Zero Company fights the war beneath the war. While Republic and Separatist forces clash in grand campaigns across the galaxy, this shadow organization operates in the spaces between official doctrine and public knowledge. The Clone Wars presented countless opportunities for such covert operations, and these five battles would make compelling scenarios for the upcoming strategy game.
These operations must work within established Star Wars canon without altering major historical outcomes. Zero Company’s missions focus on intelligence gathering, asset extraction, and preventing secondary threats while the primary battles unfold as history records them. Their actions matter tactically but don’t reshape the galaxy.
Battle of Kamino (22 BBY)
The Separatist assault on Kamino targeted clone production facilities, but intelligence networks on both sides knew secondary research programs operated in the facility’s lower levels. Zero Company would infiltrate during the chaos, tasked with extracting compromised intelligence assets before they fell into enemy hands.
Mission parameters would involve small-team infiltration of Tipoca City’s service levels while Republic forces defended the main platforms above. Players navigate flooded corridors, disable security systems, and extract personnel whose capture could reveal Republic intelligence networks. The challenge comes from operating undetected by both sides while managing limited resources in a deteriorating environment.
Siege of Ryloth (22 BBY)
Wat Tambor’s occupation of Ryloth created a humanitarian crisis that Republic forces struggled to address through conventional warfare. Zero Company’s mission would centre on disrupting Separatist supply chains and enabling Twi’lek resistance cells before the main Republic assault began. This isn’t rescue work – it’s strategic preparation.
Players would coordinate with underground resistance fighters, sabotage key infrastructure, and eliminate high-value Separatist officers while avoiding civilian casualties. The scenario emphasizes resource management and timing, as premature action alerts security forces while delayed operations leave resistance cells vulnerable to discovery and execution.
Second Battle of Geonosis (21 BBY)
Republic intelligence detected unusual Separatist activities in Geonosis’s abandoned foundries months before the main invasion. Zero Company would deploy to gather intelligence on new battle droid variants being tested in the underground facilities, information that could help Republic forces prepare for the assault.
The scenario involves navigating complex industrial environments while avoiding both battle droids and the native brain worms that infest the facility. Players gather technical data and samples while managing contamination risks. The intelligence collected helps Republic commanders understand what they’ll face, but the foundries continue operating until the main assault destroys them.
Battle of Umbara (21 BBY)
General Pong Krell’s betrayal during the Umbara campaign created intelligence gaps that threatened ongoing Republic operations on other worlds. Zero Company would exploit the breakdown in command structure to extract critical strategic data from Umbaran military networks before Separatist forces could access it.
This scenario presents unique challenges as players must avoid detection by Republic forces operating under compromised leadership while penetrating Umbaran installations. The mission requires careful timing and route planning, as Krell’s erratic orders create both opportunities and dangers. The extracted intelligence prevents Separatist advances on other fronts while Umbara itself follows its canonical outcome.
Invasion of Scipio (20 BBY)
The Banking Clan’s manipulation of Republic finances created opportunities for financial intelligence gathering that could expose similar operations on other worlds. Zero Company would infiltrate corporate networks during the Republic occupation to document the Clan’s methods and identify other compromised financial institutions.
Players navigate corporate facilities during the chaos of the occupation, accessing secured data networks and copying financial records before they can be destroyed. The scenario emphasizes stealth and electronic warfare capabilities. The intelligence gathered helps prevent similar schemes elsewhere, while Scipio’s immediate situation resolves according to established canon.
Operating in the Shadows
Each scenario places Zero Company in situations where their shadow operations complement but don’t interfere with established Star Wars narrative. They operate in the margins where conventional forces cannot or will not go, addressing threats that require deniability and specialized capabilities. The missions emphasize the strategic thinking and resource management that define XCOM-style gameplay while respecting the established timeline and outcomes of the Clone Wars.
These battles offer varied environments, from underwater facilities to underground industrial complexes, corporate headquarters to alien worlds. Each presents distinct tactical challenges while maintaining focus on the covert operations that define Zero Company’s role in the larger conflict. Based on what we know about Zero Company’s development, these scenarios would fit perfectly within the base game’s campaign structure.