The Meridian Complex assault stands as a pivotal and conclusive engagement during the Third Galactic War's resurgence, pitting the Sith Empire against the Galactic Republic. The Empire unleashed its formidable fleet upon the Republic planet of Corellia, aiming to obliterate the advanced Meridian Complex shipyard.
As the third Galactic War ignited, the Republic's naval capabilities struggled to match the Sith Empire's, which had experienced a considerable resurgence under the leadership of Empress Darth Acina following their setbacks in the Eternal Empire conquest. Republic strategists successfully erected a colossal shipyard on Corellia, known as the Meridian Complex, boasting the capacity to produce starships at three times the rate of Imperial facilities while consuming only half the energy.
The Empire became aware of the shipyard's existence through intelligence gathered by Darth Xarion's agents within Sith Intelligence, marking it as a high-priority target to neutralize before it could become operational. Darth Krovos and Darth Malgus assembled a substantial armada for the assault by consolidating their frontline positions, withdrawing all but the most essential warships, and securing sufficient fuel transports to enable the Imperial fleet to jump directly to Corellia without requiring refueling stops.
General Ardinondu Dipolus Daeruun received intelligence about the Empire's impending assault and initiated the mobilization of available Republic fleets to defend Corellia. Regrettably, the Eleventh Fleet and the Twenty-Ninth Fleet were compelled to make refueling stops at Onderon and Mek-Sha, and Daeruun anticipated that the Empire's elite operatives would attempt to sabotage them. Simultaneously, the Commander of the Eternal Alliance arrived to bolster the Republic's defensive forces.
As the battle commenced, the Empire deployed two fleets under Malgus' command, equipped with Silencer-equipped dreadnoughts and isotope-5 vessels, which engaged the Republic fleet in a direct confrontation. Simultaneously, a third fleet, led by Krovos, emerged from hyperspace on the opposite side of Corellia, initiating an orbital bombardment of the planet's surface in an attempt to divert Republic forces from the main battle. Amidst the chaos, Malgus led a contingent of shuttles, initially concealed by the isotope-5 ships to evade Republic sensors, down to the planet's surface, launching a ground assault on the Meridian Complex. By the time the Republic ships discerned the unfolding events, they were unable to engage Malgus' landing party without risking friendly fire.
The Alliance Commander directed the Alliance fleet to engage Krovos' fleet. Landing on Corellia, the Commander, accompanied by Jedi Knight Tau Idair and Padawan Arn Peralun, pursued Malgus to the Meridian complex. Upon encountering Tharan Cedrax, he revealed to his rescuers that he had rerouted the facility's shield controls to an auxiliary station located near the spire's summit. The trio ascended to the spire's peak, where they confronted Malgus, who had already disabled the shields. Following an intense duel, a defeated yet impressed Malgus acknowledged the veracity of the rumors surrounding the Commander's defeat of Vitiate. Refusing to concede defeat, Malgus employed the Force to collapse an overhead machine onto the platform. While Idair and Peralun escaped to safety, the Commander leaped across the chasm to the auxiliary station and reactivated the shipyard's defenses, which commenced firing upon the Imperial fleet, compelling Krovos to order a retreat. Malgus also managed to escape, with Daeruun noting that there were no ships fleeing towards Imperial space.
Aboard Carrick Station, the Commander received an invitation to join Task Force Nova, a collaborative military-civilian initiative dedicated to reuniting the Jedi Order and establishing a new homeworld for them. Furthermore, Supreme Chancellor Galena Rans extended a formal offer to integrate the Alliance and Odessen into the Republic, guaranteeing amnesty and citizenship for members with criminal backgrounds or those originating from outside the Republic. After careful consideration, the Commander accepted, and the Alliance was officially incorporated into the Galactic Republic.
The victory at Corellia served as a powerful symbol of hope for the Republic, significantly boosting morale and reaffirming its authority on the galactic stage following the Eternal Empire's conquest. Subsequently, Republic forces launched an offensive, achieving significant gains in the Atrivis, Bormea, and Anoat sectors.
If the player maintains loyalty to the Empire, the Republic's fleet strength will be severely diminished due to sabotage operations carried out on Onderon and Mek-Sha, potentially leading to the elimination of both the Eleventh and Twenty-Ninth Fleets. Prior to the assault, the Commander can either encourage Darth Krovos to minimize civilian casualties and prioritize strategic targets, earning light side points, or endorse her indiscriminate bombardment of Corellia.
During the ground assault, the Commander collaborates with Major Anri to reach the Meridian Complex, where they confront Tharan Cedrax. He divulges that Tau Idair rerouted the shield controls to the spire's summit before destroying the primary controls. As Malgus arrives, the Commander faces the decision of executing Cedrax, taking him prisoner, or using him as a human shield under Anri's command.
The Commander and Malgus then engage Idair and a squad of Republic troopers in combat. After subduing Idair, the Jedi desperately brings down an overhead machine onto the platform, causing it to collapse. The Commander manages to reach the auxiliary controls and lower the shields, enabling the Imperial fleet to obliterate the Meridian Complex.
In the aftermath, the Commander attends a gathering of the Dark Council aboard Vaiken Spacedock. Darth Xarion reports that the destruction of the Meridian Complex has forced the Republic to retreat from numerous worlds, allowing Krovos to spearhead invasions and seize the most valuable territories within weeks.
As the Dark Council adjourns, Empress Acina (or Emperor Vowrawn, depending on whom the Commander supported in the War on Iokath) concludes that the council is better suited for administrative tasks rather than critical wartime operations. Consequently, the responsibility will be delegated to a new Emperor's Hand, composed not of murderous fanatics like its predecessor, but of the Empire's most capable and loyal frontline personnel, particularly candidates from the Alliance. The Commander receives an invitation to rejoin the Empire, with Alliance members granted full citizenship. Sith Warrior players can reclaim their title as Empire's Wrath; Sith Inquisitor players can regain their seat on the Dark Council and all their past holdings; Bounty Hunter players can simply gain the title of Hunter for the purpose of hunting down the Empire's enemies; and Imperial Agent players can attain the rank of Keeper and manage intelligence operations independent of Xarion's Sith Intelligence. Alternatively, the Alliance can maintain its independence while collaborating more closely with the Hand than the Dark Council.
Separately, while Malgus is under medical care, a medical droid removes the explosive implant used to control him, much to the Imperial doctor's dismay. The droid notes that, unlike the other damage Malgus sustained, the implant was damaged by a high-heat implement, before Malgus regains consciousness and draws his lightsaber, demanding both the droid and a ship.