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Assault on the Tantive IV

The Imperial-class Star Destroyer Immortal launched an assault on the Alderaanian CR90 corvette Tantive IV in an attempt to recover stolen plans to Galactic Empire's Death Star battle station.

Prelude[]

Using stolen Imperial communications satellites, the Alliance to Restore the Republic acquired plans to the Galactic Empire's Death Star battle station. These were delivered to Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan aboard the Alderaanian CR90 corvette Tantive IV, which was to carry them to Alliance High Command. The delivery of the plans was intercepted by the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Immortal, but the Tantive IV narrowly escaped into hyperspace with the help of Rebel starfighters from the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser Independence.[1]

The battle[]

The Tantive IV reverted to realspace[1] an hour later,[4] and Organa planned to transfer to he waiting Mon Calamari Star Cruiser Liberty. However, the transfer came under attack from the Immortal, as the Imperials attempted to recover the plans, and the Tantive IV was forced to flee.[1] The Independence responded quickly,[4] sending two R-22 Spearheads[5] from Red Squadron to assist, along with two T-65 X-wing starfighters from Gold Squadron.[1]

The Rebel R-22s moved to intercept TIE bombers launched from the Immortal, leaving the X-wings to target Imperial TIE interceptors. Imperial reinforcements soon arrived in the form of Assault Gunboats from Tau Squadron, but the R-22s used their concussion missiles to quickly finish off the TIE bombers, before engaging the new threat. The Immortal launched additional TIE bombers, but they were unable to reach the Tantive IV before it once more escaped into hyperspace. The other Rebel ships withdrew after clearing the remaining Imperial starfighters.[1]

Aftermath[]

The Tantive IV's escape was short-lived. As the Rebel pilots celebrated aboard the Independence, they learned that the Tantive IV had been ambushed again after exiting hyperspace.[4] The ship was captured near Tatooine, but Organa ensured that the plans did not fall into Imperial hands, sending them to the planet with the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO.[6]

Behind the scenes[]

The battle first appeared in the 1993 LucasArts video game Star Wars: X-Wing, in the final mission of "Tour of Duty II: The Great Search", "Protect Princess Leia."[1]

Appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 Star Wars: X-Wing
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Official Star Wars Fact File Part 11 TAN 1-2: Tantive IV
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 The New Essential Chronology places the capture of the Tantive IV in 0 BBY. According to X-Wing: The Official Strategy Guide, both the delivery of the Death Star plans to the Tantive IV and the subsequent assault by the Immortal take place earlier that day.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 X-Wing Collector's CD-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 The RZ-1 A-wing interceptor was introduced following the Battle of Yavin according to sources released before Star Wars: X-Wing, including the Rebel Alliance Sourcebook. C-3PO: Tales of the Golden Droid and The New Essential Guide to Characters introduced the R-22 Spearhead starfighter as the basis for the A-wing's design, retconning the A-wings seen in X-Wing before the Battle of Yavin. The Written Word established "A-wing" as an informal nickname for the older starfighter among Rebel pilots.
  6. ↑ Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope