The Empire learned that group of Ripoblus scientists had hijacked several ships from their government and were seeking asylum with the Empire. The scientists were weary of the way that their knowledge had been put to use. Ripoblus scientists principally made of the refugees. The System Patrol Craft that was stolen was not equipped with a hyperdrive. It was being escorted by two stolen shuttles. However, the Ripoblus leadership was not so readily happy to give up their scientific minds to the Empire, and so they detached a force to capture their fleeing scientists. 3 TIE Interceptors and 3 TIE Fighter were launched from the VSD Protector. Gamma Squadron was ordered to rendezvous with the refugee craft which were granted Imperial asylum. However, the Ripoblus Government Forces would not comply with the Imperial declaration. And with that the TIE Interceptors were unleashed against the Y-Wings and the TIE Fighters were unleashed against the shuttles.

    The Ripoblus Y-Wings were after the System Patrol Craft Glas while the shuttles were after the its escorts. This would also be the same when the Dimoks made their attempt on the refugees. The System Patrol Craft was 13 km away while the enemy Ripoblus Forces were 6 to 7 km away. With that in mind, Stele cut his laser recharge rates to zero and raced to engage the enemy Y-Wings. When Stele was about 1 to 2 km way from the System Patrol Craft, he began to re-energize his laser cannons. Stele attacked the nearest Y-Wings, while he ordered his wingmen to attack another. The TIE Interceptors quickly broke up the Y-Wings' formation. During the battle, the System Patrol Craft Glas and its escorts were slowly but surely making their way towards the VSD Protector. During the fighting Stele made sure that he was close enough to the System Patrol Craft to ensure its safety.

    Once the Y-Wings were destroyed, Stele went after the shuttles. During the battle, Stele got caught by shrapnel of an exploding enemy shuttle. By this time Dimok Forces had arrived. With that Stele went after the Y-Wings and then after the newly arrived shuttles. One of the System Patrol Craft's escorts, shuttle Nazaar 1 had taken quite a few hits, so Stele decided to stay with it until it entered the VSD's hanger. The System Patrol Craft eventually docked and its escorting shuttles entered the hanger and by this time enemy opposition had been destroyed. The refugees were evacuated off the System Patrol Craft, it was then fitted with decoys, set on autopilot and then abandoned. After the System Patrol Craft had been abandoned, escort shuttles arrived. They targeted the abandoned vessel and destroyed it. In response to the arrival of the escort shuttles 3 TIE Bombers and later 3 TIE Fighters were launched. Along with these forces, Stele and his wingmen attacked and destroyed these aggressors. After this battle, Maarek Stele was promoted to lieutenant.