Imperator (Imperial-class)

Imperator was the lead ship of a series of prototypes which lead to the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer. Originally Imperator-class, the line was renamed Imperial-class once full production began after the Jedi Purge. Imperator was later assigned to standard operations in the Imperial Navy.

In 1 BBY, she was used as the location of the Omega Exercise for Kyle Katarn, a cadet of the Imperial Academy, in an attack on the Rebel base on AX-456.

Shortly after the Battle of Hoth, the brainwashed double agent Kupalo attempted to flee from the Rebel cruiser Liberty to the waiting Imperator, but he was recaptured by the Rebels despite assistance from Imperator's TIE fighter squadrons.

Not long after that, Imperator joined the forces of rogue Grand Admiral Zaarin, and helped destroy the Star Destroyer Courageous.

Her history after the termination of Zaarin's coup by Grand Admiral Thrawn is unclear, though the New Republic believed her to be part of the Coruscant defense force during their push to take the capital.

Behind the Scenes

 * The name Imperator is applied to an Imperial-class Star Destroyer in a number of unrelated sources which were published before Imperator was finally confirmed as the original name for the Imperial-class. Imperator may therefore be the class ship for the Imperial-I class, but this has not been explicitly stated.


 * It is also not completely certain that all the appearances of an Imperial I-class Imperator are the same vessel, but this article assumes they are the same as there is no evidence to the contrary. There are also references to an interdictor and a Victory-class Star Destroyer of the same name.


 * The Latin word imperator was a title originally roughly equivalent to commander during the period of the Roman Republic. It later went on to become a part of the titulature of the Roman emperors and to enter European political vocabulary as a synonym for emperor. Unlike emperor, the word is pronounced with stress on the third syllable.

Appearances

 * Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire
 * ''Star Wars: TIE Fighter
 * Star Wars: X-wing Alliance
 * X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble