Command sector duty post

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"Uhh, everything's under control. Situation normal."
―Han Solo speaking into a comlink on a duty post[1]
A duty post onboard the Death Star II

A duty post onboard the Death Star II

Command sector duty posts or just simply duty posts were circular posts designated to military personnel, and were notably used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Galactic Republic, the Galactic Empire, and the Rebel Alliance. Singular duty posts served as a "mini bridge" for the commanding officers in question.

Characteristics

The duty posts were surrounded by up to eight control boards. Specific functions included two duty monitor modules, two command interface modules, one computer access module, one communications module, one secondary computer access module, and one damage control module. On the duty monitor module were several instruments, including a security lockdown lever. The computer access module possessed several instruments, including two viewscreen buttons. The communications module contained several instruments, including process state indicators and a secure comlink. The command interface module contained several instruments including a command authority verifier. All of the modules had red blinking lights on the exterior edge of the module that acted as module status indicators.[2]

A semi-circled duty post with a holoprojector in the center

A semi-circled duty post with a holoprojector in the center

The duty posts with eight control boards had partially extendable frames that slid aside to allow access to the assigned commanding officers. Within the post was a ventilated base.[2]

Some duty posts were wider, allowing space for multiple people, and lower to the ground. These models were also semi-circled, contained only five control boards,[3] and sometimes had a holoprojector in the center.[4]

History

The Clone Wars

The Coruscant Republic military base had two duty posts in its military tribunal chamber

The Coruscant Republic military base had two duty posts in its military tribunal chamber

Duty posts were located in several Republic military installations and ships, such as Venator-class Star Destroyers[5] and a Republic military base on Coruscant.[6] Two were inside the Venator's brigs,[5] one was located inside the military base's detention block control room,[6] and two were also inside of its tribunal courtroom.[7] Additionally, two duty posts were located in a Republic-controlled sector of Chaleydonia on Christophsis in 22 BBY, one of which Obi-Wan Kenobi and Captain Rex used for cover during the Battle of Christophsis.[3] One was also present on a Republic-controlled space station above Ringo Vinda. In 20 BBY, the Separatists captured the space station, and two B1-Series battle droids manned the duty post until they were destroyed in the Battle of Ringo Vinda[8]

The Separatists also used duty posts, as well. Two were located inside the General's quarters on the Invisible Hand.[9] They were destroyed in 19 BBY when the ship broke in half during the Battle of Coruscant.[10]

Imperial era

Duty posts were located on the overbridge of the first Death Star, and were manned by Death Star troopers. The station's detention blocks also contained one; AA-23's was manned by Lieutenant Shann Childsen in 0 BBY.[1] A duty post was also located in the Death Star II's control room, and contained the firing switch to the station's superlaser. This post was manned by Sergeant Jad Bean and another Death Star trooper in 4 ABY.[11]

Duty posts in the Emperor's Throne Room on the second Death Star

Duty posts in the Emperor's Throne Room on the second Death Star

The Emperor's throne room on the second Death Star had two duty posts for his Royal Guards located on the raised platform where the Emperor's throne sat.[12] Beneath the duty posts were additional consoles that, along with the duty posts, could override and operate the battlestation's functions.[2] A further third duty post sat under a large hologram of the galaxy in the eastern side of the room.[13] The throne room in Mount Tantiss on Wayland also contained two duty posts.[14]

The Rebel Alliance occasionally used duty posts as well, such as one located inside a research base at Polis Massa and two onboard the Tantive IV.[4]

Behind the scenes

The idea of duty posts with eight control boards being able to slide one aside in order to let personnel enter was created by author Ryder Windham for the Death Star Owner's Technical Manual. Windham found it impractical for crewmen to be lowered in via hydraulics or access them through the floor.[15]

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Death Star Owner's Technical Manual
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars film
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Star Wars: Battlefront II
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "Cloak of Darkness"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Jedi Who Knew Too Much"
  7. ↑ TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Wrong Jedi"
  8. ↑ TCW mini logo Star Wars: The Clone Wars — "The Unknown"
  9. ↑ Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
  10. ↑ Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith novelization
  11. ↑ Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
  12. ↑ Star Wars: Complete Locations
  13. ↑ Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy
  14. ↑ The Essential Reader's Companion
  15. ↑ Globe Roqoo Depot — "Death Star Owner's Technical Manual" Interview with Ryder Windham on WordPress (backup link)

External links