Tarkin (superweapon)

Tarkin The Tarkin was an Imperial superweapon capable of destroying a planet. It was developed by Bevel Lemelisk after the destruction of the first Death Star but before the Battle of Endor. It was commanded by Colonel Nord.

Characteristics
The weapon was a stripped down superlaser with defensive shields and a set of engines without the surrounding superstructure of a Death Star, since it was not intended to be a space station.

History
The Tarkin was constructed in the Patriim system near the planet Hockaleg. It was named in memory of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, commander of the first Death Star.

During its construction, the Tarkin was commandeered by Grand Admiral Martio Batch and sent to the Aeten system, where it cracked the planet Aeten II and acquired its deeply buried supply of remaining stygium crystals. Having fulfilled its task, the Tarkin was then brought back to its construction site for the final preparations.

As it neared completion, a lone X-wing pilot was able to inform the Alliance of the Tarkin before he was killed. A commando team led by Luke Skywalker was sent aboard the Millennium Falcon, piloted by Lando Calrissian, to the Tarkin, where they would destroy its reactor with a single proton grenade and a few blasters. However, their plan would almost be compromised by a number of Imperial officers who planned to kill Darth Vader, whose iron discipline they feared would eventually kill them all.

Vader, however, exited the Tarkin before their plan could take effect. Princess Leia Organa wired the superlaser to fire on itself, and the commando team escaped aboard the Millennium Falcon, before the Tarkin literally fired on itself and exploded.

The Darksaber project carried out by Durga Besadii Tai years later was similar to the Tarkin.

Behind the scenes
The Tarkin was created by David Michelinie and Walt Simonson.

Appearances

 * Star Wars 51: Resurrection of Evil
 * Star Wars 52: To Take The Tarkin