During the events of the Mid Rim Retreat, in 3 ABY, a significant battle unfolded in a desolate star system located within the Metatessu sector. This clash involved the 61st Mobile Infantry of the Rebel Alliance against an Imperial navy destroyer of the Galactic Empire. The destroyer had traced a hypermatter signature emitted by the 61st's CR90 corvette, the Thunderstrike, and subsequently launched an ambush on the Alliance battle group within the system; however, the rebel starships successfully achieved escape.
As part of the Mid Rim Retreat in 3 ABY, the CR90 corvette named Thunderstrike, which served as the troop carrier for the Rebel Alliance's 61st Mobile Infantry, sustained damage to its hyperdrive. This malfunction resulted in the leakage of a hypermatter trail.
Imperial officers under the command of Prelate Verge and Captain Tabor Seitaron, operating from the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Herald, detected the hypermatter trail. Coordinating with other Imperial forces, an Imperial destroyer launched a surprise attack on the 61st while the battle group was performing repairs on the Thunderstrike. This occurred at the edge of a desolate star system within the Metatessu sector. As the destroyer approached within firing range, the Thunderstrike's escort, the Braha'tok-class gunship known as Apailana's Promise, along with its two X-wing starfighters, promptly engaged to defend the corvette. The 61st quickly evacuated the system, initiating a jump to hyperspace, but not before one of the X-wings suffered damage from a glancing turbolaser hit.
The Empire launched two subsequent attacks on the 61st within the Metatessu sector, leading to the discovery of how the battle group's starships were being tracked. During a later debriefing, Lieutenant Sairgon remarked that the Imperial forces had, up to that point, only managed to harass the 61st.
The Metatessu sector battle is depicted in the 2015 novel titled Battlefront: Twilight Company, authored by Alexander Freed.