Episode V - Rebel Strike

"The Empire is where someone of my caliber belongs." -Sarkli



Date
Year: 0 ABY

Preceeded by: Nagai–Tof War

Succeeded by: Salvation

Just Cause
The undercover Rebel spy Deena Shan discovered that Imperial Grand Admiral Thrawn had convinced Emperor Palpatine to forego further doomsday projects, like the Death Star, in favor of more practical research endeavors, like the Arkanian Microtechnologies GeNode program, which began cloning Stormtroopers in the billions. Meanwhile, Sienar Fleet Systems and Cybot Galactica were collaborating on a Droid TIE fighter project that could produce a squadron of fighters at the same price of training and equipping one TIE pilot. Worse, the Imperial Department of Military Research had begun producing advanced battle droids called Dark Troopers from a hidden factory called Arc Hammer.

With a force composed of clones and droids that could be produced and deployed at a fraction of the cost (and time) of normal soldiers and starships, the Empire was gaining a clear advantage over the undermanned and ill-equipped Rebellion. The most devastating news arrived courtesy of the elite Rebel spy known as Targeter, who reported that Darth Vader was personally training a squad of Stormtroopers wielding red lightsabers.

Betrayal
Airen Cracken responded with a preemptive strike by Rogue Squadron on the Droid TIE fighters under construction at Sluis Van. This turned out to be a trap when Rogue Squadron encountered Darth Vader and his new Five Oh First 'Cuis' unit. Rogue Eleven, Sarkli, revealed that he had defected to the Empire, and ordered Rogue Squadron to surrender. Luke Skywalker refused, and led most of the Rogues to safety. Rogue Twelve, Villian Dance, was shot down by Darth Vader.