Venator Incident of 978


CLASS Venator-Class Star Destroyer
NAME The Reliant
MANUFACTURER Kuat Drive Yards
IN SERVICE 975 RSY- 978 RSY
STATUS Destroyed
DEATHS 13,484
COST $24,000,000 RC
ADMIRAL Admiral Draven Voss

Background

The 104th Venator “The Reliant” a Republic starship, had recently returned from a critical mission deep within unknown territory. The mission's success was of paramount importance, as it carried vital information that could significantly impact the relationship between the Republic, and independent systems.

Mission Objectives

The mission's primary objectives included:

  • Gathering valuable droid data.
  • Obtaining strategic plans
  • Determining the whereabouts of high-ranking members of the Trade Federation.
  • Acquiring the exact locations of key droid factories.
  • The Trade Federation was determined to prevent the Venator from delivering this intelligence to the Jedi Order and thus sought to stop its escape. To achieve this, the Trade Federation employed several tactics.

Droid Deployment

Control Ships: The Trade Federation dispatched two Control ships to intercept the Venator, vastly outnumbering the lone Republic vessel.

B1 Droid Pods: The Trade Federation deployed pods of battle droids to board the Venator, capitalizing on the element of surprise while the clone troopers were regrouping after a ground battle.

Republic Response

The ship's commander rapidly mobilized all available troops and launched over 30 ARC-170 starfighters to engage the incoming Control ships. Meanwhile, the majority of the droids invaded empty barracks near the exhausted clone troopers. The clones did their utmost to survive within the barracks, but the droids soon changed their focus and moved towards the hangar to prevent further Venator departures.

Within the Main Control room, two Jedi stood ready to safeguard the valuable intelligence. As all clone troopers were preoccupied with dealing with B1 droids on the lower levels, the Venator's Commander and a team of clones must transmit a message to the Control room, updating them on the current situation and urging them to request backup. The signal managed to reach the 212th Attack Battalion nearby, but the ship was soon destroyed, claiming the lives of Admiral Draven Voss, Jedi Master Lyria, Jedi Padawan Zano, and 13,484 clone troopers.

Negotiations

Upon receiving the distress call, the Control room initiated a plea for reinforcements, successfully reaching the 212th. As the 212th arrived, they saw a graveyard of destroyed ARC-170's, Droid Pods, and The Reliant Venator.

Trade Federation response

The Trade Federation, under the leadership of Viceroy Voss Malachi made a formal and public response to the tragedy. It went as follows:

We, the Trade Federation, wish to express our deepest regret regarding the recent unfortunate incident involving one of our fleets and Republic forces. We extend our condolences to the families and comrades affected by the loss of life, including the valiant Jedi who perished in the course of the conflict. It is imperative to understand that the encounter was not initiated to cause such catastrophic outcomes. The engagement was sparked amidst escalating tensions, and our forces were compelled to defend against what was perceived as a threat to our sovereignty. In the fog of war, the destruction of a Venator-class Star Destroyer and the loss of numerous clone troopers occurred as an unintended consequence. Our foremost priority is to maintain peaceful relations, and we deeply regret the loss of life on both sides. We propose an immediate cease-fire to allow for a thorough investigation into the incident. Transparency is crucial, and we are committed to cooperating fully with any impartial inquiry to determine the circumstances leading to this unfortunate clash. Let us work together towards a resolution that ensures the safety and stability of our respective territories. We believe in diplomacy as the means to resolve conflicts and prevent further bloodshed.

  • Viceroy Voss Malachi

Legacy

The events of the 104th Venator Mission shifted the Republic and the Trade Federation into a political cold war, with both sides sanctioning each other.


Last photo of the 104th “Reliant” Venator-class stardestroyer