Space Battle at Carida

"Tyber Zann, I'm here to collect the artifact for the Emperor. Comply with my demands, and I promise a swift and reasonably honorable death." "Thrawn, of course. I knew you were still lurking in my shadow. Don't tell me you're the contact Xizor arranged." "In a matter of speaking, yes. Xizor is dead. The evidence you planted convinced Vader, but I recognized your unique signature. You've overstepped your bounds for the last time, Zann." "Really? You didn't think I came unprepared, did you?." "Well done, for a petty criminal. Of course, I wouldn't have expected you to anticipate the Hypervelocity gun I installed on the surface." "Well, I would expect an Imperial Admiral to be arrogant enough not to be prepared for my surprises." "Well, this may actually prove interesting, why don't we begin?" "Agreed, for an admittedly brilliant strategist, one thing you've never been Thrawn, is boring."

- Thrawn and Tyber Zann, just before the battle

The Battle of Carida was a space skirmish between Grand Admiral Thrawn onboard the Admonitor and Crimelord Tyber Zann onboard the Merciless above Carida over a Sith Holocron.

The Battle
The head of Black Sun, Prince Xizor had arranged a meeting with Imperial contacts over Carida for his fellow crimelord Tyber Zann so Zann could sell a Sith artifact to the Empire.

When Zann's freighter arrived, it was met by the Admonitor leading an Imperial fleet, and Thrawn double-crossed Zann by informing him of Xizor's death and demanding the artifact be turned over in exchange for a quick and honorable death. Zann responded by hyperspacing in the rest of the fleet he had stationed nearby&mdash;and in turn Thrawn countered by firing a hidden Hyper Velocity Gun on the planet's surface.

Finally, Zann brought his new flagship, the Merciless, out of hyperspace, destroyed a Victory-Class Star Destroyer with its massive guns, and the two fleets engaged.

Soon after, Zann was again betrayed by his henchman Bossk, who stole the Sith Artifact and absconded with it onboard his ship, the Hound's Tooth, to take it to the Admonitor. The outnumbered Thrawn retreated, his prize secured, leaving his fleet to its destruction at the hands of Zann's forces.

Aftermath
Bossk left the Consortium's employment after making a huge amount of credits. Zann predicted Bossk's betrayal and had attached a homing device to the artifact which would eventually lead him to one of the Emperor's storehouses on Coruscant. The Admonitor was repaired and Thrawn returned to the employ of the Empire. The success of the Aggressor-class destroyer meant that Tyber put them into full production.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption

Schlacht von Carida