In the year 3680 BBY, amidst the initial stages of the Great Galactic War, a significant conflict unfolded in the Seswenna sector of the Outer Rim Territories between the forces of the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic. The primary cause of this confrontation was the naval blockade established by the Empire on the Rimma Trade Route, effectively cutting off the supply of Republic military resources from the Core Worlds to the struggling regions situated in the far reaches of the Outer Rim. In response, the leaders within the Republic Military orchestrated a counter-offensive within the Seswenna sector, deploying the Republic Army. However, their efforts resulted in defeat. Following their victory, the Sith captured numerous Republic soldiers, holding them as prisoners of war. The Sith maintained control over the Rimma Trade Route until later in that same year, at which point the Republic Navy reorganized its forces in the Seswenna sector and initiated a subsequent offensive.
The Great Galactic War, a devastating conflict that rapidly engulfed the galaxy and resulted in widespread casualties, commenced when the Sith Empire launched an invasion of the Galactic Republic in the year 3681 BBY. In the war's early stages, the Republic Military faced challenges in establishing effective defensive measures. This allowed the Sith and their formidable war machine to advance rapidly through the Outer Rim Territories, seizing one sector after another. Within the Tingel Arm, the Imperial Armada swiftly consolidated control over newly acquired territories and devised a trap for the Republic Navy, which inevitably arrived in the region with the intention of reclaiming its lost holdings. The Republic's fleet suffered a swift defeat and was scattered, causing widespread disruption to defense planning on the capital world of Coruscant and enabling the Empire to further expand its presence in the Outer Rim. Subsequently, the Sith directed their attention towards the Rimma Trade Route, a crucial super hyperspace lane that connected the Core Worlds of the Republic with the distant Outer Rim. At Sluis Van, a planet situated along this route, the Sith destroyed the Republic's shipyards and inflicted heavy casualties on the world's defenders. Furthermore, to the detriment of the Republic, the Empire also invaded and seized control of the resource-rich worlds within the Minos Cluster, which were located at the far end of the Rimma Trade Route.
To further undermine the Republic's defensive efforts and solidify their dominance in the Outer Rim, the Empire strategically positioned elements of its naval armada within the Seswenna sector along the Rimma Trade Route. This effectively blockaded the lane, impeding the unrestricted flow of goods and military supplies. The blockade had a detrimental impact on the Jedi, who had rapidly mobilized following the Minos Cluster invasion and found themselves stranded on the battlefronts of the Outer Rim with dwindling resources and limited prospects for reinforcement. For several months, Jedi Knights stationed on Eliad and other worlds within the Minos Cluster resisted the Imperial onslaught. However, their ability to repel the invaders was compromised as long as the Rimma Trade Route remained obstructed.
As a response to the blockade established in 3680 BBY, the leaders of the Republic Military formulated a counterattack strategy aimed at engaging the Imperials within the Seswenna sector. The Republic Army initiated an engagement with the Sith forces in the region, but suffered a decisive defeat. The counterattack ultimately failed to achieve its objectives. During the course of the battle, the Empire captured hundreds of Republic soldiers, taking them as prisoners of war, confining them in chains, and leading them into captivity.
The defeat in this battle represented a significant setback, particularly for the Republic forces engaged in combat within the Minos Cluster. Reports detailing the capture of Republic soldiers led to a decline in morale, as the Empire's past treatment of prisoners of war suggested that the incarcerated troops had little chance of returning. Despite this setback, the Republic Navy managed to reorganize its fleets and launch a second attack against the Imperial blockade in the Minos Cluster. This subsequent effort proved successful, as the Imperial Armada was compelled to relinquish control of the Rimma Trade Route by the conclusion of the engagement.
The initial engagement in the Seswenna sector was first introduced to Star Wars lore through the 2011 book, The Journal of Master Gnost-Dural. Authored by Robert Chestney under the guise of Jedi Master Gnost-Dural, the book is structured as a series of journal entries that chronicle the events of the Great Galactic War. The Journal of Master Gnost-Dural was included as part of the collector's edition of Star Wars: The Old Republic, a massively-multiplayer online video game for which the book was commissioned to provide contextual background.
- The Journal of Master Gnost-Dural (First mentioned)