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 carbine rifle, also known as the EE-4 blaster rifle, was a powerful medium-ranged blaster carbine model 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 stubbier barrel allowed the blaster rifle 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 EE-4 carbine rifle was favored by Sana Starros, a bounty hunter and smuggler who later joined the Rebel Alliance. Starros wielded the blaster on multiple occasions, including selling Darth Atrius' lightsabers on Hradreek, confronting fellow smuggler Han Solo in the Monsua Nebula, and rescuing the Jedi Luke Skywalker on Nar Shaddaa.

Description
Manufactured by BlasTech Industries, the EE-4 carbine rifle, or 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 the successor to the EE-3 carbine rifle. 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 stubbier barrel, which was designed as a hybrid between a rifle and a pistol. On the other hand, these alterations caused a reduction in the blaster's accuracy at range and cooling power in comparison to its predecessor.

The black-colored EE-4 consisted of a short barrel that contained cooling vents, along with two vertical grips attached beneath it, which allowed the wielder to hold the weapon with two hands. One of the grips was located in the middle of the rifle, with the other being at the backside, as the blaster lacked a long stock, unlike its predecessor. In addition to the rifle's main scope, which was visually identical to the EE-3's electronic scope, the EE-4 was equipped with four smaller scopes, two positioned on either side of the weapon's frame. The rifle also contained a guard that surrounded the trigger.

Skirmish on Hradreek
"Come back here!"

- Sana Starros, while firing upon R2-D2

The EE-4 carbine rifle was used by Sana Starros, a human female bounty hunter and smuggler active during the reign of the Galactic Empire. Sometime after the Battle of Yavin, Starros carried 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 lightsabers to each of her buyers.

When the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader realized the smuggler's deception, he ordered stormtroopers to locate her and the other lightsaber. Soon after, Vader himself found Starros, who fired on the Sith Lord with her EE-4 carbine rifle. However, Vader deflected the blaster bolts with his hand by using the Force. Starros eventually escaped the Sith Lord by activating a bomb hidden next to him.

Due to 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 after, 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 for Han Solo, a fellow smuggler who had taken her cut after the two pulled off a robbery disguised as their "wedding." Starros's quest came to an end on an unnamed planet near the Monsua Nebula, where Solo 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.

However, she had a change of heart upon learning that Solo had become a rebel and that the Empire would arrest him as well. With Starros's starship, the Volt Cobra, the trio escaped from the 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, Organa made a deal with Starros to transport their group to the moon Nar Shaddaa to rescue Luke Skywalker, who had been abducted by the Hutt crime lord Grakkus. By the time the trio reached Grakkus's palace, Skywalker was forced to fight an arena match against a roggwart creature known as Kongo the Disemboweler.

Confronted by the rescue party, Grakkus activated a local electromagnetic pulse that disabled Kongo's shock collar as well as all nearby blasters, including Starros's EE-4 carbine rifle, rendering her unable to fire upon the ravenous beast when it charged the rebels. Nonetheless, the rebels successfully rescued Skywalker, and Starros later allied herself with 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 carbine rifle first appeared, albeit unnamed, in the 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. While the weapon was identified as EE-4 blaster rifle when it was included in the video game Star Wars Battlefront as part of the Bespin expansion pack released in 2016, the 2018 reference book Star Wars: Smuggler's Guide introduced the name EE-4 carbine rifle. In Star Wars Battlefront, the rifle was unlockable via an in-game challenge called "Sana's Legacy," referring to Sana Starros, who wields the weapon in Marvel's Star Wars comic-book series.

The EE-4 also appeared in the game's 2017 sequel, Star Wars Battlefront II, as part of the "infiltration" ability for the specialist trooper class&mdash;such as security battle droids, clone specialists, and scout troopers&mdash;rather than a full-fledged blaster option. In both games, the rifle can be used by troopers from all factions, including the Galactic Republic, the Separatist Alliance, the Galactic Empire, the Rebel Alliance, the New Republic, the First Order, and the Resistance.

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