The Ziost Convention was a set of military guidelines followed by the Imperial Military of the Sith Empire. Article 17 was an element of the Convention that allowed an Imperial admiral to destroy Imperial targets that were at risk in falling into enemy hands. During the Cold War, an official declaration of war was declared against the Galactic Republic. At the time, the Voidwolf decided to envoke Article 17 to destroy the Imperial treasury ship King's Ransom rather than allow it to fall into the hands of a smuggler.