Assault on the Aparo sector

"Immediately thereafter the Sith began a full assault on the Republic allies in the Aparo sector, which fell before the Republic fleet even arrived."

- Gnost-Dural

The assault on the Aparo sector was an offensive launched by the Sith Empire in the early days of the Great Galactic War. Following the Sith's return to known space, the Galactic Republic was slow to mobilize an effective defense. As a result, the Republic's allies in the Aparo sector became sitting ducks, and one of the Empire's first targets. The Imperial assault on the sector was a success, causing the Republic's allies to give in to the Sith and change allegiances.

Prelude
"The Emperor wanted us to witness the full might of his forces before he attacked."

- Gnost-Dural

Following centuries of seclusion in the Unknown Regions of the galaxy, the ancient Sith Empire returned to known space and waged war against the Galactic Republic. The Sith first reappeared on the fringes of the Tingel Arm, where a fleet of Imperial battlecruisers engaged and destroyed a diplomatic envoy from the Republic. The Sith's next target was the Aparo sector, a region of the Tingel arm allied with the Republic.

The assault
The Imperial assault was swift and effective, beginning and ending before the Republic could mount an organized defense of the sector. As a result of the Republic's inability to combat the Empire, the governments of the Aparo sector abandoned their ally and defected to the Sith Empire.

Aftermath
"The Republic fleet suddenly found itself in enemy territory, fighting desperately on all sides."

- Gnost-Dural

Following the assault on the Aparo sector and the defection of the governments of Aparo, the Republic attempted to launch an offensive against the Empire throughout the Tingel Arm. Unfortunately for the Republic, its allies on Belkadan, Sernpidal, and Ruuria had also fallen to the Sith, and much like the Aparo sector, became subservient to the Empire. Instead of combating the Empire alongside its allies, the Republic fleet was caught within enemy territory, fighting for survival. These opening battles of the Great Galactic War put the Republic on the defensive for several decades and contributed to the Empire's ultimate victory twenty-eight years later. Following the close of the war, the assault on the Aparo sector was included in Jedi Master Gnost-Dural's recounting of the beginning of the Sith invasion.

Behind the scenes
The assault on the Aparo sector first appeared in the the sixth installment of the Galactic Timeline, titled Onslaught of the Sith Empire. The timeline is a series of web videos presented as historical accounts on the story behind the upcoming computer game Star Wars: The Old Republic; the installments are available on the game's official site. The timeline is narrated by the Kel Dor Jedi Master Gnost-Dural, who is voiced by actor Lance Henriksen.

Appearances

 * Timeline 6: Onslaught of the Sith Empire