Zeta Five

"Final automated log entry&mdash;recommended that this route be discontin&mdash;"

- The Zeta Five 's message pod

Zeta Five was a Cha'a drone ship owned by Cha'a merchant lord Ssk Kahorr, who used the ship as a freighter. As a drone ship, the Zeta Five did not require a crew, and often made its runs without a sentient to pilot it. In 5,000 BBY, the Zeta Five was sent on a run to deliver much-needed supplies and components to a recently-established mining colony on Goluud Minor, in the Goluud system. Kahorr chose to send the Zeta Five along the Goluud Corridor, a newly discovered hyperlane blazed by hyperspace explorers Gav and Jori Daragon, which passed dangerously close to the system's unstable red giant star, Primus Goluud. The Zeta Five reached the Goluud system without incident, but arrived to find Primus Goluud in a violent phase of stellar activity. The Zeta Five was subsequently destroyed by a massive solar flare, although not before it jettisoned its Cha'a message pod, which had recorded the events regarding the ship's destruction.

Description
"Tolerance beyond safety maximums&mdash;hull integrity failing."

- The Zeta Five 's message pod

The Zeta Five was a Cha'a drone ship, and was used as a freighter. The ship was colored brown on the exterior, and on the top of the hull had three solar sails. The ship also had three engines located at the back end of the ship. On the underside of the ship, ten apparatuses protruded from the Zeta Five, five on each side. The ship did not require any sentient beings be aboard to operate it, and the navicomputer could calibrate hyperspace jumps by itself. The log was recorded in a Cha'a message pod, which would be jettisoned for later recovery if the ship was damaged or destroyed.

History
"Note, stellar activity in Primus Goluud has entered a violent phase&hellip;unexpected danger&hellip;"

- The Zeta Five 's message pod

The Zeta Five, a Cha'a drone ship, was owned by the Cha'a merchant lord Ssk Kahorr as of 5,000 BBY. The Zeta Five was usually docked in Cinnagar, the capital city of the planet Koros Major, where Kahorr based his operations. That year Kahorr sent the Zeta Five to the Goluud system, to deliver much-needed components and supplies to a new mining colony on Goluud Minor. Kahorr chose to send the Zeta Five on the Goluud Corridor, a recently-blazed hyperlane discovered by hyperspace explorers Gav and Jori Daragon. Despite the dangers of sending a ship along the route, which crossed perilously close to the Goluud system's unstable red giant star, Primus Goluud, Kahorr sent the Zeta Five on its way. The ship reached the Goluud system without incident; however, by the time the ship reached the system Primus Goluud had entered into a particularly violent phase of stellar activity. The ship was annihilated by a large solar flare, but was able to jettison its message pod. The message pod was later recovered by Kahorr, telling him the fate of the Zeta Five.

Commanders and crew
The Zeta Five, as a drone ship, did not require a sentient crew to operate it. The ship was owned by Cha'a merchant lord Sks Kahorr.

Behind the scenes
The Zeta Five appears in Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith, a story arc of the Tales of the Jedi comic book series, written by Kevin J. Anderson and released in 1996. The ship makes its only appearance in the arc's first issue, Into the Unknown, where it is destroyed. In this appearance it is illustrated by Dario Carrasco, Jr. The Zeta Five is later mentioned, albeit indirectly, in the first issue of The Golden Age of the Sith 's follow-up arc, Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire.

Appearances

 * Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith 1: Into the Unknown
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire 1: Desperate Measures