The Battle with the Black Star occurred in an asteroid field, after days of the EAS Lexington and its Earthforce task group enduring hit and run attacks. The Black Star (known as the Drala Fi in at least one form of Minbari) ambushed the task group by luring them into an asteroid field with a Minbari flyer pretending to be damaged, and opening a jump point in the middle of the fleet. The Lexington was severely damaged in the opening barrage and was left for dead, while the Drala Fi pursued the retreating Earth ships. First officer Commander John Sheridan took command as Captain Roger Sterns had been killed when a support strut collapsed into his command chair.