Battle of Kiilimaar

Following his act of treachery against the Galactic Empire and the unsuccessful coup against Emperor Palpatine in 3 ABY, the infamous Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin persisted in his war against the Empire. His strategy involved a widespread campaign aimed at undermining the Empire's technological superiority by obliterating its military-industrial complexes. Leveraging his previous position as the head of Imperial research and development, Zaarin effectively deployed advanced technology to devastate loyalist production sites, particularly in the Outer Rim Territories. Through a hard-fought, yet ultimately successful, campaign, Admiral Zaarin managed to eradicated almost all Imperial facilities capable of producing the formidable TIE/Advanced starfighters. Subsequently, he shifted his focus to reclaiming the valuable TIE/D Defender technology, a project he had previously contributed to. Consequently, Zaarin besieged his former center of research and development within the Parmel system, compelling Imperial loyalists to evacuate the few operational TIE Defender prototypes. These prototypes were to be transported via convoy to Admiral Thrawn, who was tasked with delivering them to the Emperor on Coruscant. Among those evacuated was the lead scientist of the TIE Defender project, whose expertise in the starfighter's advanced technology was deemed too critical to risk capture.

Despite the evacuation's initial success, the mission was plagued by complications as various factions and pirate groups pursued the convoy, each seeking to acquire the TIE Defender technology. Throughout their journey, the convoy faced relentless attacks from forces loyal to Admiral Zaarin, necessitating a determined defense led by Tan Maarek Stele, who swiftly repelled the traitors' attempts to seize the convoy. However, the convoy was eventually ambushed by the Rneekii Pirates, who managed to disable the convoy and abduct the lead TIE Defender scientist, intending to demand a ransom for his release. A subsequent assault by the Rebel Alliance served as a diversion, allowing their allies, the Nami, to commandeer a modified corvette carrying a TIE Defender prototype, hoping to replicate the technology for their own use and that of their Rebel allies. Although Imperial reinforcements eventually relieved the convoy and the surviving prototypes were safely delivered to Coruscant, the loss of a TIE Defender and its chief scientist posed a significant threat to Imperial security. Emperor Palpatine designated the recovery or destruction of the stolen TIE Defender technology as a top priority for Imperial forces.

Eventually, loyalist Imperial forces engaged in negotiations with the Rneekii Pirates, agreeing to pay the demanded ransom in exchange for the scientist's release. The exchange was scheduled to occur near the planet Kiilimaar within the Kiilimaar system. However, unbeknownst to the pirates, the Imperials planned to reclaim their asset without fulfilling the ransom payment.

Following the negotiation's conclusion, the Empire consented to meet the Rneekii Pirates' ransom demands for the TIE Defender scientist's safe return above Kiilimaar. The Strike-class medium cruiser Ayenzii dispatched the transport Ibutho 1 with an escort to rendezvous with an Imperial shuttle, designated Lambda 1. The condition was that Lambda 1 would only have a single escort. Tan Maarek Stele was chosen for this operation, piloting an Assault Gunboat labeled Mu 1. After the exchange, the Imperials intended to ambush the Rneekii Pirates using a swift strike led by the Interdictor Red Claw, preventing the pirates' escape. The Imperial objective was to seize both the ransom and the scientist, while capturing or eliminating all the pirates. The attack would commence upon Stele receiving the code message "Full Speed to Kiilimaar!" after the exchange. All pilots were warned to be vigilant for any interference by the Nami, who were relentlessly pursuing the TIE Defender technology.

The exchange unfolded as planned, with Lambda 1 docking with Ibutho 1 as Maarek Stele supervised from his Assault Gunboat. The pirates mirrored this, deploying a wing of R-41 Starchasers to guard the transport. Once the scientist was secured and the ransom transferred, the Imperials announced "Full Speed to Kiilimaar!", signaling Maarek Stele to engage the pirates. Upon realizing the deception, the pirates exclaimed: "Imperials! Your treachery will be your undoing!", and the Ayenzii launched its full complement of R-41s to intercept the Imperials. Subsequently, the Red Claw entered the area, deploying multiple starfighter wings to assist Stele and initiate the assault that would destroy the Ayenzii. Stele quickly disabled Ibutho 1 and then began decimating the swarming Rneekii Pirates.

During the engagement, a Nami strike force, as anticipated by the Imperials, entered the fray. They were led by T-Wings and Y-Wings, and directly confronted the Imperials. Simultaneously, the YT-1300 light freighter Choora pursued Lambda 1, aiming to capture the TIE Defender scientist before he could reach the Red Claw. However, the attack failed as Stele disabled the Choora before it could accomplish its mission. With no means of escape, the Nami strike force was swiftly defeated. The Choora was captured, and its entire crew was imprisoned. Unfortunately, before their defeat, they managed to destroy the Red Claw's hyperdrive. Despite this setback, the Imperials successfully destroyed the Ayenzii and captured Ibutho 1, securing both the scientist and the ransom, while inflicting a severe blow to the Rneekii Pirates.

Despite the ambush's success, the Red Claw was left stranded above Kiilimaar, rendering it vulnerable to enemy attacks. With the TIE Defender scientist yet to be extracted and the entire crew now an easy target for pirates and Admiral Zaarin's traitorous forces, the Red Claw urgently requested assistance to replace its damaged hyperdrive. Imperial High Command dispatched two Strike Cruisers, the Nagan and Shotel, to reinforce the stricken vessel. They sent two Assassin-class corvettes from Chemeti group to deliver the replacement parts for the hyperdrive. Chemeti 1 was tasked with extracting the TIE Defender scientist and pirate prisoners to a secure location, while Chemeti 2 would deliver the new drives. Maarek Stele was assigned to defend the Red Claw until help arrived.

Chemeti 1 was the first to arrive and offer aid to the Red Claw, informing them that Chemeti 2 was delayed but would proceed with its mission to rescue the scientist. At that moment, Zaarin's TIE Defenders entered the area, splitting into four groups that simultaneously attacked the Red Claw, its defending fighters, Chemeti 1, and Stele himself. Zaarin's forces launched a relentless assault, inflicting heavy casualties on the Red Claw's defenders, but they also suffered significant losses as Stele and his allies fought back. Their defense proved successful as Chemeti 1 docked with the interdictor and picked up the scientist and the pirate prisoners. The corvette then jumped into hyperspace before Zaarin's forces could intercept it. Soon after, Zaarin was forced to break off the attack as Stele routed his forces.

Following the failure of this attack, Chemeti 1 and Chemeti 2 emerged from hyperspace, carrying the necessary replacement parts to repair the Red Claw. Upon seeing the reemergence of Chemeti 1 shortly after its departure, the Imperials realized that the previous craft under that name was, in fact, an impostor loyal to Admiral Zaarin. They had been tricked into handing over the scientist and their prisoners to the enemy. Zaarin then followed up his attack with an assault led by the Strike Cruiser Z-Kopsh, intending to destroy the interdictor before it could escape. Chemeti Group suggested that the crew of the Red Claw prepare to abandon ship, but the Imperials were determined to save the vessel. Stele and his surviving wingmen engaged the Kopsh's strike force while Chemeti 2 raced to save the Red Claw. Zaarin attacked with a wing of TIE Advanced starfighters, but these were swiftly routed by Stele's wing. As Stele attacked and destroyed the Kopsh, Chemeti 2 successfully delivered the new hyperdrive to the Red Claw, and the crew quickly installed it, saving the Red Claw from imminent destruction.

The Battle of Kiilimaar represented a major setback for the Empire. Despite inflicting significant losses on Zaarin and the pirates, they failed to recognize Admiral Zaarin's deception and unwittingly surrendered one of their most skilled scientists to the traitors. This scientist would later use his technological knowledge to produce TIE Defenders. Having collaborated with the pirates in setting the terms for the failed ransom, Zaarin sold the TIE Defender technology to the Nami and eventually transferred custody of the scientist to them. Both sides forced him to further develop the means for them to mass-produce the TIE Defender for use against loyalist Imperial forces. The acquisition of the TIE Defender technology by Zaarin and his accomplices further endangered galactic security, causing Imperial High Command to fear that the technology could fall into the hands of their primary adversary, the Rebel Alliance. Determined to prevent this, Admiral Thrawn was tasked by the Emperor himself to locate and destroy all enemy TIE Defenders to contain the spread of the technology.

The failure to rescue the scientist had major consequences for the crew of the Red Claw. Despite their valiant defense of the vessel, it sustained heavy damage during the battle, and the command crew had fallen for the ruse staged by the corvette that had originally boarded the ship. While Tan Maarek Stele was spared due to his exceptional piloting skills, it was strongly implied that the commanding officer of the Red Claw would face the wrath of Darth Vader for failing to recognize Zaarin's deceit.

Despite this strategic failure, the battle was not without success. The Imperials had effectively destroyed the Rneekii Pirates by demolishing their main force, preventing them from staging further attacks against the Empire. Additionally, the Nami and Admiral Zaarin lost a significant number of vessels in their efforts to destroy the Red Claw. The Red Claw itself survived to fight another day.

Following this battle, Thrawn announced to the Emperor his plans for the new Missile Boat, a starfighter he intended to use to shift the balance in the Empire's favor in their pursuit of Zaarin.

This battle is featured in the 1994 PC game Star Wars: TIE Fighter. It comprises the first and second combat missions of the Battle New Threats. This article assumes the completion of all "Primary", "Secondary", and "Bonus" objectives.