Antar Atrocity

The roots of the Antar Atrocity can be traced back to the Separatist Crisis. During this tumultuous period, thousands of star systems severed ties with the Galactic Republic and pledged their allegiance to Count Dooku, the leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Among these worlds was Antar 4, a long-standing member of the Republic since its inception. The secession was sparked by a schism among Antar 4's population, where terrorist groups aligned with the Separatists began to gain influence. Loyalists to the Republic of the Gotal species managed to maintain their power until after the First Battle of Geonosis, but eventually, Antar 4 fell under Separatist control. Millions of Gotal sought refuge on Atzerri, a colony world, while Separatist-aligned species such as Koorivar, Gossams, and others replaced them. Despite the formation of a resistance group by some Gotal and Koorivar loyalists, Antar 4 remained under Separatist dominion.

The Clone Wars concluded with Dooku's demise at the Battle of Coruscant, the destruction of General Grievous during the Battle of Utapau, and the elimination of the Separatist Council during the mission to Mustafar. With the Confederate state's collapse, the Republic declared victory over the Separatists. Following the war's end, Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine proclaimed himself Emperor and transformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire, promising a new era of peace, prosperity, and security for all inhabitants of the galaxy.

In the Empire's initial phase, former Separatist worlds, including Antar 4, became targets of Imperial forces to quell any lingering Separatist resistance. Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, a key figure in numerous post-Clone Wars operations, received the assignment to set an example with the previously rebellious world. Tarkin, a proficient commanding officer renowned for his ability to suppress remaining Separatist opposition throughout the galaxy, spearheaded the effort. In 18 BBY, the Empire launched an invasion of Antar 4, subjugating its population. Tarkin, displaying his characteristic brutal efficiency, made no distinction between Separatists and Imperial loyalists, conducting mass arrests, executions, and massacres. This operation exemplified his service to the Imperial regime and foreshadowed his future career.

Despite attempts by the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order to conceal the deaths of numerous loyalists, the news media uncovered the events, labeling them the Antar Atrocity. This incident sparked controversy and drew attention from citizens of the Core Worlds, who demanded answers regarding the atrocities. To distance himself from the contentious events, the Emperor reassigned Moff Tarkin, his ally, from Antar 4 to pacification operations in the Western Reaches. Subsequently, Tarkin was assigned to the Outer Rim Territories to oversee the construction of the Death Star, the Emperor's Deep Space Orbital Battle Station. The creation of the battle station would render invasions like the Antar Atrocity unnecessary. The mere threat of the station would force entire star systems into submission.

Anora Fair, a prominent reporter, collaborated with Hask Taff to document the arrests and massacres of the Antar Atrocity. They received assistance from Berch Teller, a disillusioned former Republic intelligence operative who provided crucial information for their reporting. Recognizing this, COMPNOR targeted them for assassination, but Teller managed to evacuate himself and his colleagues before the Empire could eliminate them.

In 14 BBY, Teller established a small cell of resistance fighters, including Fair and Taff, to fight against the Empire. They stole the Carrion Spike, Moff Tarkin's personal vessel, and employed it to inflict damage and sow chaos across the galaxy. The Empire eventually apprehended and quietly executed Teller's comrades, while Teller himself escaped. He later tracked Tarkin to his homeworld of Eriadu, where he attempted to assassinate the now promoted Grand Moff Tarkin. However, Tarkin and his uncle Jova thwarted his attempt, leaving Teller to fend for himself in the wilderness.