Crisis on Geonosis! Following a skirmish in the Petranaki Arena, the Republic has invaded the Geonosian homeworld in an attempt to stop the Confederacy of Independent Systems! As battle rages in the dunes, several Jedi and a strike team of clone troopers attempt to reach the Separatist leadership via the catacombs beneath Geonosis...

22 BBY, Battle of Geonosis

The Clone Wars had just begun.

Throughout the dunes of Geonosis, the newly-christened Grand Army of the Republic, made up of clone troopers and led by Jedi, fought against the Separatist Alliance's battle droids in what seemed like an endless struggle for supremacy. Gunships flew overhead as they bombarded enemy fortifications, and blood stained the rocky desert. Yet, the surface of the planet alone wasn't the site of conflict. Below Geonosis lay massive catacombs, known for being the primary dwelling of the Geonosian species. Republic strategists believed they could sneak a strike team of Jedi and ARC Troopers through the caverns to reach the Separatist leadership in the largest of the Geonosian hives, and currently said team was positioned there.

"ARC Troopers, set your guns to stun," uttered one of the Jedi. They appeared to have a humanoid shape and concealed themselves with a hood, so as to ensure that they weren't spotted.

"Yes sir."

The clones adjusted their weapons as the team continued to march through the catacombs. It was dark, decrepid, and eerie. Gunshots and quakes from the surface could be heard, but this worked to the advantage of the Jedi; it would conceal their movement.

"Keep your eyes sharp," uttered another hooded Jedi. "We don't know what the Separatists have down here."

At that moment, the sound of clanking could be heard in the distance. One of the ARC Troopers quickly looked around in panic.

"Wh...what was that?"

Suddenly, a scream could be heard from another ARC Trooper as he suddenly vanished, as if something had pulled him away. The Jedi and clones looked around, weapons at the ready.

"Think it's some sort of cave monster?" asked one of the clones. "I've heard horror stories of what happens down here."

"Shhh. You'll reveal it to u-"

At that moment, a white, bony-looking cyborg leaped down from the ceiling, towering over the Jedi and clone troopers as they prepared for a fight. Thrusting his arms out, he brandished two lightsabers before igniting them.

"Hello there."

The cyborg immediately charged one of the clone troopers, thrusting a saber through his chest. The rest of the troopers and Jedi looked on in fear as they began to attack in response. The cyborg was crafty however, spinning his lightsabers around so as to both deflect blaster bolts from the clones, and to parry lightsaber strikes from the Jedi. He was like a tornado, ravaging those around him. After several rounds of parrying, he leapt into the air again, hitting the ceiling, before lunging at one of the Jedi and pinning them to the ground with both of his feet. He then performed a somersault as he flinged the Jedi's body at a clone trooper aiming a blaster shot for him, causing the blaster to hit the wounded Jedi's body as he hit the clone. Two Jedi remained: one had a humanoid shape, and the other looked to have an insectoid build.

"Wh...what is this thing?"

"My name...is General Grievous."

Grievous spun his lightsabers on both sides of himself, scarring the ground as he walked towards his Jedi opponents. The humanoid Jedi attempted to charge in, but Grievous responded with a swift saber strike. Locking blades briefly, he retaliated with another saber slash from his left hand, cutting off the Jedi's right arm. Grievous then plunged a saber into the wounded Jedi's chest before looking to the insectoid Jedi. He looked...familiar.

"I made sure to save you for last."

Grievous charged at the Jedi with his sabers in hand, cartwheeling towards him like a wheel. Grievous's sabers hit the blue blade of the Jedi with immense impact as he performed a frontflip, knocking the Jedi into a wall. The Jedi's hood fell as he hit the wall, revealing his species to be that of a Huk.

"Looks like you'll be receiving a warrior's death this time you filthy Jedi."

Immediately, Grievous charged the Jedi with his lightsabers as the connection was made: this was the Kaleesh warrior the Huk had fought three months ago. Amidst the confusion, Grievous took down his final opponent as he stood in the catacombs. Jedi and clone trooper bodies littered the floor. At that moment, Grievous pulled out a hologram as he contacted Dooku.

"My lord, the Jedi strike team in the catacombs has been repelled."

"Excellent work General. Unfortunately, the battle up above has not gone to plan. Retreat from the planet as soon as you can."

"Yes my lord."

Grievous put his hologram away as he began to walk. Yet, he looked behind himself at the Jedi corpses. They each had one thing in common: a lightsaber being held within their hands. Grievous neared the corpses, picking up the sabers.

"The first of many fine additions."

Grievous later found himself aboard his newly-christened flagship, the Subjugator-class heavy cruiser dubbed the Malevolence. Sporting a massive ion cannon on both sides, as well as being four times larger than the Venator-class Star Destroyers used by the Republic, Grievous was more than impressed. Aboard the bridge of the ship, Grievous stood amongst multiple droids managing the ship's systems. He was...less than impressed with battle droids. They were flimsy, weak, and worst of all...stupid.

"Captain, put me through to Count Dooku," uttered Grievous as he looked to a nearby battle droid handling affairs on the bridge.

"Roger roger."

The droid pressed a few buttons as a hologram of Dooku emerged. Grievous immediately kneeled before it.

"My lord, I am most impressed with the Malevolence."

"It is among the finest ships in our navy," replied Dooku. "But we have more...pressing matters to discuss General."

"Of course my lord," replied Grievous as he got up. "How far has the war spread?"

"Very far. Already battles have broken out on Christophsis, Muunilinst, Hypori, and countless other worlds. While our commanders head efforts on those worlds, I have a...personal assignment I think you'd like."

"I would be more than happy to oblige my lord."

"Kalee is in a critical position in the galaxy. If we were to liberate it from the Huk, it would portray the Separatist cause in a positive light and paint the Republic as a faction supporting slavery."

"It will be done my lord."

"One more thing General. I would like you to meet someone."

At that moment, another hooded figure joined Dooku on the hologram as Grievous kneeled.

"This is my master, Darth Sidious," uttered Dooku.

"Hail, Lord Sidious," replied Grievous. "I only wish to serve."

"And serve you shall," replied Sidious.

"Soon, we will have a new order controlling the galaxy."