Battle of the Bajic Shipyards

For an extended period, Ororo Transportation, a cover organization for the Tenloss Syndicate, had been running the shipyard situated in the Vergesso Asteroids. The Rebel Alliance established a crucial base there following the Battle of Yavin. The Galactic Civil War led to some unlikely partnerships, with certain Rebel members questioning the collaboration with a corporation linked to organized crime. However, the arrangement proved mutually advantageous, as the resource-deprived Alliance benefited from having such a facility at their disposal, while the presence of Rebel forces bolstered the defenses of the syndicate's shipyard and deterred retaliatory actions from rival criminal groups. Nebulon-B frigates were frequently hidden within the asteroid field. To conserve resources and minimize detection, they often powered down most systems, drifting among the asteroids. However, achieving combat readiness could take as long as 45 minutes.

Aeron and Ace Azzameen were informed by their friend, the Rebel pilot Olin Garn, that the Alliance base in the Vergesso Asteroids was facing a critical shortage of supplies. The siblings joined forces to seize supplies from the Viraxo, a rival shipping family. During the raid, Black Sun Supa Fighters intervened to aid the Viraxo Razor-class Starfighters. The Azzameen's vessel managed to escape to the Vergesso Asteroids, but were followed by a pair of Supa Fighters. Although the fighters were ultimately destroyed, the Rebel outpost was exposed to the Black Sun organization. Seeking to curry favor with Emperor Palpatine (and simultaneously undermine Darth Vader), Prince Xizor divulged the location of the outpost in the Bajic sector, claiming that a significant number of Rebel ships were undergoing repairs at the facility. Xizor also had ulterior motives, as Ororo Transportation (unbeknownst to the Tenloss Syndicate) had recently been attempting to seize control of Black Sun's spice operations in the Bajic sector. The Emperor assigned Vader the task of personally overseeing the destruction of the shipyard, despite Vader's reservations, as he deemed his presence unnecessary, believing that any competent officer could successfully complete the mission. He chose Admiral Ledre Okins to accompany him in commanding the Executor for the operation. This maneuver served a dual purpose for Xizor. It not only enhanced his standing with Palpatine but also served as a fitting punishment for Ororo Transportation for daring to provoke the ire of Black Sun.

Almost exactly one week after Xizor revealed the shipyard's location, Imperial forces emerged from hyperspace near the base. Vader's brought his flagship, the Executor, along with the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Avenger and two Victory II-class Star Destroyers, making it seem like a simple operation. However, before Okins could engage the shipyard, several Rebel capital ships appeared from behind the asteroid, presenting a much greater challenge. The Rebels immediately launched over a dozen starfighters to confront the Imperial task force, much to Okins' annoyance. He instructed the Executor's TIE operations officer to deploy their own fighters, unwilling to waste the Executor's firepower on such insignificant targets. Nevertheless, the presence of Rebel fighters intrigued Vader, who decided to join the battle in his customized TIE fighter, despite Okins' concerns, leaving the destruction of the shipyard entirely in Okins' hands. Aeron Azzameen, who had recently arrived at the base, sent a distress call to her younger sibling Ace, who departed from the nearby Mon Calamari Star Cruiser Liberty aboard the Otana.

Meanwhile, the attack on the base proceeded without interruption. Vader personally entered the fray in his personal fighter, swiftly destroying seven enemy fighters. However, finding the engagement lacking the intensity of his previous encounter with Luke Skywalker at Bespin, he withdrew from the battle in disgust. As the defending Rebel fighters were being overwhelmed by TIEs, the Star Destroyers easily dispatched the Rebel frigates. The Imperial Fleet then initiated its assault on the shipyard itself. As the battle drew to a close, the Otana arrived, navigating through the swarms of TIE/LN starfighters and other craft, and docked with Vergesso Prime, with Ace determined to rescue his sister. Aeron eventually boarded the Otana, which departed from the station shortly before its destruction and joined the other survivors in fleeing the area. Following the conclusion of the assault, the Executor immediately returned to Coruscant, allowing Vader to resume his personal affairs. Although 65% of the station's personnel managed to escape, the loss of Rebel fighters and warships was significant, representing a serious setback for the Alliance. It also inflicted a severe blow to Ororo Transportation, serving as a harsh reminder: never cross Black Sun.

In a stark contradiction to both the battle's depiction in the Shadows of the Empire novel and the corresponding level in the video game Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance, the Shadows of the Empire Ertl minicomic portrays the Rebels' asteroid base as a lush, inhabited planet, rather than an asteroid, which the Executor is shown firing upon.