Battle of Sepan 8

Prior to this engagement, the Dimoks and the Ripoblus had been engaged in a protracted civil war, spanning four decades across the entirety of the Sepan system. Following the Galactic Empire's deployment of Admiral Harkov, with the mission to forcibly quell the conflict and restore order, the Dimoks and Ripoblus opted to reconcile their differences. Their goal was to establish a unified front against the Imperial presence. The meeting was planned to occur above Sepan 8 within Lambda-class T-4a shuttles. The Imperials grew worried about the potential alliance, so Harkov was dispatched to seize the leaders, thereby preventing the alliance and coercing both factions into a peaceful resolution without further dissent.

Harkov dispatched four Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wings from Nu Squadron to intercept the Dimok and Ripoblus fleets assembling above Sepan 8. Maarek Stele served as Nu 2 in this operation. Their directive was to neutralize the shuttles Keydon and Phantele before the commencement of any negotiations. The Imperial forces initially eliminated the Ripoblus Delta-class JV-7 escort shuttles and the Dimok Z-95 Headhunters that were actively patrolling the designated area. Following this, the Imperials targeted the two shuttles, successfully disabling them. Subsequently, two Imperial Delta-class DX-9 stormtrooper transports belonging to Omega Squadron executed a hyperspace jump into the area to apprehend the leaders. Gunboats from Tau Squadron then appeared to provide security for the transports.

Determined to thwart the capture, the Dimoks deployed additional Z-95 squadrons from the Nebulon-B2 frigate Manus Ferre, with the objective of destroying Omega Squadron. The Ripoblus augmented their forces by dispatching more escort shuttle squadrons as reinforcement. The Dimoks requested the support of various capital ships, including the Light Calamari Cruiser Falaricae. Despite fierce resistance from both factions, Stele and his wingmen decimated the enemy squadrons, allowing Omega Group to successfully extract all of the prisoners. The shuttles Keydon and Phantele were subsequently destroyed. Stele successfully held off the enemy forces while the transports departed with their captives. Before his departure, he inspected two Dimok cargo ferries, Glaive and Godendag, escorted by CR92a Assassin-class corvette Runka, which were confirmed to be transporting Imperial arms. He proceeded to destroy the ferries to prevent their use in the ongoing conflict.

Despite the operation's apparent success, the prisoners captured by the Imperials were revealed to be the children, not the leaders, of the Dimok and Ripoblus. These children were intended to be exchanged as hostages, ensuring the compliance of their respective factions as part of a newly established treaty. The treaty aimed to unite both sides against the Imperials. The Imperial forces detained the children, but whether they were ultimately returned home following the war remains uncertain. The alliance proved short-lived, as the Imperials crushed the system's resistance through a series of brutal skirmishes, effectively crippling the Dimok and Ripoblus militaries.

Stele's discovery of additional Imperial weaponry among the two factions intensified suspicions of an Imperial traitor profiting from the sale of arms to various groups. The Imperials were committed to uncovering the traitor's identity, but it was only after his betrayal that Admiral Harkov's disloyalty to the Empire was exposed.

This battle is depicted in the game Star Wars: TIE Fighter, specifically as Battle 2 Mission 4. The player assumes the role of Maarek Stele, assigned as one of the Gunboats in Nu Squadron. The player has the option to inspect the Cargo ferries and modified corvette as part of the secondary objectives. Inspecting the capital ships is a bonus objective, but it is hidden from the player.