The three-faction conflict known as the Battle for the Eclipse involved the Zann Consortium, the Alliance to Restore the Republic, and the Galactic Empire. The battle's focus was control of the planet Kuat, a crucial hub for numerous shipbuilding facilities.
Tyber Zann, leading his criminal consortium, arrived in the Kuat system with a private fleet. His goal was to exploit the disorder following the Battle of Endor and the Galactic Empire's gradual collapse. He intended to board the Eclipse-class dreadnought to gain access to classified data stored within its secure vaults.
The Consortium's fleet encountered a Rebel fleet whose intention was to weaken the Empire's ship production by raiding the system. When contacted by the Rebel fleet, Tyber Zann falsely claimed they wished to join the Rebel Alliance, having heard of their victory at Endor. Han Solo then asked for his assistance in destroying the Eclipse, promising significant rewards for him and his fleet if successful. Zann then proposed that they eliminate three Cardan V-class space stations guarding the Eclipse to reach it. Solo also cautioned him that if he suspected Zann's betrayal, he would eliminate him without hesitation, before wishing him luck. The initial Rebel 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, along with a large complement of fighters. They deployed additional ships as reinforcements when necessary. However, this alliance dissolved when Zann's forces betrayed the Rebels and seized the Eclipse, while the Rebels aimed to destroy it.
Despite facing both the Rebel fleet and the local Imperial defense forces, the Consortium relentlessly advanced, simultaneously infiltrating and seizing control of the partially completed Eclipse.
By using the Eclipse's unstable superlaser cannon, Zann's forces gained an advantage. Their primary target became the Millennium Falcon, which sustained heavy damage. After several shots from the Eclipse, the superlaser malfunctioned. Immediately following this, Admiral Gaarn arrived, commanding the Star Dreadnought Annihilator. At this moment, the battle seemed to shift in favor of the Empire. However, the Consortium deployed further reinforcements and ultimately succeeded in destroying the Annihilator. Shortly thereafter, the Consortium team aboard the Eclipse managed to repair the superlaser, utilizing it to eliminate the remaining Imperial and Rebel forces.
Ultimately, the Consortium achieved victory, but at a significant cost of lives and ships from all three factions.
After discovering information about Palpatine's vaults within the Eclipse's databases, Zann determined that seizing the vessel was unnecessary, as it would be too conspicuous a target for the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance. Tyber announced his intentions to expand his organization throughout the galaxy using the credits within the vaults, and decided to allow the Alliance to establish the New Republic, as he had always wanted to "own a senator." The Empire reclaimed the Eclipse and later finished its construction. Elsewhere on the Eclipse, Silri used the holocron that was stolen from the Imperial Archives and promised to "teach Zann what true power really is" and accessed a galactic map.
A software error in the game Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption can sometimes lead to the Millennium Falcon's destruction during the battle, instead of its intended retreat.
The events that trigger the Eclipse's superlaser failure and the Annihilator's arrival are completing both objectives of 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 wants before the objectives are cleared.