begin the final operation,
precipitating the events of Episode III. Grievous tells Sidious that all preparations have been made for his 'special mission' to capture the Chancellor
personally. Grievous does not know that Sidious is actually ordering his own kidnapping. It is quite clear that he does not know his secret identity,
as Grievous tells Palpatine when he is being captured that he is "lucky they want you alive."

- The Republic have rarely had reliable intelligence regarding Grievous' movements. Military intelligence traditionally reports to the Jedi, and from the outset
of the war clone intelligence has as well, but Palpatine has been increasingly compartmentalizing military affairs under the direct authority of the civilian
government and the Chancellor's office. Clone intelligence is now sending reports to Palpatine, which he passes to the Jedi. Mace says that their intelligence
on Grievous' location is "questionable", but Palpatine's assures him his information is quite accurate. Palpatine also has civilian intelligence sources, and
the benefit of a more privileged position in the loop, so it is possible that Grievous has actually been seen going to and from the planet Nelvaan. Based on
the important secret project taking place there under his authority, this may have been convenient disinformation. Palpatine was intentionally sending
Anakin and Obi-Wan on a fool's errand to a region of the Rim that is about as far from Coruscant, Anaxes, and the Core worlds as possible.

- Nelvaan is a habitable planet in the Savareen Sector, in the Trailing Sectors of the Outer Rim. The planet is orbited by three desolate moons. Nelvaan has
an extensive ecosystem, and is the homeworld of a species referred to by others as Nelvaanians. It is a rocky world with a breathable atmosphere that is
cool and wet. It is typically described in supplementary material as a cold world, but that is based on circumstantial evidence. In this our only look at
the world thus far, we appear to visit a sub-tropical region, likely not polar but probably not near the equator. While it is likely that snow and ice are
a regular occurrence on this planet, the conditions in the area these chapters visit are artificially induced by the siphon generator project. When
the machine is destroyed, the ice is shown to be rapidly melting. It is likely that the planet is often cold, particularly if it has a season like winter,
or if one does not live near the equator, however its reputation for this is certainly exaggerated.


- Obi-Wan tells Anakin not to kill the huge beast that is attacking them, which has already killed their clone escort. It seems that Obi-Wan is demonstrating
the concern for other lifeforms the Jedi should prioritize based on their beliefs about the Force. His own record regarding aggressive animals is similar to
that of most of the Jedi, sometimes they make a point about not harming the animals, and other times they enthusiastically carve them up with their
lightsabers. In this instance, Obi-Wan may have had an insight through the Force that it wasn't the right move, based on his statement that Anakin
shouldn't have done that, just as the Nelvaanians appear to complain that they have interrupted a ritual by killing the beast. It may be that Obi-Wan
would have had no problem with Anakin killing an animal on its home planet for following its instincts, even though the Jedi have abilities they could
use to subdue it without killing it, or to escape it, and was only concerned about how he effected these people. Anakin certainly has no qualms about
killing animals that attack him, and doesn't seem to be violating any Jedi principles by doing so based on what has been seen.

ANALYSIS
The Outer Rim Sieges are the culmination of the Republic's years of effort building forward momentum in the Rim. Having consolidated territory, secured
hyperlanes, and established a secure system of supply lines and regional strongholds, the Republic moves to deliver crippling blows to the centers of
Separatist power in the Rim. In an effort to forestall this, Grievous has continually moved the main thrust of his offensive actions inward towards the Core,
threatening worlds the Republic will have to devote significant resources to defend. While this has proven successful, it is only delaying the inevitable
Republic victory in the Rim. The Separatists have focused on concentrating their forces around vital worlds and installations, making the Republic victories
costly and time-consuming, which is why these offensives usually devolve into prolonged sieges. This has been going on for half of a year, growing steadily
more intense as the war begins to near its end. The Separatists are not on a purely defensive footing in the Rim, and the Outer Rim Sieges also involve
rapid and unexpected Separatist invasions of worlds left undefended by the Republic concentration of forces around strategically vital targets. These moves
are designed to keep the Jedi as busy as possible, as they are already taxed for manpower, and will be unwilling to let civilian populations suffer for strategic
goals. As a result, the vast majority of Jedi Knights are now spread around the Rim, or dispersed throughout the Core, fighting in heated conflicts.

While a great many of the Outer Rim sieges were Republic offensives, the Separatists never adopted a purely defensive posture in the Rim. While the Republic
momentum in the Rim had a certain inevitability to it, the Separatists were able to slow their progress with their offensives in the Core, buying time to focus
on production of war material. With the Republic locked into maintaining their frontlines in the Rim, and equally committed to their defense in the Core,
Grievous and his Sith masters launch a devastating blitz offensive across all regions of the Rim. Targeting peaceful, neutral, vulnerable, or prosperous worlds
for destruction, economic collapse, and even enslavement helps to accomplish many of the finishing touches of Sidious' plans for the Clone Wars. At the same
time, it can be presented as a last ditch attempt at total war to take revenge for the Republic's lack of willingness to find a political solution. As at earlier stages
in the war, worlds like Kashyyyk that are committed to the Republic are targeted to make way for the coming order. Other worlds are targeted for their
resources or stability, and homeworlds of non-Human species are singled out for occupation. This provides a great pretext for rounding up huge numbers of
people to be sold into slavery, as the responsible party are a droid army which will be deactivated by the end of the month. Once they are slaves, the Empire
will not do anything about it, as Sidious has been using the war to begin building the massive underclass of forced laborers the Empire will be built upon.
The Jedi respond to this senseless campaign of violence and terror just as Sidious knew they would. All available Jedi Masters and Knights are dispersed to
as many of these unexpected new conflicts as possible, leaving the number of adult Jedi on Coruscant manageable, and isolating most Jedi at disparate
locations across the galaxy, far from each other and the Temple, engaged in pressing battles, and surrounded by clones and the droid army.

After decades of work and over three and a half years of galaxy-wide warfare, the first phase of Darth Sidious' plan comes to its intended conclusion,
and Sidious orders Tyranus and Grievous to begin the "final operation". The time is right to move against the Jedi and the Republic, and everything is
in position, with the Jedi spread thinly across the Outer Rim. Sidious now orchestrates an invasion of the Republic capital in a move designed to deal
with the issue of the 'Chosen One', Anakin Skywalker, who must either replace Tyranus as his apprentice and aid him against the Jedi, or be eliminated
for the plan to succeed. The huge battle, involving a massive loss of life, will serve as a distraction to have his public persona Chancellor Palpatine taken
prisoner by Grievous. Dooku will then hold Palpatine hostage aboard the Separatist flagship, drawing inevitable Jedi attempts to rescue him. Sidious is
certain that Anakin will arrive with great speed to save him whether the Jedi order him there or not, and if other Jedi come Dooku will either defeat them
or be eliminated as an operative who has served his purpose. If Anakin eventually arrives, Dooku will fight him, and the winner will continue on as his
apprentice. If Dooku is killed by another, and Anakin does not complete his fall at this time, Sidious can still maneuver that in other ways, having worked
hard to manipulate Anakin towards his fall. Either way, the Jedi will still be dealt with by the same means, and the Republic transformed in a similar manner,
so this "final operation" is only meant to give the final moves of the plan their exact shape, and eliminate Dooku or Anakin, or both, before moving on the Jedi.

Palpatine acknowledges that the tide of victory is trending heavily towards the Republic, increasing the Jedi resolve to find bring the war to a close quickly
through a military victory. The Jedi are willing to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the war, but not before Dooku and Grievous are captured or killed.
The option of fighting the war out to its conclusion was one chosen by the Jedi because they could see no alternative, precisely as was intended by
Sidious when he designed this war. Now that the possibility of winning the war in months rather than years has presented itself, the Jedi see no other
choice than to press hard for victory, to minimize suffering and loss of life. With the Separatist offensives in the Core, and now another campaign of
invasions in the Outer Rim, Mace says that "for every system that is liberated, it seems another is taken." The priority of capturing Grievous is once again
the focus of the Jedi, as it was three years earlier during the beginning stages of the war. Initially, it was though that bring the droid army's leader to
justice would deal a major blow to the Separatists and their plans, and while that never really changed, other priorities quickly emerged as the galaxy
descended into increasingly widespread conflict. Now that a certain level of strategic containment has been possible, the Jedi are able to focus on
Dooku and Grievous once again, as they are the sinister minds responsible for directing the Separatist strategy. Palpatine need only to continue to
encourage the Jedi to follow their own desire to end the war, and to spread themselves thin to achieve their goal.


FURTHER ANALYSIS
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