Conqueror(superlaser)

Content approaching.Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide–class. Parts of this article are no longer up to date. Please update the article to include missing information, and remove this template when finished.

Conqueror

TheConqueror was anImperial-class Star Destroyer armed with asuperlaser that was in operation during theGalactic Civil War. Conceived as a replacement for theGalactic Empire'splanet-destroyingsuperweapon, theDeath Star, lost at theBattle of Yavin, theConqueror was intended to slow the momentum of the rapidly growingRebel Alliance. The superlaser component of theStar Destroyer was constructed at an Imperialresearch facility onNaboo under the supervision of the Imperialstorm commandos. It was projected that the superlaser on theConqueror, when properly installed, would give the Star Destroyer the ability to break apart a small moon, or crack a continent in half.^[1] By1 ABY, the weapon was equipped on theConqueror, and the Star Destroyer was located in theMustafar system, where it was commanded byAdmiralVictor Strang. There, the Star Destroyer's superlaser was successfully tested on asmall planetoid.

Shortly thereafter, the Alliance'sRenegade Squadron came across information on theConqueror during severalraids on Imperial facilities located on Naboo, and they set out to destroy thevessel. After hijacking ashuttle onMustafar that was bound for theConqueror, the Renegades were able toinfiltrate the Star Destroyer and plant timedexplosives on the ship'sreactor core, which would cause the vessel to explode once detonated. Strang and the Imperial forces on the ship were unable to stop the Rebels, and after a confrontation withEmperorPalpatine's enforcer,Darth Vader, who had recently arrived on the ship, the Renegades were able to escape theConqueror shortly before it was destroyed.

Description[]

TheConqueror was a 1,600-meter-long^[2]Imperial-class Star Destroyer.^[1] Thestarship had a spacioushangar bay that was large enough to hold severalLambda-class T-4a shuttles, aTIE Advanced x1starfighter, and anIncomX4 Gunship. In the aft section of theStar Destroyer was the ship'sreactor core. The vessel had a number of security measures installed in case of an emergency, includingblast doors, analarm system, and red emergency lights placed along ship's corridors.^[2]

TheConqueror's most distinguishing feature was asuperlaser, similar to theone used on thefirst Death Starbattle station, which was built into the vessel's bow^[2] and took up much of the surrounding area, bisecting the forward section of the Star Destroyer.^[3] The superlaser consisted of severalbeam generators^[2] arrayed around a concave circular dish^[3] located on the prow of the ship. When the weapon was fired, beams emanated from the generators and converged into a single greenlaser capable of destroying a smallmoon,^[2] and at the very least crack a continent in half and melt cities,^[1] although it was purported to have the ability to demolish entireplanets as well.^[4][5][6]

History[]

TheConqueror was conceived as a replacement for theGalactic Empire's firstDeath Star,^[7] asuperweapon capable of annihilating planets that was destroyed by theRebel Alliance at theBattle of Yavin in0 BBY.^[8] However, the concept itself and to a lesser extent the retrofitting of theConqueror itself was experimented on as early as 0 BBY, and was included in the official field guide for officers of the Imperial Military, theImperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide. During this time, the project ran into issues with miniaturization and power output, as well as plans to create more Star Destroyers equipped with superlasers.^[1] With the Rebels quickly gaining momentum in theGalactic Civil War,EmperorPalpatine was intent on swiftly halting the uprising through a crippling counterattack intended to demoralize the Alliance. The project to develop theConqueror's superlaser was spearheaded by the Empire's elitestorm commandos,^[7] led byAdmiralVictor Strang,^[2] who intended to use the weapon to destroy worlds affiliated with the Alliance.^[6]

The superlaser was developed at an Imperialresearch facility onNaboo, which was guarded by the Imperial-alliedSith AcolyteNamman Cha. Eventually, the weapon was fitted onto theConqueror, and by1 ABY the Star Destroyer had been put under Strang's command and stationed in theMustafar system.Imperial Intelligence became involved with the project, andIntelligence DirectorYsanne Isard herself began overseeing the operation, working in conjunction with theBlackguard,^[2] adark side cult based onMustafar.^[9] At some point, theConqueror performed a successful test of its superlaser, obliterating a small,uninhabited planetoid in thesystem. This test was documented and sent to the research facility on Naboo.^[2]

Soon after, the Alliance learned of theConqueror's existence after araid on an Imperialweapons depot on Naboo, which was carried out by the Alliance's eliteRenegade Squadron, led byCommanderCol Serra. The team turned updatafiles containing information on the Star Destroyer. The Renegades discovered the research facility where the superlaser was developed and infiltrated it, defeating Namman Cha and gaining access to thecomputer consoles located there. Once they came across the recording of theConqueror's weapons test and discovered the ship's location, theyheaded to Mustafar and hijacked one of the Imperial supplyshuttles that flew between theConqueror and the surface of the planet each day. The team intended to use it to board the superweapon and destroy the vessel.^[2]

The Renegades were able to provide the correct identification codes to dock with theConqueror, and upon arrival in the ship's hangar, they opened fire on the surroundingstormtroopers. This alerted the Imperials to their presence and set off the ship's alarm system. They made their way to theConqueror's critical reactor core, which the Renegades hoped to destroy usingthermal detonators, thereby causing the ship to explode. On the way there, the team was encountered by Strang and his stormcommandos. Serra and the Renegades defeated them and eventually reached the reactor core, placing timed detonation charges around it. Simultaneously, theEmperor's enforcer,Darth Vader, arrived aboard the vessel to see to the superweapon's safe delivery to the Emperor. After tenminutes of fighting through the ship's corridors, the Renegades reached the hangar, intending to leave on the very shuttle they arrived in. There, they were confronted by Vader and a group of storm commandos. Serra and the Renegades were able to gain the upper hand in the subsequent firefight and escaped theConqueror as the detonators exploded and destroyed the ship. Despite their success, two Imperial vessels, including Vader's, were able to escape the destruction as well.^[2]

Crix Madine later confirmed its destruction in theImperial Handbook after a copy was supplied to the Rebel Alliance, in the aftermath of the Battle of Endor.^[1]

Commanders and crew[]

At thetime that it was stationed in the Mustafar system, theConqueror wascaptained by Admiral Victor Strang, a former storm commando leader. Strang kept a personal guard of storm commandos with him on the Star Destroyer, which he brought along when he encountered Renegade Squadron aboard the vessel. He was protective of his ship, disliking the idea of it being stolen or destroyed, and personally confronted the Renegades when they attempted to achieve the latter. Just before theConqueror's destruction, an Incom X4Gunship, which one of the Renegades thought may have been carrying Strang, escaped the doomed Star Destroyer.^[2]

Along with Strang's storm commandos, theConqueror carried a number of stormtroopers andImperial Navy troopers. Stormtroopers were present in the ship's hangar when Renegade Squadron first arrived aboard the vessel, andNavytroopers attempted to halt the advance of Serra and his Renegades when they were making their way to the ship's reactor core. Stormtroopers and Navy troopers were also encountered by the Renegades at several critical junctions across the ship on the way back to theConqueror's hangar. Additionally, several groups of workers were spread throughout the large hangar bay at the time.^[2]

Behind the scenes[]

TheConqueror was created for the2010Threat of the Conqueror expansion set of theStar Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game developed bySony Online Entertainment. The Star Destroyer was featured in the Light Side scenario campaign for the set, in which the player character joins Renegade Squadron in uncovering information on the ship and destroying it.^[2] It also received its own card in the set, an item card usable only by Imperial players,^[3] and was referenced on several others.^{[6][10][11][12]} TheConqueror was illustrated by artistDerek Herring.^[13]

Discrepancies[]

Promotional material on Sony's website concerningThreat of the Conqueror indicates that the Rebel Alliance assigns Renegade Squadron to specifically target and destroy theConqueror.^[7] However, the Light Side scenario campaign depicts the Renegades attacking an Imperial weapons depot and coincidentally coming across information on theConqueror themselves, which they then set out to destroy. A description of the campaign within the game also indicates the involvement of theJedi in the mission to search for theConqueror, although they are never mentioned in the campaign.^[2] Additionally, promotional material indicates theConqueror's involvement in the Dark Side scenario campaign as a weapon used by the storm commandos,^[7] but theConqueror neither appears nor is mentioned in the narrative of that campaign.^[14]

The destructive capability of theConqueror's superlaser is only ever witnessed during the test on the rogue planetoid in the Light Side scenario campaign.^[2] However, promotional material onStarWars.com indicates that the Star Destroyer's superlaser has the ability to destroy whole planets,^[5] as does the in-game synopsis for the overall campaign^[2] and the quote provided for Victor Strang on his card.^[6]

The only images of theConqueror, featured on the Star Destroyer's card and on Sony's website, depict the ship hovering over acity with its superlaser being fired while Strang and histroops engage in combat on the ground.^[3][7] However, this scene is completely absent from the Light Side scenario campaign. In the campaign, theConqueror is only ever seen stationed in the Mustafar system, where its weapon is tested, and is destroyed by Renegade Squadron shortly afterward.^[2]

Appearances[]

•  Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game —Threat of the Conqueror (Light Side scenario campaign)(First appearance, simultaneous with mentions on cards fromThreat of the Conqueror)

Sources[]

Explore all of Wookieepedia'simages for this article subject.

• Star Wars Galaxies TCG: Threat of the Conqueror Expansion onStarWars.com(original site is defunct)
• Star Wars Galaxies™ Trading Card Game: Threat of the Conqueror on the officialStar Wars Galaxies website(original site is defunct)

• Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide

Notes and references[]