Punworcca 116-class interstellar sloop/Legends

"The human's starship, it flies as if by magic. If Poggle crosses him, the human might use his magic against us."

- Anonymous Geonosian guard

The Punworcca 116-class interstellar sloop was a solar sailer designed by the Huppla Pasa Tisc Shipwrights Collective of Geonosis, using Gree technology for the solar sail, though not all of the vessels possessed sails. Count Dooku used such a vessel to enter and leave Coruscant undetected.

Characteristics


The seed-shaped vessel bore a resemblance to the smaller Geonosian starfighter, though the sloop had room inside for two pilots, a bunk, and cargo space. Though unarmed, the solar sloop featured eighty-four miniature tractor beam projectors fitted to the forward prongs, which acted both as steering aids and emergency grapple weapons.

History
Count Dooku received an interstellar sloop as a gift from his Geonosian benefactors prior to the Clone Wars. To the Geonosian sloop, Dooku added a unique and ancient solar sail acquired in the Gree Enclave. Fitted to his vessel, the solar sail propelled the sailer through mysterious means; regular solar sailers used sails that unfurled to moon-like diameters, catching tachyon streams and ultraviolet lasers. An FA-4 pilot droid flew the sailer for Dooku, who was often found in the rear hold, perusing the onboard databook library.

When war erupted on Geonosis, Dooku fled to his secret hangar in the desert, intent on fleeing the massive battle between Republic and Separatist forces. Dooku was waylaid by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Yoda, and barely managed to escape into the safety of his sailer. The solar sailer left Geonosis far behind, heading for a dark rendezvous with Dooku's Master, Darth Sidious, in The Works on Coruscant.

Dooku apparently had at least one decoy sloop, and Asajj Ventress also used a Punworcca 116 during her mission to Ruul and the mission to Rugosa, although she may simply have been using Dooku's own sloop. Some credence may be given to both explanations, as Dooku's later apprentice Savage Opress also utilized a solar sailer.

During Dooku's escape to Vanqor, during the Skirmish at Vanqor, his sloop was shot down and crashed. Hondo Ohnaka and his pirate gang salvaged the ship and claimed it as their own.

An example of this vessel was identified as a distinctive "Geonosian fantail" by Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker when they discovered it on Tythe, but it is unclear if this means the Punworcca 116 bore any relation to the Fantail warships employed by the Corporate Alliance.

Dooku continued to use his sloop throughout the Clone Wars, and during the Battle of Coruscant, he met with General Grievous onboard the Invisible Hand after departing Tythe&mdash;via Nelvaan&mdash;in his sloop. The solar sailer was presumably aboard the Invisible Hand at the time of its destruction over Coruscant.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
 * Jango Fett: Open Seasons 1
 * The Eyes of Revolution
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
 * Most Precious Weapon
 * Star Wars: Republic 49: Sacrifice
 * Jedi: Mace Windu
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars 5: Slaves of the Republic - Chapter 5: A Slave now, a Slave forever
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars Volume 1: Shipyards of Doom
 * ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars 11: Hero of the Confederacy, Part 2
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars 12: Hero of the Confederacy, Part 3
 * Legacy of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
 * Brothers in Arms
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
 * Legacy of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
 * Brothers in Arms
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader
 * Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy