Engagement at Haerch

The Engagement at Haerch was a battle in orbit around, and then on the surface of, the world Haerch, part of the Golden Empire's Hunt for Red Eclipse.

After the death of the Centurions Aquila Corcer and Melnanooin at Synno, Tariun Sakaros directed the entire Order of Keltrayu to devote itself to hunting down the slaver and erstwhile Red Eclipse leader Zhin-Vel. Splitting into pairs or teams of three, Centurions and even senior Novices combed the worlds of the Empire, seeking any clue of the Zyked slaver's location.

First shots
It was the Centurions Eskol Kaartinen and Rajj-Yo who at last found Zhin-Vel a month after Synno, hiding on Haerch. Relaying their news to the Sith Star, the two Centurions gave chase, following Zhin-Vel's ship as it made for orbit. Rajj-Yo fired on their enemy several times, but missed. Urged by Kaartinen to be patient, he reached into the Force for guidance, and loosed a shot that destroyed Zhin-Vel's hyperdrive just as the slaver was preparing to jump to lightspeed.

Another series of shots crippled Zhin-Vel's engines and sent his ship spiraling back to Haerch with the two Centurions in hot pursuit. Zhin-Vel succeeded in landing in a lake and fled with eight battle droids; after losing two of his original four on Synno, knowing the Order of Keltrayu was pursuing him, he had bought more to ward off any additional attacks. Kaartinen and Rajj-Yo landed nearby and gave chase.

Ground conflict
Having received orders from the Sith Star to leave the fight to the Centurions, Haerch's law enforcement evacuated civilians from the area, leaving the main parties to their battle. Zhin-Vel unleashed all eight battle droids on his enemies, hoping to overwhelm them, but Kaartinen's mastery of Soresu enabled him to wade into the fight and down half the droids unscathed. Rajj-Yo pressed forward, and though he took two blaster shots to his limbs in his eagerness, he managed to down another pair of droids.

Since it had worked for him at Synno, Zhin-Vel tried throwing a grenade, but Kaartinen caught it in midair with the Force and redirected it. The ensuing explosion wiped out the last two battle droids and what remained of Zhin-Vel's ship. The slaver fled, with Rajj-Yo in pursuit. Having lived a sedentary life of rule over Harth Gool for the last decade, Zhin-Vel was out of shape and no match for Rajj-Yo's Force-powered speed. Loosing shots randomly over his shoulder even as he screamed for mercy, the slaver fell victim to his fellow Zyked, who pounced on Zhin-Vel and decapitated him with a single blow.

Aftermath
The death of Zhin-Vel, aside from avenging Aquila Corcer and Melnanooin, was touted by the Golden Empire as proof that no criminal could ever escape the wrath of the Empire. Given that Red Eclipse had been a blight on the Tetrarchy of Mezlagob since before the Golden Empire was even founded, Zhin-Vel's death was hailed across the former Tetrarchy systems and Rajj-Yo and Eskol Kaartinen considered heroes.

Having arranged her former master's death and avenged his betrayal of Red Eclipse at Harth Gool, Sayl Leikvold became the leader of the slaving syndicate. But her rule was short-lived, ending with the massacre at Bolera less than a year later.