The Mission to Taspir III was carried out by Jaden Korr and Kyle Katarn for the New Jedi Order. The outcome of the mission turned out to be the catalyst for Jaden's turn to the dark side of the Force, which changed the course of galactic history.
Background[]
The events leading to the mission's undertaking occured in the year 14 BBY in the final years of the Galactic Civil War, during a conflict between the New Jedi Order and a cult of dark-siders known as the Disciples of Ragnos, supported by Imperial Remnant forces. During the eight months which the conflict lasted for, the cult's leader, Tavion Axmis and her followers traveled the galaxy, using a dark-side artifact known as the Scepter of Ragnos to drain energy from Force nexuses. The Jedi under the leadership of Grand Master Luke Skywalker sabotaged several of these operations, but most of their attempts to siphon Force energy were successful. Before long, cult activities dropped and the Jedi concluded that they had succeeded in gaining enough Force energy for whatever they planned to do.
Skywalker believed that the cult planned on traveling to the Valley of the Dark Lords on Korriban to resurrect an ancient Sith Lord named Marka Ragnos. He then mobilized all available Jedi at the Yavin Praxeum in preparation to intercept the cult at Korriban. While this was taking place, Jedi Master Kyle Katarn received a distress signal from Rosh Penin, a former Jedi student who had previously defected to the cult. Rosh appeared to have regretted his decision and wanted to return to the Jedi. In his brief message, he told Kyle that he was being held in a designated Imperial facility on the barren, lava-ridden surface of Taspir III. Katarn promptly informed his former apprentice, now a Jedi Knight, Jaden Korr. Korr was dubious of Penin's sincerity and suspected a trap, but he agreed to help Kyle rescue him nonetheless.
The Mission[]
The two Jedi arrived at Taspir III without incident via Katarn's ship, the Raven's Claw. Kyle dropped Jaden off at the rear entrance of the plant and flew around to enter from the front, reasoning that if they started at opposite ends of the base and moved toward the center, they would find Rosh faster. Because the facility had previously been hit by a power failure in its sensor systems and defensive weapon emplacements, the Claw was not detected. To counter this weakness, security personnel members were divided into squads which constantly patrolled the understaffed base for intruders until power could be restored.
Korr proceeded through the complex, climbing the levels of the tall towers and crossing perilous bridges, dispatching groups of Imperial soldiers and cultists along the way. Although he was able to hold his own against the initial waves of stormtroopers and sentry droids, he found himself rapidly outgunned as more and more troops converged on his location. As a result, he was forced to flee down the corridors and avoid further patrols wherever he could, until he reached the top levels of the base, at which point he was able to seal a blast door behind himself. Meanwhile, Katarn utilized stealth and secrecy to move through the base, avoiding most of the Imperial troops.
Meanwhile in the base's upper level, Jaden encountered Alora, the second in command of the Disciples of Ragnos. Jaden demanded her to surrender and tell him where Rosh was being held, but Alora simply taunted him and fled. Korr followed her through the facility, navigating dangerous assembly lines and heavy machinery while simultaneously fighting off pursuing cultists. During the chase, Alora's consistent taunts and evasion caused Jaden to become increasingly frustrated and angry, bringing him dangerously close to the dark side. Alora eventually led him to Rosh, whom Jaden confronted in his rage.
Alora encouraged him to kill Rosh, hoping to turn Jaden to the dark side and recruit him into the cult. Kyle, who was some distance behind the confrontation, telepathically urged Jaden to resist and put away his lightsaber. However, Jaden had been permanently corrupted by the dark side, having been exposed to it numerous times in his previous missions. Unable to resist, Korr gave in to his hate and struck Rosh down, completing his shift to the dark side. Alora was impressed, but Korr immediately refused to join the Disciples of Ragnos. He then fought and killed Alora in a short but intense battle. The former Jedi then hastily departed, mere moments before Kyle arrived.
Aftermath[]
Jaden found a Z-95 Headhunter in a nearby hangar and left the planet for Korriban, coveting the Scepter of Ragnos which was in Tavion Axmis' possession. As the Dark Jedi escaped, Kyle arrived at Rosh's location. Seconds before he expired, Rosh told the Jedi of Korr's turn. Predicting that Jaden would travel to Korriban, Katarn left to pursue Jaden.
Appearances[]
Cult of Ragnos Campaign |
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Mos Eisley, Tatooine - Dune Sea, Tatooine - Bakura - Blenjeel - Corellia - Hoth - Byss (First) - Wayland - Nar Kreeta - Zonju V - Kril'dor - Coruscant - Nar Shaddaa - Dosuun - Vjun - Chandrila - Taanab - Yalara - Byss (Second) - Ord Mantell - Taspir III - Korriban |