Second Battle of Theed

"The Federation Army's also much larger than we thought, and much stronger. Your Highness, this is a battle I do not think that we can win."

- Captain Panaka to Queen Amidala

The Second Battle of Theed (also called the Recapture of Theed or Battle of Theed Palace) was one of three linked battles that brought an end to the Invasion of Naboo. The Battle of Grassy Plains drew the majority of Trade Federation forces away from Theed allowing Naboo Royal Security Forces to covertly enter the city and take the remaining Federation forces by surprise. The successful initial stages of this battle allowed Naboo pilots to reach and launch their N-1 starfighters from Theed Hangar which began the Naboo Space Battle.

Had any of the three battles failed in its objective, it would have had disastrous results for one of the concurrent battles. Had the Battle of Grassy Plains not served as a diversion for the Federation army, the Naboo forces may not have had the element of surprise needed to allow their pilots access to their fighters. If the battle in space hadn't successfully destroyed the droid control ship, the Gungan Grand Army would likely have been decimated by the overwhelming flood of battle droids. Ultimately though, if the Naboo security forces had failed to capture Viceroy Gunray, all three battles would have been for naught as the Trade Federation would have returned with another droid army to reconquer the planet.

Entry to the Palace
"I thought the battle was going to take place far from here. This is too close!"

- Viceroy Nute Gunray

As the battle for Naboo raged on in the plains, a ready force of Naboo soldiers escorted the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, along with Captain Panaka and Padmé Amidala, into the capital city of Theed. The squad of Gian speeders and Flash speeders surprised and destroyed the Armored Assault Tank and infantry defenses  , allowing the team to enter the Theed Palace.



The battle raged on in the streets of the castle, and eventually into the Theed Hangar, where the team was pinned down by droidekas. Anakin Skywalker, taking refuge in a N-1 starfighter, destroyed the droids with the craft's laser blasts, allowing the other pilots to take off and the space battle to begin. Skywalker then proceeded to accidentally take off with the fighters auto-pilot, joining the battle above.

As they prepared to leave the hangar, they found their exit blocked by Darth Maul. Knowing the Naboo soldiers couldn't take the Sith Lord, the Jedi stepped forwards to confront Maul as the Naboo went to the alternate exit.

As the starfighters left the hangar, taking several casualties from an AAT hidden outside the hangar, the Jedi and Sith engaged in a duel that waged on into the Theed Generator Complex. Amidala, Panaka, and their security forces left the hangar relatively unscathed through a separate door.

Retaking of the Palace
"Your little insurrection is at an end, Your Highness. Time for you to sign the treaty and end this pointless debate in the Senate."

- Viceroy Nute Gunray



The Queen's battle continued to recapture the invaded Theed Royal Palace. She split up with her handmaiden, Sabé, who led a second squad of Naboo soldiers through the palace corridors.

Queen Amidala and Panaka with their own group tried to break through to the throne room where their target, Viceroy Nute Gunray, had made himself nicely at home. However, a squad of droidekas surrounded Amidala's rebels and forced their apparent surrender. Just before being led away, Amidala sent a distress signal to the second squad led by Sabé. The droidekas brought the Queen's squad to the throne room, then left the area, leaving only around a dozen flimsy B1 battle droids to accompany them into the room, where Nute Gunray and Rune Haako waited.

After being led to the throne room as captured enemies, the Queen and her protectors were not to be prisoners for long. Sabé and her team, responding to Amidala's signal, suddenly appeared and fooled Viceroy Gunray into thinking Sabé was the Queen. The battle droids were distracted just long enough for Amidala to unlock a secret compartment in the throne full of blasters and throw them to her fellow freedom fighters.



The confused battle droids were quickly shot down and the doors to the throne room jammed, locking in the Viceroy and his second-in-command, Rune Haako, with Queen Amidala's pistol ready to kill at a moment's notice. The two cowardly Neimoidians did not dare make any wrong moves. Two of the most prominent leaders of the Trade Federation were now in custody. Theed had been wrested back from Federation control.

Duel in Theed
"We'll handle this."

- Qui-Gon Jinn

Meanwhile, Darth Maul engaged Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan in a furious lightsaber duel. The trio fought through a pair of blast doors connecting the hangar to the Theed Generator Complex. On a catwalk across the Complex the duel raged for a long time, Maul being a more formidable opponent than either Jedi had ever faced before; wielding his double-bladed lightsaber with vicious efficiency. However, despite Maul's seeming dominance on the battlefield, he continually gave ground over the entire battle, leading the two Jedi into a labyrinth of catwalks.



The catwalk met a hall with laser fields. Obi-Wan had been knocked down several stories by Maul, and by the time Obi-Wan caught up to the two combatants, he was imprisoned by laser barriers. This left Qui-Gon to duel alone with Maul. Despite being considered one of the best lightsaber duelists in the Jedi Order, Qui-Gon could not keep up with the Sith Lord's youth; this coupled with the restriction of the narrow catwalk around the melting pit, which kept Qui-Gon from using his Ataru style to its full capacity. Eventually, Maul slammed the wide handle of his lightsaber into Qui-Gon's face, stunning the Jedi Master, and the merciless Sith Lord quickly took the moment to stab Qui-Gon in the chest, while Obi-Wan could only watch in horror. Finally the laser fields switched off, and Obi-Wan ran through to avenge his master's fatal blow.

Overcome with hatred, Obi-Wan lashed out on Maul and succeeded in slicing the Sith Lord's double-bladed lightsaber hilt in half, leaving Maul with only one blade. However, the Sith Lord remained in control and eventually Force pushed Obi-Wan into the melting pit. The Jedi Padawan clung for his life on a power node and watched as Maul kicked Obi-Wan's fallen lightsaber into the pit.

As the Sith Lord taunted him with lightsaber strikes on the edge of the pit, Obi-Wan was able to relax his nerves and focus on the light side. He flung himself out of the pit, Force-guided his master's lightsaber into his hand, and landed with a single sweeping death blow.



The Sith Lord fell into the melting pit, neatly sliced in two. By then, the rest of Naboo had been liberated and the Invasion of Naboo was over.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace novel
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comic
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace game
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace junior novel
 * Star Wars: Battle for Naboo
 * Episode I: Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Precipice
 * Star Wars Republic 68: Armor
 * The Last of the Jedi: Death on Naboo
 * Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force
 * Revelation

Non-canon appearances

 * Old Wounds
 * Phantom Menaces
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga

Notes and references
Segunda Batalla de Theed Toinen Theedin taistelu