Shark (starfighter)

The Shark was Commander Merai personal starfighter during the Clone Wars. It was a Calamari design.

Merai was a military officer for the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As such, he gave orders from the bridge of his command ship. However, he used to keep the Shark in the hangars and, if needed, he himself would pilot his fighter to the battle, instead of remaining on the ship.

Separatist leader Count Dooku approved Passel Argente's plan to attack Kamino, and Argente decided to use Merai as co-leader of the attack. It was the Separatist objective to destroy the main reactor of Tipoca City, which would eliminate the supply of clones for the Republic. The mission had little evidences or background, but Merai followed his gut instinct and began the attack, engaging with the Jedi starfighters protecting Kamino.

Merai's ship was shot down, but then Merai took control of the Shark and tried to destroy himself the reactor. However, the information he was provided was false and Merai and the Shark were ambushed by Jedis. He understood that he had been fooled.

In a last-ditch effort, he decided to destroy the hyperspace rings the Jedi Starfighters used to go to and from Kamino. He blew up the Shark, killing himself while giving a blow to the Republic. The battle was anyway a Republican victory, and Separatist leader-in-shadows Darth Sidious did not cry the loss of either Merai or the Shark.