The interrogation of prisoners indicated to the Galactic Empire that Zaarin's next attack on the platform was to destroy it, since the failure of his last attack left him with little choice. The traitorous former Admiral Zaarin was determined to keep the Emperor from benefiting from the TIE Defender technology or holding the R+D platform. With no other Loyal Imperialist Forces nearby, an evacuation of the XQ3 R+D Platform was ordered. Bulk Freighter Mharsup was the nearest available craft and would arrive shortly for the evacuation. The platform was only being protected by Escort Shuttle group Red Knight and TIE Defender Delta 1 which was piloted by Maarek Stele. Soon after the platform launched TIE Defender Delta 1, Bulk Freighter Mharsup arrived with extra escorts, which were Escort Shuttles Dragonfly 1 and 2. Immediately after the arrival of the Mharsup, shuttle G'nabgib was launched from the platform carrying TIE Defender Technicians who were to be ferried over the freighter so they could remotely pilot the TIE Defender prototypes from the platform into the cargo bay of the freighter. Without warning, 6 Assault Gunboats that Zaarin sent came out of hyperspace to start the attack. All of the Escort Shuttles grouped together and Stele moved into engage the Assault Gunboats. The Assault Gunboats let off several advanced concussion missiles to destroy some of the Escort Shuttles before they engaged them with laser cannons. Soon the Assault Gunboats were defeated and then the ISD Glory came out of hyperspace several kilometres from the platform. The Glory launched a total of 6 Stormtrooper Transports during the battle to destroy shuttle G'nabgib and the Mharsup which were probably the greatest threat, as well as spewing out TIE Bombers and TIE Advanced to help eliminate Loyalist Imperial Forces. During all of this, shuttle G'nabgib returned to the platform to retrieve the Chief TIE Defender Scientist. There was intense fighting by Loyal Imperial Forces to prevent Zaarin from destroying the shuttle or the freighter. When the Stormtrooper Transports were disabled, the Glory launched Utility Tugs, which none of them survived their intended mission of repairing the Stormtrooper Transports (Note that Stormtrooper Transports were also destroyed). Shuttle G'nabgib soon hypered out of the area carrying the Chief TIE Defender Scientist and copies of the most critical data. Assault Gunboats from Tau group, loyal to the Emperor came out of hyperspace to assist Imperial Forces. Not long after, freighter Mharsup also made the jump into hyperspace, thereby saving the TIE Defender prototypes. With that, Zaarin's TIE Defenders came out of hyperspace to engage Stele and the ISD Glory hypered out of the area. Stele caused some TIE Defender losses before leaving the area to follow the Mharsup to the rendezvous point. Unfortunately, all of Escort Shuttles were destroyed in combat and later, after the successful Imperial evacuation of the area, the R+D Platform was destroyed.