During the time of the Galactic Civil War, a conflict erupted on the moon of Hubin between the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the forces of the Galactic Empire.
Following their being marooned on Hubin, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo found refuge with Thane Markona and his clan. Subsequently, the Galactic Empire's Task Force 99 located the rebels on the moon, having captured and interrogated their associate Sana Starros. Upon reaching Markona's village, they insisted that he surrender the rebels he was sheltering. Sergeant Kreel, commanding the Imperial troops, threatened the village's destruction, prompting Markona to disclose the presence of a superior number of warriors. Markona then informed Kreel that, according to tradition, they would initiate an attack unless he consented to a trial by combat. Both Kreel and Skywalker accepted this proposal and readied themselves for the duel.