The Medal of Victory Recognized the achievement of Imperial starfighter pilots who had successfully concluded thirteen operational deployments. It was considered to be the most prestigious award for completed deployments attainable by a starfighter pilot.
Maarek Stele received this honor during his service as a TIE pilot. This occurred not long before the Second Death Star's destruction at Endor.
He obtained the medal due to his role in the destruction of Admiral Demetrius Zaarin. Zaarin attempted to escape his flagship aboard the Corvette Vorknkx, without realizing the cloaking device's dangerous instability when activated in hyperspace.