EE-4 carbine rifle

"Sana. Honey. Let's talk. We really need to talk. Put the gun down and we'll talk, okay?"

- Han Solo, to Sana Starros

The EE-4 blaster rifle was a model of powerful, medium-ranged blaster rifle that saw use in the galaxy during the reign of the Galactic Empire. Successor to the EE-3 carbine rifle, the EE-4's shorter and stubby barrel allowed it to fire more effectively at close range with spread shots, but at the cost of a reduced accuracy at range compared to its predecessor. The two-handed rifle was favored by the bounty hunter, smuggler, and later Rebel Alliance member Sana Starros.

Description
The EE-4 blaster rifle was a powerful type of blaster that was capable of discharging red-colored bolts with a medium range. Distinguished for its two-round spread burst fire, the weapon was successor to the EE-3 carbine rifle manufactured by BlasTech Industries. While the EE-3 focused on precision and range, the EE-4 was built to be more effective at close range and had a superior rate of fire with its shorter and stubby barrel. On the other hand, these alterations caused a reduction in the rifle's accuracy at range and cooling power in comparison to its predecessor.

The black-colored EE-4 consisted of a stubby, circular barrel that contained cooling vents; along with two vertical grips attached beneath the barrel, allowing the wielder to hold the weapon with two hands. One of the grips was located amidst, with the other at the rear of the rifle, as the blaster lacked a long stock unlike the its predecessor. Besides the EE-4's main scope which was visually identical to the EE-3's electronic scope and placed over the body, the EE-4 was equipped with four additional, smaller scopes with each two being attached on either side. The rifle also contained a guard that surrounded the trigger.

Skirmish on Hradreek
"Come back here!"

- Sana Starros, whilst firing upon R2-D2

The EE-4 blaster rifle was notably used by Sana Starros, a human female bounty hunter and smuggler active during the reign of the Galactic Empire. Some time after the Battle of Yavin, Starros was carrying her blaster in a holster when she traveled to Hradreek to sell a pair of ancient lightsabers that were once wielded by the Sith Darth Atrius. Although she had promised them both to the Empire and an alien crime boss at the same time, Starros only delivered one of the sabers to each of her buyers. When the Emperor's chief enforcer, Darth Vader, realized the smuggler's deception, he ordered stormtroopers to find her and the other saber. Soon after, the Sith Lord found Starros himself, then she fired upon Vader with her EE-4 blaster rifle. However, the Sith deflected the blaster bolts with his hand by using the Force. Starros eventually managed to escape the Dark Lord by activating a bomb hidden next to him.

Because of the same explosion, the Jedi trainee Luke Skywalker, who was also coincidentally on Hradreek to retrieve funds for the Rebel Alliance, dropped his cred stick and was separated from his astromech droid R2-D2. Shortly later, Starros came across the credit chip lying on the ground and picked it up. The droid thereupon attacked Starros, caused her to fall to the ground, and took the credits back. She then fired upon R2-D2 with the EE-4 in anger, but the astromech escaped.

Hunting Han Solo
"&hellip;why is your wife pointing a gun at me?''" " She's not my wife!''"

- Leia Organa and Han Solo, on Sana Starros

Later, Sana Starros began searching Han Solo, a fellow smuggler who had made off with Starros's cut after the two pulled off a robbery disguised as their "wedding." Starros' quest came to an end on an unnamed planet near the Monsua Nebula, where Solo&mdash;who had joined the Rebel Alliance by that time&mdash;was on a mission for the Rebellion along with Princess Leia Organa. By using her EE-4, Starros initially drew a bead on both rebels, alerted Imperials to claim the bounty issued for Organa, and forced Solo to come with her; but she had a change of heart upon learning that Solo had become a rebel too, and the Empire would arrest him as well. With Starros' starship Volt Cobra, the trio escaped Imperial forces.

Rescue of Luke Skywalker
"Shoot it!''" "''Blasters don't work&hellip;"

- Leia Organa and Sana Starros, on Kongo the Disemboweler

After losing the Imperials, Leia Organa was informed that his fellow rebel friend, Luke Skywalker, was abducted by the Hutt crime lord Grakkus on the moon Nar Shaddaa. Organa then made a deal with Starros to get them to the "Smuggler's Moon" for a rescue mission. By the time the trio reached at Grakkus' palace, where Skywalker was forced to fight an arena match against a roggwart creature known as Kongo the Disemboweler, the Empire had also arrived to capture Skywalker for themselves. Surrounded by enemies, Grakkus activated a local electromagnetic pulse that disabled Kongo's shock collar as well as all the blasters nearby, including Starros' EE-4. For that reason, when the ravenous beast ran towards the rebels, they were unable to shoot it. The rescue mission was eventually successful, and Starros later ranged herself on the side of the Rebel Alliance.

Behind the scenes
"While its predecessor &mdash; the EE-3 &mdash; focuses on precision and range, the EE-4 was constructed with a short and stubby barrel to allow it to fire more effectively at a closer range with spread shots. Despite the reduction in accuracy at range, the blaster makes up for it with a greater rate of fire."

- The EE-4 blaster rifle's description in Star Wars Battlefront

The EE-4 blaster rifle first appeared, albeit unnamed, in the canon comic book Star Wars 6: Skywalker Strikes, Part VI, written by Jason Aaron with art by John Cassaday, and released by Marvel Comics in 2015. The blaster was later identified by name when it was included in the video game Star Wars Battlefront as part of the Bespin expansion pack released in 2016. The rifle was unlockable via an in-game challenge called "Sana's Legacy," referring its notable owner Sana Starros from Marvel's Star Wars comic book series.

The EE-4 also appeared in the game's sequel Star Wars Battlefront II as a "Star Card" ability for the specialist trooper class&mdash;such as scout troopers&mdash;rather than a full-fledged blaster option. In both games, the rifle can be used by troopers from all factions, which include the Galactic Republic, the Separatist Alliance, the Galactic Empire, the Rebel Alliance, the New Republic, the First Order and the Resistance.

In the seventh and eighth issues of Marvel's Star Wars: Doctor Aphra comic book series, both illustrated by Andrea Broccardo, Starros was depicted wielding an EE-3 rather than an EE-4.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Battlefront II
 * Star Wars Battlefront
 * Star Wars Annual 4
 * Star Wars 6: Skywalker Strikes, Part VI
 * Star Wars 8: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon, Part I
 * Star Wars 9: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon, Part II
 * Star Wars 12: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon, Part V
 * Star Wars 42: The Ashes of Jedha, Part V