ERIADU, SESWENNA SECTOR - The New Republic fleet has launched a "hit-and-fade" assault on orbital construction facilities at Eriadu, targeting a docked "Super" Star Destroyer and inflicting indisciminate damage upon the planet's Imperial defense forces, according to firsthand accounts and a statement to the Senate from the Chief of State, Eli Fitzgerald. Both sides are believed to have suffered light to moderate casualties.

"As of this hour, I've reluctantly committed Republic naval forces... in an assault on the construction yards over Eriadu with instructions to destroy or otherwise cripple the Executor-class vessel and any facilities directly involved in its assembly," Fitzgerald announced, referring to the Star Destroyer (presently under construction) as "a threat to the New Republic, its fleet, and sovereign memberworlds."

Wolfram Leonhardt, the Grand Moff of the Imperial "Pentastar Alignment" (which includes the Seswenna Sector) who ordered the construction of the Executor-class Star Destroyer Subjugator, has not issued a statement regarding the assault, though eyewitness accounts at Eriadu confirm that the attack did indeed take place. Imperial forces at Eriadu reportedly suffered the loss of two Golan defense platforms and at least three capital ships, as well as significant damage inflicted upon the planet's shipyards.

Preliminary accounts state that the Subjugator has been damaged "beyond repair."

In his statement, Fitzgerald (Ralltiir) conceded the loss five New Republic vessels in the 40-minute duration of the battle, and also announced he has "... ordered additional naval assets into the regions in immediate proximity to the Seswenna Sector to serve as a deterrent to any sort of reprisal attacks against our territories."

It is as yet unclear whether or not this action will escalate the conflict into a wider struggle, though the Chief of State also stated flatly that "this is not a declaration of war against the Seswenna sector."

New Republic forces have clashed repeatedly with Moff Leonhardt over the last year, mostly in efforts to intercept Imperial supply convoys bound for the construction yards at Eriadu. Fitzgerald stated in his Senate announcement this afternoon that "our interdiction efforts slowed the progress of construction, but inevitably his Star Destroyer was nearing completion."

Leonhardt's Pentastar Alignment is among the largest and most influential of the Imperial "Remnant" factions. Eriadu is an active trade center at the intersection of several major hyperspace routes, a hub of commerce generally regarded as "the capital of the Outer Rim" with enough industry to support the assembly and maintenance of Leonhardt's considerable fleet, and the apparent construction of the Executor-class Subjugator.

Leonhardt has also frequently been the verbal target of Chief of State Fitzgerald, who once famously referred to the Pentastar Alignment as "an Imperial junta." The Coruscant Journal will publish further details as they develop.