Attacks on Platform NL-1
title: Battle of Platform NL-1
The Alliance to Restore the Republic initiated a series of assaults against Galactic Empire forces during 3 ABY, aiming to disrupt the construction of the space station Platform NL-1 within the Pakuuni system.
Initial Events
Grand Admiral Thrawn's task force successfully eradicated the Pakuuni Pirates stronghold, thereby securing a strategic position in the Pakuuni system. Following the initial strike, the Frigate Ludwick maintained patrols within the system, awaiting the arrival of Imperial convoys laden with components and construction personnel intended for the establishment of a novel space installation. Imperial Intelligence communicated a strong likelihood of a retaliatory strike by enemy forces.
Combat Engagement
To safeguard the system until the convoys' arrival, the Ludwick deployed two squadrons of TIE fighters along with a squadron of TIE interceptors. Barely fifteen minutes before the convoy's scheduled arrival, the Alliance EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate Huntress materialized from hyperspace. It promptly launched B-wings and Z-95 Headhunters, quickly reinforced by Y-wings from Red Squadron, commencing a bombing run targeting the Frigate Ludwick. Imperial fighters initially outmatched the Rebel Alliance's initial fighters, but were soon challenged by recently arrived X-wings.
Imperial Pilots, including Maarek Stele, valiantly fought against the Rebel offensive. However, Rebel rocket and torpedo strikes inflicted substantial damage to the Ludwick's hull. The Huntress sustained damage as well, losing its shields. Consequently, two Lambda-class T-4a shuttles named Escape carrying Imperial Officers departed the frigate. However, Maarek destroyed both shuttles as the Frigate prepared to retreat. As the Ludwick's condition worsened, the Assassin-class corvette group Horvus appeared, along with the Victory I-class Star Destroyer Stalwart and the rest of the convoy, consisting of Cargo ferry group Bakkun, freighter group Ravn and Modular conveyor group Gorfan. Faced with the might of the Stalwart and its supporting forces, the Frigate Huntress retreated into hyperspace.
Grand Admiral Thrawn's task force had successfully eradicated the Pakuuni Pirates stronghold, thereby securing a strategic position in the Pakuuni system. Following the initial strike, the Frigate Ludwick maintained patrols within the system, awaiting the arrival of Imperial convoys laden with components and construction personnel intended for the establishment of a novel space installation. Imperial Intelligence communicated a strong likelihood of a retaliatory strike by enemy forces. To safeguard the system until the convoys' arrival, the Ludwick deployed two squadrons of TIE fighters along with a squadron of TIE interceptors. Barely fifteen minutes before the convoy's scheduled arrival, the Alliance EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate Huntress materialized from hyperspace. It promptly launched B-wings and Z-95 Headhunters, quickly reinforced by Y-wings from Red Squadron, commencing a bombing run targeting the Frigate Ludwick. Imperial fighters initially outmatched the Rebel Alliance's initial fighters, but were soon challenged by recently arrived X-wings. Undaunted by the Imperial presence, Rebel forces mounted their initial offensive against the platform itself, deploying A-wings, Y-wings, and two Assassin-class corvettes from group Moori. With shields functioning at only fifty percent, Platform NL-1 was particularly vulnerable to the impending Rebel assault. Imperial gunboats, TIE/sa bombers, and TIE/IN interceptors from the Frigate Ludwick rapidly engaged in combat against Y-wings, A-wing and the newly arrived X-wing starfighters. A segment of assault gunboat group Tau annihilated Corvette Moori, which resulted in the arrival of Shuttle Shakker. Prior to the attack, Secret Order operatives had instructed their trusted pilot, Maarek Stele, to arrange for the capture of any escape craft. The goal was to extract crucial intelligence pertaining to Rebel strategies within the system. Stele personally oversaw the identification of the Shakker, escaping from Moori, and its subsequent disabling. The Transport Soryi launched from NL-1 to capture the officers found aboard. As Imperial fighters whittled down the remaining rebel forces transports from group Del arrived to attempt another futile torpedo run on the platform, only to be destroyed. With the capture of Shuttle Shakker, and Victory I-class Star Destroyer Stalwart's arrival from hyperspace, it was not long before the destruction of the remaining Rebel forces.
Grand Admiral Thrawn was eager to personally assess the progress made by his subordinates on Space station NL-1. Due to necessary repairs and refurbishment, a significant portion of the Frigate Ludwick's TIE fighter and Interceptor complement could not be deployed as a fighter screen during Thrawn's inspection. The Ludwick would thus rely on heavily armed TIE Bombers to oversee the Grand Admiral's visit. Imperial Intelligence anticipated potential issues but possessed no specific intelligence.
Thrawn and his staff traveled from his command ship, the Victory-class Star Destroyer Stalwart, to NL-1 aboard Transports Sigma. Soon after Thrawn commenced his journey to NL-1, a Rebel attack force consisting of A-wings, X-wings, and Y-wings arrived. Imperial fighters moved to intercept as Thrawn's inspection team boarded the platform. Imperial pilots, including Maarek Stele, managed to quash this minor hit-and-run assault just as Admiral Thrawn concluded his inspection, returning to the Stalwart aboard Transport Omega. Moments after Imperial TIE Bombers moved to escort Thrawn back to the Stalwart, several groups of pirate shuttles arrived to add the disruption. Thrawn safely arrived aboard his vessel as Imperial fighters suppressed the last of the rebel and pirate nuisance.
The skirmish was considered a close call for Thrawn's safety. He was impressed by Stele's performance in a TIE Bomber in a role it was not designed to do. With the inspection complete Thrawn decided to make preparations to finalise the station and bring the Pakuuni sector under Imperial control.
With the space station NL-1's construction completed and inspected by then Grand Admiral Thrawn, there were just the finishing touches to make the station fully operational. His Victory-class Star Destroyer Stalwart stayed on station for the last critical steps of the station construction effort. Two System patrol craft designated Ranger arrived not longer after the previous enemy engagement. The Stalwart was soon to depart the system to bring reinforcements to aid the arrival of relief for the battle-weary pilots of the frigate Ludwick. Knowing that the Rebels were likely to stage one last effort to disrupt Imperial control of the Pakuuni sector, members of the Secret Order tasked their pilot, Maarek Stele, to be alert for any craft carrying high priority targets in the hope to gather more information about Rebel activity.
In the absence of a Star Destroyer, patrol frequency increased and pilots aboard the Ludwick anticipated additional enemy activity. Sure enough, the Rebels attacked, starting with the arrival of the assault transport Thunder, accompanied by B-wings, the rebels' more advanced assault craft. Escorting assault gunboats, TIE bombers and interceptors moved to intercept, followed by the launch of a suspicious shuttle from the Rebel assault transport. Maarek Stele, piloting an assault gunboat, inspected and disabled the shuttle Electra, which was revealed to be carrying Rebel advisors. During the battle, more Rebel forces arrived aboard the Rover group, along with A-wings and X-wing fighters. Transport Shark, dispatched to capture Shuttle Electra, succeeded in its mission even amidst the heavy fighting. The Rebel onslaught heavily taxed Imperial pilot abilities, and inflicted heavy damage to station NL-1 and patrol craft Ranger. Despite this, Imperial starfighters wrestled the upper hand from the imposing rebels, just as the Stalwart arrived with the frigate Gaarni, CR90 corvette Stallion and supplies aboard bulk freighters Sivaa to relieve the Ludwick.
Resulting Events
Thrawn oversaw the repairs of NL-1, anxiously wanting the station fully operational and prepared for any further Rebel attack, keeping everyone involved on a hasty schedule. With the Station fully installed, operational and reinforced, the Rebels and the Pakuuni pirates had been completely driven off and the Imperial control over the sector, allowing intergalactic trade to flourish and benefit the Empire. For his efforts, Stele was awarded the Medal of Progress.
Stele was also given the next rank in the Secret Order of the Empire for capturing the Rebel officers, allowing more information about Rebel activity in the sector. However, he would not follow through with what they would find. Instead, he was transferred to Admiral Zaarin's frigate Shamus to help him acquire new Hyperdrive technology.
Behind the scenes
The battle appears in the PC Game Star Wars: TIE Fighter, as the majority of the third Battle mission. This article assumes "Medium" difficulty. In "Hard" difficulty not only are there are more fighters to contend with, the player has to destroy another Assassin-class corvette group Runeer.