Operation Strike Fear Operation Strike Fear , also referred to as NFOp - TbM - 11891 : Operation Strike Fear , was a code name for a major offensive initiated by the Galactic Empire in response to their loss at the Battle of Turkana . It had been led and brainstormed by then - Captain Firmus Piett , who also suggested that Captain Xamuel Lennox be removed from command of the Pakuuni sector ' s naval operations as a result of Turkana . Its primary objective was to suppress Rebel opposition in the Tion Hegemony and spread fear of the Emperor ' s power . Its secondary purpose also could have been to keep the Rebellion occupied while the Empire secretly completed the Death Star . The campaign was led by the " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer " Invincible " . The Rebel Alliance learned about the operation when Captain Nogdra , of the Imperial Corvette " Bixby " , defected from the Empire . Alarmed by this information , Rebel Fleet Command sent a newly - updated R - 22 Spearhead interceptor — piloted by Keyan Farlander — on a reconnaissance mission to the sector , during which he discovered an Imperial Naval fleet mustering in the Dellalt system . Beginning . Due to heavy Rebel presence in the Tion Hegemony , Operation Strike Fear began as a suppressive Imperial initiative in the Dellalt system . It then spread throughout the entire sector after its first goal had been accomplished — destroying the Rebel base on Brigia . Knowing that the Empire ' s first target was the Brigian base , Alliance High Command ordered its evacuation . Despite severe losses , most of the Rebels stationed there escaped . Following the evacuation , Rebel Alliance starfighter pilot , Keyan Farlander , captured the " Juno " supply freighter group heading for the " Invincible " , thus disrupting Operation Strike Fear for several weeks . When Strike Fear continued , its next targets included Rudrig and Orion IV , which were both secured by the Empire . Sullustans enter the Rebellion . Up to this point of success Imperial Naval Command prepared new special objectives for the assault on rebellious strongholds and systems for the ongoing Operation Strike Fear . The next move was on Sullust wherein Sullustan resistance leaders had vanquished SoroSuub , a pro - Imperial puppet government . It was decided to abduct and ' recondition ' the rebellious new government prior to the accomplishment of a full military action . As the rebels were forced to disband from the Tion Hegemony Sector and a Imperial garrison force had to be established at secured worlds , a new reduced and low profile battle group was specifically formed for the mission under the Command Flagship " Invincible " , which quickly restarted operations on Sullustan Space . Once Sullustan leaders and technical staff were kidnapped , its evacuation was prepared using several transports departing from Sullust to the Nebulon - B frigates " Warspite " and " Negra Star " , which were to transport them to Coruscant for the interrogation , torture , reconditioning and servitude to the Empire . The Alliance High Command after discovering the Imperial plan , hoping to persuade the Sullustans to join the Alliance and noticing that the abduction would be a prelude to a full scale invasion , quickly decided to prepare a desperate rescue operation . As it was concerned that if they used too many ships , the Imperials would prefer to kill the prisoners , they prepared a commando team aided by a single Y - wing , flown by Keyan Farlander , who identified which of the transports were carrying the Sullustans and disabled them . Farlander then fought several waves of TIE fighters launched from the nearby frigates while Rebel transports rescued the prisoners . After the rescue the Sullustans leaders were convinced to enter diplomatic negotiations to discuss joining the Rebel Alliance . The two sides held a meeting near Sullust which was interrupted by the arrival of the " Invincible " . Hamo Blastwell and Keyan Farlander , flying R - 22 Spearheads , held off the Imperial fighters until the meeting was concluded and all ships fled into hyperspace . The " Invincible ' s " attack , however , turned out to be merely a diversion . While the meeting was taking place , stormtroopers kidnapped the Sullustan leader Sian Tevv . Farlander and Blastwell were called into action again to disable the " Lambda " - class T - 4a shuttle that bore him to the " Invincible " and hold off Imperial fighters until a Rebel shuttle conducted a boarding operation and escaped into hyperspace . The Alliance Strikes Back . Imperial officer Crix Madine was sympathetic to the Alliance , and with the rescued Sullustan technical staff , they devised a plan to halt the Imperial operation by destroying the " Invincible " . It involved the abduction of Cygnus Spaceworks technical staff , coupled with the capture of a powerful warhead . Intelligence reports indicated that Cygnus was conducting tests on a new spacecraft , the " Alpha " - class Xg - 1 Star Wing , and the Rebels planned to capture the technicians during the test . Keyan Farlander and Sunnar Jan - lo flew R - 22s to identify the transport carrying the technicians and then fought off Imperial fighters while the transport " Lightning " conducted a boarding operation . Farlander then destroyed the test facility before leaving . The Rebels soon learned about a new warhead being transferred from Celanon to a deep space transfer zone by the BFF - 1 bulk freighter " Gafra " and planned to attack it at its destination . An initial Rebel attack left the " Gafra " damaged and stranded before withdrawing . However , the freighter was still protected by a field of mines around it . Keyan Farlander in a Y - wing cleared them out and disabled the freighter . When that was done , the shuttle " Herald " came and boarded the freighter . Imperial transports came and attempted to destroy the freighter before it could fall into enemy hands , but Farlander was able to drive them off . With a " Lambda " - class shuttle , modified by the captive Cygnus staff to appear as an Imperial vessel , Rebel agents disguised as suppliers delivering cargo were able to plant the warhead aboard " Invincible " and destroy it from the inside , thereby putting an end to Operation Strike Fear . Strength . The following Capital ships led or took part in the campaign :