The VSD Protector was to rendezvous with the Escort Carrier Tropsobor to replace the TIE Fighters and TIE Interceptors the VSD Protector lost during its campaign in the Sepan System. Three TIE Fighters from Alpha group were deployed to patrol the rendezvous area. Meanwhile the Dimoks and the Ripoblus set aside their differences and decided that the Galactic Empire was their common enemy. In believing this, they joined forces and were to try their futile attempt to drive the Empire out of the Sepan System. Imperial probes had intercepted a frenzy of communications traffic that indicated that the Dimoks and the Ripoblus were preparing for a major operation. They planned to attack Imperial Forces, while they were vulnerable transferring TIE Advanced. Their attack was a desperate last ditch attempt to thwart Imperial plans in this sector. The Secret Order believed that another ship was to arrive at this rendezvous point and so they ordered Stele to inspect that craft.

    Escort Carrier Tropsobor arrived at the rendezvous moments after the start of the battle. Alpha group was ordered to rendezvous with the Escort Carrier and to escort the the first group of TIE Advanced back to the VSD Protector. Shortly after the start of the battle, the Light Cruiser Ben Hut and the Modified Corvette Long Tan hypered into the area to begin the attack on Imperial Forces, but were too far away to pose any immediate threat. The Light Cruiser Ben Hut launched Z-95s, however Alpha group was ordered to remain as close escort. TIE Bombers and TIE Interceptors were launched to deal with the sepan attackers. The TIE Bombers were ordered to take out the Dimok Light Cruiser. The TIE Interceptors were not able to prevent some of the Z-95 Headhunters from getting pass them.

    Once the Z-95s were within 3 km of Alpha group, Stele ordered his wingmen to attack them, while he singled out a target for himself. With that Stele was engaged in a fierce dogfight for several minutes. One of the Z-95 Headhunters was able to get passed Stele and scored several shots at a TIE Advanced that he was escorting. With that, Stele moved closer to the TIE Advanced that he was escorting. Alpha 1 was destroyed around this time into the battle. Stele was engaged with the Z-95s when the Y-Wings arrived. The Y-Wings were targeting the Escort Carrier. As ordered, Stele and his wingman engaged the Y-Wings and were able to stop their attack on the Escort Carrier. While engaging them, Stele was being harassed by the Z-95s. More Y-Wings arrived, but some of them were attacking the VSD Protector.

    In the end, most of the TIE Advanced being transferred survived the short trip into the Star Destroyer's hanger. Shortly after the Escort Carrier hypered out of the area, Lambda Shuttle Omlaut appeared in the system. Acting on his orders, Stele inspected it. The passenger of the shuttle was taken immediately to Admiral Harkov and was left alone with him. Shortly after the shuttle entered the VSD's hanger, a pair of enemy Cargo Ferries arrived, but they met the same fate as the previous attackers. After the Cargo Ferries had been destroyed, Ripoblus forces arrived and like their allies they too were destroyed.