Flare/Legends

A flare was a pyrotechnic device that either functioned as a warhead countermeasure on a starship, or as a signal flare to transmit a priority message if communications were not functioning.

Countermeasure flares were anti-warhead defense mechanisms used by small spacecraft. They consisted of a supply of small, inexpensive low-yield warheads whose targeting systems were designed to home in on incoming warheads and detonate them before they posed a threat to the ship itself. If no incoming warheads were detected, the flare would instead home in on the nearest enemy starfighter, though not powerful enough to cause significant damage, it was useful as brief distraction. While less accurate, and therefore less reliable, than the chaff type, the flare was more versatile.
Signal flares were used to quickly display a visual signal over a long distance when trying to either maintain communications silence, or if communications were down. These were usually color-coded and sometimes emitted certain sounds to correspond to whatever situation the priority message was pertaining to. For example, during the Clone Wars, when Commander Cody and Captain Rex arrived for an inspection, clone trooper Fives shot a red flare that alerted them of Separatist droid commando's presence in Rishi Station.
Appearances
- Hope
- Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Cat and Mouse"
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Rookies"
Star Wars: Droids—"Coby and the Starhunters"
- Planet of the Mists
- Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter
"Tales of the Smoking Blaster" – Star Wars Gamemaster Handbook
"Lost Destiny" – Tapani Sector Instant Adventures
- Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
- X-Wing: Wraith Squadron
"Waystation"—The Kathol Rift
"Endgame"—Endgame
- The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory I: Conquest
Sources
- The Star Wars Sourcebook
- Star Wars Campaign Pack
- Star Wars Gamemaster Kit
- Star Wars Miniatures Battles (Also as "illum flare")
- The Politics of Contraband
- Heir to the Empire Sourcebook
- Wanted by Cracken
- Dark Empire Sourcebook
- The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook
- Star Wars Miniatures Battles, Second Edition (Also as "illum flare")
- Galaxy Guide 10: Bounty Hunters
- Star Wars Sourcebook, Second Edition
- Goroth: Slave of the Empire
"Scouts' Dispatch" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 6
- Alliance Intelligence Reports
"The History of R-Series Astromech Droids" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 7
- The DarkStryder Campaign
- Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi, Second Edition
- Heroes & Rogues
- The Kathol Outback
- The Truce at Bakura Sourcebook
- The Jedi Academy Sourcebook
- Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
- The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
- Star Wars Gamemaster Screen, Revised
- Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook (as thermal flare)
- Secrets of the Sisar Run
- Gundark's Fantastic Technology: Personal Gear
- Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook, Special Edition
- Platt's Smugglers Guide
- Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
- Star Wars: Edge of the Empire Core Rulebook
- Star Wars: Imperial Handbook: A Commander's Guide