Capture of Muunilinst (Second Confederation Crisis)

"Admiral, you are sent back to Muunilinst. I want you to conquer the planet at all costs. Do not fail me again!"

- Darth Vader, to Admiral Zaarin.

The Capture of Muunilinst, also known as the Second Battle of Muunilinst or the Siege of Muunilinst was a battle in 18 BBY between the Second Confederation and the Galactic Empire, which saw Muunilinst pass under Imperial control.

Prelude
The Battle of Muunilinst in 19 BBY saw an embarrasing Imperial defeat. The failed commander, Admiral Zaarin returned to Coruscant to apologize to Lord Vader. The Dark Lord preserved his life, but ordered him to conquer Muunilinst without any failures, and gave him a ground invasionary force.

Zaarin started to prepare and train his men, a process which took two months. In the meantime, the leader of the Second Confederation, Vicelord Avenko Ti secretly moved the Second Confederation Home Fleet, the research facilities and the government from Muunilinst to Yaga Minor. He also sent the Ninth Army to Muunilinst to swap the previous garrison, which was sent to Kalee.

Zaarin was ready by the early months of 18 BBY, and moved his fleet out of Coruscant.

Initial actions
The Imperial ships moved out of hyperspace and attacked the Second Confederation Fifth Fleet. The tactical droid commanding the ships sent his Munificent-class frigates to attract Imperial fire while he deploys the fighters, but the Imperials apparently learned of their previous mistake and continued to attack towards the destroyers.

However, this also proved to be a mistake, as the Imperial Star Destroyers could not focus their fire to the rear. This allowed the Munificents to attack them from this blind spot while staying in safety. They focused their fire on the Smasher, causing it to explode. The blast damaged several frigates as well as a Star Destroyer.

In the meantime, the Imperial fighters engaged the droids coming out from the carriers. They discovered that the Vulture droids were very vulnerable after they had just left the hangar, so a large number of the droid fighters was destroyed this way. The ones that could fight their way through the first line had to engage the TIE/ln starfighters in the second line, so no droids could reach the capital ships.

End of the space battle
Zaarin then sent his bombers to attack the Munificents. They managed to inflict critical damage on an injured frigate, which started to spin and burnt in the atmosphere of Muunilinst. The six remaining frigates attempted to race back behind the Providence-class carriers, but four were destroyed by the Imperial fire. The last two frigates jumped into hyperspace to Yaga Minor.

Seeing this, Zaarin ordered his ships to move out of the Lucrehulks' range to evade their fire. The battleships did not attack them.

Ground battle
As the space was now partially clear, Cody and Veers began landing their troops. They landed near the capital city, and started a careful advance towards it, supported by heavy walkers. Light walkers scouted the area in front of the army.

Upon reaching the outskirts, they came under heavy missile fire, which destroyed several walkers, so the Imperials pulled back and used their SPHA artillery to take out the Hailfires barraging them, and called for air support. 100 ARC-170 bombers entered the atmosphere and carpet bombed the capital, destroying most buildings and killing many civilians. Unbeknowst to the Imperials, the bombardment did not destroy many droids, as they hid in catacombs beneath the city.

As the Imperials continued their advance, the droids emerged from the catacombs and engaged the stormtroopers along a four mile-long avenue. Many stormtroopers were killed, but they eventually managed to force the droids back, who took defensive positions near the core ship and landing craft storage zone and started to retreat into them.

End of the battle
The SPHA artillery guns destroyed one landing craft which was trying to escape, but most of the surviving droid forces managed to get aboard the transports. One core ship flew above the Imperial landing zone and destroyed two Acclamator Is, but was forced to follow the others. Once all units reached space, they jumped into hyperspace along with the carriers.

Aftermath
The Second Confederation lost Muunilinst, but preserved many of its valuable units. Avenko Ti's master plan, Operation Nightfall was complete, but still lacked one thing, which was found on Corellia. The Imperials could not attack the other Confederate planets immediatly, as they had to pacify Muunilinst and subjugate other areas of the galaxy, so the Confederation still had time.