Admiral Uther Kermen was appointed to lead the Imperial fleet by the Imperial Advisors after the Battle of Endor. Though he was ostensibly under the command of the Imperial Advisors, Kermen effectively made the majority of the decisions regarding the fleet's actions.
In 5 ABY, Kermen oversaw the defense of Milagro, engaging the New Republic in a protracted siege lasting several months. Ultimately, before retreating from the system, Kermen employed a Base Delta Zero bombardment, devastating a large portion of the planet to prevent the New Republic from acquiring its assets.
His efforts to seize the world of Kaal and its vital food supplies led to conflict with Moff Utoxx Prentioch and the New Republic. Despite feigning cooperation with the diplomats, Kermen's true intention was always for the Empire to control the planet exclusively. Kermen eventually double-crossed the opposing diplomats, which forced him to battle it out against Prentioch's command ship. The resulting engagement was indecisive, with both Prentioch's flagship and Kermen's own vessel, the Belligerent, sustaining crippling damage that prevented further combat. Ultimately, the New Republic gained control of Kaal.