Starliners passing through the field in the years surrounding the Clone Wars had to engage in silent running protocol to avoid detection by the pirates from nearby Merson. Prior to the war, these pirates scuttled a liner carrying many Sy Myrthians returning to Sy Myrth from Coruscant as a result of their planet's secession from the Galactic Republic.
During the Clone Wars, Tap-Nar-Pal and Gilad Pellaeon led Republic forces in orbit over Merson and in the asteroid belt against the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Ronhar Kim led ground forces on Merson itself. The battle was set up by Darth Sidious to ensure the deaths of Kim and Tap-Nar-Pal, and Pellaeon was forced to withdraw from the conflict, leaving the Jedi and the ground forces to their doom.
Obi-Wan Kenobi later saved a luxury cruiser from being destroyed in the field by the Merson pirates.
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia