Damn, it's a trap! Gold Squadron form up but stay loose. I think we're in for a world of hurt.
—Commander Saft after he realized the Rebels had been drawn into a trap
The Ambush at Zolan was an intense engagement between the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the Galactic Empire, which resulted in what was for all intents and purposes a Rebel victory. The battle took place early in 2 ABY when a Rebel supply convoy being escorted by Gold Squadron was jumped by the Star Destroyer Hunter, under the command of Captain Peri Tarsik, over Zolan as they attempted to make the jump to hyperspace. The engagement was one of the first instances in which Trench Run Defense was used successfully against an Imperial warship.
The ambush[]
This is Soul Sailor. We have an Imperial Star Destroyer entering the system and moving to block our escape vector! I repeat: Imperial Star Destroyer entering the system and moving to...
—The crew of the Soul Sailor warn the rest of the Rebel convoy moments before being destroyed by the Hunter
Early in 2 ABY, the Rebel Alliance was running low on supplies for their new base on Hoth and as a result ordered a number of resupply missions to keep the installation running. One such mission required a convoy of GR-75 medium transports to carry supplies from the Core Worlds to the base on Hoth. The convoy was led by the Bluefish under the command of Captain Rilk Teller and would be escorted by the CR90 corvette Star Blade, under the command of Captain Tristan Calaan and Gold Squadron, under the command of Commander Tyler Saft. After picking up its supplies from Gerrard V, the plan was for the convoy to make course changes at Raltiir, Ingo and Zolan before continuing on to Hoth, so that they could throw off any potential Imperial pursuit. Despite the precautions taken by the Rebellion, they expected the mission to be what they considered a blue milk run.
Unfortunately for the Rebels, Imperial spies on Gerrard V had learned of convoy's route and relayed the information to Captain Peri Tarsik on the newly commissioned Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Hunter. Tarsik immediately moved to the outer edge of the Zolan system and waited for the Rebel convoy to arrive. When the convoy entered orbit around Zolan, they quickly prepared to make the final jump to Hoth only to be jumped by swarms of TIE fighters and the Hunter. Fortunately for the Rebels, one of the transports by the name of Soul Sailor, which was at the head of the convoy, was able to warn the group of the incoming Imperials, which gave Gold Squadron time to raise their shields before the TIEs reached them. Unfortunately, the Soul Sailor was unable to raise its shields (not that it would have made much of a difference) and was quickly destroyed by the Hunter.
Tarvin Calaan and Rita Tabber escort the Bluefish past the heavily damaged Hunter and away from Zolan
Captain Calaan and Commander Saft reacted quickly to save the remaining transports. Calaan took the Star Blade and gave the transports as much cover as the vastly outgunned corvette could manage. Meanwhile, Saft took his squadron and tried to give the convoy fighter cover. At first, it seemed as if their efforts would be in vain as the Hunter was simply too big for the small Rebel force to manage. Under concentrated fire from the Imperials, the Rebels lost two of their pilots and soon after lost another transport. Just when it seemed that Tarsik had them pinned however, a young Gold Squadron pilot by the name of Tarvin Calaan, who was the son of Captain Tristan Calaan, volunteered to lead a risky fighter attack on the Hunter. Desperate, Commander Saft allowed him to go ahead with the attack which turned out to be a resounding success. Tarvin, along with his wingmen Rita Tabber and Tol Dorr, was able to take the Hunter's shields down; allowing Commander Saft to take out the Star Destroyer's bridge. Fortunately for Tarsik, he had the presence of mind to evacuate the bridge when its shields went down and escaped with his life. Nonetheless, in the time it took Tarsik to transfer command to the backup bridge, Saft and the other pilots of Gold Squadron were able to escort the remaining transports as well as the now heavily damaged Star Blade out of Zolan's gravity well and into hyperspace.
Aftermath[]
We got lucky, but we also learned just how talented some of these pilots are. Take Calaan for example. If it weren't for him, we'd be space dust right now. Mark my words gentlemen; that kid is going places
—Commander Tyler Saft to Tristan Calaan and Rilk Teller upon their arrival on Hoth
Thanks to the efforts of the Rebel fighters over Zolan, the convoy reached Hoth and the Alliance base there would stay supplied for months. The Star Blade would undergo repairs and was ready for action again only a few months later. Tyler Saft, Tarvin Calaan, Rita Tabber and Tol Dorr would each be awarded the Shield of Yavin for their efforts in protecting the transports. The two pilots that Gold Squadron had lost during the battle would be replaced about six months later by Kael Sykes and Hally Serrie, who would go on to become two of the best pilots in the Alliance and later the New Republic.
As for the Empire, despite their failure to destroy the convoy over Zolan, they would more than make up for it about a year later at Derra IV. Peri Tarsik, who fully expected to be executed for his failure, escaped harsh punishment when his crew spoke up to their superiors on his behalf. In the end, the Imperial spies who had discovered the convoy's route were blamed for the failure and were promptly executed. Tarsik retained command of the Hunter, which would be repaired within the year, and made it his personal goal to see Gold Squadron destroyed for the embarrassment they caused him.