- "Okay. Here it goes. Cargo shuttle SW-0608 requesting a landing pad."
- ―Bodhi Rook, to Scarif Gate Control
The Zeta-class Heavy Cargo Shuttle, also known as the Zeta-class cargo shuttle or the Zeta-class Imperial shuttle, or simply the Zeta-class shuttle was a type of cargo shuttle used by the Galactic Empire in its fight against the Alliance to Restore the Republic. They were instrumental in carrying kyber crystals during the construction of the Death Star.
Characteristics[]
Interior cockpit of the Zeta-class Heavy Cargo Shuttle.
The Zeta-class Heavy Cargo Shuttle featured two levels: an upper deck that housed the ship's controls, and a ventral cargo deck that could be detached and dropped off at a location. The shuttle also had four wings that retracted inwards when landing and outwards when in flight, similar to the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle.[2]
It was of similar appearance to the Eta-class supply barge.[2] The shuttle's ventral cargo pod used standardized umbilicals and docking sleeves for grabbing onto docking clamps. These pods drew power from the Zeta's reactor plant, which also provided energy for specific cargo such as refrigeration or life support.[8]
In terms of armament, the shuttles featured two wing-mounted KV22 heavy laser cannons and three hull-mounted Taim & Bak KX7 laser cannons. Skilled pilots did not need to fully land the shuttles in order to drop off or pick up cargo.[2]
History[]
Dawn of rebellion[]
A Zeta-class Heavy Cargo Shuttle, with its wings set in flight mode.
Zeta-class shuttles were used by the Imperial civilian government[2] and also during military operations. During the Partisans's attack on a Galactic Empire refinery in Kashyyyk, the Padawan Jedi Cal Kestis, who had stolen an AT-AT during the confrontation, helped Saw Gerrera and his allies to move forward and destroyed a Zeta-class Heavy Cargo Shuttle with the walker. The AT-AT ended up being destroyed along with the shuttle when it was hit by it when it crashed.[9]
In 5 BBY,[10] a Zeta-class shuttle was landed on the newly Imperial occupied-planet Ferrix as ISB Supervisor Dedra Meero arrived on world aboard a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle.[11] In 2 BBY,[12] a Zeta-class shuttle was parked at the Imperial Senate loading dock prior to Mon Mothma's denouncement of the Ghorman massacre and her subsequent evacuation from Coruscant.[13]
War with rebels[]
- "Well done. You're a rebel now."
- ―K-2SO to Bodhi Rook, after the latter turned SW-0608's weapons on a squad of stormtroopers
A Zeta-class Heavy Cargo Shuttle
During the mining of Jedha, many of these shuttles were used during the Imperial occupation of Jedha to transport kyber crystals for the purpose of powering the Death Star's superlaser.[5] Before the Jedha insurgency started, the Guardians of the Whills Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe raided an Imperial supply convoy dropped off at LZ-Cresh by a cargo shuttle.[14] As the Jedha insurgency began with the arrival of the Partisans, the Zeta-class continued to see use on Jedha until the Imperial withdrawal. At least five shuttles were stationed at the Eadu Flight Station at the time of the Mission to Eadu[5] in 1 BBY.[15] One of these shuttles, SW-0608, would be stolen by Rogue One. A number of these shuttles were also present for the Battle of Scarif, a successful attempt by the Rebel Alliance to steal the plans for the Death Star.[5]
At least five were present at the Fondor Shipyards when they were attacked by the Rebel Alliance.[16] Numerous Zeta-class shuttles could be found at the Remitik system munitions depot. Two shuttles carrying the explosive compound baradium were stolen by Titan Squadron as a skirmish with New Republic forces occurred.[7]
Appearances[]
Sources[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
- ↑ Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Dawn of Rebellion
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Star Wars: Squadrons
- ↑ Star Wars Complete Vehicles, New Edition
- ↑ Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- ↑ "Rix Road" takes place immediately after "Daughter of Ferrix," "A Certain Point of View" in Star Wars Insider 220 places "Daughter of Ferrix" five years before Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, which corresponds to 5 BBY per Star Wars: Timelines.
- ↑
Star Wars: Andor — "Rix Road"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Rebel Files establishes that the escape from the Senate occurred between the Ghorman Massacre and before Operation Handoff, both of which occur in 2 BBY according to Star Wars: Timelines.
- ↑ Star Wars: Andor — "Welcome to the Rebellion"
- ↑ Guardians of the Whills
- ↑ Star Wars: Timelines
- ↑ Star Wars Battlefront II