The Battle for the Eclipse was a three-way battle between the Zann Consortium, the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire over the planet Kuat, a headquarters for many shipbuilding yards.
Tyber Zann arrived with a fleet in the Kuat system intent on taking advantage of the chaos following the Battle of Endor and the steady disintegration of the Galactic Empire, by boarding the Eclipse-class dreadnought and accessing secret information stored in its vaults.
The Consortium fleet encountered a Rebel fleet wanting to raid the system to destabilize the Empire's fleet production. Tyber Zann, when hailed by the Rebel fleet, claimed that they wished to join the alliance due to hearing of their victory at Endor. Han Solo then requested his aid in destroying the Eclipse, promising to reward him and his fleet greatly if they succeed. Zann then suggested that they destroy three Cardan V-class space stations guarding the Eclipse if they were to reach it. Han Solo also warned him that if he even suspected that Zann will double-cross them, he wouldn't waste any time taking him out, before wishing him luck. The rebel's initial fleet consisted of 4 MC80 Liberty type Star Cruisers, 2 Mk. II Assault Frigates, 2 Nebulon-B frigates, 3 DP20 frigates, 1 CR90 corvette, the Millennium Falcon, and a large number of fighters. They brought in more ships as reinforcements were needed. However, this truce was broken when Zann's forces double-crossed the rebels and captured the Eclipse, as the rebels sought to destroy it.
Although they were confronted with both a Rebel fleet and the local Imperial defense fleet, the Consortium pushed onwards, all the while performing an infiltration and takeover of the half-complete Eclipse.
Kuat under attack
Utilizing the semi-stable superlaser cannon of the Eclipse, Zann's forces gained the upper hand. They then focused on destroying the Millennium Falcon. The Millennium Falcon was severely damaged. After a few shots from the Eclipse, the superlaser broke down. This was followed immediately by the arrival of Admiral Gaarn, who commanded the Star Dreadnought Annihilator. At this point, it seemed as though the fight would swing in the Empire's favor. However, the Consortium brought in more reinforcements, and eventually managed to destroy the Annihilator. Shortly afterward, the Consortium team aboard the Eclipse managed to repair the superlaser, used it to mop up the rest of the Imperials and Rebels.
The Consortium emerged victorious in the end, but at the cost of many lives and ships on all three sides.
Having found information about Palpatine's vaults in the Eclipses databanks, Zann decided to abandon the vessel, as it was too big a target for the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance to ignore. Tyber announced his plans to spread his organization galaxy-wide using the credits in the vaults, and decided to let the Rebel Alliance form the New Republic, having always desired to "own a senator." The Empire reclaimed the Eclipse and later completed it. Elsewhere on the Eclipse, Silri utilized the holocron that was stolen from the Imperial Archives and vowed to "teach Zann what true power really is" and accessed a map of the galaxy.
A bug in the game Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption sometimes results in the Millennium Falcon being destroyed during the battle, rather than retreating.
The trigger for the Eclipse's superlaser breaking down along with the Annihilator's arrival is completing both of the objectives for driving away the Falcon and destroying the three Cardan V-class space stations. If one of the objectives is not met, the superlaser can be fired as many times as the player wills before the objectives are cleared.
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Essential Atlas
- The Essential Guide to Warfare