Assault on Epsilon Nine

"I am Lumiya. You were charged with developing new spy satellites for Imperial Intelligence. I am here to remind you of your loyalties to the Empire, and will overlook consorting with the enemy just this once."

- Captain Valek and Lumiya

The assault on the Epsilon Nine Communications Research space station was a military skirmish carried out in 4 ABY by Lumiya, Dark Lady of the Sith on behalf of Imperial stewardess Ysanne Isard. In exchange for military resources, Lumiya was contracted by Isard for a mission to the Cron Drift which involved inspecting the progress of several top-secret Imperial research installations. The New Republic had recently absorbed the one of the Cron Drift research facilities, Epsilon Nine, into their fold, in an attempt to liberate the scientists there from Imperial authority. Lumiya's fleet was engaged by the New Republic defenders upon arrival, which caused the Dark Lady to loose the might of her newly-restored armada against the less-than adequate Republic opposition and quickly neutralize them. She then entered the research station herself to both crush the traitor's faith in the Republic's ability to protect them and to re-exert Imperial sovereignty. Lumiya's presence was enough to elicit fear from the Imperial defectors, and the threat of deadly force sufficiently compelled Epsilon Nine's staff into reinstating their loyalty to the Empire. Certain that her instructions would not be disobeyed, Lumiya and her fleet departed Epsilon Nine with the guarantee that she would return in several months to ensure Epsilon Nine's continued cooperation.

Background
"Imperial Intelligence became aware of this very recently, Captain. Apparently, they have made a push into the Elrood Sector to acquire some of our technology for themselves."

- Lumiya

Although the Galactic Empire had been crippled by their defeat at the hands of the Rebel Alliance during the Battle of Endor, many of their facilities still remained active and under Imperial operation in the months that followed; among these were several top-secret research installations sequestered in the Cron Drift. Knowing that the Rebel Alliance-turned-New Republic sought to undo the oppression throughout the galaxy by which the Empire operated, researchers of one particular facility in the Drift, the asteroid-based Epsilon Nine, attempted to sever their Imperial ties by offering to work for the Republic instead. The station's employees did not know that Imperial Intelligence agents had learned of their treason.

Ysanne Isard, de facto leader of the Imperial Remnant, was contacted during this time by Dark Lady of the Sith Lumiya with a request for resources following the decimation of the majority of her own fleet during the Nagai-Tof War. Isard committed a portion of Imperial naval strength to supplement Lumiya's ravaged fleet, though not without conditions; In exchange for her allotment, the Dark Lady agreed to travel to the Cron Drift on the Empire's behalf and observe the progress of the Remnant's facilities.

The assault
"Have the corvettes assault the station's laser batteries. Helm, turn us broadside to the station, but bring the turbo-lasers to bear on those fighters. Flight Ops, launch TIE Interceptor squadron Alpha. Have TIE bomber squadron Theta support the corvettes."

- Lumiya



The Nebulon-B escort frigate Revenant served as Lumiya's command ship as she led her fleet to the to the Cron Drift. She ordered Revenant ' s Captain Valek to have the fleet to maintain a reduced speed and to refrain from contacting Epsilon Nine after a low-level radiation pulse originating from the Communications Research Station was discovered; furthermore, the station's comlink system had been reconfigured to transmit on New Republic wavelengths. The Revenant ' s scanners then detected nine T-65 X-Wing starfighters swiftly bearing in on the fleet. Lumiya ordered the deployment of Tie interceptor squadron Alpha and TIE/sa bomber Theta Squadron in response, while also ordering for Revenant to provide turbolaser support. Meanwhile, the Revenant ' s two escort CR90 corvettes, Wolf-Pack and Borealis, disabled Epsilon Nine's own defensive laser batteries. The X-Wings were quickly destroyed by the combination of Revenant ' s attack and the sudden onslaught of TIE interceptors. Epsilon Nine tried to assail Revenant in futility, Wolf-Pack and Borealis eliminated the space station's ground defenses and the New Republic troops that manned them. Theta Squadron also ruptured an opening in Epsilon Nine's landing platform with a bombardment of proton torpedos.

Wolf-Pack launched two assault shuttles which ferried squads of elite red-armored stormtroopers while Borealis dropped a pair Heavy Assault Vehicle/wheeled A5 Juggernauts onto the asteroid's surface in a direct assault of the station's central compound. The Juggernauts mowed down the opposition and created a clear pathway which allowed the stormtroopers quick access into the station. They met by Epsilon Nine's own security forces and were even outnumbered by them, but the stormtroopers nonetheless outmatched and defeated them. With the station completely secured, Lumiya landed on the asteroid in a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle and prepared to take personal charge of the situation.

Aftermath
"My garrison will insure your diligent work&mdash;and safety. I will return in eight weeks to witness your dramatic progress. Failure will not be tolerated."

- Lumiya

The raid on Epsilon Nine had been a success with the eridadication of the entire New Republic military force and no Imperial casualties save several injuries. Lumiya received this news as she entered the command and prepared to interrogate the scientists. One particularly indignant individual had his throat Force-crushed by Lumiya after he scoffed at her for being female. She discredited the remaining scientists as traitors but offered to still pardon their insolence; to prevent any subsequent attempts at mutiny a garrison was ordered to occupy the station in her absence and make certain committment to Imperial service remained intact. Lumiya promised to return in eight weeks with before departing with the rest of her fleet.

Appearances

 * Lumiya: Dark Star of the Empire