Operation Strike Fear

Operation Strike Fear was code for a major offensive initiated by the Galactic Empire in response to their loss at the Battle of Turkana.

Its objective was to suppress Rebel opposition and spread fear of the Emperor's power. Its secondary purpose also could be to keep the Rebellion occupied while the Empire secretly completed the Death Star I. The campaign was led by the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Invincible.

The Rebel Alliance learnt about this when Captain Nogdra of the Imperial Corvette Bixby defected. Alarmed by this information Rebel Fleet Command sent a newly updated interceptor R-22 A-wing piloted by Keyan Farlander on a reconnaissance mission discovering a mustering Imperial fleet in the Dellalt system.

Beginning
Due to heavy Rebel presence on the Tion Hegemony sector, the operation began in the Dellalt system and then spread through all the sector after its first goal had been accomplished: destroying the Rebel base on Brigia. Knowing that the Empire's first target was the Alliance base on Brigia, Alliance High Command ordered the evacuation of the base.

Following the evacuation, Farlander captured the Juno supply freighters heading for the Invincible, thus disrupting the Imperial operation for several weeks. When Strike Fear continued, its next targets included Rudrig and Orion IV, which were both secured by the Empire.

Up to this point of success Imperial Naval Command prepared new special objectives for the assault on rebellious strongholds and systems for the ongoing Operation Strike Fear. Next move was on Sullust wherein Sullustan resistance leaders had vanquished SoroSuub pro-imperial puppet government. It was decided the abduct and 'recondition' the rebellious new government prior to the accomplishment of a full military action. As the rebels were forced to disband from the Tion Hegemony Sector and a imperial garrison force had to be stablished at secured worlds, a new reduced and low profile battle group was specifically formed for the mission under the Command Flagship Invincible, which quickly restarted operations on Sullustan Space. Once Sullustan leaders and technical staff were kidnanped, its evacuation was prepared using several transports departing from Sullust to the Nebulon-B frigates Warspite and Negra Star which were to take them to Coruscant for the interrogation, torture, reconditioning and servitude to the Empire.

The Alliance High Command after discovering the Imperial plan, hoping to persuade the Sullustans to join the Alliance and noticing that the abduction would be a prelude to a full scale invasion, quickly decided to prepare a desperate rescue operation. As it was concerned that if they used too many ships, the Imperials would prefer to kill the prisoners, they prepared a commando team aided by a single Y-wing, flown by Keyan Farlander, who identified which of the transports were carrying the Sullustans and disabled them. Farlander then fought several waves of TIE fighters launched from the nearby frigates while Rebel transports rescued the prisoners.

After the rescue the Sullustans leaders were convinced to enter diplomatic negotiations to discuss joining the Rebel Alliance. The two sides held a meeting near Sullust which was interrupted by the arrival of the Invincible. Hamo Blastwell and Keyan Farlander, flying R-22 A-wings, held off the Imperial fighters until the meeting was concluded and all ships fled into hyperspace. The Invincible's attack, however, turned out to be merely a diversion. While the meeting was taking place, stormtroopers kidnapped the Sullustan leader Sian Tevv. Farlander and Blastwell were called into action again to disable the shuttle that bore him to the Invincible and hold off Imperial fighters until a Rebel shuttle conducted a boarding operation and escaped into hyperspace.

General Crix Madine and the rescued Sullustan technical staff devised a plan to halt the Imperial operation by destroying the Invincible. It involved the abduction of Cygnus Corp technical staff, coupled with the capture of a powerful warhead. Intelligence reports indicated that Cygnus was conducting tests on a new spacecraft, the Alpha-class Xg-1 Star Wing, and the Rebels planned to capture the technicians during the test. Keyan Farlander and Sunnar Jan-lo flew R-22 A-wings to identify the transport carrying the technicians and then fought off Imperial fighters while the transport Lightning conducted a boarding operation. Farlander then destroyed the test facility before leaving.

The Rebels soon learned about a new warhead being transferred from Celanon to a deep space transfer zone by the BFF-1 bulk freighter Gafra and planned to attack it at its destination. An initial Rebel attack left the Gafra damaged and stranded before withdrawing. However, the freighter was still protected by a field of mines around it. Keyan Farlander in a Y-wing cleared them out and disabled the freighter. When that was done, the shuttle Herald came and boarded the freighter. Imperial transports came and attempted to destroy the freighter before it could fall into enemy hands, but Farlander was able to drive them off.

With a Lambda-class shuttle, modified by the captive Cygnus staff to appear to be an Imperial vessel, Rebel agents disguised as suppliers delivering cargo were able to plant the warhead aboard Invincible and destroy it from the inside, thereby putting an end to Operation Strike Fear.

Known Battles

 * Battle of Brigia
 * Battle of Rudrig
 * Battle of Orion IV

Strength
The following Capital ships led or took part in the campaign:


 * Imperial I-class Star Destroyer ''Invincible
 * Nebulon-B Escort Frigate ''Warspite
 * Nebulon-B Escort Frigate Negra Star
 * Nebulon-B Escort Frigates Harasser 1 and 2
 * Corellian Corvette group ''327
 * Corellian Corvette group ''758
 * Corellian Corvette group ''427
 * Corellian Corvette group ''524
 * Corellian Corvette Ranger

Appearances

 * ''Star Wars: X-wing