But Hondo then squandered whatever good will he’d garnered on Onderon by hijacking the Jedi training ship Crucible to steal the valuable kyber crystals on board.

Ahsoka dueled Hondo while the younglings aboard the Crucible escaped, but she was captured by Hondo’s pirates. Robbed of his precious crystals, Hondo decided to turn a profit by ransoming the Padawan instead.

Held captive on Florrum, Ahsoka urged Hondo to reconsider: The Republic would not pay a ransom for her, and the Separatists weren’t trustworthy. Hondo told her he had another plan in mind: He knew an underworld figure who’d pay handsomely for a female Jedi – alive or dead.

The Crucible’s younglings decided to rescue Ahsoka, and joined a traveling circus visiting Florrum. Posing as an acrobat troupe called the Animal Instincts, they entertained Hondo, distracting him and freeing Ahsoka.

Hondo sent a party of his pirates to recapture Ahsoka and the younglings, but while they were away General Grievous invaded Florrum, avenging Hondo’s long-ago attempt to hold Dooku for ransom. The cybernetic warlord told Hondo that he and his brigands now had a new master.

The pirates and the Jedi joined forces and freed Hondo. Swinging lightsabers and vibroswords, they attacked Grievous’s forces and broke free – but were pursued by the Separatist warlord himself.

Hondo and Katooni reached a secret hangar where the pirate boss kept a number of ships, including the rebuilt Slave I. Hondo intended to abandon the other Jedi and invited Katooni to join his merry band of pirates, but she refused, reminding Hondo that Ahsoka and the others had trusted him. The pirate boss reluctantly returned to the fight, helping the others escape Grievous.

After his pirate ships joined a Republic task force, Hondo claimed he’d always intended to rescue the younglings, and tried to get Obi-Wan Kenobi to compensate him for his trouble. When Obi-Wan noted his attack on the Crucible, the pirate stormed off in indignation, saying he’d send the Jedi his bill.

Hondo’s gang rebuilt their base on Florrum, but soon ran afoul of a new threat: Darth Maul and Savage Opress. The two bullied a group of Hondo’s pirates into joining them in a rebellion against their boss, then issued Hondo an ultimatum: Serve them or be destroyed.

With the help of the Jedi, Hondo beat back the rebellion, then welcomed the turncoat pirates back into the fold and attacked the two Sith.

The Sith attack was repulsed, though the damage to Hondo’s operation was considerable. The pirate boss swore he’d rebuild – more adventures and opportunities for profit awaited him.