Third Great Galactic War

The Third Great Galactic War was a major galactic conflict fought between 19 BBY and 30 ABY. It is often considered the largest, costliest, and most destructive war in galactic history, due to the fact that throughout the war, no system was ever neutral.

Origins of the conflict could be traced to the Galactic Senate during the final days of the Old Republic, sometime after the end of the Clone Wars, where dissenting and prominent Senators, such as Bail Organa and Mon Mothma>, secretly opposed the powers and authority that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine continued to accumulate under the guise of security and war-time measures.

The major catalyst, though, was when Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, reporting to Palpatine that Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi had engaged General Grevious, found out that Palpatine was Darth Sidious, the one who had orchestrated the war from both sides. After a bitter lightsaber duel, and cutting down a squad of Clone Troopers led by CT-7567 "Rex", Skywalker reported to Mace Windu has findings. From there, after Palpatine had cut down Agen Kolar, Saesse Tiin, and Kit Fisto, and Skywalker walked in, Palpatine revealed his new apprentice, and his actual apprentice this whole time (with Darth Maul and Count Dooku being nothing more than figureheads), Darth Starkiller (real name Galen Marek).

After the issuance of Order 66, both the 212th Attack Battalion and 327 Star Corps. refused to follow the order, ensuring Kenobi and Aayla Secura's survival. Many more Jedi, including young knights Andy and Katie Sammonds, Skywalker, Belle Johnson (Andy's secret girlfriend), and Shaak Ti, were rescued from the Jedi Temple by Senator Organa and Captain Raymus Antilles aboard the Tantive IV.