MILLENIUM FALCON   The Millenium Falcon is an old, battered and reconstructed stock light freighter of Corellian design, approximately 27 metres in length. Currently it serves as the personal transport and means of income of Han Solo and Chewbacca. The Falcon has undergone major overhauls, refittings and modifications which have made all but it's external appearance vastly different from the manufacturers modifications. These modifications include custom security mechanisms, computer assisted targeting consoles and boosted deflector shields. It also has a more powerful hyperdrive, armoured hull and weapons system than allowed for a ship of it's class, size and designation. The Falcon is armed with 2 quad laser cannons (one each in top and bottom turrets), 2 concussion missile launchers and a retractable light laser cannon. With the addition of falsified ID profiles and hidden cargo holds, the Falcon is a perfect smuggling vessel.

TIE FIGHTER   The main combat starfighter used by the Empire is the TIE fighter. At the height of the Empire's military build up, when resources were plentiful and supplies were nearly unlimited, the need was felt for a deep-space starfighter that was cheap to make, quick to produce and relatively powerful. The TIE fighter was the result. Fast, manoeuvrable and apparently endless in number, TIE fighters are deployed from bases and capital ships as they have neither the range nor the capability to travel great distances on their own. As short-range patrol and attack aircraft, TIEs serve the Imperial fleet very well. Twin ion engines provide the propulsion for these fighters which are controlled by a single pilot. Armed with 2 laser cannons but lacking any sort of combat shields, TIEs were designed for use as reconnaisance craft, perimeter defence ships and ship-to-ship combat vehicles. The distinctive hexagonal solar-panel "wings" that jut out from the spherical command pod gather light and convert it into energy that powers the propulsion and weapons systems. In addition to the basic TIE fighter design (top), a bent-wing interceptor (bottom) and double-pod bomber model are also found in Imperial service. Darth Vader had his own custom-built TIE for the occasions when he wanted to engage in ship-to-ship combat with the rest of his forces.

AT-ST   Modelled after the larger AT-AT, the All-Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST) serves as a reconnaissance or defence vehicle. Lightweight and built for speed, the "chicken" or "scout walker" runs on tow metal legs. The two-man crew sits in a small, armoured command pod. With it's manoeuvrability and quickness, a scout walker provides covering fire for ground troops or defends the flanks and undersides of the AT-ATs. The seven metre tall AT-ST has chin and side mounted blaster cannons, a concussion grenade launcher and feet claws for cutting through fixed defences.

AT-AT   The four-legged combat vehicle called an All Terrain Armoured Transport (AT-AT) or "walker", serves as both a troop transport and an assault craft. It provides high-powered support to Imperial Ground Forces. Each individual walker stands over fifteen metres tall, has blast-impervious armour plating and resembles a mechanical beast as it strides across the battlefield. The moveable "head" contains the crew deck with a pilot's station, gunners's station and commanding officer/combat co-ordination station. A walker's armament consists of heavy blaster cannons mounted on each side of the head and under the "chin". The massive AT-AT kneels to unload it's troops, lowering assault ramps from the rear portion of it's armoured body

SPEEDER BIKES   Small, one person repulsor land vehicles move at incredible rates, making them perfect for scout or reconnaisance craft. Four dimensional steering vanes extend from the front of the Speeder Bike on twin outriggers, providing a high degree of manoeuvrability. The pilot directs the bike with elevation and manoeuvres controls located in the handgrips. Two rocker-pivoted foot pads regulate speed, while controls on the forward end of the saddle are for parking, weaponry, communications and energy recharging. Military Speeder Bikes, like those used by the Emperor's Scout Troopers, have armour plating and are armed with blaster cannons.

LIGHT SABER The elegant weapon of the Jedi Knights. These power swords project blades of pure energy capable of cutting through most materials - except the blade of another light saber. The design seems simple from the outside : a handgrip with several switches ends in a mirror-like concave disc. Inside the handgrip, power cells and variously shaped crystals are activated to produce the narrow beam of metre long light that gives the saber it's name. When activated a light saber hums with power. Considered archaic when compared to blasters and other modern weapons, lightsabers are nonetheless impressive and powerful personal weapons that require extensive training to use effectively. Tradition dictates that the lightsabers be constructed by their Jedi owners as part of the knighthood training.

LANDSPEEDER Any type of surface transport vehicle that employs repulsorlift propulsion engines. Even when parked, a landspeeder remains suspended about a metre off the ground in an aftereffect of the repulsor field generated by the engine.

Extracts taken from 'A Guide to the Star Wars Universe' by Bill Slavicsek, Published by Boxtree Limited.