Battle of Ession

The Battle of Ession was the first major conflict between Wraith Squadron and the forces under the command of Warlord Zsinj. It was intended by Zsinj as a trap, using the Pakkerd Light Transport facility on Ession as bait, in order to destroy several squadrons of New Republic fighters. However, the crew of the Corellian Corvette Night Caller was being impersonated by Wraith Squadron and the battle was in fact a trap designed to destroy the Star Destroyer Implacable, commanded by Admiral Apwar Trigit.

While the Night Caller waited in formation with the Implacable, three starfighter squadrons were concealed in the former pirate Super Transport VI Blood Nest, recovered from the moon of the same name and renamed Red Feathers. Gara Petothel accurately predicted this strategy and informed Trigit. The transport reported to Ession's spaceport that it was losing structural integrity and would self-destruct to avoid impacting the planet. An escape pod was launched, which actually contained a commando team led by Judder Page. Page's commandos sabotaged the launch tubes for the Pakkerd facility's own TIE fighters, denying Trigit his expected reinforcements. At the last minute, Wedge Antilles and Captain Atril Tabanne switched places, with Antilles commanding the Night Caller and Tabanne piloting a TIE fighter.

When the Blood Nest broke apart, X-wings of Rogue Squadron, Y-wings of Green Squadron, and A-wings of Blue Squadron escaped from its cargo bay. The Implacable and Night Caller launched their TIEs, and the Night Caller quickly revealed its true allegiance by firing on the Implacable with its turbolasers. The X-wings in its bow hangar executed a Loran Spitball, with Grey Flight, Wraith Squadron's four captured TIE fighters. Atril in her TIE fighter fired two blasts destroying the Implacable's bridge and shield generators in her surprise attack. Wedge used the Night Caller ' s large tractor beam to throw up dust from Ession's moon to conceal the corvette from the Implacable ' s gunners, and then took over as gunner for its main turbolaser turret.

Wraith pilot Falynn Sandskimmer, in defiance of orders, flew her TIE fighter into a hole burned through the Implacable ' s armor, and began systematically destroying its power cells from within. Realizing that his ship could not be saved, Admiral Trigit activated its self-destruct and fled with two bodyguards in hyperdrive-equipped TIE Interceptors. Petothel was disgusted with his needless sacrifice of thousands of loyal crewmen, and announced Trigit's escape to the New Republic forces. She also gave the signal to abandon ship, and used Trigit's personal escape pod for herself after finishing final preparations for her new identity as Lara Notsil. After Tetran Cowall (in his guise as Soontir Fel) killed a dissenting TIE pilot, the Implacable ' s remaining starfighters agreed to a cease-fire, while General Edor Crespin and Lieutenant Myn Donos pursued the fleeing Trigit. Crespin shot down the Admiral's bodyguards, while Donos killed Trigit himself with a pair of proton torpedoes.

Appearances

 * ''X-wing: Wraith Squadron