Zann Consortium/Legends

"The Zann Consortium shall rule!"

- Tyber Zann

The Zann Consortium was an underworld consortium and crime syndicate led by Tyber Zann which sabotaged and interfered with Rebel and Imperial affairs during the Galactic Civil War. During the course of the war, it amassed considerable power and wealth, even becoming a nuisance to both the Empire and the Rebellion.

The Consortium would become more powerful after the Battle of Endor due to Tyber Zann's discovery of Palpatine's hidden vaults and the elimination of its main rivals: Jabba and Prince Xizor.

Formation and dissolution


The Zann Consortium was formed at some point before 0 ABY. Led by crimelord Tyber Zann, the movement spread corruption throughout the Galaxy. Zann worked closely with affiliate Jabba the Hutt and learned much from the corpulent gangster. Zann then stole a valuable Sith holocron from Jabba, but was arrested by Imperial forces on Felucia and sent to Kessel. Moments before his arrest, Zann entrusted the holocron to his partner, Urai Fen. He evaded capture and escaped the planet with the artifact.

Concerned for the survival of the Consortium, Urai Fen contacted allies of the Consortium on Kamino. Kamino then served as a base for a very limited time, but the Kaminoans, with very few resources, could not contribute much. The Consortium then decided to relocate to Ryloth so Fen moved Consortium forces from Kamino to Ryloth. He led the Consortium to victory over the Imperial forces on Ryloth, the only remaining obstacle to the group's use of the planet, and laid low until Tyber Zann was ready.

Escape from Kessel and reformation
"My stay in prison has not done wonders for the Consortium."

- Tyber Zann

Zann continued to languish in the prisons of Kessel until Jabba the Hutt, pleased at Zann's capture, inadvertently set him free with a message delivered by an MSE-6 droid. From there, Zann contacted Urai Fen, who managed to land on the planet with help from Han Solo and Chewbacca in the Millennium Falcon.

A bounty hunter sent by Jabba the Hutt caught up with an unarmed Zann as he left his cell, only to be killed by Fen, who gave Zann back an upgraded version of Zann's old pistol. Tyber and Urai managed to bribe and fight through the security checkpoints and past stormtroopers and a few Phase II dark troopers, breaking other prisoners free as a distraction to aid them in his escape. The pair finally made their rendezvous with an impatient Solo, and Zann left the prisoners to their fate and made his exit in the Millennium Falcon. After his departure from Kessel, Tyber Zann began his campaign to restore the Consortium to power in the Galaxy.

Accumulation of power


Soon, Tyber heard of the destruction of the Death Star, and aware that it was regulations for personnel on Imperial stations to eject data pods before they were destroyed, and headed to Yavin to find something of value. Tyber rummaged through the remains of the first Death Star in orbit around Yavin Prime, he discovered plans for the Eclipse-class Super Star Destroyer, under construction in the Kuat Drive Yards, as well as plans for the Aggressor-class destroyer. The Eclipse, Zann hoped, would prove his power to the Galaxy.

Tyber finally made a deal with the rival crimelord Jabba the Hutt inside an old CIS battle droid factory on Hypori and gained a powerful new addition to his arsenal, the Droideka Mark II, as well as the services of the Trandoshan bounty hunter Bossk. Zann also was partially responsible for the downfall of Black Sun leader Prince Xizor, framing him for stealing tibanna gas from Bespin, despite the arrival of Imperial reinforcements, including Darth Vader.

Shortly after the Battle of Endor, Tyber managed to capture the Eclipse, and destroyed another Super Star Destroyer. Zann proceeded to steal billions of credits from Emperor Palpatine's personal vault network. After his theft, Tyber decided to abandon the Eclipse as it would be a "target even the Rebels could not ignore." The Eclipse was later recovered by Imperial forces, who continued its construction.

The Consortium was also intent on discovering the mysteries of the ancient Sith holocron, stolen from Jabba while he was making a deal with the Galactic Empire on Felucia. However, Silri, a Nightsister in Zann's employ, stole the holocron during the theft on Coruscant before they could decipher it, and unlocked its secrets. The artifact led her to an ancient Sith tomb, with thousands of Sith soldiers frozen in carbonite.

Missions


Only one mission before the theft of Jabba's artifact and the dissolution of the Consortium is known, but known missions from that point onwards included:


 * Kidnapping the Supreme Strategist of Mandalore
 * Stealing Jabba the Hutt's Sith artifact on Felucia
 * Moving Consortium forces to Kamino
 * Breaking Tyber Zann out of the prisons of Kessel
 * Intimidating the Noghri on Honoghr
 * Establishing racketeering on Shola
 * Dueling the Mandalorian Clan Leader above Mandalore
 * Kidnapping Spaceport Director Tanda on Nal Hutta
 * Searching the remnants of the first Death Star for information capsules
 * Establishing and using a black market on Kuat
 * Attacking Governor Koong Eeth on Saleucami
 * Sabotaging and invading Jabba's outpost on Saleucami
 * Invading the droid factory on Hypori
 * Freeing Silri for information on the artifact
 * Raiding tibanna gas on Bespin and blaming Xizor
 * Meeting Grand Admiral Thrawn above Carida
 * Raiding the Emperor's vault on Coruscant
 * Fighting in the Second Battle of Kuat.

It is highly possible that they participated in many other criminal activities (e.g. kidnapping Garnak Fey) to spread their influence.

Tactics


The Zann Consortium used its extensive crime network to influence the warring factions during the Galactic Civil War, siphon their credits, and sabotage their operations when necessary. It dealt in multiple illegal operations, such as establishing widespread racketeering jobs on many worlds; bribery, piracy, and corrupting local militia on planets, as well as intimidating individuals who defied the Consortium. One particular means of income was offering military protection to planets that wanted no part in the on-going Galactic Civil War. They also extorted cash from miners. The Consortium also constructed Palaces on various worlds which served as its financial centers.

With access to the black market, Zann had several unique technologies at his disposal, including buzz droids and stealth generators that allowed undetected movement across the Galaxy. The Zann Consortium also hired bounty hunters such as Bossk and IG-88 to eliminate certain targets in order to further their influence.

Army
The Consortium used a powerful army to gain victory during battles on land. They used either black market technology or their own, depending upon the conditions.

Infantry

 * Mercenary Assault Squads
 * Consortium Grenadiers
 * Ewok Handlers
 * Vornskrs
 * Nightsisters, riding rancors
 * Slaves of various species

Droid Works

 * Droideka Mark II

Black Market Technology

 * Disruptor rifles
 * Core Overload Technology
 * Proximity mine Technology
 * Buzz Droid Technology
 * Vehicle Cloaking Technology
 * Point Defense Technology

Vehicles

 * MZ-8 Mobile Pulse Cannon
 * F9-TZ Transport
 * Missile Attack Launcher
 * Canderous-class Assault Tank
 * Mobile Defense Unit
 * All Terrain Attack Pod
 * Infantry Support Platform

Navy
The Zann Consortium used starfleets in space combat, utilizing both black market technology as well as their own. Most of these were built at Consortium space stations.

Starfighters

 * StarViper-class Attack Platform (equipped with Buzz Droids)
 * Skipray Blastboat
 * TIE/D Defender (originally Empire)
 * A-Wing (originally Rebel)
 * Rihkxyrk Attack Ship
 * Z-95 Headhunter

Transport ships

 * TZ-86 Transport Ship
 * RZ-52 Dekard Transport Ship
 * TZ-15 Shuttle
 * Lambda-class T-4a shuttle (originally Empire) (Only known use is during Theft on Bespin)

Corvettes

 * Crusader-class corvette
 * Tartan-class patrol cruiser (originally Empire)
 * Broadside-class cruiser kdb-1 (originally Empire)
 * CR90 corvette (originally Rebel)
 * Marauder-class corvette (originally Rebel)
 * IPV-1 System Patrol Craft

Frigates

 * Vengeance-class frigate
 * Interceptor IV Frigate
 * EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate (originally Rebel)
 * Acclamator I-class assault ship (originally Empire)

Capital ships

 * Aggressor-class destroyer (stolen Imperial design)
 * Keldabe-class battleship
 * Venator-class Star Destroyer

Known ships

 * IG-2000
 * Hound's Tooth (Until Battle Over Carida)
 * Merciless

Behind the scenes
The Zann Consortium's insignia resembles the Mandalorian insignia.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption