Saboteur

Asaboteur was an individual tasked with disrupting the normal operation of a physical mechanism. Bothorganic beings anddroids were capable of performing acts of sabotage. They were skilled at subtle manipulations designed for simple operation failure or the complete destruction of a target. Saboteurs were highly skilled and often combined the talents of aslicer,mechanic and explosives expert with the skills of aspy orcommando. Saboteurs were used by governments, military, corporations, and criminal elements alike.

Characteristics[]

Saboteurs operated covertly using stealth, often infiltrating a location by posing as an individual authorized to be there. They could work individually if infiltrating a single structure or in small teams when their target was an entire complex or covering a larger area.^[3]

Well trained saboteurs could damage anything from weapons and vehicles tocomputer systems, and the best of them could subtly manipulate machinery to appear in perfect working order until the designated moment when they would malfunction catastrophically, typically at the moment it will wreak the most havoc.^[4] The objectives of a saboteur ranged from simply disabling a particular machine, such as ashield generator or power grid, or the complete destruction of a building, complex or base.^[3]

Most saboteurs were skilled in multiple fields of expertise due to the various forms and degrees of sabotage they were tasked with. They often had to be able to slice into computer systems and know their way around anengine, as well as be an explosives expert and proficient with many kinds ofblasters andmelee weapons. They were also required to be convincing performers as they were frequently required to play a role to infiltrate a particular target location.^[4]

History[]

During theClone Wars, theConfederacy of Independent Systems deployedbuzz droids, a type of insect-likeautomaton, in swarms duringbattlefleet actions to wreak havoc uponstarfightersquadrons that happened to fly through a formation of such deployed droids. Buzz droids were equipped with drill heads, plasma cutting torches,circular saws, prying hooks and pincer arms for disabling their targets.^[6]

Before the formation of theRebel Alliance, ex-Clone WarsGeneralRahm Kota sabotagedImperialTIE fighter production when he and his militia troops took over aTIE Fighter Construction Facility overNar Shaddaa. He and his forces weredefeated byDarth Vader'ssecret apprentice.^[7]

Before becoming aJedi Knight,Kyle Katarn worked as an agent ofAlliance to Restore the Republic, often committing acts of sabotage against Imperial targets. While tracking down the origins of theDark Trooper Project, Katarn infiltrated and destroyed amining facility onGromas 16, halting the Empire's flow ofphrikite. He later infiltrated and caused the destruction of theArc Hammer, the factory ship whereDark troopers were produced.^[8]

Shortly after theBattle of Yavin, the ImperialStar DestroyerAnya Karu was destroyed by Rebel Alliance saboteurs. Rather than admit to a defeat by a handful of Rebels, the Empire blamedCaptainAron Harcourt for the ship's destruction and demoted him to desk job on Coruscant. The Empire dispatched theAdjudicator to destroy the wreckage of theAnya Karu to eliminate any evidence of the Rebels' involvement in its downfall.^[9]

TheZann Consortium made use of elite commandos, known asDefilers, that were completely loyal to their leader,Tyber Zann. Defilers were trained to both protect and advance the Consortium's influence and power. They were skilledsoldiers, enforcers, and saboteurs. They resorted to kidnapping, manipulations, bribery, threats, virtually any means necessary to spread the corruption of the Zann Consortium.^[10]

Han Solo led astrike team to theforest moon ofEndor to destroy theshield generator protecting theDeath Star II. After initially being captured by Imperial forces, the strike team was able to plant explosives causing the destruction of the generator. Once the shield was deactivated, Rebel Alliance fighters, led byLando Calrissian in theMillennium Falcon, were able to penetrate theDeath Star superstructure and destroy the battle station, ending the dictatorial reign ofEmperorPalpatine.^[1]

After infiltratingImperial City onCoruscant,Rogue Squadron was able tohijack aConstruction droid to take them to the command building. There, they took remote control of one of the orbitingsolar mirrors. focusing a light beam from the mirror directly onto one of the planet's reservoirs. The flash-boiled water caused a massive electrical storm, overloading the shield station power supply, causing the shields to collapse allowing the New Republic to liberate the planet.^[11]

Wraith Squadron, aNew Republicstarfighter squadron, used deception and sabotage on numerous occasions during thecampaign to drawWarlordZsinj into the open. Posing as gang ofpirates, they disrupted the warlord's supply line. Rather than destroy the "pirate gang", Zsinj hired them to work for him, allowing the Wraiths closer contact than ever before. Their continued ploy resulted in the destruction of theStar DreadnoughtRazor's Kiss, preventing it from falling into Zsinj's hands.^[12]

AdmiralGial Ackbar's personalmechanic,Terpfen was an unwitting sleeper agent forImperialAmbassadorFurgan ofCarida. He sabotaged Ackbar's personalB-wing/E2shuttle which caused it to crash into theCathedral of Winds onVortex. This accident destroyed the cathedral, killing hundreds of nativeVors and nearly killing Ackbar and his passenger,Leia Organa Solo.^[13]

After being imprisoned onYuuzhan'tar during theYuuzhan Vong War, Jacen Solo befriended theWorld Brain. After escaping withVergere, he revealed that he had left instructions for the World Brain to sabotage^[14] the ongoingterraforming in tiny and annoying ways. The Brain made small things go wrong in the process and teach the Yuuzhan Vong to compromise with other species.^[15]

Appearances[]

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