In the year 13 ABY, while on patrol near the minor planet RZ7-6113-23, the New Republic ship named Endor suffered an ambush. The attackers were from the Restored Empire, a group of Imperial extremists led by the Warlord Devian, who were in disagreement with the Imperial Remnant's leadership.
After the Imperial Ruling Council was dissolved, the New Republic increased patrols to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. This was done to suppress any potential insurrections or remaining pockets of Imperial resistance. General Han Solo often led these operations, using what he termed "aggressive negotiations."
Meanwhile, the Imperial Warlord Devian grew suspicious of the Imperial Remnant under the command of Admiral Gilad Pellaeon. Fearing a possible truce between the Empire and the New Republic, Devian and his loyalists broke away from the Remnant. They believed it had betrayed the original ideals of the late Emperor Palpatine. Devian and his followers seized control of a warehouse located on the Class-6 planetoid RZ7-6113-23. This warehouse, commissioned secretly in Palpatine's early reign, contained Clone Wars-era starships that were officially discontinued. Devian's objective was to create a military force potent enough to overthrow both the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant. These Imperial "hardliners" then named themselves the "Restored Empire."
While on patrol in the sector containing RZ7-6113-23, the Endor encountered a pair of TIE/sr starfighters. Given the limited range of these scouts, their presence suggested a nearby Imperial base. Therefore, the captain of the cruiser ordered the crew to covertly track the TIEs. When the two scouts changed course towards the planetoid, the captain's suspicions were confirmed. However, as the cruiser's sensors registered a massive energy surge from a cannon near the ground base, the captain realized they had fallen into a trap and ordered an immediate withdrawal. Unfortunately, his realization came too late, and a single shot from the fully charged cannon destroyed the cruiser.
Following the devastating ambush, news of Devian's scheme reached Vima-Da-Boda, a Jedi within Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order. She immediately alerted Skywalker to the significant threat posed to the New Republic, specifically warning him about Devian.
Shortly after the devastating ambush, the Restored Empire engaged the services of the infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett. His mission was to transport Kir Kanos, a former member of the Imperial guardsmen, from the remote planet Meenka to their base on RZ7.
The opening scene of Star Wars: Crimson Empire III—Empire Lost, the final installment of the Star Wars: Crimson Empire trilogy, depicts the ambush of the Dauntless cruiser. It appears in the first issue.