Wookieepedia:Featured article queue/Week 42, 2012/0

In 3,681 BBY, the reconstituted Sith Empire returned to the known galaxy from relative exile in the Unknown Regions and launched an invasion of the Minos Cluster as part of its massive onslaught against the Galactic Republic in what came to be known as the Great Galactic War. The first leg of the Great War was focused in the galaxy's Outer Rim Territories, where the Republic suffered from severe under-preparedness and the Empire enjoyed the advantage of surprise. Capitalizing on these factors, the Sith swarmed into the Minos star cluster, hoping to seize control of the rich resources of the Minos worlds and add them to the Empire's already impressive war machine. The Republic Navy, still scattered after a disastrous effort to retake the Tingel Arm and directionless due to political uncertainty on the capital of Coruscant, was helpless to resist, leaving the star cluster undefended. However, before the Empire could secure their grip on the region, the Jedi Order decided to take a proactive stance against the aggression of the Sith and dispatch numerous Jedi Knights and Masters to guard the worlds of the Minos territories.

The Empire was initially highly successful in their endeavor, and the loss of the Minos Cluster and the high volume of resources it contained was a significant blow to the Republic, leading to a disastrous emergency defense prioritization session of the Republic Senate and riots on Coruscant. Nevertheless, the Jedi continued to fight on Eliad and other Minos worlds, and were eventually joined by the troopers of Republic Special Forces in what became one of the longest conflicts of the war. Under the leadership of Jedi Master Orgus Din and Lieutenant Harron Tavus, the Republic maintained its battle against the Empire in the region until 3,653 BBY, when the Empire's ruling Dark Council approached the Republic Senate with an offer of peace. Although the Republic's leadership and the Jedi High Council were hesitant to accept the offer, the Empire began minimizing its offensive activities in the Minos Cluster as a show of good faith. The invasion officially came to an end shortly before the peace conference on Alderaan, which the Republic's Supreme Chancellor Berooken took as a good omen for the prospect of peace.