Delta-class T-3c shuttle

For other uses, see Delta-class shuttle.

Delta-class T-3c Shuttle

Production information

Manufacturer

Sienar Fleet Systems^[1]

Line

Abecederian line^[1]

Model

Delta-class T-3c shuttle^[1]

Type

Shuttle^[2]

Cost

160,000 credits^[3]

Technical specifications

Length

14.39 meters^[1]

Height/depth

25.1 meters (with wings upright)^[1]

Maximum atmospheric speed

1,000 kilometers per hour^[4]

Engine unit(s)

SFS-215 ion engines (optimised for stealth operations)^[1]

Hyperdrive rating

Class 1^[3]
Class 10 (backup)^[3]

Hull

Sloped hull (skin composite optimized for stealth operations)^[1]

Sensor systems

Short-range sensors^[3]

Armament

Twin Taim & Bak KX9 laser cannons (2)^[1]
Taim & Bak KX3 laser cannons (3) (wingtip)^[1]

Crew

6^[3]
- Pilot (1)^[3]
- Co-pilot (1)^[3]
- Navigator (1)^[3]
- Gunner (1)^[3]
- Comms operator (1)^[3]
- Engineer (1)^[3]

Passengers

30^[3]

Consumables

Three months^[3]

Communication systems

Subspace and hypercomm antenna array^[1]

Usage

Role(s)

Transport^[2]

Affiliation

Galactic Empire^[2]
- Imperial Navy^[2]

"These bat-winged shuttles were never as popular as the more versatile Lambda class, but Imperials such as Orson Krennic appreciated its stark, brutal design. The Delta folds its wings to reduce space requirements in hangars and on landing pads, and deploys them for greater stability during atmospheric flight."

―The Galactic Explorer's Guide^[5]

The Delta-class T-3c shuttle, or simply the Delta-class shuttle,^[6] was a type of shuttle used by the Galactic Empire around the time of the Battle of Yavin. Director Orson Krennic owned one such vessel. It had a starkly geometric hull shape and folding bat-like wings.^[2]

Characteristics

The Delta-class T-3c shuttle was originally designed as a side project by Sienar Fleet Systems and was not intended for production. However, Director Orson Krennic saw the concept design of the transport and became fascinated by it, leading to Sienar's decision to produce the shuttle. The ship was optimized for stealth, with a dark, sloped hull and composite skin. The crew cabin was sparse, with simple crash seats and storage straps. The foldable lateral wings decreased the shuttle's footprint when on the ground. The wings contained HoloNet and Subspace antennae to maintain communications when in deep space. Laser cannons were attached to the bottom of the shuttle and on the tip of each of its three wings.^[1]

History

In 13 BBY^[7], Director Orson Krennic of the Imperial Military Department of Advanced Weapons Research traveled to the Outer Rim^[8] world of Lah'mu in a Delta-class T-3c shuttle, ST-149, upon the discovery that Galen Walton Erso was hiding out on the planet with the rest of his family. Needing his work to complete construction of the DS-1 Orbital Battle Station as part of Project Stardust, he traveled to the planet with a contingent of Death troopers accompanying him. Krennic was successful in capturing Galen Erso with the latter being forced on board ST-149 to return to the Galactic Empire to finish construction on the First Death Star.^[9]

Upon the revelation that a pilot working at an energy laboratory on Eadu had recently defected and potentially compromised Project Stardust, Krennic traveled to the planet with his shuttle to inspect the Kyber crystal research team to determine who was the leak. The team, lead by Galen Erso, was brought before the landing pad in front of ST-149 where the team stood in front of Krennic and his guard, flanked by stormtroopers of the 975th Battalion. Krennic demanded that whoever was the mole turn himself in and when no one stood up, he declared it a group effort and ordered his Death troopers to execute them all until Galen intervened at the last moment and revealed he was the one who leaked the details. The team would be gunned down regardless, however Galen was spared the death troopers' wrath as the facility was soon attacked by starfighters of the Alliance to Restore the Republic who attacked the facility. While the laboratory was destroyed, Krennic and his guard were able to depart on ST-149 and avoided being killed while Galen died from wounds he sustained during the rebel attack.^[9]

Having survived the attack on Eadu, Krennic used ST-149 to travel to Mustafar after being summoned there by Darth Vader to explain the recent destruction of Jedha City by the First Death Star. Krennic traveled and met the Dark Lord of the Sith at his personal fortress hoping to ensure that he would be able to regain control of the Death Star from Wilhuff Tarkin.^[9]

Following the meeting with Vader, ST-149 flew to the planet Scarif and landed at the Imperial Center of Military Research where he sought any and all recorded transmissions and dispatches made by the now late-Galen Erso as a means of preventing the Death Star plans from falling into Rebel hands. The shuttle stayed parked at the facility when it was attacked by Rebel Alliance Special Forces unit Rogue One lead by Captain Cassian Jeron Andor and Galen's daughter Jyn Erso where the Death Star plans were stolen and sent to the Rebel fleet before the Death Star arrived and destroyed the complex.^[9]

Following Krennic's failures, the T-3c fell out of favor.^[10] Magna Tolvan chased down Chelli Aphra to Skako Minor in a Delta-class T-3c shuttle.^[11] When Emperor Palpatine arrived at the Death Star II in his personal Lambda-class T-4a shuttle, TK-293, one of the stormtroopers present, declared that if he were Emperor, he'd show up in a Delta-class T-3c shuttle.^[12]