In the year 3 ABY, Crimson Dawn, a criminal syndicate, orchestrated what became known as the Auction for Han Solo, the Auction on Jekara, or the auction of Han Solo. This event took place on the planet Jekara, and the subject of the auction was none other than the carbonite-encased rebel smuggler Han Solo. Crimson Dawn had stole Solo from Boba Fett, the bounty hunter, on the moon Nar Shaddaa. Lady Qi'ra, the leader of Crimson Dawn, planned this auction to demonstrate the organization's resurgence to the major galactic powers. Despite widespread belief that Crimson Dawn had vanished, they had secretly been developing a significant plan to announce their return.
Several factions were invited to participate in the auction, including Black Sun, represented by Lord Gyuti; the Galactic Empire, whose representative was Sub-Administrator Sly Moore, who also sought to capture Solo for the Sith Lord Darth Vader; the Hutt Clan, represented by the Grand Hutt Council; and the Unbroken Clan under the leadership of General Vukorah. The Rebel Alliance learned about the auction due to Amilyn Holdo, prompting Leia Organa, Lando Calrissian, and Chewbacca to journey to Jekara with the intention of rescuing Solo.
Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra and the smuggler Sana Starros were also present at the auction, dispatched by Domina Tagge of TaggeCo. Aphra's goal, however, was to pilfer from the wealthy attendees. Fett also made his way to the auction, determined to reclaim Solo. As the auction proceeded, numerous bids were placed for Solo, with Jabba Desilijic Tiure eventually securing possession of the smuggler for a sum of one million credits.
As Jabba prepared to depart Jekara, Vader appeared at the auction site, asserting his claim over Solo. Despite Jabba's eventual concession of Solo, Qira insisted that the Empire provide the credits in return. Upon Vader's refusal, Qi'ra made the decision to fight the Sith Lord, leveraging her past experiences with Maul, her former superior. Vader swiftly disarmed Qira and was about to eliminate her, but sensing the arrival of his son, Luke Skywalker, Qira quickly escaped. Vader instructed his Star Destroyer to establish contact with Skywalker, which they successfully did. Vader then delivered his ultimatum to his son: failure to confront him would result in Solo being cut in half. Luke Skywalker, calming his companions, used the Force to communicate to his father his willingness to face him in his X-wing. Vader accepted his son's challenge and commanded that Solo be transported to his Star Destroyer. While an Imperial shuttle transported Solo, the Millennium Falcon followed closely behind, disabling the shuttle with assistance from Lobot. However, a seismic charge launched from Slave I forced them to retreat. Before Fett, now accompanied by the cyborg bounty hunter Beilert Valance, could intercept the shuttle, the Hutts deployed all their ships toward the shuttle, revealing their motive for allowing Vader to take Solo.
Amidst the ensuing chaos, Doctor Aphra managed to retrieve a Crimson Dawn spy's necklace containing crucial underworld information, but she was apprehended and imprisoned. Following her escape from prison with her crew, they nearly succeeded in re-stealing the necklace, only to be thwarted by Deathstick's intervention.