Onyx Squadron

Onyx Squadron was an elite Imperial Navy starfighter squadron during the Galactic Civil War. At some point following that conflict's Battle of Yavin, TIE/sa bombers from the squadron participated in the Battle of Talus. Onyx Squadron also became one of the Empire's first full squadrons of TIE/D Defenders, a starfighter model which began production shortly before 4 ABY's Battle of Endor, which a handful of the squadron's TIE/D Defender element ultimately participated in.

History

Onyx Squadron was an elite^[3] starfighter squadron within the Imperial Navy during the Galactic Civil War fought between the Galactic Empire and the Alliance to Restore the Republic.^[1] The squadron was named after the substance onyx and, like many Imperial starship squadrons, it was named for something dark in color to emulate Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader's famous Black Squadron.^[4]

At some point following the Battle of Yavin, an element of Onyx Squadron's TIE/sa bombers participated in the Battle of Talus. With the Empire discovering a secret Alliance base on the planet Talus, a detachment of the squadron's TIE/sa bombers escorted Imperial transports to the planet, bombing the planet and allowing the transports to land near the base for an ultimately unsuccessful ground assault.^[5]

By 4 ABY, prior to the Battle of Endor,^[6] Onyx Squadron also became one of the first full squadrons of TIE/D Defenders.^[7] Only a handful of the squadron participated in the battle itself,^[1] although they were too few to swing the battle in the Empire's favor,^[8] and the battle ended in an Imperial defeat by the Alliance.^[9]

Organization

During the Galactic Civil War, Onyx Squadron was composed of TIE/AG Aggressor starfighters and^[10] TIE/sa bombers.^[5] By 4 ABY,^[6] the squadron also contained TIE/D Defenders, a series of starfighters whose production began shortly before the Battle of Endor.^[2]

Members

Onyx Four was among Onyx Squadron's TIE/sa bombers^[4] which took part in the Battle of Talus.^[5] By 4 ABY,^[6] the squadron's TIE pilots included Rexler Brath,^[2] Captain^[11] Yorr,^[12] and Colonel Jendon.^[13] Brath, himself a TIE/D Defender pilot,^[3] led the squadron during the Battle of Endor.^[7] Yorr flew the TIE/D Defender Onyx 2 which was part of a limited production run of its class, with its production model having a more powerful hyperdrive added based on testing of the Defender's prototype.^[12] Jendon, a senior test pilot ordered to shake down the first TIE/D Defenders assigned to Imperial fleet operations,^[13] flew the TIE/D Defender Onyx 1, which was designed to emulate Alliance starfighter advantages.^[1]

Behind the scenes

Onyx Squadron was created for 2000's Death Star II Limited expansion set of Decipher's Star Wars Customizable Card Game, with the card game introducing individual squadron TIE/D Defenders Onyx 1^[1] and Onyx 2.^[12] The squadron's name was established by 2003's The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels.^[2] In 2008, Onyx Squadron was also included in the dark side campaign for Squadrons Over Corellia, an expansion set for the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game.^[5]

Appearances

• Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — Squadrons Over Corellia (Dark Side scenario campaign) (First appearance)

Sources

• The Official Star Wars Fact File 73 TIE 11-12: TIE Defender (Picture only)
• The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels (First identified as Onyx Squadron)
• Starships of the Galaxy, Saga Edition
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
• Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game — Squadrons Over Corellia Card: Onyx Four (backup link)
• Star Wars: The Official Starships & Vehicles Collection 67 Action Stations: The TIE/D in Action (Picture only)

• The Official Star Wars Fact File Part 53 TIE 11-12: TIE/D defender (Picture only)
• Pushing the Envelope—Preview an Imperial List for X-Wing Second Edition on Fantasy Flight Games' official website (backup link)

Notes and references