Evacuation of Ciutric In 5 ABY , the Galactic Empire launched an attack on the planet Ciutric IV , forcing a New Republic evacuation . The New Republic failed in rescuing the former leader of the Galactic Empire Sate Pestage . Background . Following Grand Vizier Sate Pestage meeting with Leia Organa on Axxila , Director of Imperial Intelligence Ysanne Isard informed the Cabal of Pestage ' s treason . However , he managed to leave Coruscant and fled to Ciutric IV . However , upon reaching the planet he was arrested by former Moff turned pirate Leonia Tavira . She agreed to bargain Pestage ' s life with Isard and the Ruling Council then sent Admiral Delak Krennel to reclaim Pestage . Meanwhile , a Rebel intelligence agent on Ciutric IV informed General Airen Cracken of Pestage ' s situation and the New Republic Provisional Council decided to send a rescue team for Pestage . Rogue Squadron was to team up with Aggressor Wing and a ground force , Commando Team One , to get Pestage off of Ciutric . The battle . X - wings and Y - wings provided air support while the commandos infiltrated the city where Pestage was hiding . Several commandos extracted Pestage from the city and proceeded to escape in an evacuation transport . Escape from the planet , however , was prevented by a pair of Star Destroyers under the command of Admiral Delak Krennel , the " Imperial II " - class Star Destroyer " Reckoning " and Interdictor Star Destroyer " Binder " that just had arrived in the system . Aggressor Wing was able to escape to hyperspace , but Rogue Squadron , the commandos , and Pestage were caught in the Interdictor ' s gravity well and forced to go to ground on the planet ' s night side . With the retrieval force trapped on the planet , a squadron of TIE fighters ambushed the team , killing Ibtisam before being wiped out by the remaining Rogues . The following day , Rogue Squadron launched a desperate attack against the Imperial forces in orbit . As the battle was beginning , Aggressor Wing returned , along with Mirax Terrik ' s " Pulsar Skate " , destroying many of the TIEs . The reinforced Republic force returned again to the surface to refuel and plan their escape . With the " Skate " and X - wings providing support , the Y - wing squadrons fired volleys of proton torpedoes at the Star Destroyers , knocking out the " Binder " < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s gravity well projectors and causing artificial gravity to fail on the " Reckoning " . Both Destroyers retreated , clearing the path for the Republic forces to escape . On the surface , stormtroopers and All Terrain Armored Transports attacked Commando Team One before their " Bantha " - class assault shuttles could launch . However , both shuttles managed to escape in the fighting . Aftermath . In the confusion , Pestage fled his rescuers , intending for Krennel to command the Ciutric Hegemony in his name . Krennel instead strangled Pestage with his artificial right hand and seized complete control of the Hegemony . On Coruscant , Ysanne Isard assassinated and imprisoned the leaders of the Cabal , becoming the undisputed leader of the Empire . Behind the scenes . The cover of " " incorrectly shows the " Eidolon " during the battle .