StarViper-class attack platform

The StarViper-class attack platform was a heavy starfighter that was based on Prince Xizor's Virago, modeled after an old starship variant of Basilisk war droid, and was used extensively in the criminal underworld during the era of the Galactic Empire.

Characteristics

"Please repeat the communication, over."

―A Zann Consortium StarViper pilot^[3]

Dalan Oberos' personal StarViper — Dalan Oberos' personal *StarViper*

The StarViper was equipped with dual laser cannons of medium destructive power, and unlike other starfighters, it was short in length but tall, lacking a fuselage. It had decent armor and was fairly quick, but was expensive, which meant that it was not deployed in large squadrons.

The StarViper was also able to release buzz droids that would harm nearby craft.

History

The Virago was commissioned by Xizor as his personal starship. He collaborated directly with MandalMotors on its design, and he purchased all production rights upon completion to ensure the ship would remain unique. Xizor's personal version of the ship featured a super-advanced targeting computer that greatly increased the performance of whatever weapons the ship happened to be using.

A large number of StarVipers (obviously less powerful than Virago) were part of Xizor's private navy, defending Falleen's Fist above Coruscant. After the destruction of his palace by Lando Calrissian and Dash Rendar, Xizor ordered the destruction of the Millennium Falcon on which they escaped, wanting the death of Luke Skywalker. An overwhelming number of ships attacked and surrounded the Falcon and the Outrider.^[4]^[5]

Following Xizor's death, MandalMotors reacquired the production rights and released a StarViper variant less powerful than Virago to the open market. In addition, Mandal Hypernautics began producing the fighter.

Prince Xizor's Virago — Prince Xizor's *Virago*

StarVipers formed the main starfighter force of the Zann Consortium, and they were modified to carry and deploy swarms of old Pistoeka sabotage droids that the consortium obtained via the black market, proving superior to interceptors such as the RZ-1 A-wing interceptor and TIE/IN interceptor.^[3]

These fighters were also employed in small numbers by the Mandalorian forces present on Mandalore during the Galactic Civil War.^[3] The bounty hunter Dalan Oberos owned a personal StarViper which was painted a reddish-brown color.^[6]

Behind the scenes

The Mission to Mandalore from Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption depicts the Zann Consortium deploying squadrons of StarVipers as early as 1 BBY. Various appearances of the Battle over Coruscant in Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire depict dozens of these fighters belonging to the Black Sun navy and attacking the Millennium Falcon.^[7]^[4]^[5]

The reference book The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire refers to Xizor's ships appearing in the video game as "Shock Raiders."

Canderous Ordo's divergent Basilisk war droid, similar in appearance to the StarViper — Canderous Ordo's divergent Basilisk war droid, similar in appearance to the *StarViper*

Canderous Ordo's Basilisk war droid, as seen in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, is strikingly similar in appearance to the StarViper. It was retconned that the ship was based on one of the Mandalorian Basilisk war droid models, which, according to Chris Avellone, was done deliberately to improve on the designs done for the Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi series by Dark Horse Comics.^[8]