- "Uhh, everything's under control. Situation normal."
- ―Han Solo speaking into a comlink on a work station
A "tulip" style Imperial work station was a circular post able to monitor and remotely control instrument functions. They were primarily manned by members of a military and were used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Galactic Republic, the Galactic Empire, and the First Order.
Characteristics[]
Work stations were raised platforms in a circular or semi-circular shape[1] surrounded by control boards within space stations,[2] starships,[3] and ground installations.[4] They could remotely monitor and control instruments, such as the superlaser on the second Death Star.[2]
Sometimes, work stations were wider and lower to the floor, while the number of control boards could vary from four[5] to eight. Typically, the amount of these boards dictated how much of the circle shape was filled out.[1]
History[]
Clone Wars[]
Work stations were in use throughout the Clone Wars and were used by both the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. They were in both the Venator-class Star Destroyer's hyperdrive room[3] and brig.[6] The Republic also had a work station inside of the Republic Center for Military Operations' detention block control room[7] and two inside of the court chamber.[8] Two were also located in a Republic-controlled sector of Chaleydonia on Christophsis, one of which was used for cover by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Captain Rex during the Battle of Christophsis in 22 BBY.[9] Additionally, a Republic-controlled space station above Ringo Vinda contained a work station. In 19 BBY, the Separatists took control of the station and the work station was manned by two B1-series battle droids until they were destroyed during the Battle of Ringo Vinda[10]
Work stations were located in the observation decks of Providence-class Dreadnoughts. Two were present inside the Wizard's Tower's deck on the Invisible Hand in 19 BBY. They were destroyed when the ship broke in half during the Battle of Coruscant.[11]
Use by the Empire[]
Throughout the Imperial Era, the Empire continued to use work stations. Various Imperial installations contained them, such as the Citadel Tower of the Imperial Center of Military Research on Scarif, which had one inside of its vault,[4] the Imperial Complex on Lothal, which had four inside of its generator room,[12], the Narkina 5 Imperial Prison Complex, which had three inside its command center,[13] and Research Station 9 on Endor, which had two inside of it.
Additionally, they were present on many of the Empire's ships. Several were located inside the engine rooms of Imperial I-class Star Destroyers,[14] and at least four were in the reactor rooms of Interdictor-class heavy cruisers,[15] while two were inside the briefing rooms of Imperial II-class Star Destroyers. The latter were manned by Imperial officers.[16]
Work stations were present on the Overbridge of the first Death Star and were manned by Death Star troopers. A work station was also located in Detention Block AA-23 and in 0 BBY was manned by Lieutenant Shann Childsen. These work stations were destroyed when the Death Star exploded during the Battle of Yavin.[1]
When the Death Star was rebuilt, work stations were located throughout Command Center North.[5] Additionally, a work station was also included in its Overbridge. In 4 ABY, it was manned by Jad Bean. During the Battle of Endor, Bean was ordered by Moff Tiaan Jerjerrod to fire the superlaser at the Rebel Fleet, which he did using the work station. Three[17] work stations were also located in the Emperor's Throne Room in the Emperor's Tower.[2] The work stations in Command Center North[5] and the one in the overbridge were destroyed when the Rebels managed to make the second Death Star explode,[2] however, the Emperor's Tower was not completely destroyed, with its wreckage landing on Kef Bir, and as such, these work stations survived.[18]
The First Order[]
The First Order, like its predecessor the Galactic Empire, also utilized work stations, notably aboard the space station Station Theta Black,[19] the Mega-class Star Dreadnought Supremacy,[20], the supertanker fuel depot the Titan in 34 ABY.[21] These work stations were manned by First Order fleet engineers.[20][21] Resurgent-class Star Destroyers also contained two inside their hyperdrive generator rooms.[5]
Behind the scenes[]
Work stations first appeared in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. In the Legends continuity, they were known as "Command sector duty posts", however, in canon, the episode guide to Andor Episode 10, One Way Out, names them "Tulip" style Imperial work stations.[22]
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
Sources[]
- The Sith | Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures Fun Facts on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (backup link)
- "One Way Out" Episode Guide | Andor on StarWars.com (backup link) (First identified as "tulip" style Imperial work station)
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Victory and Death"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Star Wars Battlefront II
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Cloak of Darkness"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Jedi Who Knew Too Much"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Wrong Jedi"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Unknown"
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels — "Family Reunion – and Farewell"
- ↑ Andor — "One Way Out"
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels — "Fire Across the Galaxy"
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels — "Stealth Strike"
- ↑ Star Wars: Squadrons
- ↑ Dorling Kindersley: Star Wars cross-section locations gallery
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
- ↑ Star Wars Resistance — "Station Theta Black"
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Star Wars Resistance — "Station to Station"
- ↑ "One Way Out" Episode Guide | Andor on StarWars.com (backup link) (First identified as "tulip" style Imperial work station)
External links[]
- Star Wars: The Future of Tech in 1977 on medium.com (archived from the original on September 22, 2024)