Stars' End

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Stars' End was a Corporate Sector Authority prison, located on Mytus VII, a desolate asteroid in the Mytus system. CSA Viceprex Mirkovig Hirken was in charge of the facility. Stars' End was notable for its advanced defense system, including a shell of molecularly bonded armor and SD-6 Hulk infantry droid. In 2 BBY the facility was crippled when Han Solo led a team of infiltrators on a rescue mission. However, reports indicate that the prison was restored to functionality shortly thereafter.

Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Behind the scenes 4 Appearances 5 Sources 6 Notes and references

[edit] Description

The 40-story facility was used to hold thousands of criminals and political dissidents. They were stored in stasis booths, in a state of limited hibernation.^[1] This would prevent riots and violence, and cut down on food costs. It would also allow staff to be cut to a minimum—only a few dozen people.^[2]

Stars' End had formidable defenses, primarily a uniform layer of molecularly bonded armor. This dense metal armor was extremely expensive, but nearly indestructible. It could withstand sustained fire from a Star Destroyer's turbolasers.^[1] Additional strength was provided by an anticoncussion field, powered by a powerful Rampart-class Anticoncussion generator. Numerous projectors in the interior of the prison created a unified field that would absorb blasts and impacts. Additional security was provided by QuasarFire turbolaser turrets and heavy-duty deflector shields. A v-180 Planet Defender ion cannon was planned, but it is unknown whether it ever got installed.^[2] The final defense of Stars' End was its isolation. Construction personnel were placed in drug-induced comas before being taken to Stars' End. The base was going to be officially designated a small scientific outpost, dedicated to astronomical observation of the galaxy.^[2]

The base of the tower held administration levels and a powerful reactor. Computerization further reduced the number personnel required. The main body of the tower held the prisoners—up to 24,000 were eventually going to be imprisoned. The tower had two docking bays, one near the base of the tower, and one near the top, between a medical center for prisoners and Viceprex Hirken's private residence. It contained a combat amphitheater, where he could watch gladiatorial duels between droids.

Additional surface facilities on the planet were planned, but were still under construction when the tower was destroyed. They reportedly were to include a full-service starport, and an underground monorail system. Temporary hangars, dormitories, and storage facilities were connected by clear tunnel-tubes while permanent buildings were being built.

[edit] History

The construction of Stars' End was overseen by Viceprex Mirkovig Hirken, as the Corporate Sector Authority's most remote and most secure prison. Its inmates were comprised predominantly of political prisoners who had either spoken out against the Corporate Sector Authority's policies or engaged in outright rebellion against the Authority. The precise construction date is unknown, but by the accounts of Han Solo's travels within CSA space, it was operating for some years prior to his arrival in the sector.

In 2 BBY, Han Solo destroyed the prison while rescuing Chewbacca from its confines. With the assistance of the droid Blue Max, he caused the reactor core to detonate, but due to some peculiarities of the anticoncussion fields protecting the facility, the force of the blast was channeled out of the bottom of the tower, launching it into a near-orbital arc. Han was able to evacuate all of the prisoners to the Millennium Falcon before the facility crashed to the ground. The facility survived the fall.^[3]

Several Rebel prisoners, among them Sam Raider and Toalagar, managed to escape from the prison mere months after its initial destruction aboard the BFF-1 bulk freighter Genue and head to Kashyyyk where they were retrieved by a Rebel team shortly before they could be recaptured by Imperial forces. The escapees had been hearing rumors for months of a new Imperial weapon but had been unable to get close to anybody who knew more. However, they were able to learn that Wookiee slaves were being sent to work on the project and, after their escape, helped the Rebels to rescue some of the slaves.

The Ballad of Stars' End was a popular song during the Galactic Civil War.

Rumors that the CSA was able to restore Stars' End and put it back into operation soured relations between the CSA and the New Republic in later years.

[edit] Behind the scenes

• An alternate image for Stars' End was shown in the comic adaptation of Han Solo at Stars' End.
• Stars' End is often incorrectly referred to as "Star's End."
• In Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy, "Stars' End" is the code-word for the location of the Second Foundation.

[edit] Appearances

• Cloak of Deception (Mentioned only) (As expletive)
• Labyrinth of Evil (Mentioned only) (As expletive)
• Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader (Mentioned only) (As expletive)
• Han Solo at Stars' End (First appearance)
• Han Solo at Stars' End comic
• Han Solo's Revenge (Mentioned only)
• Han Solo and the Lost Legacy (Mentioned only)
• Passages (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars: X-wing
• Children of the Jedi (Mentioned only)

[edit] Sources

• A Guide to the Star Wars Universe (First Edition)
• Galaxy Guide 9: Fragments from the Rim
• Dark Empire Sourcebook
• The Essential Chronology
• The Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology
• Han Solo and the Corporate Sector Sourcebook
• The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
• The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons
• The New Essential Chronology
• Underworld: A Galaxy of Scum and Villainy
• Underworld Appendix: Swoops, Spice, and Wretched Rogues

[edit] Notes and references