The ground engagement referred to as the Escape from Fest, alternatively known as the raid on Fest, unfolded between the forces of the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the Galactic Empire amidst the broader conflict of the Galactic Civil War. The initial objective was a covert operation by Alliance Special Forces to seize three All Terrain Personal Transports from the Imperial research facility situated on Fest. The situation escalated when their presence was discovered, leading to the unit's entrapment, prompting Rogue Squadron to intervene and conduct a successful rescue mission.
Concurrently with the unfolding events of the Taloraan operation, a Rebel commando unit launched an assault on an Imperial Weapons Research Facility located on Fest, liberating a group of AT-PT walkers. These AT-PTs initiated their withdrawal, facing pursuit from Imperial forces and armored units. However, their escape was thwarted when the primary gate of the complex was raised, effectively blocking their intended path.
Immediately following the completion of their assignment at Taloraan, Rogue Squadron was dispatched to Fest to facilitate the escape. The squadron divided its forces to simultaneously disable the main gate and provide cover for the commandos' withdrawal. Once the AT-PTs were freed, the squadron assisted them in breaching the Imperial defenses. During an intense confrontation with Imperial AT-ATs and XR-85 tank droids, the Rogues and the commandos successfully forced their way to the designated landing zone.
In a last-ditch effort to halt the AT-PTs, the Imperials deployed a squadron of TIE/sa bombers to saturate the walkers with bombs. The Rogues effectively countered this final assault, enabling the commandos to reach the relative safety of the Rebel's Y-4 Raptor-class transport.
After the commandos had departed, the squadron redirected its efforts to neutralizing the Fest research facility. Following an attack on the DSS-02 shield generator situated at a remote outpost, which resulted in the collapse of the protective shield, the Rogues proceeded to obliterate the structure with focused fire.
During the aerial assault, Rogue Squadron briefly diverted to acquire seeker proton torpedoes located near the main research complex.
Moff Kohl Seerdon reacted with fury to the incident, responding by imposing a blockade on Chandrila, the homeworld of Mon Mothma.
The Escape from Fest is featured as a level within the 1998 video game titled Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, where players must employ the harpoon and tow cable of a T-47 airspeeder against an AT-AT to successfully accomplish the mission. Given that the Battle of Fest occurs before the Battle of Hoth, during which Luke Skywalker is credited with developing the strategy for disabling the walkers, this aspect of the mission may be considered non-canonical and attributed to gameplay mechanics.