Timeline 5: The Battle of Bothawui

Jedi Master Gnost-Dural has a new timeline update for us today. But first today also brings us the eighteenth issue of the online comic. As per the official news:

The eighteenth issue of Threat of Peace™ is full of suspense and suspicion. Jedi Master Orgus Din is called away from Balmorra to pursue a suspect in the Senate Tower bombing, the Bounty Hunter Braden. Meanwhile, Lord Baras foils an assassination attempt on Korriban, and Jedi Knight Fortris Gall requests Lieutenant Tavus’s help on Dantooine.

Check out the latest issue of Threat of Peace now.

Of course, the big news today is the timeline. here is the official news:

A new holorecord in the Jedi Archive captures a poignant moment in the Republic’s recent history. Master Gnost-Dural recounts the story of the battle of Bothawui—a battle in which the courage and sacrifice of Jedi and Republic forces scored a major victory against the Sith Empire.

BTC 18 – Nearly a decade after the return of the Sith Empire and the start of the Great War, the Empire had scored dozens of victories, establishing its dominance in the Outer Rim. As the Sith turned their forces toward the Mid Rim, however, the Republic prepared a bold surprise. When an Imperial squadron arrived to seize control of Bothawui, the entire Republic fleet was waiting. The fleet’s victory was celebrated across the galaxy, but the truly inspiring moment was yet to come. As the Republic fleet dispersed to defend other battlefronts, only a small force remained behind to face the Empire’s retribution. The Jedi and Republic troopers on Bothawui never had a chance of surviving the Imperial attack, but their courage and selflessness in the face of impossible odds won a victory far greater than that from any single battle. The heroic stand on Bothawui restored hope across the galaxy, and rallied the Republic’s forces to fight with renewed courage.

Watch the fifth Timeline holorecord, The Battle of Bothawui, narrated by actor Lance Henriksen.


You can also download a high resolution version of this video.

And as usual the full text:

WHEN THE EMPEROR PLANNED THE REPUBLIC’S DESTRUCTION, HE DID NOT FORESEE THE NEED FOR ALLIANCES.

THE SITH WOULD SWEEP THROUGH THE GALAXY, SYSTEMATICALLY EXTERMINATING THEIR AGE-OLD JEDI ENEMIES AND DISMANTLING THE PROUD REPUBLIC.

BUT THE EMPEROR’S VISION WAS CYNICAL.

HE DID NOT COUNT ON THE BRAVE SACRIFICES THE REPUBLIC’S HEROES WERE WILLING TO MAKE.

AFTER THE SITH OFFENSIVE SEIZED THE SESWENNA SECTOR OF THE OUTER RIM, THE IMPERIAL ARMADA TURNED ITS SIGHTS CLOSER TO THE CORE. THE MID RIM.

BELIEVING THE REPUBLIC WAS STILL RECOVERING FROM ITS HEAVY LOSSES, IMPERIAL FORCES CHARGED INTO BOTHAN SPACE, WHERE THEY WERE CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY THE FULL FORCE OF THE REPUBLIC FLEET.

THE REPUBLIC FLEET OBLITERATED THE IMPERIAL SQUADRON AND THE BATTLE OF BOTHAWUI BECAME THE REPUBLIC’S FIRST MAJOR VICTORY IN THE WAR.

THE NEWS SPREAD ACROSS THE GALAXY, REKINDLING LOST HOPES AND RE-ENERGIZING EXHAUSTED DEFENDERS.

THE REPUBLIC FLEET MOVED ON, BUT A COURAGEOUS FORCE OF JEDI AND REPUBLIC SOLDIERS REMAINED ON BOTHAWUI TO AWAIT THE EMPIRE’S RETURN.

THE VENGEANCE OF THE SITH CAME SWIFTLY.

IMPERIAL BATTLE CRUISERS FROM AROUND THE GALAXY CLOSED IN ON BOTHAN SPACE TO RECOUP THEIR LOSSES.

A HIGH-POWERED PLANETARY SHIELD PROTECTED BOTHAWUI FROM BOMBARDMENT, FORCING THE IMPERIAL FORCES TO ENGAGE ON THE GROUND.

JEDI MASTER BELTH ALLUSIS, SEVEN DOZEN OF THE ORDER’S FINEST KNIGHTS, AND FOUR THOUSAND OF THE REPUBLIC’S STRONGEST SOLDIERS DUG IN TO DEFEND THE SHIELD GENERATORS… OR DIE TRYING.

THE DISPARITY WAS STAGGERING.

AN UNPRECEDENTED IMPERIAL ARMY, FIFTY THOUSAND STRONG, DESCENDED ON BOTHAWUI’S BRAVE DEFENDERS.

THE DEFENDERS WERE UNDAUNTED.

WITH NO EXPECTATIONS OF SURVIVAL, THEY WERE MINDFUL OF THEIR DUTY.

BUT OVERCONFIDENT IMPERIAL COMMANDERS THREW ALL THEIR ARMIES’ MIGHT INTO THE DIRECT ASSAULT AND THEIR GROUND FORCES FELL IN DROVES.

FOR EVERY REPUBLIC SOLDIER WHO DIED, TEN IMPERIALS WERE KILLED.

THE EMPIRE WAS FORCED TO CALL IN REINFORCEMENTS.

DESPITE THE DEFENDERS’ DETERMINATION, THEIR LINES WERE WHITTLED AWAY UNTIL ONLY A HANDFUL OF SOLDIERS AND JEDI REMAINED.

THEY RALLIED TO JEDI MASTER ALLUSIS FOR A FINAL STAND.

IMPERIAL GRAND MOFF ZELLOS OFFERED TO SPARE MASTER ALLUSIS IF HE AND HIS BRAVE COMRADES WOULD SURRENDER.

NEITHER PRIDE NOR FOOLHARDINESS DROVE THE DEFENDER’S DECISION.

THEY WERE GUIDED BY THE FORCE.

THEY HAD PASSED BEYOND THE FEAR OF DEATH.

THEIR GLORIOUS LAST STAND WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

ALLUSIS AND HIS MEN FELL, BUT NOT BEFORE THE IMPERIALS WERE DRIVEN TO RETREAT.

THE BATTLE OF BOTHAWUI WAS A DRAW.

THE HEROES OF BOTHAWUI INSPIRED BOLD NEW REPUBLIC STRATEGIES THAT EVENTUALLY HALTED THE EMPIRE’S ADVANCES.

IN RETROSPECT, THOUGH, THE REPUBLIC LOST TOO MANY SYSTEMS IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE GREAT WAR.

THE EXECUTION OF THE EMPEROR’S BRILLIANT STRATEGY WAS FLAWLESS.

SURVIVAL WAS THE BEST THE REPUBLIC COULD HOPE FOR.

I HAVE SPENT MUCH TIME NOW PIECING TOGETHER THE PUZZLE OF THE EMPEROR’S INITIAL DESIGNS, AND I HAVE A THEORY THAT IS QUITE SURPRISING.

I’LL DEVELOP THAT FOR MY NEXT REPORT.

Bah, damn cliffhangers.

Quite a heroic last stand. Almost brought tears to my eyes.