Whip Hand

Whip Hand was a Lancer-class frigate initially used by the Galactic Empire before it was captured and later put to use by the New Republic. In 28 ABY during the Yuuzhan Vong War, Whip Hand participated in the Second Battle of Obroa-skai against Yuuzhan Vong forces before being assigned to guard the crippled cruiser Far Thunder as it made its way to the planet Kashyyyk. However, both ships were ambushed by enemy coralskippers, and despite managing to drive the starfighters off with the help of two squadrons of their own, Whip Hand failed to save the Far Thunder.

Description
Whip Hand was a Lancer-class frigate produced by Kuat Drive Yards, and was designed to battle swarms of starfighters. Equipped with a hyperdrive, the frigate was armed with turbolasers and possessed a command bridge.

History
During the early part of the Galactic Civil War, where the Galactic Empire combated the Alliance to Restore the Republic, Whip Hand served as an Imperial vessel until it was captured prior to 4 ABY. The Lancer-class frigate ended up in the hands of the New Republic, the Alliance's successor state, and a refurbished Whip Hand was operational during the Yuuzhan Vong War, where the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong species invaded the galaxy. In 28 ABY, Whip Hand participated in the Second Battle of Obroa-skai in the Obroa-skai system against Yuuzhan Vong fleet elements that resulted in a decisive victory for the New Republic.

Following the battle, the New Republic's base was shifted to the planet of Kashyyyk, and Whip Hand was assigned to guard the Republic-class cruiser Far Thunder as it limped to the Kashyyyk system; the cruiser had been seriously damaged in the fighting, and the majority of the Far Thunder crew was evacuated to leave the cruiser with a skeleton crew on its journey. However, after the pair of capital ships met up with a tender that contained spare parts for the Far Thunder, the New Republic ships were attacked in deep space by around sixty coralskippers launched from a pair of Yuuzhan Vong tenders. Although designed as an anti-starfighter frigate, Whip Hand could not protect both itself and the crippled Far Thunder from the attacking coralskippers, prompting the cruiser's Captain Hannser to issue a call for help.

By the time the New Republic's Twin Suns Squadron and Scimitar Squadron arrived on scene, Whip Hand had resorted to flying abreast of the Far Thunder, rolling around the cruiser to wherever the danger from the coralskippers seemed the greatest; the New Republic tender had been destroyed earlier in the fight. As the Lancer-class frigate was holding it own against the starfighters, the reinforcements were directed to aid the Far Thunder, though Scimitar Squadron did make a pass on the coralskippers strafing Whip Hand before they engaged those attacking the Far Thunder after Twin Suns Leader Jaina Solo had the frigate modify its position briefly to help in catching the coralskippers unaware.

However, despite the aid of the two squadrons, which succeeded in driving off the enemy coralskippers with the help of the two capital ships, the Far Thunder was too badly damaged to be salvageable. After the remaining crew of the cruiser was transferred to Whip Hand by shuttle, the frigate maneuvered alongside the Far Thunder, and blasted the cruiser apart at point blank range to prevent the Yuuzhan Vong from stealing the Republic-class ship.

Appearances

 * The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way