- "I only know what my employer requires me to know. Particularly, about the war between the Gungans and Imperials, the Mauler Camp, and the new Weapon Research Facility that the Empire has established."
- ―Vaik'anna Silverlight, to a spacer
The Imperial Weapon Research Facility, also known as the Weapon Development Facility, was an Imperial military research facility on the planet Naboo during the Galactic Civil War.[3]
History[]
- "Okay, it's a ways out there. I'll show you on your datapad. Watch out, though. The Empire doesn't want their little secrets getting out, but we'll all know one day. I'm telling you, the truth is out there. Go see it for yourself and you'll believe!"
- ―A commoner, to a spacer
The Imperial Weapon Research Facility was built by the Empire soon after the Battle of Yavin.[2] It was a top secret and restricted area.[5] It was defended by a garrison of stormtroopers and several AT-STs.[3] A commoner from Kaadara once discovered the Facility while getting lost during a trip from Theed to Moenia.[5] The Naboo noble Roric V`lia and his employee Vaik'anna Silverlight had activities related to the Facility.[2]
In 1 ABY,[1] the Weapon Development Facility had become a contested hotspot in the Galactic Civil War and Imperial and Rebel forces fought several times for the control of the facility. Rebel forces managed to capture the facility several times but Imperial forces had always taken it back.[4]
The superlaser equipped on the Star Destroyer Conqueror was developed at the research facility. Located in the facility were testing bays and fabrication chambers, along with a main control room with computer consoles containing data on the Star Destroyer. It was guarded by the Sith Acolyte Namman Cha at the time.[6] In 1 ABY,[1] it was raided by the Rebel Alliance's Renegade Squadron, who defeated Cha and gained sensitive information on the Conqueror, which they were later able to use to locate and destroy the vessel.[6]
Behind the scenes[]
The Imperial Weapon Research Facility appeared in the 2003 video game Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided, a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game developed by Sony Online Entertainment and published by LucasArts,[3] prior to its closure on December 15, 2011.[7] With the release of the "Publish 1" update on August 3, 2003,[8] the Imperial Weapon Research Facility was turned into a "Factional NPC Base". Groups of Rebel players could attack Imperial NPCs and achieve several objectives to take control of the base.[4]
Appearances[]
- Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided (First appearance)
- Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — Threat of the Conqueror (Light Side scenario campaign)
Sources[]
- Swaying the War on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided Quick Reference Guide
- Star Wars Galaxies: The Total Experience: Prima Official Game Guide
- Star Wars Galaxies: The Complete Guide: Prima Official Game Guide
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 According to its opening crawl, Star Wars Galaxies was set sometime after Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. The only precise time indication in the game was given by the character Ruwan Tokai, who referenced the destruction of the Death Star at the Battle of Yavin as occurring one year earlier, placing the game sometime around 1 ABY. Later, multiple elements confirmed the placement of the game storyline in 1 ABY. First, The Essential Reader's Companion established that the tie-in novel Star Wars Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine took place in 1 ABY. Furthermore, the game expansion Star Wars Galaxies: Rage of the Wookiees was set during the Blockade of Kashyyyk, one year after the Battle of Yavin according to The Star Wars Holiday Special. Additionally, the main scenario of The Nightsister's Revenge from the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game was set over a year before the Battle of Hoth (3 ABY), so around 1.5 ABY. Finally, the reference book Strongholds of Resistance placed the events of Star Wars Galaxies's Chapter 9: "The Fury of Exar Kun" one year after the Battle of Yavin. Of note, Galaxies's Chapter 11: "The Battle of Echo Base" introduced the Battle of Hoth in the game. However, the developers were quite clear that this was only intended to be a completely isolated "Star Wars Moment" without any effect on continuity for the rest of the game.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided — Herald NPC: "Vaik'anna Silverlight" on Naboo
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided — Point of Interest: "Weapon Development Facility" on Naboo
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Swaying the War on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided — Herald NPC: "a commoner" on Naboo
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — Threat of the Conqueror (Light Side scenario campaign)
- ↑ IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT STAR WARS GALAXIES™ on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ Publish 1: Nightsisters Cave on the official Star Wars Galaxies website (content now obsolete; backup link)