- "You're a good man X2. Don't let your judgement become clouded."
- — Master Ferroda
Mission 3 is the third mission of Act I. A Separatist uprising on Cato Neimoidia, homeworld of Viceroy Nute Gunray, leads the Republic to aggressive negotiations. The two brothers are sent to assist.
Synopsis
Hot off their victory at Coruscant, Master Ferroda’s battalion has been dispatched to Cato Neimoidia to assist Master Plo Koon with his battle there. X1 and X2 are to be split up with X2 preparing the way for Master Ferroda to take Nute Gunray’s citadel and X1 supporting Plo Koon in his mission on one of the other bridge cities. X1 will be out of touch with X2 for this mission. Master Ferroda is his main point of contact.
Objectives
Mission Intro - Scripted Cutscene
Master Ferroda addresses an audience of Clone Troopers including X1 and X2. X1 scoffs at Master Ferroda's speech about the need to quell a Separatist uprising on Cato Neimoidia. X2 listens intently and considers the effects of a full-scale attack.
Take out the CIS Turrets
Cato Neimoidia is one of the CIS’ core worlds and as such is heavily defended with droids. A path needs to be cleared before the first wave of Republic troops can make a landing, X2 is part of a small group of advance fighters taking out the hammock's initial defenses. LAAT Gunships are flying towards the city from a Venator parked adjacent to the hammock. X2 is free to attack any CIS forces around the city. After a short period, the pilot of one of the LAAT Gunships gets in contact asking for immediate assistance. X2 must then shoot out the turrets and defenses specified by the pilot. Once the LAAT Gunship is safe, Master Ferroda contacts X2 to say that the ion cannon (located on the side of the hammock) is targeting the Venator and must be disabled. X2 will be instructed to follow the hammock support cables down to the lower level of the city. He must then follow a trench run along the base of the city and destroy the ion cannon's power source.
Take out the CIS Defenses
X2 has the opportunity to take out targets of opportunity (troops and vehicles) along the way to the specific targets. If the defenses are destroyed, it will be easier to establish control on the ground. Objective expires once on the ground.
Clear the Square
As X2 heads to the target landing zone to back up the LAAT Gunships, he is shot down by a Spider Droid. Surviving the crash (cutscene), the player must join with the troopers that survived similar crashes nearby to clear the square to facilitate the remaining LAAT Gunships landing. The droids have put up a shield blocking access underneath the central building. There are two Spider Droids guarding the left and right sides of the central building. AA guns around the perimeter defend the citadel and take down any Republic ship that approaches. In the city around the city, starfighters engage in chases and dogfights. The edges of the bridge are patrolled by Droid Gunships. This is the droid stronghold and using the landing pad as cover will be essential. X2 and the small group of clones stand against gunships, bombers, Battle Droids, Super Battle Droids, Magnaguards and two massive Spider Droids.
Deactivate the Defenses
The troopers on the ground will not be able to capture the city on their own. X2 needs to deactivate the AA guns and disable the ground shield so that more Republic forces can make a landing at the square and reinforce his squadron. The defenses are controlled by a control panel located into one end of the central building. Droidekas, Magnaguards and Super Battle Droids, extremely effective in close quarters combat, protect the central building interior.
Destroy the CIS Tanks
Now that the major defenses have been disabled, the droid ground forces begin a final defensive push. As the clones begin making their landing at the square, X2 needs to join in the battle so reinforcements can make their assault on the citadel. As he reaches the frontline, Snail Tanks and AATs roll around from each side of the citadel and lay waste to the first wave of troopers. Once the tanks are cleared, the Republic soldiers can start to turn the tide against the CIS.
Use the turret to destroy the tanks
X2 has the opportunity to turn one of the droid turrets on the tanks. Using it will make the main objective easier. Objective expires once the tanks are destroyed.
Deactivate the Droids
Master Ferroda contacts X2 to inform him that he has successfully infiltrated the throne room and accessed the databanks. There he found records of communications with the Sith Lord Darth Sidious originating from Coruscant. This is troubling news. Master Ferroda intends to meditate on it before contacting the Jedi Council. He orders X2 to complete the mission by deactivating the droids, and then meet up with him in the throne room. X2 and the clones fight towards the citadel, facing resistance from heavy CIS troops (Battle Droids, Super Battle Droids, Magnaguards, Droidekas, STAPs and Droid Gunships). Orbital strikes are fired from the Venator, helping in the assault. Once inside the citadel, X2 destroys the central command station, deactivating all the droids on the bridge. Going out to the main room of the citadel, he sees the droids being shut down.
Mission Intermission - Scripted Cutscene
Heading to the throne room, X2 discovers Clone Troopers planting a timebomb on the entrance. They inform him that the Jedi have betrayed the Republic and that Master Ferroda is to be executed immediately. Master Ferroda, now aware of Palpatine's plan, fights non-lethally at first. However, when the clones open fire, he has no choice but to use his lightsaber. X1 arrives and joins the battle but gets slashed in the chest. He calls for help, making X2 run towards Master Ferroda, grabbing a clone's dropped Vibrolance. They engage in a saberlock. Master Ferroda tries to reason with X2, but after seeing him kill so many of his fellow soldiers, he does not listen.
Order 66 (Kill the Jedi Traitor)
With the issuing of Order 66, every clone has the duty to kill any Jedi they see. With his brother injured, it is X2's responsibility to fulfill the Emperor's orders. The duel with Master Ferroda is split into three phases:
- Phase 1 - Master Ferroda behaves defensively, not actively attacking X2. Mostly blocking and striking occasionally to keep X2 at bay.
- Phase 2 - Master Ferroda realizes that he’s going to have to take the fight to X2 if he wants to survive. He opens up with more aggressive lightsaber attacks.
- Phase 3 - Master Ferroda’s situation is desperate. He lashes out at X2 with all of his lightsaber attacks and Force Powers.
Icon.
During the battle, Master Ferroda tries to appeal to X2, but X1 reminds him that he has killed many of his comrades. The clone troopers encourage him while he is fighting.
Mission Outro - Scripted Cutscene
Master Ferroda is dead. X1 congratulates X2, but he does not share his enthusiasm.
Trivia
- The first objective was originally a turret segment, with the player being in the LAAT Gunship's ball turret and taking out turrets in AI-controlled strafe runs.
- It is uncertain what turret would be used to destroy the tanks in the second bonus objective as the turret seen in the leaked build was later removed from the game. It could have been an Anti-Vehicle turret but it is speculated it was a Cato-specific turret (bf/backgrounds/cato/props/turret.xml).
- When the droids are shut down, a Clone Trooper pushes one down, like in Episode I.
- In the PSP version, during the attack on the citadel, X1 says he is unable to contact Master Ferroda. Later, he patches in X2 to Palpatine's transmission issuing Order 66. However, like in the next-gen version, the DS version shows X2 initially unaware of why the clones are attacking Master Ferroda.
Gallery
Audio Logs
Darth Sidious: The hour is near, Republic forces are en route to Cato Neimoidia. The Jedi negotiations, of course, will fail.
Nute Gunray: I have advised my lieutenants to proceed with preparations for an attack on our homeworld.
Darth Sidious: Good. It is imperative you defend Cato Neimoidia at all costs.
Nute Gunray: Yes, Lord Sidious. We will be ready to repel the attack.
Nute Gunray: Of course Lord Sidious is ready to offer up our droid armies to defend Cato Neimoidia.
Count Dooku: It is your home planet after all Viceroy. Did you want your riches to fall into the charitable hands of the Jedi Order?
Nute Gunray: Our wealth won’t last long if our droid army is defeated. I would rather run than fight and lose everything.
Count Dooku: It seems General Grievious has convinced Lord Sidious that Cato Neimoidia is a pivotal system in the struggle against the Republic.
Nute Gunray: General Grievious is another reason to keep our own armies strong. His leadership is reckless and dangerous.
Count Dooku: Regardless of how you feel Viceroy, the Jedi are preparing an attack on Cato Neimoidia. There is a simple solution to your problem – do not be defeated.
Nute Gunray: Count Dooku has been killed!
Rune Haako: He was defeated by Jedi during the assault on Coruscant.
Nute Gunray: Grievious was foolish to attempt an attack on the capital. We must leave at once.
Rune Haako: What about the droids?
Nute Gunray: Leave them. The Republic will have to fight through our droid army to take Cato Neimoidia.Cutscene Script - Intro
[CUTSCENE STARTS]
As Ferroda carries on with his briefing, X1 leans over X2’s shoulder and talks quietly in his ear.
Cutscene Script - Boss Fight
They stare at him with silent white faces.
Pause.
X2 grows uncomfortable in their gaze.
The detonator does it's last beeps - the door explodes inwards in a violent burst of sparks. Everyone reacts by covering their faces.
Icon.
I had no choice!
Document References
- CatoOverview.doc (26/03/2008)
- Battlefront_III_Script_Sept_12_2007.pdf (modified with all known script updates)