Self-destruct mechanism/Legends

- "Two ion-cannon blasts shorted every system I had in the ship, including the self-destruct."
- ―Tycho Celchu
A self-destruct mechanism was a defense system that allowed an important craft or device to self-destruct under certain circumstances such as the threat of being captured. This was often used as a last-resort defense to protect data from being used by the enemy.
History
- "I didn't hit it that hard. Must've had a self-destruct."
- ―Han Solo, referring to a Viper probe droid
When Han Solo and Chewbacca destroyed a Viper probe droid on Hoth, the droid managed to send relay images of Echo Base before self-destruction. After the Battle of Hoth, every TIE Series starfighter had a self-destruct system installed.[source?]
When Rookie One and Ru Murleen destroyed the TIE Phantom factory at Imdaar Alpha they brought the very last TIE Phantom to a Rebel base but the designers had anticipated such a possibility and each fighter was given a self-destruct mechanism disabled by some Imperial code, so that should one fall in the hands of the Rebels, they wouldn't be able to replicate its technology. After the destruction of this short-lived fighter, its technology was lost forever.
The Empire equipped TIE Maulers with a self-destruct mechanism as a means to do additional damage to enemy troops if the TIE Mauler was attacked. The power core of the TIE Mauler would overload and the craft would explode, destroying or damaging troops, vehicles, or structures nearby.
The Zann Consortium were also known to have their Vengeance-class frigates and Aggressor-class Star Destroyers self-destruct by overheating their ship cores should the situation call for it in battle.
Before the New Republic liberated Coruscant from the Galactic Empire, Tycho Celchu volunteered to fly a TIE/LN starfighter to spy on the planet, his starfighter was modified heavily with sensor packages for his mission. He was caught by the Imperials after being hit by two ion-cannon blasts, which disabled the self-destruct system.
As late as 40 ABY, Slave I was equipped with a powerful self-destruct system.
Appearances
- Star Wars: The Old Republic
- Star Wars: The Old Republic: Knights of the Eternal Throne
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars video game
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes (Mentioned only)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars – "Bound for Rescue"
- Star Wars: Empire at War
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
- Starfall
- Otherspace II: Invasion (as self-destruct activator)
"Into the Heat of Battle" – Instant Adventures
- Operation: Elrood
"Special Ops: Drop Points" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 14
- Rebellion 11
- Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
- Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back novel
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back junior novel
- Star Wars (1977) 39
- Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire
- Star Wars (1977) 57 (Mentioned only)
"Black Curs Blues" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 8
- X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble (Mentioned only)
"No Disintegrations, Please" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 14
- The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic I: Remnant
- Legacy of the Force: Exile
Sources
- Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back (as self destruct programming)
- Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters
- The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook
- Galaxy Guide 6: Tramp Freighters, Second Edition
- The Star Wars Sourcebook, Second Edition
- Galladinium's Fantastic Technology
- Flashpoint! Brak Sector
- The DarkStryder Campaign
- The Truce at Bakura Sourcebook
- Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook
- The Secrets of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
- The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook
- Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back, Second Edition
- Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded
Star Wars Customizable Card Game – Hoth Limited (Card: Self-Destruct Mechanism) (backup link)
"Imperial Garrisons" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 12
- Introductory Adventure Game
"Scouts' Dispatch" – Star Wars Adventure Journal 13
- Cynabar's Fantastic Technology: Droids
- Rules of Engagement: The Rebel SpecForce Handbook
- Cracken's Threat Dossier
- Star Wars Trilogy Sourcebook, Special Edition
Star Wars Trading Card Game – The Empire Strikes Back (Card: Probe Droid) (backup link)
Star Wars Trading Card Game – The Empire Strikes Back (Card: Self-Destruct) (backup link)
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Prima Official Game Guide
- Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption Expansion: Prima Official Game Guide
The Droids Re-Animated, Part 1 on StarWars.com (article) (backup link not verified!)
- Star Wars: Force Collection (Card: Viper Probe Droid)
Imperial probe droid in the Encyclopedia (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Strongholds of Resistance