A sleek black-and-gold Z-95 Headhunter was one of six purchased by Flight Captain Tycho Celchu for the pilots of Rogue Squadron in the weeks proceeding the Liberation of Coruscant. Of the six, this particular Z-95 Headhunter was flown by Tycho as he considered it to be the best one he could buy and used it to cover members of Rogue Squadron during their initial guerrilla operations on Coruscant. The New Republic Captain later transferred ownership of the starfighter to his squadmate, Corran Horn, during a stratospheric skirmish above Coruscant’s cityscape; during which Corran used the callsign ‘Hunter Lead’ as he piloted the Z-95 Headhunter.
History
Tycho Celchu's black-and-gold Z-95 Headhunter was purchased by the Tycho in 7 ABY from Lai Nootka after he had been secretly ordered by Rogue Leader Wedge Antilles to scrounge up weapons and starfighters for the other members of Rogue Squadron. This was part of Rogue Squadron's pre-mission prep to use once they had devised a plan to knock out Coruscant's planetary shielding. Tycho used this Z-95 Headhunter to provide air support after the members of Rogue Squadron and their Alien Combine allies had been ambushed by Stormtroopers and needed a quick evac. Later, Tycho personally offered this Z-95 Headhunter to Corran Horn, telling the pilot that it was the best fighter they had at their disposal and that there was no one else in the squad Tycho trusted to bring the fighter back safely.[2]
Tycho Celchu's Z-95 Headhunter (uppermost)
With Pash Cracken as his wingmate, Corran Horn flew the Z-95 Headhunter as he led the five-pilot ersatz Hunter Squadron through the vast cityscape of Coruscant to protect a hijacked EVS Construction droid controlled by Wedge Antilles and Winter. By the end of the skirmish, Corran Horn had shot down four TIE/ln Fighters and one TIE Interceptor with the fighter. Yet at the battle's conclusion, the Z-97 Headhunter's navigation computer suddenly suffered a severe malfunction and crashed on Coruscant's surface, leading Corran Horn to be presumed dead.[2] Unbeknownst to both Tycho and Corran, their squadmate and secret Imperial spy, Erisi Dlarit, had sabotaged the fighter's navigation computer just prior to Tycho handing ownership over to Corran. This was part of a scheme formulated by Ysanne Isard to frame Tycho as a spy who conspired to murder Corran Horn.[3]
Characteristics
Tycho Celchu's Z-95 Headhunter was distinct from the standard model because of it's custom sleek black-and-gold plating. It was also noted by Tycho as being the best Headhunter he was able to acquire, meaning it at least functioned better than a standard second-hand Z-95 Headhunter - though the extent of its apparent superiority was not expanded upon.[2]
Appearances
- X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble (and unabridged audiobook)
- X-Wing: The Krytos Trap (and unabridged audiobook) (Mentioned only)