Bombing of Pho Ph'eah

"You are murdering thousands of innocents based on fabricated evidence!"

- Chief Administrator Char’on G’rean

The Bombing of Pho Ph’eah was a major turning point in the Sith Empire's war effort against the Galactic Republic during the Great Territorial War. The Jedi Council was given what they believed to be reliable information by Jedi Master Kit Corwin Rendar stating that Sith forces had infiltrated the major technological and manufacturing centers on Pho Ph’eah and that they were attempting to build up a far more massive army than they already had. With the approval of the Galactic Senate, the Jedi Order and the Republic military launched an orbital bombardment of the planet in an effort to take out the Sith forces on the surface.

Following the conclusion of the battle, Republic scouts made their way to the surface and concluded that there was no trace of any Sith forces either before or during the battle. When Fleet Captain La’El Montrose confronted Rendar about the faulty intelligence, the Jedi Master revealed that there was, in fact, one Sith Lord on the surface. Rendar revealed himself to be Darth Ravinos, the apprentice of the Dark Lordess Viea, and that he had planned the attack with intelligence he had fabricated to tarnish the image of the Jedi and the Republic across the galaxy. After skinning Montrose and blowing his skinless remains out an airlock, Ravinos stole the Republic flagship Equinox and was not heard from again for some time.

Ravinos was successful in tarnishing the image of both the Republic and the Jedi, though mostly the Jedi. The public had known that the Dark Lordess was once a Jedi Master, though the fact that another Jedi Master turned to the Dark Side and became her apprentice was far too troubling for them. The Jedi saw their public approval ratings sink and watched as less and less worlds called out for their help in matters both related and not related to the war.

Prelude
Two weeks after the Sith took over Centerpoint Station, Kit Corwin Rendar informed Ussej Padric Bac and the Jedi Council about intelligence he uncovered suggesting that the Sith were planning a massive orbital bombardment of Corellia using the station and a large strike force. Ussej believed him, though the majority of the Jedi Council did not as they felt that there was a lack of crucial intelligence. Kit was shocked by their denial of his request for greater defenses and refused to accept that the Jedi Council would simply stand aside and watch as a major Republic world was blown apart. Ussej pleaded with the Jedi Council to reconsider their decision, but they still refused. Ussej tried to comfort his friend, but the matter forced Kit to grow distant.

The next day, in the early morning hours, Kit left the Jedi academy on Corellia. Ussej found out about it hours after he awoke, but he chose not to report it to the Jedi Council. He simply continued their work by himself. For hours on end, Kit made his way through space until he reached the Sith homeworld of Korriban. When he arrived, he allowed himself to be arrested and was brought before Darth Viea. Throwing aside his dignity, he fell to his knees and begged her to spare his homeworld. She agreed, but only under the condition that he join her and become her apprentice. Ravinos initially could not come to a decision, but she tempted him by saying that he would have unlimited power and resources to seek out the Medallion of the Saraai-kaar, and that it was the only way that Corellia would be spared. He finally agreed and she dubbed him Darth Ravinos, though she ordered him to return to the Jedi academy on Corellia and find a way to tarnish the image of the Jedi Order from within.

Two days later, Ravinos arrived back at the academy, though he still operated under his former name. Ussej could tell that he had somehow changed and that he was far more shaken than he had been when he left. However, Ravinos was able to brush it off by saying that he had uncovered startling information. According to his “intelligence sources”, the Sith had covertly taken over key technological and manufacturing facilities on Pho Ph’eah and were planning on using them to construct a far more powerful military. After spending two days on fabricating the evidence and coming up with a plan to bombard the planet, Ravinos presented it to the Jedi Council and they decided to act alongside the Republic military in retaking the facilities. Ussej agreed to lead Gold Squadron during the aerial raids of the surface, while Ravinos would lead the attack himself.

Appearances

 * Chronicles of the Great War: The Fall of Heroes
 * Shadows of the Jedi: The Legend of Ussej Padric Bac