Holding the rank of Admiral, O'Cleary served under Fleet Admiral Sandra Crandall as third-in-command of the Battle Fleet's Task Force 496. Her flagship was the superdreadnought SLNS Anton von Leeuwenhoek. In early 1922 PD, the task force arrived in the Spindle System, where Crandall demanded the turning over of Admiral Gold Peak and all others involved in the New Tuscany Incident. Imperial Governor Medusa declined, so Crandall ordered her ships to attack the Manticoran fleet in the orbit of Flax.