Battle of Muunilinst (Second Confederation Crisis)

"The war is not over yet!"

- Avenko Ti

The Battle of Muunilinst was a battle in 19 BBY between Avenko Ti's CIS remnant (the Second Confederation) navy and the Imperial task force sent to claim them. The battle took place above the Confederate capital, Muunilinst.

Prelude
After Darth Vader exterminated the Separatist Council on Mustafar in 19 BBY and ordered the remaining CIS officers to deactivate all battle droids, the Confederacy fell into disarray. Numerous local warlords and commanders refused to accept defeat and put up a loose and unorganized resistance in outlying systems. Most of these remnants were eventually destroyed by the Empire or absorbed by the Rebel Alliance, but at least one managed to survive. This was Vicelord Avenko Ti's Second Confederation, which gained several planets around Muunilinst, like Kalee, Yaga Minor and Bastion.

This remnant had a quite powerful navy at its disposal, consisting of several Lucrehulk-class battleships and Munificent-class frigates as well as a number of other ships. These units would have come in handy for the Galactic Empire, as the production of Venator-class cruisers has already ended, while the production of Imperator-class Star Destroyers (Imperial I-class) was just starting.

The Empire assembled a task force under the command of the freshly promoted and ambitious Admiral Zaarin, who took it to Muunilinst with haste.

The battle
"This is Admiral Zaarin to all Confederate ships! You are hereby ordered to surrender. Any kind of resistance will not be tolerated!"

- Admiral Zaarin

The beginning
Zaarin moved out of hyperspace close to Muunilinst, and saw the entire Second Confederation Home Fleet in orbit above the planet. He initiated a holographic transmission to Avenko Ti, and stated that the Confederation should either surrender or be destroyed.

Avenko Ti answered by pulling his two Munificent-class Star Frigates between the Imperials and his battleships. The Star Destroyers opened fire on them, unaware of the fact that it was just a classic Marg Sabl closure maneuver, which gave the Lucrehulks enough time to churn the Vulture droid fighters and the Hyena bombers out, which quickly attacked the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Smasher.

Zaarin responded by deploying his V-wings and ARC-170s to fight the droids. This action soon evolved into a massive dogfight raging among the Star Destroyers, with the Vultures' numerical superiority countered by the skills of the V-wing pilots, so Zaarin released his experimental TIE/ln starfighters and TIE/sa bombers from the Black Whirlwind.

The TIEs raced past the fighters and hurled towards the battleships, only to be intercepted by the elite Geonosian Poggle Squadron, which quickly destroyed the unsuspecting bombers, and started to attack the fighters.

The tide turns
In the meantime, the Lucrehulks opened fire from long range at the Star Destroyers. One Imperial I was caught by surprise, with its shields depleted, and was destroyed by the heavy fire. Zaarin desperately attempted to attack the battleships with his remaining units, but he lost two more, so he decided to retreat.

Aftermath
The battle was a victory for the Second Confederation, but Avenko knew that it only borrowed time for them, as the Empire would soon return with a greater force. He fortified his remaining planets, and started to plan a retreat to the Unknown Regions.