Incident at the Imperial Customs Checkpoint
The incident at the Imperial Customs Checkpoint was the name given to a skirmish in the Galactic Civil War that took place in 3 ABY or earlier.
Prelude
During a routine inspection at the Customs Checkpoint for Imperial Space, a newcomer TIE pilot codenamed Gamma 1,[3] alongside Epsilon 1, proceeded to inspect six civilian ships: a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle called Startour 7 that claimed to be a tourist ship; a YT-1300 light freighter called Nomannic that claimed to be carrying spice; two Delta-class DX-9 stormtrooper transports called Seinar T4D and Seinar T5D that both claimed to be carrying workers, a BFF-1 bulk freighter called Elorac claiming to be transporting Amber, and a CR90 corvette called Ritam that claimed to be carrying Repulsors. Upon entering 100 Imperial standard meters of the vessels and scanning the cargo, verifying their claim, they then allowed them through. The officer in charge of the checkpoint then congratulated Gamma 1 and suggested that Gamma 1 either return to the checkpoint or continue on.
Skirmish
Just before Gamma 1 could make a decision, however, three freighters called Sunnida and two shuttles named Yagmar entered Imperial Space. Gamma 1 then inspected Sunnida's cargo, and discovered illicit material inside the freighters (specifically, Sunnida 1 contained narcotics, while Sunnida 2 and 3 both contained stimsticks). Gamma 1 was then ordered to back up the Delta-class DX-9 stormtrooper transport Epsilon 2 so the latter could board the smuggling freighters and take them into custody, with Gamma 1 doing so by draining their deflector shields. Likewise, the Yagmar shuttles, carrying smugglers, proceeded to attack Gamma 1 and the Imperials to stop the boarding, although Gamma 1 proceeded to shut them down. The head of the checkpoint congratulated Gamma 1 for the pilot's efforts in stopping a smuggling operation, and had the ships delivered to an Imperial storage yard to be impounded.
Shortly afterwards, however, six Rebel B-wings belonging to Red and Gold Squadrons proceeded to attack the checkpoint, with Gamma 1 being directed to eliminate them. Gamma 2 eventually entered in to provide backup. Afterwards, Gamma 1 returned to the Imperial Customs Checkpoint to undergo docking procedures.
Aftermath
The events of this mission were immortalized as one of the Galactic Empire's Combat Training sequences for newly ordained TIE pilots within the Imperial Navy, specifically for upcoming pilots of the TIE/IN interceptors, with then-rookie pilot Maarek Stele eventually assuming the role of Gamma 1 for this simulation. The simulation was used to have newcomers be acquainted with the TIE/IN's threat display and mapping system in its onboard targeting computer.
Behind the scenes
Incident at the Imperial Customs Checkpoint first appears in the [[[1994]] video game Star Wars: TIE Fighter. It is the first Combat Training mission for the TIE Fighter, titled "Threat Display".
Appearances
- Star Wars: TIE Fighter (First appearance)
Sources
- TIE Fighter: The Official Strategy Guide
- TIE Fighter Collector's CD-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide
Notes and references
- ↑ Star Wars: TIE Fighter
- ↑ Most of the Combat Training deals with simulations of past Imperial Missions. As the TIE fighter-related combat training missions, alongside TIE Interceptor and TIE bomber combat training missions are unlocked at the start of TIE Fighter, it can be assumed that these missions occurred before Maarek Stele's first mission.
- ↑ The Customs officer's comment to Gamma 1 upon inspecting all vehicles implied that Gamma 1 was a relatively inexperienced pilot, at least regarding inspections.