"Executrix, this is C-patrol. We've finished our sweep, there are no ships out here. Whatever happened to those men it's the compound's problem, not ours." "Stow that talk, C-patrol. Or I'll have you reassigned to planetary scout duty. How would you like that?" "R-roger that,Executrix. Um, please inform Governor Tarkin that our sensors are clean. But we'll do another sweep just in case." "That's better, C-patrol. Make this a double shift and perhaps we can forget about your…inappropriate comment."
―A TIE fighter pilot and an officer on theExecutrix —Link▶️(file info)[4]
With theExecutrix in orbit, Tarkin remained on Agaris' Imperial compound.
While the children were anchored toAgaris' moon in their stolen Imperialscout ship, theStar Herald, theExecutrix glided out of Agaris' shadow. Although theStar Herald's systems had been powered down, meaning the Star Destroyer could not detect it, the two Grafs asked theirmonster droid,CR-8R, to patch Imperial transmissions through. The group then heard aman on Imperial transport three-six-six requesting departure from theExecutrix.Another man then confirmed the request and prepared to release docking clamps. Transport three-six-six then departed from the Star Destroyer's ventral hangar, flanked by twoTIEfighters, and descended to the compound on Agaris.[4]
Just as the transport departed,C-patrol, another pair of TIE fighters, contacted theExecutrix as they angled towards the ship. One of the patrol'spilots reported to anofficer on the Star Destroyer that they had not encountered any ships on their sweep. Thepilot then said that whatever had happened to the missing men was the compound's problem, not theirs. However, the officer abruptly ordered him to stow such talk, threatening reassignment to planetary scout duty. Apologetic, thepilot then asked for Tarkin to be informed that although theirsensors were clean, they would do another sweep to be safe. Satisfied, the officer maintained that if the pilot managed a double shift, his inappropriate comment may be forgotten.[4]
Rebel escape[]
"Should we open fire?" "Let them go. The planet is ours." "I'm picking up a ship leaving Agaris. It's an Imperial craft, but all our ships are accounted for." "The family Graf. Good. Send a fighter squadron to intercept."
―An Imperial and Wilhuff Tarkin, regarding the escaping Agarians and detected rebels —Link▶️(file info)[4]
As theExecutrix continued to orbit Agaris, the planet's moon, and with it theStar Herald, moved out of the Empire's range, allowing the scout ship to detach. Lina then momentarily brought itsengines online, giving them enough thrust to descend to the planet. However, the group then heard the C-patrol pilot contact theExecutrix again, stating that on their second pass, the TIE fighters had picked up something on their scanners. The pilot sent the report to the Star Destroyer, but the officer dismissed it as a meteorite, speculating that, even though it was made of metal, it was either a meteorite with aniron core or a hunk ofspace debris from last time theExecutrix dumped its garbage. As such, the officer ordered C-patrol to continue their sweep. Despite this, the pilot reported the TIEs would go to check it out, wary of the consequences from Tarkin should they miss something important.[4]
After hearing the entire exchange, and fearful of the Imperials discovering them, Lina brought theStar Herald's systems online and made for the planet, with the TIE fighters in pursuit. However, the ship crashed in theforests of Agaris, with the two TIE pilots pursuing the rebels onfoot. After loosing the Imperials in the forest, the children managed to rally a group of Agarians toattack the Imperial compound. With the Imperials succumbing to the Agarian gas attacks, Tarkin boarded theCarrion Spike to evacuate the world. Shortly after, several Imperial transports ferrying the surviving Imperial troopers from the facility returned to theExecutrix in orbit.[4]
TheStar Herald flees theExecutrix's pursuing TIE fighters.
As Tarkin would commence anorbital bombardment on Agaris, the Agarians decided to abandon the world in spores, causing the planet to erupt in a debris field. This forced theExecutrix to take evasive action, angling out of the planet's orbit. Tarkin decided to let the spores go, knowing that Agaris was now his. Then, anImperial informed the governor that an Imperial craft had been detected leaving the world, despite all their forces being accounted for. Tarkin, realizing it was the Grafs in theStar Herald, ordered a fightersquadron to intercept them. Four TIE fighters then emerged from theExecutrix to pursue the rebels, managing to land several laser blasts on the enemy ship before it fled intohyperspace.[4]
In14 BBY,[11] theExecutrix was deployed to theObroa-skai system after a jump fromLantillies. Accompanied by a task force consisting of threeInterdictor vessels, aDetainer CC-2200, aCC-7700 frigate, an untestedImmobilizer 418 cruiser, and several otherfrigates, pickets, and gunboats, theExecutrix waited for the arrival of theCarrion Spike, a corvette belonging to Moff Wilhuff Tarkin but had beenhijacked by arebel cell. During the operation, the fugitive corvette was absent, which prompted Tarkin to not only interrogate the crew of theReticent withDarthVader, but also enter one of theExecutrix's tactical rooms, where he accessed a multitude of top-secretRepublic and Imperial databases situated onCoruscant as theExecutrix held its position on the Obroa-skai system. Through the databases, he discovered the identity of several of the insurgents, includingBerch Teller, and their relationship to theAntar Atrocity.[3]
With Tarkin still on board, theExecutrix arrived at astar system close to theGulf of Tatooine where Teller's insurgentsattacked once again, that time to destroy a convoy carrying components for thehyperdrive of one of the Empire's top secret projects, the Death Star. On Tarkin's orders, theExecutrix lumbered between thewarship's starfighters and theNebulon-B frigate, and the Imperial cargo ships going to Sentinel Base, turning the tide of the battle as it protected the convoy and deployed itsV-Wing starfighters to attack the insurgents' ships. As theExecutrix'sturbolasers disabled thewarship, theCompliant and theEnforcer, arrived fromPii only to see the battle had ended. Following the rebel's capture (except Teller), Tarkin left theExecutrix for Coruscant, where he spent three weeks.[3]
The Emperor himself,Palpatine, awarded theExecutrix to Tarkin to compensate him for the loss of theCarrion Spike. In addition to the thousands oftroops andtechnicians who staffed and crewed the massive ship, he had a personalbodyguard of thirty-twostormtroopers who accompanied him wherever he went. Aboard theExecutrix, Tarkin traveled from theCore to theGreater Seswenna sector, andEriadu, in his tour of the major systems of theOuter Rim after being promoted toGrand Moff of the aforementionedoversector.[3]
The Death Star's completion[]
Rebel intelligence[]
"Commander, you asked me to coordinate intelligence reports. I hope you won't be disappointed that I've gone one step further. With help from a friend in Intelligence, I assembled the attached report tracking the movements of Director Krennic and the frequency of his communications to Tarkin's Star DestroyerExecutrix as well as to Tarkin's homeworld of Eriadu. Please see attachment YN-13."
―Hendri Underholt, in a transmission to Mon Mothma[12]
TheExecutrix, flagship of Grand Moff Tarkin
As the Death Star continued to be built, Tarkin regularly supervised the construction progress from the bridge of theExecutrix.[8] Orson Krennic, nowdirector, also made frequent communications to both theExecutrix and Eriadu at this time.[12] At some point between5 BBY and2 BBY,[13]Rebel AlliancecommanderMon Mothma'saide,Hendri Underholt, was asked to coordinate intelligence reports by Mothma. Going one step further, Underholt, with help from a friend inAlliance Intelligence, also assembled a report tracking the movements of Director Krennic and the frequency of his communications with theExecutrix and Eriadu.[12]
When sent a transmission containing Underholt's report, Mothma, although impressed with her aide's drive, ultimately warned her of the dangers of running such investigations unauthorized. The pair's communications on the matter were later preserved inThe Rebel Files, a non-electronic central data repository of sensitive rebel information.[12] In1 BBY,[14] Rebel Alliance memberHostis Ij sent an intel briefing to Mothma, which compiled evidence pointing to a major Imperial weapons test that was imminent. Ij reported that, according to rebelagents, Director Krennic had been visiting planets deeply involved in Imperial weapons research in recentmonths, with the Alliance possessing verified communications between those planets and both Eriadu and theExecutrix. The intel briefing was later gathered in adossier concerning the Empire's battle station.[5]
Krennic's summons[]
"Most unfortunate about the security breach on Jedha, Director Krennic." "I'm afraid I'm not sure what you're referring to." "After so many setbacks and delays—and now this. We've heard word of rumors circulating through the city. Apparently you've lost a rather talkative cargo pilot." "And what does a cargo pilot know that's of consequence to us? You acknowledged yourself that secrecy was becoming an impediment to progress some time ago. Rumors were bound to spread—" "The rumors are not the concern. The concern isproof. If the Senate gets wind of our project countless systems will flock to the Rebellion."
Grand Moff Tarkin summoned Krennic to the bridge of theExecutrix.
Later that year,[16] the Death Star was nearing completion, and theExecutrix was one of several Star Destroyers positioned around the battle station as itssuperlaser was installed.[17] As this was occurring, Director Krennic arrived on Tarkin's flagship per the Grand Moff Tarkin's orders, much to the annoyance of the director, who ought to have been personally overseeing the weapon's installation.[15] As Tarkin was observing the station from his ship's bridge, Krennic arrived, along with his[17] aide, CaptainDunstig Pterro,[2] and two of hisdeath trooperguard,[17] who were a failed intimidation tactic against the governor.[15] Joining Tarkin at the fore of the bridge, the director was then chastised by the Grand Moff about a recent security breach on themoonJedha, especially in light of the Death Star's history of setback and delays.[17]
Tarkin then elaborated that according to rumors circulatingJedha City, an Imperialcargo pilot from the Death Star project had deserted there. Krennic dismissed the threat of the pilot, doubting that he knew anything of importance, and reminded Tarkin that the governor himself had said secrecy was becoming an impediment to the Death Star's progress. Trying to elaborate that such rumors were inevitable, Tarkin interrupted him, warning that proof was the concern, not rumors, and that if theSenate learned of the Death Star, countless systems would flock to the Rebel Alliance. Krennic then rebounded that the Senate would be of no concern once the station was complete. Tarkin, stating that its completion was imminent, told the director that the Emperor would tolerate no further delays, and scolded Krennic for making time an ally of the Rebellion.[15]
Tarkin takes center stage[]
"I suggest we solve both problems simultaneously with an immediate test of the weapon. Failure will find you explaining why to a far less patient audience." "I will not fail. A test of the weapon to wipe Jedha clean."
Krennic storms from theExecutrix's bridge, furious.
Krennic, enraged at Tarkin's accusation, then wished to turn the Death Star on theExecutrix and then see how much of a failure the Emperor considered him. Shooting his idea down with a condescending smirk,[18] Tarkin then stood over Krennic, and suggested both problems be solved simultaneously with an immediate test of the Death Star'ssuperlaser. The Grand Moff then warned the director that failure would have him explaining why to a far less patient audience. Furious, Krennic vowed that he would not fail,[17] promising to wipe Jehda clean[15] before storming from the bridge with his entourage. Tarkin, turning away in dismissal and disinterest, then returned to the bridge's forwardviewports to continue observing the Death Star.[17]
Soon after, Tarkin left theExecutrix to join Krennic on the Death Star'soverbridge, where the director made good on his earlier promise to Tarkin and used the station to annihilate Jedha City. Knowing then that the station was completely operational, and with no more risk of setbacks being blamed on him, Tarkin immediately seized control of the Death Star from Krennic.[17] Later, under Tarkin's command, the Death Star travelled toYavin in order to destroy therebel base located on one of the planet'smoons.[19] Tarkin's hubris caused the Death Star to be unaccompanied on its way to Yavin, despite the availability of both theExecutrix and theDevastator, Vader's flagship. Because the station had now proven itself, additional firepower was not needed.[20] However, Tarkin waskilled shortly after, when the Death Star was destroyed by arebel attack before it had chance to annihilate their base.[19]
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Trailer Tease on the officialStar WarsYouTube channel(backup link)(First pictured)
