- "This one's a troop carrier, not a starfighter, but it wears all the hallmarks of the TIE design."
- ―Antoc Merrick in The Rebel Files
The TIE/rp Reaper attack lander, also known simply as the TIE Reaper, was a troop carrier variant of Sienar Fleet Systems's TIE line used by the Galactic Empire. The TIE Reaper differed from the standard craft of the TIE line in that it was a troop carrier; designed for ferrying troops amidst the heat of battle, such as the death troopers on Scarif in the outbreak of the Galactic Civil War.
Contents
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
A TIE Reaper narrowly evades a torpedo strike while flying through a debris field.
The TIE/rp Reaper attack lander[13] was a troop carrier[4] variant of the TIE line.[1] Also known as the TIE Reaper,[3] the starship was manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems, as with all crafts of the TIE line,[1] and used by the Galactic Empire.[2]
The transport was designed specifically to ferry elite troops to flashpoints on a battlefield.[8] Thus, the attack lander featured two streamlined flat, pointed, horizontal wings,[2] which had a large horizontal stabilizer hinged between[5] and functioned also as solar collectors. Thrust was provided by the TIE Reaper's twin ion engines.[6]
The dropship's[1] cockpit was spacious, housing 3 seats lined behind the front-facing window. There, a single pilot could operate the craft, and had access to the ship's[7] Class 1[5] hyperdrive.[7]
The TIE Reaper was similar in design to the TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter, also known as the TIE striker, a streamlined TIE variant specialized for in-atmosphere missions,[14] such as patrolling important Imperial ground-based installations.[15]
The two complemented each other at the Imperial security complex on Scarif, where they operated alongside Surface Command and the Imperial Army's Scarif Deployment[4] battling rebel forces.[2]
History[edit | edit source]
The cockpit of a TIE/rp
Early in the reign of the Galactic Empire, the Ninth Sister of the Inquisitorius used a TIE Reaper as her personal transport.[9]
At least one TIE Reaper was present in the Ring of Kafrene during Rebel Alliance Captain Cassian Andor's mission to the asteroid belt in 0 BBY. Another TIE Reaper was present during the mission to Eadu, piloted by Captain Feroph.[16] Another TIE Reaper was present near the Scarif Shield Gate, where it was piloted by Major Vermeil of the Imperial Starfighter Corps.[11]
A TIE Reaper was used during the Battle of Scarif with Imperial Director[2] of Advanced Weapons Research Orson Krennic's detatchment of death troopers—elite soldiers of Imperial Intelligence.[10] The squad was inserted into battle to defeat Rogue One—a squad of rebel soldiers who took it upon themselves to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire's moon-sized battlestation and planet-killing superweapon. In order to ensure the TIE Reaper could successfully insert the squad, it was escorted by a flight of TIE strikers.[2]
In 3 ABY,[17] a pair of TIE Reapers were utilized by Imperial forces under Darth Vader to travel to the Meridional Ice Cap on Tython, expecting to find the Rebel Alliance's base of operations. When the Imperials were thwarted by the Ice Cap's booby traps, Vader ordered them back to the ships. However, Vader's snowtroopers were betrayed and killed by the rogue assassin droids BT-1 and 0-0-0, who allied themselves with Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra, though they were in turn disabled by Vader. Aphra later escaped with one of the Reapers along with the memory cores of the droids.[7]
Sometime between 32 and 33 ABY,[18] the Ranc gang, a criminal organization formed from remnants of the Galactic Empire, had TIE Reapers under their command on the planet Kaddak.[12]
Behind the scenes[edit | edit source]
Concept art of the TIE Reaper, by Doug Chiang
The TIE/rp Reaper attack lander first appeared, albeit unnamed, in the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story[2] and was designed by co-production designer Doug Chiang.[19] The starship was first identified as TIE Reaper in Electronic Arts' mobile game Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.[3]
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes (First identified as TIE Reaper)
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (First appearance)
- Star Wars: Rogue One Graphic Novel Adaptation
- Rogue One Adaptation 6
- Doctor Aphra 40
- "In Service to the Empire"—Empire Ascendant 1
- "Hunted"
- "Count to Three"
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- Alphabet Squadron
- Alphabet Squadron audiobook
- Poe Dameron 10
Sources[edit | edit source]
The TIE Reaper in Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
- The Art of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story "Binding the Galaxy, Pt 2" on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)- Star Wars: The Rebel Files
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- Knights of Fate (First identified as TIE/rp Reaper attack lander)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game – TIE Reaper Expansion Pack (Card: Captain Feroph)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game – TIE Reaper Expansion Pack (Card: Major Vermeil)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game – TIE Reaper Expansion Pack (Card: "Vizier")
- TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
- Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 79 (Highlights of the Saga: The Battle of Scarif) (Picture only)
- Star Wars: Squadrons Screenshots on StarWars.com (backup link)
Notes and references[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Star Wars: The Rebel Files
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ultimate Star Wars
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Doctor Aphra 40
- ↑ 8.0 8.1
Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game – TIE Reaper Expansion Pack (Card: Scarif Base Pilot—TIE Reaper)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- ↑ 10.0 10.1
Imperial Death Troopers in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game – TIE Reaper Expansion Pack (Card: Major Vermeil)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Poe Dameron 10
- ↑ Knights of Fate
- ↑ Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
- ↑ TIE striker in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game – TIE Reaper Expansion Pack (Card: Captain Feroph)
- ↑ Doctor Aphra 40 establishes that Echo Base has been constructed on Hoth, and is set prior to Empire Ascendant 1, which in turn takes place before the Battle of Hoth. Star Wars: Galactic Atlas states that Echo Base was constructed in 3 ABY and places the Battle of Hoth in the same year, meaning that the events of Doctor Aphra 40 are set in 3 ABY.
- ↑ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary states that Poe Dameron began leading Black Squadron on missions two years before the Starkiller Incident, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 34 ABY. The mission to Megalox Beta immediately follows the mission to Ovanis as established by Poe Dameron 3. According to a timeline shown at D23 Expo 2019, Star Wars Resistance – "The Recruit" takes place one year prior to the events of Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 34 ABY, meaning Star Wars Resistance – "The Recruit" takes place in 33 ABY. As the events of Star Wars: Poe Dameron occur before the events of Star Wars Resistance, the events of Poe Dameron 10 must occur between 32 ABY and 33 ABY.
- ↑ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story "Binding the Galaxy, Pt 2" on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
