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."

- Thrawn and Tyber Zann, just before the battle

During the Galactic Civil War, the Space Battle at Carida took place above the planet Carida between the forces of the Galactic Empire led by Grand Admiral Thrawn onboard the Admonitor and the Zann Consortium led by crime lord Tyber Zann onboard the Merciless during 4 ABY over a Sith holocron that Tyber Zann wanted to sell to the Empire. The fleets engaged eatch other, with both suffering damage until Bossk stole the holocron and brought it to Thrawn, who fled afterward. The Consortium fleet eventually emerged victorious. Zann then used the homing beacon on the holocron to lead him back to it.

Prelude
Seeking to sell a Sith holocron, which Tyber Zann stole from Jabba Desilijic Tiure, to the Galactic Empire, Zann agreed to steal Tibanna gas from Bespin for Xizor in exchange for a meeting with the Empire. During the raid, Zann planted evidence framing Black Sun and it's leader: Xizor. As part of the deal Xizor set up the meeting; however Darth Vader was convinced that Black Sun was responsible for the theft and had Xizor killed.

The battle
"Bossk is stealing the artifact, all fire on the Hound's Tooth!"

- A Consortium troop during the battle

When Zann's Interceptor IV frigate left hyperspace at Carida, it was met by the Admonitor leading an Imperial armada, under the command of Thrawn. Thrawn then double-crossed Zann by informing him of Xizor's death and demanding the artifact be turned over in exchange for a quick and somewhat 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 HVs-2 hypervelocity gun on the planet's surface, destroying an Interceptor IV frigate.

To counter, Zann brought his new flagship, the Merciless, out of hyperspace. The ship destroyed a Victory-class Star Destroyer with its massive guns. This new weapon managed to surprise Thrawn and the two fleets preceded to engage each other.

After a vicious amount of combat between the two fleets Zann was 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 and in to the hands of Thrawn. The outnumbered Thrawn retreated in the severely damaged Admonitor, his prize secured, leaving his fleet to its destruction at the hands of Zann's forces.

Aftermath
Bossk left the Consortium's employment after receiving a huge amount of credits from the Empire. Zann had predicted Bossk's betrayal and had attached a homing beacon to the artifact which would eventually lead him to the Imperial Archives on Coruscant. This set the stage for the Theft on Coruscant. The Admonitor was repaired and Thrawn returned to the employ of the Empire. The success of the Aggressor-class Star Destroyer meant that Zann put them into full production, with Zann Consortium shipyards churning them out for future battles, many would later participate in the Second Battle of Kuat.

Behind the scenes
This battle first appears in the 2006 video game Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption for the PC. Its name was identified in the Prima Guide for the game. The Zann Consortium fleet composition is up to the player; the Imperial fleet first appears in a cutscene and its composition is game mechanics. After Thrawn gets the holocron and flees the player must destroy the rest of the Imperial fleet. After the battle Tyber Zann is onboard the Merciless in all space battles. The Aggressor-class Star Destroyer becomes available for production to the Zann Consortium. Bossk is also no longer available as a hero unit in the game's story mode from here on end.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption

Notes and references
Schlacht von Carida