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Executor
Production information
Manufacturer
Product line
Technical specifications
Modified systems
Maximum speed (atmosphere)
Engine unit(s)
Hyperdrive system
Shielding
Armament
Complement
Crew
Passengers
Communication systems
Usage
Role(s)
Destroyed
Present for battles/events
Affiliation
Navy
Fleet
Owner(s)
Commander(s)
Crewmembers
- "Aboard theExecutor, beinguseful is theonly way to survive."
- ―Maximillian Veers[31]
TheExecutor was anExecutor-class Star Dreadnought and personalflagship of theSith LordDarth Vader and was the most powerfulvessel ever created by theGalactic Empire. UnderLord Vader's command, theExecutor led theDeath Squadron following theBattle of Yavin and oversaw the assault on theRebel Alliance'sbase during theBattle of Hoth. While finally serving as thecommand ship during theBattle of Endor underAdmiralFirmus Piett, theExecutor was destroyed after a wayward rebelA-wing starfighter piloted byArvel Crynyd crashed into itsbridge, causing theSuper Star Destroyer to lose power and collide with theDS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station.
Description[]
One of the largest and most powerfulImperialvessels ever created, theExecutor was 19,000meters long,[5] eclipsing its escortingImperial-class Star Destroyers,[9] and boasted more than 5,000turbolasers andion cannons. The center of the arrowhead-shapedhull, constructed of analusteel alloy of reinforcedtitanium, was covered by acity-like superstructure, while the underside hosted most of the engineering systems. The aft end of theExecutor was marked by a trapezoidalcommand tower crowned by two geodesic communication and deflection domes. The thirteenthrusters at the bottom end of the hull were responsible for moving the vessel.[5] It was considered the most important ship in theImperial Navy, and could have feasibly destroyed entirefleets unaided.[19]
Crew[]
TheExecutor was staffed by a total crew of 280,784, includingImperial officers,pilots, and enlisted crew.[4] Many of the best and brightest officers of the Imperial Navy were stationed aboard theExecutor, becauseDarth Vader's frequent termination of officers offered a fast chance for promotion.[19] There was also athrone room in one of the highest levels, used at least once by the Emperor himself, which was independent from the rest of the ship and boasted its ownairlocks andlife support systems.[12] At the time of theBattle of Hoth in3 ABY,[20]AdmiralKendal Ozzel was incommand of the vessel, but he wasexecuted by Vader, andCaptainFirmus Piett was promoted to admiral and took command.[9] Piett served as the vessel's last admiral until Endor.[21]
Other notable Imperial personnel were based on theExecutor. The former[38]Naboo Royal Handmaiden[39] andImperialCommander[40]Sabé spent some time stationed out of theExecutor and had her ownprivate quarters on the ship. TheassassinOchi also frequented the vessel.[38]LieutenantSuba acted asChief of Security aboard theExecutor.[41]
Droid crew amongst theExecutor included units of aservice droid model[16] and amonster droid model.[17] At least oneRA-7 protocol droid was present aboard theExecutor. When Vader took control of thedroid uprising, a number ofB1-series battle droids andB2-series super battle droids were brought to theExecutor for repairs. However, those units were quickly corrupted by theScourge,[16] leading to their destruction at Vader's hands.[42]
Bridge[]
TheExecutor's command bridge
As in theImperial I-[43] andImperial II-classes,[44] thebridge of theExecutor featured two elongated pits set below floor level, and a walkway where the superiorofficers stood. One notable difference was that,[9] around 3 ABY,[45] the pit consoles were aligned parallel to the walkway, instead of perpendicular.[9] However, by4 ABY,[45] the arrangement of the consoles had been altered.[21]
Armament[]
TheExecutor boasted an armament of unimaginable firepower,[46] composed of over 5,000 turbolasers[7] including 750 twin heavy turbolaser batteries, 1000 turret-mounted twin light turbolaser batteries. TheExecutor additionally possessed 125 assaultconcussion missile launchers, 100 twin battleship ion cannons, and 250 turret-mountedquad laser cannons.[4]
Service history[]
Origins[]
- "The fleet will be yours. TheExecutor will be yours."
- ―Darth Sidious, to Darth Vader[12]
TheExecutor in construction above Kuat.
Built byKuat Drive Yards,[2] theExecutor was part of aclass ofStar Destroyers of the same name, which were the fruit of a project theSith Lord Darth Vader had been pushing for.[47] TheExecutor was intended to take the place of theAnnihilator as theflagship of theSupreme Commander,Grand GeneralCassio Tagge, and therefore assume the position of the greatest starship in the entire Imperial Fleet.[28] By the aftermath of theShu-Torun War, theSuper Star Destroyer was entering the final stages of its construction at theorbitalshipyards ofKuat.[48]
When the rogueDoctorCyloattempted to take over the starship and initiate a coup againstEmperorPalpatine, he was stopped by Lord Vader. As a reward, theEmperor gifted hisapprentice theExecutor and its fleet. Tagge tried to reason with Vader, who now possessed more authority than him, but Vader did not relent. TheDark Lord of the Sith quicklyForce choked the Grand General to death for his blunders, and then asked Admiral Kendal Ozzel when the ship would be ready. Ozzel replied it would be about amonth before the ship would be launched due to damages from Cylo's takeover, but Vader gave him twoweeks. When the officer began to protest this, the Dark Lord threatened his subordinate by saying he sounded a lot like the late Grand General. Ozzel looked at the now-dead Tagge, and then assured Vader the ship would be ready. Vader looked out atspace, and usedthe Force to briefly connect with his son,Luke Skywalker.[12]
TheExecutor became thecommand ship of theDeath Squadron, the fleet ofcapital ships assigned toDarth Vader, and also continued to be commanded by Kendal Ozzel, whom Vader began to become increasingly annoyed at.[9] The ship replaced theDevastator as the Sith Lord's flagship,[49] and many of thestormtroopers who served aboard the vessel were selected due to their excellent performance in theImperial Academy.[50] Due to the pivotalBattle of Yavin, that saw theAlliance to Restore the Republic destroy the Empire'sDeath Starsuperweapon, the Dark Lord and hisflotilla were tasked with finding the Rebels' base.[9]At some point after theExecutor was given to Vader, it was specially modified to have a meditation chamber, similar to the one athis abode onMustafar.[3]
Mako-Ta Space Docks[]
- "I haven't seen anything that big since the Death Star. Vader. It has to be."
- ―Luke Skywalker[24]
AfterQueenTrios contacted Lord Vader, revealing the location of theAlliance Fleet at theMako-Ta Space Docks,[51] theExecutor, along with the rest of DeathSquadron, arrived at the rebelspace station, initiating anattack on the fleet. From theExecutor, the Dark Lord commanded the attack, ordering the destruction of the nearestcruiser,Yavin's Hope.[24] When theMillennium Falcon, piloted by thesmugglerHan Solo, arrived at Mako-Ta and attempted to use a rebel proximity signal to open the lockedfighterbay doors, Vader left his flagship to pursue them inhis TIE Advanced.[8] Ozzel continue to command the attack from theExecutor, ordering several more cruisers to be destroyed. Vader's attempt to stop Solo from opening the bay doors of Dodonna's flagship, theRepublic, failed, and a squadron ofX-wings lead by Luke Skywalker entered the battle, formingRogue Squadron.[52]
The rebels on Mako-Ta continued to search Trios' files for a way to reactivate their fleet, andLeia Organa learned that the override code was located aboard theExecutor. In order to board the flagship,Princess Organa used thetransponder codes of theShu-Torunmonarch'sship to pose as thequeen, taking a team ofGeneralDavits Draven'sforces with her. They were cleared to land, and managed to sneak out of the ship, killing the Imperial officer who had come to greet them. As Draven ordered hisforces out of Trios' ship, he noticed Vader'sTIE Advanced heading towards them, alerting Organa. The rebels managed to escape, but the Dark Lord landed in the docking bay and drewhis lightsaber, aware of their presence.[53]
The rebels succeeded in retrieving the override codes and made it to a hangar where a single TIE fighter was docked. After some discussion they agreed to have Leia take it back to Dodonna's flagship while Draven would lead the rearguard to delay Vader. This succeeded and the Princess escaped however the General and the rearguard were all killed by the Dark Lord. TheRepublic regained power and successfully fled the battle.[54]
As Vader and Ozzel watched the remaining rebel ships get destroyed, Dodonna's ship returned. It opened fire on theExecutor, which led to the Imperials focusing on that ship. This was a distraction which allowed Han and Leia to take transports to the remaining cruisers to give them the codes to escape. The remained rebel vessels fled except theRepublic as it had been too badly damaged and was finished off by the Imperials.[55]
Battle of Hoth[]
- "Move the ship out of the asteroid field, so we can send a clear transmission."
- ―Darth Vader[9]
TheExecutor exited the Hoth asteroid belt for clear communication with the Emperor.
In 3 ABY,[20] anImperial probe droid located the Rebel hideout,Echo Base, on the frozenplanet ofHoth[9] while theExecutor and its fellow ships were in theJuris sector.[56] Although Ozzel disagreed with Vader, Vader sensed they found the Rebels and commanded him to move the armada to theHoth system. However, the Admiral brought their fleet out ofhyperspace too close to thesystem, which allowed the Rebels to raise their defensive base shields, forcing the Empire to initiate a ground assault. Ozzel was subsequently killed by Vader for his failure, and Captain Firmus Piett was promoted to serve as Ozzel's successor.[9]
TheMillennium Falcon escapes from theExecutor.
As the Empire evicted the Rebels from Hoth's surface, theExecutor, accompanied by severalImperial-class Star Destroyers, pursued the fleeingMillennium Falcon, into theHoth asteroid belt adjacent to theAnoat system. Lord Vader eventually ordered theExecutor to abandon the pursuit and get clear of theasteroid field, in order for him to communicate with Emperor Palpatine without disruptions. He later directed the ship to thegas giantBespin, where he intended to trap the fugitives headed there aboard theFalcon in order to lure out his son, Luke Skywalker.[9]
The War of the Bounty Hunters[]
- "Our fighters have engaged the Hutt attackers,Admiral Piett."
- ―AnImperial officer toAdmiralFirmus Piett on the status of theExecutor's fighters[27]
After Lord Vader took Captain Solo, frozen incarbonite, from theCrimson Dawnauction onJekara, he lured in Luke Skywalker and engaged in a dogfight. Simultaneously, GeneralHurst Romodi'sshuttle was immobilized during the transportation of carbon-encased smuggler to theExecutor. Thebounty huntersBeilert Valance andBoba Fett, aboard theSlave I, moved in to retrieve Solo at the same time asLando Calrissian, Leia Organa, and the rest of the crew of theMillennium Falcon. Meanwhile, theHutt Clan was beckoned by Crimson Dawn intoattacking theExecutor, an overt affront to the Empire. Eventually, Fett acquired Solo, Valance was left for dead, and Vader slaughtered the treacherousBokku and his fellowHutt companions.[27]
Battle of Endor[]
- "We've got to give those fighters more time. Concentrate all fire on that Super Star Destroyer!"
- ―Admiral Gial Ackbar, issuing the destruction ofExecutor[21]
The second Death Star was defended by theExecutor and a fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers in the Battle of Endor.
In 4 ABY,[20] theExecutor, still commanded by Piett, served as the flagship for an Imperial fleet of Star Destroyers that assembled at the remoteforestmoon ofEndor, where the Empire's new superweapon, thesecond Death Star was under construction.[21] TheExecutor stood guard over Endor, taking clearance requests from any starship that entered the system.[57] When theLambda-class T-4a shuttleTydirium arrived in the system, theExecutor reached out for its code clearance, to which it received an older but still valid code. Just as Piett was going to allow the shuttle a chance to pass, Vader asked for more information on its destination after sensing there was more to the ship; the shuttle had actually been stolen by the Rebel Alliance and was transporting astrike team, among its members Skywalker, to the surface. While Piett was willing to hold theTydirium, Vader led the ship pass to deal with the matter personally.[21]
When a Rebel fleet arrived into the system in an attempt to destroy the incompletebattle station, initiating theBattle of Endor, theExecutor and the fleet moved into position to prevent the Rebels from retreating. Admiral Piett, however, did not attack the Rebels, as Emperor Palpatine wanted to demonstrate the destructive power of theDeath Star'ssuperlaser against the cornered Rebelcapital ships.[21]
Fleeing the Death Star's firepower, the Rebels engaged Piett's Star Destroyers at close range while theirground assault team destroyed theshield generator protecting the superweapon, allowing the Rebel fighters to fly into its superstructure. The Alliance FleetSupreme Commander, AdmiralGial Ackbar, wishing to buy moretime for the fighters to accomplish their mission, ordered a concentrated barrage against theExecutor. As the Alliancewarships focused their fire on the Super Star Destroyer, twoRZ-1 A-wing interceptors strafed theExecutor's bridgedeflector shields, bringing them down. In response, Piett ordered the forward batteries to intensify their firepower to prevent anything from penetrating the window of opportunity.[21]
TheExecutor was destroyed when it crashed into the Death Star.
Aware that theExecutor would become the fulcrum of not only the battle but also the balance of power in the entireOuter Rim,Vice AdmiralRae Sloane moved her ship, theVigilance to flank position on theExecutor to try and defend it.[58] However, RebelGreen LeaderArvel Crynyd, with hisA-wing starfighter badly damaged by fire from theExecutor, managed to retain just enough control of his stricken ship to send it towards the Imperial vessel's unshielded bridge. Seeing the threat, Admiral Piett once again shouted to intensify the forward batteries, but, as CommanderGherant realized, it was too late; the Rebel fighter crashed into theExecutor command tower. As explosions engulfed the bridge, the massive ship listed to port and plunged towards the Death Star's surface, exploding upon impact.[21]
Legacy[]
- "Piett, you fool."
- ―AdmiralGarrick Versio, after witnessing theExecutor's destruction[59]
With the destruction of theExecutor, many of the best and most capable officers of the Imperial Navy died along with the over 300,000 onboard. The destruction of theExecutor ended any hope for the Imperials to win the Battle of Endor, which resulted in a crushing defeat for the Galactic Empire.[19]
Behind the scenes[]
- "We built Vader's six-foot-long ship, which had about 150,000 lights in it. George wanted the ship to play a much bigger role in the film, which justified spending more money on it—George wanted it huge."
- ―Lorne Peterson[60]
When asked how to officially pronounce "Executor,"Pablo Hidalgo of theLucasfilm Story Group was unable to give a final answer other than his personal preference.[61] The non-canon video gameLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga features theExecutor, which GeneralRothlan attempts to defend against the player should they attack.[62]
InReturn of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!,Tom Angleberger's retelling ofStar Wars: Episode VIReturn of the Jedi, the Super Star Destroyer present at the battle of Endor was mistakenly referred to as "theEclipse, the Emperor's own Super Star Destroyer."[63] In Angleberger's manuscript, that mistake had been caught and fixed by Hidalgo,[64] who even specifically added that "There's only one Super Star Destroyer [at Endor], and it's theExecutor."[65] Despite Hidalgo's correction, the mistake still appeared in the released version of the story.[63]
Star Wars: On the Front Lines andUltimate Star Wars, New Edition state that theExecutor was the first of its class;[46] however, this is contradicted by other sources,[28] and this article assumesOn the Front Lines andUltimate Star Wars, New Edition are in error.
Appearances[]
 Explore all of Wookieepedia'simages for this article subject.
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Non-canon appearances[]
- LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Duel of Destiny"- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Return to the Wheel"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Free Fall"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Return of the Return of the Jedi"
- "The Racing Winner" —LEGO Star Wars 57
- "Message of Chaos" —LEGO Star Wars 76
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Sources[]
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Notes and references[]
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- Related categories:
- Executor locations
- Related Categories:
- Executor locations