CANON/LEGENDS
Project Blackwing
referred to the Galactic Empire's Imperial Military Department of Advanced Weapons Research that oversaw unlocking immortality. Sadly, the project backfired and resulted in the accidental creation the BlackWing Virus; better known as 'the Sickness'. It was an infectious viral agent that attacked the victim's neurological tissues, it killed the host eventually, but the tissue remained active. The first outbreak of the virus was recorded on the planet of Dandoran in a secret research facility.
Description
"You're telling me that those Sith Scientists, this project Blackwing created Death Trooper? On Purpose?
- The Rebel mercenary Saponza upon learning the purpose of the project.
Project BlackWing was developed under secrecy by the Galactic Empire's Imperial Military Department of Advanced Weapons Research. The disease was carefully re-created and activated by a force sensitive Murakami orchid.
It's a trap!... of zombies!
The BlackWing project was an experiment to revive dead neurological tissues, instead it killed its host and kept its neural tissue alive and transformed them into undead cannibalistic Zombies. The "Sickness" altered the hosts Stamina and Strength, making it move slower, but it increased their resilience to more physical damage from Blaster bolts and melee weapons. Any strike to the head would kill the infected. For humans the disease altered their skin colour to a dark greyish- green. The virus communicated with itself, and allowed the host's body to learn how to use blasters, operate turrets and fly Starships.
History
By 13 BBY (Before Battle of Yavin) Project BlackWing was active. In order to capitalize the rumors, Emperor Palpatine named the death troopers of Imperial Intelligence after the Undead Troopers of Project BlackWing. At some point between the Battle of Yavin and Battle of Hoth, the Stormtroopers stationed on Dandora had contracted the virus, and soon became Undead Troopers. They were eventually joined by Undead heavy Trooper and Undead Scout trooper, earning the nickname 'Army of the Dead'. Threatening to spread across the galaxy, the Empire and Rebel Alliance attempted to contain the virus on Dandora and were successful, although rumors going about say that pirates, and thugs had collected the surviving replica of the disease and there was another outbreak. The second outbreak was contained.
Behind the Scenes
Project BlackWing first appeared in Star Wars: Commander on August 1st, 2014.
The virus originated from the 2009 Star Wars legends novel Death Troopers.