Operation: Cinder was carried out by the Galactic Empire as a means of devastating several Imperial planets in 4 ABY, only a few weeks following the Battle of Endor. The operation was part of the Contingency, a plan devised by Emperor Palpatine to ensure that the Empire and its enemies did not outlive him should he ever perish. The plan was put into action following the Emperor’s death during the Battle of Endor.

Imperial forces placed satellites in orbit of planets to form a climate disruption array. Electrical storms and other extreme weather events would begin to ravage targeted planets.

Operation: Cinder lasted for at least three months after an attack on Naboo, the homeworld of Emperor Sheev Palpatine and a rallying point for many Imperial sympathizers. Other worlds that were targeted included Vardos, Burnin Konn, Candovant, Abednedo, Commenor, and Nacronis. By the endof the war in 5 ABY, the secret Contingency was clandestinely carried out to rebuild the Empire in the Unknown Regions, though the New Republic was triumphant and survived the Galactic Civil War.