The Merson asteroid belt, rich with mineral and metal deposits, existed in close proximity to the planet of Merson. This asteroid belt was strategically situated at the intersection of multiple hyperroutes.
In the years around the Clone Wars, starliners traversing this field were required to implement silent running procedures. This was to evade detection by pirates operating from nearby Merson. Before the conflict, these same pirates intentionally wrecked a starliner carrying numerous Sy Myrthians returning to Sy Myrth from Coruscant because their world had seceded from the Galactic Republic.
During the Clone Wars, Tap-Nar-Pal and Gilad Pellaeon commanded Republic forces both in orbit above Merson and within the asteroid belt, fighting against the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Simultaneously, Ronhar Kim commanded ground troops on Merson itself. Darth Sidious orchestrated the battle to guarantee the demise of Kim and Tap-Nar-Pal. Pellaeon was compelled to pull back from the battle, leaving the Jedi and the ground forces to face their inevitable end.
Obi-Wan Kenobi subsequently rescued a high-end cruiser from destruction within the field at the hands of the Merson pirates.