The StarViper-class attack platform was a heavy starfighter that was based on Prince Xizor's Virago, and was used extensively in the criminal underworld during the era of the Galactic Empire.

Contents 1 Characteristics 2 History 3 Behind the scenes 4 Appearances 5 Sources 6 Notes and references 6.1 In other languages

CharacteristicsEdit

The StarViper was equipped with dual laser cannons of medium destructive power, and unlike other starfighters, it was a short but tall fighter, lacking a fuselage. It had decent armor and was fairly quick, but was expensive, which meant that it was not deployed in large squadrons.

The StarViper was also able to release buzzdroids that would harm nearby craft.

HistoryEdit

The Virago was commissioned by Xizor as his personal starship. He collaborated directly with MandalMotors on its design, and he purchased all production rights upon completion to ensure the ship would remain unique. Xizor's personal version of the ship featured a super-advanced targeting computer that greatly increased the performance of whatever weapons the ship happened to be using. Following Xizor's death, MandalMotors reacquired the production rights and released a StarViper variant less powerful than Virago to the open market. In addition, Mandal Hypernautics began producing the fighter.

StarVipers formed the main starfighter force of the Zann Consortium, and they were modified to carry and deploy swarms of old Pistoeka sabotage droids that the Consortium obtained via the black market, proving superior to interceptors such as the RZ-1 A-wing interceptor and TIE/In interceptor. Additionally, these fighters were also employed in small numbers by the Mandalorian forces present on Mandalore during the Galactic Civil War.^[1]

Behind the scenesEdit

The Forces of Corruption campaign from Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption depicts the Zann Consortium deploying squadrons of StarVipers as early as 1 BBY during the Mission to Mandalore. The game version of Shadows of the Empire depicts the Outrider fighting off dozens of these fighters. Both of these instances are contradicted by the fact that the StarViper was limited to a single ship, the Virago, at the time. Only after the death of Prince Xizor in 3.5 ABY did Mandal Hypernautics start producing StarVipers in numbers.

Canderous Ordo's Basilisk war droid, as seen in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, is strikingly similar in appearance to the StarViper. It was retconned that the ship was based one of the Mandalorian Basilisk war droid models, which, according to Chris Avellone, was done deliberately to improve on the designs done for the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi series by Dark Horse Comics:

AppearancesEdit

• Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds: Clone Campaigns (Non-canonical appearance)
• Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
•  Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided (Appeared in loading screen)
• Shadows of the Empire novel (First appearance)
• Shadows of the Empire comic
• Shadows of the Empire game
• Star Wars: X-wing Alliance (Mentioned only)
• The Mandalorian Armor (Appears in flashback(s))
• Slave Ship (Appears in flashback(s))
• Hard Merchandise (Appears in flashback(s))
• Shadows of the Empire: Evolution (Appears in flashback(s))
• Sacrifice (Mentioned only)

SourcesEdit

• Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire toy line
• The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
• Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
• The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
• Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire trading cards (Card: Battle Over Coruscant: Part II) (Indirect mention only)
• Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire trading cards (Card: Battle Over Coruscant: Part III) (Picture only)
• Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire trading cards (Card: Virago)
• Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire trading cards (Card: Dash Attacks Xizor's Skyhook) (Indirect mention only)
• The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
• Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption: Prima Official Game Guide
• Starships of the Galaxy, Saga Edition
• Scum and Villainy

Mandalorian starship classes
Transports Kom'rk-class fighter/transport · Mandalorian dungeon ship · Meteor-class Q-Carrier Shaadlar-type troopship · Stathas-class freighter · Tra'kad Assault ships Jehavey'ir-type assault ship Carriers Mandalorian carrier Starfighters Basilisk war droid · Bes'uliik · Gladiator-class assault fighter · StarViper-class attack platform Patrol ships Pursuer-class enforcement ship Gunships Teroch-type gunship Corvettes Crusader-class corvette Battleships Kandosii-type dreadnaught · Keldabe-class battleship Kyramud-type battleship
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Notes and referencesEdit