Undercover operation on Axxila
- "Ten snubfighters against sixty TIEs and an ImpStar? That would be suicide."
- ―Leia Organa
The New Republic launched an undercover operation to the planet Axxila to meet with Grand Vizier Sate Pestage. However, Imperial forces attacked Axxila in order to capture Princess Leia Organa.
Background
- "Kidnapped from here? I thought this palace was supposed to be secure."
- ―Han Solo
Several months after the Battle of Endor, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia Organa impersonated by Winter, and Rogue Squadron members were in a reception on Eiattu 6, when agents of Leonia Tavira, knocked out and captured Winter and Tycho Celchu, bringing them to their boss on Axxila.
Han Solo and Soontir Fel identified a smuggler involved, Rayt, and caught him on the StarForge Station. He revealed them he transferred Winter and Tycho for the Kavil's Corsairs to Axxila. Han Solo and Rogue Squadron immediately departed to the planet.
Leia's mission to Axxila
- "In return for my life and certain other concessions, I shall leave Imperial Center as undefended as Caamas."
- ―Sate Pestage
Under the cover of the meeting on Eiattu, the real Princess Leia met with Grand Vizier Sate Pestage on Axxila. In exchange for his life, along with ten worlds for himself and fifteen worlds for four friends, Pestage offered to leave Coruscant virtually undefended from attack. He also arranged for his agent Kavil to arrange the release of Winter and Tycho from Tavira.
The battle
- "People of Axxila, I am Admiral Krennel of the Reckoning. You harbor traitors to the Empire. You are scum who have long festered without proper discipline. Give me the traitors and I will refrain from visiting upon you the retribution you most assuredly deserve."
- ―Admiral Delak Krennel
Yet Tycho and Winter managed to escape on their own, breaking out of their separate cells, fighting past the guards, stealing a Y-wing, and out-flying the pursuit offered up by Kavil's corsairs. Fortunately, they managed to send out a distress call, and Rogue Squadron and the Millennium Falcon cleared the way back to base for Tycho and Winter.
However, an Imperial Star Destroyer, the Reckoning, arrived in the system at the same time. The ship under command of Admiral Delak Krennel was sent by Ysanne Isard to capture Leia. After have recovered Pestage, the Admiral launched his TIE fighters on the planet and began orbital bombardment. The New Republic agents situation was critical when Krennel was stopped by an AT3 Directive issued by Soontir Fel. Delak Krennel was forced to obey at the behest of Sate Pestage and left the system.
Aftermath
- "Pestage's treason will stop now."
- ―General Paltr Carvin
When Pestage returned to Coruscant, he confronted Isard and claimed not to have known Fel had defected, shifting the blame onto her for not informing him. When Isard accused him of meeting with Leia Organa, he implicitly denied it and reminded her that she had no proof.
Isard was not to be thwarted, however. She went before the Imperial Tribunal and accused Pestage of collaborating with the New Republic. She claimed to have proof of this from confidential sources, and reminded the Tribunal that Pestage had allowed Leia Organa to escape from Axxila, had lost Brentaal, and informed them that he planned to turn over Coruscant to the New Republic. The Tribunal agreed with her, charged Pestage with treason, and issued an order for his arrest.[2]
Appearances
- Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Masquerade
- Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Mandatory Retirement (Mentioned only)
- X-Wing: Isard's Revenge (Mentioned only)
Sources
- Star Wars Handbook 1: X-Wing Rogue Squadron
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 139 (PES4, Sate Pestage)
- The New Essential Guide to Characters
- The New Essential Chronology
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia (See "Axxila")
- The Essential Atlas