We have three Sheathipede-class shuttles, but they have no weapons.General Kalani
The Sheathipede-class transport shuttle,[1] also known as the Sheathipede-class shuttle[6] and as the Neimoidian escort shuttle,[3] was a short-range transport[1] used by the Trade Federation and the Confederacy of Independent Systems.[3] A larger version of the shuttle also existed.[10]
Characteristics
A product of Haor Chall Engineering Corporation, the Sheathipede-class was a transport shuttle with a curved hull and pincer-like landing gears, which lowered from the ship's rounded belly,[1] and the shuttle's shape roughly resembled the Neimoidian soldier beetle.[2] At a length of 14.4 meters,[3] the shuttle was powered by two engines and featured an egress hatchway at the rear.[11] Some models replaced the cockpit with an expanded passenger cabin, and were flown by automatic pilots.[1]
Stock Sheathipede shuttles were unarmed and only possessed a basic shield generator, meaning that, rather than relying on strength, the ships relied on speed and a small sensor cross-section to get to a destination. Many of the shuttles used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems were upgraded with improved shielding, better armor, and larger engines.[2] While uncommon, a decent number had light weapons added, typically in the form a trio of laser cannons.[12] These armed Sheathipedes were used to move very valuable materiel through hostile locations and transport high-ranking officers and officials.[2]
History
Early history
The Sheathipede-class shuttle was a short-range transport[1] and escort shuttle[3] primarily utilized to ferry passengers across a planet's surface, or between an orbiting starship and a world below.[1] Neimoidian officials in the Trade Federation used these shuttles for transit from battleships to the surface of conquered planets,[3] and often preferred models with automatic pilots as the absence of a cockpit allowed for increased passenger space.[1]
Viceroy Nute Gunray arrived in Theed during the Federation occupation of Naboo aboard his personal Sheathipede-class shuttle Lapiz Cutter. He and his retinue emerged from the vessel's rear hatchway to survey their victory over the Naboo people.[11]
The Clone Wars
Ahsoka, Dooku manged to escape. We're in pursuit but we could use reinforcements.Obi-Wan Kenobi, pursuing Dooku in a stolen Sheathipede-class shuttle
Viceroy Gunray continued to make use of these shuttles, and fled Geonosis following the outbreak of war ten years after the Naboo affair.[14] He even used a transport ship to land in the planet of Rodia so he could meet with Senator Onaconda Farr. However, his transport ship was destroyed by a Kwazel Maw. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi later stole one from Dooku's Munificent-class star frigate using it to chase down the Sith Lord. Although they successfully shot him down over Vanqor, the shuttle was destroyed by a vulture droid, and Count Dooku escaped only to be captured by a pirate gang led by Hondo Ohnaka afterward.[13] Doctor Nuvo Vindi maintained a Sheathipede-class shuttle which was captured by the Galactic Republic during a raid on his laboratory during the Blue Shadow Virus affair.[15][16] During the Battle of Ryloth, a shuttle was assigned to transport Wat Tambor and his droid TA-175, as they knew that Republic forces were going to retake the capital. Not only that, but Dooku wanted Tambor to leave immediately as he would send in Hyena bombers to bomb the capital to demonstrate the cost of a "Republic Victory". Despite Wat Tambor's refusal to retreat until the last of the treasure was boarded, TA-175 was able to leave without him on the shuttle, as Dooku ordered him via hologram to order the Hyena bombers to destroy Lessu immediately. However, Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano were able to destroy the bombers, allowing Wat Tambor to be captured by Republic forces led by Commander Ponds as well as the Twi'lek Resistance led by Cham Syndulla.
Another shuttle was parked in Cad Bane's own Munificent-class star frigate during the Battle of Devaron where it was stolen by Republic forces led by Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Captain Rex after a failed attempt to recover the holocron stolen by the bounty hunter. Believing him dead, along with the holocron, it was revealed that Bane was able to fake his death by disguising himself as clone trooper named Denal and escape in a V-19 Torrent starfighter.[17] Another shuttle was also used to recover General Grievous at the Battle of Saleucami.[18]
Sheathipede-class shuttles were also parked in the Separatist capital of Raxus Secundus when Padme and Ahsoka traveled there to set up peace talks with Mina Bonteri, who was an old friend of her.[19] One shuttle was also used by Mother Talzin and her clan where they went to Dooku's palace in Serenno to deliver Savage Opress to him.[5] The shuttle may have been a gift from Dooku himself. Another shuttle was also used following the failed Skirmish on Naboo during a prisoner exchange between Anakin Skywalker and General Grievous. While Anakin was traded to the Gungans, Grievous was exchanged to the Separatists and was able to board the shuttle before it took off along with the remaining Separatist forces.
These shuttles were also parked in Mandalore during a failed peace conference between the Republic and the Separatists. Another shuttle was also used by General Grievous when his fleet attacked Obi Wan Kenobi's fleet.
Following the Battle of Coruscant in the final days of the Clone Wars, General Grievous traveled on a Sheathipede-class transport shuttle to Pau City on Utapau to meet with the Separatist Council.[20]
Age of the Empire
Sometime following the Clone Wars, Baron Tarko purchased his own Sheathipede-class transport shuttle.[21] Three Sheathipede-class transport shuttles were present on Agamar in the wreckage of a Separatist supply ship, where the Spectres and former Separatist General Kalani's garrison used them to escape a battle against the Galactic Empire. One shuttle piloted by droids was shot down in the escape, while the remaining two made it to safety. One contained Kalani and several of his B1-series battle droids, and the other one shuttle belonging to the Spectres christened the new Phantom II.[6]
The Phantom II was extensively modified and upgraded by the Spectres. The shuttle was given a new paint job courtesy of Sabine Wren. The ship was armed with port and starboard forward-facing cannons and ventral-mounted turrets located adjacent to the boarding ramp.[22] The hull was upgraded with reinforced plating and an astromech socket located on the shuttle's shortened dorsal fin. It was also modified to dock with the Ghost like the original Phantom.[23]
Age of the New Republic
In the New Republic era, a male Neimoidian named Hallion Nark of the Warbird gang owned a Sheathipede-class transport shuttle, which he landed on Jarek Yeager's repair shop at the Colossus.[9]
Behind the scenes
The shuttle was created for its first appearance by ILM employees Larry Tan and Adam Savage of Mythbusters fame.[24]
Appearances
- Star Wars: Galactic Defense
- Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace (First appearance)
- Star Wars Battlefront II
- Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
- Hyperspace Stories 1
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Bombad Jedi"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Dooku Captured"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Gungan General" (In flashback(s))
- "Dooku Captured" — The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark (and audiobook) (Indirect mention only)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Defenders of Peace"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Blue Shadow Virus"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Mystery of a Thousand Moons"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Liberty on Ryloth"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Cargo of Doom"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Children of the Force"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Deserter"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Duchess of Mandalore"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Lethal Trackdown" (Dorsal fin only)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Heroes on Both Sides"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Monster"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Shadow Warrior"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "A Friend in Need"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Bound for Rescue"
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "A Necessary Bond" (Dorsal fin only)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Crystal Crisis"
- Dark Disciple (and audiobook)
- Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- Star Wars: The Bad Batch — "Aftermath" (In flashback(s))
- Star Wars Rebels — "The Last Battle"
- Star Wars Rebels — "Imperial Supercommandos"
- "A Trooper's Worth" — Star Wars Rebels Animation 1
- Star Wars Rebels — "Iron Squadron"
- Star Wars Rebels — "The Wynkahthu Job"
- "To Thy Metal Heart Be True" — Star Wars Rebels Magazine 32
- Star Wars Rebels — "Visions and Voices"
- "Final Round" — Star Wars Rebels Magazine 34
- Star Wars Rebels — "Ghosts of Geonosis"
- Star Wars Rebels — "Warhead"
- Star Wars Rebels — "Legacy of Mandalore"
- Star Wars Rebels — "Zero Hour"
- Star Wars Rebels — "In the Name of the Rebellion"
- Star Wars Rebels — "The Occupation"
- Bounty Hunters 38 (In flashback(s))
- Ahsoka — "Part Two: Toil and Trouble"
- Ahsoka — "Part Four: Fallen Jedi"
- Ahsoka — "Part Five: Shadow Warrior"
- Ahsoka — "Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord"
- Star Wars Resistance — "The Triple Dark"
- Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
Non-canon appearances
Sources
- "Dooku Captured" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Defenders of Peace" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Blue Shadow Virus" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Liberty on Ryloth" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link)
- "Cargo of Doom" Episode Guide | The Clone Wars on StarWars.com (backup link) (Picture only)
- Neimoidian escort shuttle in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link) (First identified as Neimoidian escort shuttle)
- Ultimate Star Wars (First identified as Sheathipede-class transport shuttle)
- Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 54 (Starship Fact File: Sheathipede-class Shuttle)
- LEGO Star Wars Rebels (Set: 75170 The Phantom)
- Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 35 (Weapons & Uniforms: Ready for Action) (Indirect mention only)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 37 (Highlights of the Saga: The Battle of Ryloth) (Indirect mention only)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 45 (Databank A-Z: Petranaki Arena–Proton Torpedoes)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 49 (Databank A-Z: Serenno–Anakin Skywalker)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 57 (Weapons & Uniforms: Chopper Base—Atollon)
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 59 (Databank A-Z: Darth Tyranus) (Picture only)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 63 (Highlights of the Saga: The Darksaber)
- Unlimited Power
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 64 (Highlights of the Saga: Finishing the Fight)
- Star Wars Helmet Collection 65 (Databank A-Z: VCX-100 Light Freighter–Veers)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Rebel Alliance Conversion Kit (Card: "Zeb" Orrelios (Sheathipede)) (Reissued in Ghost Expansion Pack)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Rebel Alliance Conversion Kit (Card: AP-5) (Reissued in Ghost Expansion Pack)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Rebel Alliance Conversion Kit (Card: Ezra Bridger (Sheathipede)) (Reissued in Ghost Expansion Pack)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Rebel Alliance Conversion Kit (Card: Fenn Rau) (Reissued in Ghost Expansion Pack)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Rebel Alliance Conversion Kit (Card: Ghost) (Reissued in Ghost Expansion Pack)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Rebel Alliance Conversion Kit (Card: Phantom) (Reissued in Ghost Expansion Pack)
- Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition
- Rise of the Separatists
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition — Hyena-class Droid Bomber Expansion Pack (Card: TA-175) (Picture only)
- Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition
- Every Type of Ship in Rebels | Star Wars By the Numbers on the official Star Wars Kids YouTube channel (content now obsolete; backup link) (First identified as Neimoidian Shuttle)
- Neimoidian Escort Shuttle in the Databank (backup link)
- Sheathipede-class Shuttle in the Databank (backup link)
- Wat Tambor in the Databank (backup link) (Picture only)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Ultimate Star Wars
- ↑ 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 Rise of the Separatists
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Neimoidian Escort Shuttle in the Databank (backup link)
- ↑ Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Monster"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Star Wars Rebels — "The Last Battle"
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels — "Zero Hour"
- ↑ Ahsoka — "Part Two: Toil and Trouble"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Star Wars Resistance — "The Triple Dark"
- ↑ Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
- ↑ Neimoidian escort shuttle in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Dooku Captured"
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Blue Shadow Virus"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Mystery of a Thousand Moons"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Cargo of Doom"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Deserter"
- ↑ Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Heroes on Both Sides"
- ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
- ↑ Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 54 (Starship Fact File: Sheathipede-class Shuttle)
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels — "Imperial Supercommandos"
- ↑ Star Wars Rebels — "Iron Squadron"
- ↑ Ask Adam Savage: "Did You Ever Meet George Lucas?" on the Adam Savage's Tested YouTube channel (May 24, 2020) (backup link)