Iron Fist (Executor-class)

"It's a symbol to him, of his rise from obscurity to power. It's the key to him."

- Garik Loran

Iron Fist was an Executor-class Star Dreadnought, under the command of Imperial Admiral (later Warlord) Zsinj. Originally named Brawl, it was renamed by Zsinj after his first command, the ship went on to become the symbol of Zsinj's reign during his breakaway from the Empire, serving as his flagship.

Iron Fist was employed against both the New Republic and the Empire by Zsinj throughout the ship's career. It spearheaded attacks at both Noquivzor and the First Battle of the Graveyard against the New Republic and at the Battle of Kuat against the Empire. Zsinj's flagship, believed destroyed in the aftermath of the Battle of Selaggis, survived to return to Zsinj's Dathomiri shipyards, where it was ultimately destroyed by General Han Solo and the Hapan fleet.

History
Originally commissioned as Brawl, this vessel was one of the first four Executor-class Star Dreadnought produced by Kuat Drive Yards for the Imperial Navy.

The ship was given to Captain Zsinj by Emperor Palpatine upon his promotion to Admiral shortly before the Battle of Endor. The vessel soon became a great thorn in the side of the New Republic during Zsinj's bid for power as an Imperial Warlord.

One Zsinj's earliest use of the vessel against the New Republic was in bombarding Noquivzor after Rogue Squadron destroyed one of his scouting probes to the system. Though vessel caused significant damage to the base, the Rogues had already left on a covert assignment to Coruscant.

Iron Fist would also later intercept a bacta convoy in the Graveyard of Alderaan, destroying all of the freighters except the Pulsar Skate along with an ersatz Rogue Squadron made up of Imperials that was dispatched by Imperial agent Kirtan Loor. Zsinj would later excuse his destruction of the valuable bacta by claiming that Rogue Squadron had tainted it.

The destruction of the bacta convoy forced the New Republic to step up its efforts against Zsinj. Iron Fist became the subject of numerous sabotage attempts and attacks as Wraith Squadron and the Solo Fleet attempted to hunt her down.

The vessel was believed destroyed in the Battle of Selaggis when the ship entered the Orbital Nightcloak deployed by the rebuilt Executor-class Star Dreadnought Razor's Kiss, newly renamed Second Death. The Second Death was set to be destroyed when Iron Fist entered hyperspace, giving the illusion that the Zsinj's flagship had been destroyed.

After discovering that Iron Fist had survived the battle, Solo would later succeed in disabling the ship while escaping from Dathomir. While flying the Millennium Falcon, he destroyed the top half of Iron Fist's forward command module with two concussion missiles. With her shields gone, she soon fell victim to the Hapan Battle Fleet and a bombardment of proton torpedoes that finally finished the huge ship off.

Behind the scenes
The Official Star Wars Fact File lists Iron Fist's original name as Brawler, while Cracken's Threat Dossier and The New Essential Guide to Characters list it as Brawl. Cracken's Threat Dossier actually lists it as The Brawl in Zsinj's biographical information, but the definite article was probably added to the proper name in error.

Appearances

 * X-wing: Rogue Squadron
 * X-wing: Wedge's Gamble
 * X-wing: The Krytos Trap
 * X-wing: Wraith Squadron
 * X-wing: Iron Fist
 * X-wing: Solo Command
 * The Courtship of Princess Leia

Notes and references
Eisenfaust (Executor-Klasse) Iron Fist (Executor-class)