IX3244-B
- "My team, under the command of Captain Toss, visited several other worlds before our survey frigate arrived at Endor's moon, far out on the fringes."
- ―Kiviett describing IX3244-B's travels before finding Endor
IX3244-B was an Imperial Survey Team under the command of Captain Toss, with planetologist Lieutenant Kiviett as second-in-command. The team was one of the Survey Teams that attempted to find a construction site for the Galactic Empire's Death Star II battlestation, and IX3244-B found the Forest Moon of Endor as a potential location. While their survey frigate orbited Endor, Toss sent Kiviett and others to investigate the life forms detected on the moon. While the IX3244-B members on Endor were spooked by the native Ewoks, Toss ultimately dismissed the concerns and went on to publish reports about Endor being good as a Death Star construction site.
However, the superficial nature of IX3244-B's reports resulted in Emperor Palpatine sending another Survey Team led by Sergeant Pfilbee Jhorn to Endor. Jhorn additionally viewed IX3244-B as disgraceful for various creatures on Endor that went unnoticed. Following 4 ABY's Battle of Endor, Kiviett was still serving as IX3244-B's second-in-command. He was captured by the Alliance to Restore the Republic, and offered to join them as a planetologist.
History
Surveying Endor
- "All data indicated a diverse geosphere, though dominated by forests, that could very comfortably sustain Human life. This was precisely what Lord Vader was looking for."
- ―Kiviett, describing IX3244-B's scans of Endor
IX3244-B was an Imperial Survey Team active by some time following the Battle of Yavin. Its commanding officer was Captain Toss, and his second-in-command was Lieutenant Kiviett, a planetologist. Including Kiviett, the Survey Team had at least two stormtroopers and three men with light armor. The team's transportation included a survey frigate, and at least one shuttle.[1]
When Emperor Palpatine planned the construction of the Death Star II battlestation, IX3244-B was one of the Survey Teams that went to search for locations that would be viable for the Death Star's construction. The team visited several planets before discovering the Forest Moon of Endor[1] in an event that would be reported as Mission 759/B.[2] Endor was a remote location, which satisfied what Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader was seeking as a location for a Death Star shield generator construction site. IX3244-B's scanners also detected the moon could sustain Human life, which was another thing Darth Vader wanted.[1]
Mission 759/B and later Imperial defeat
- "We didn't make it to within a kilometer of the tree house city."
- ―Kiviett mentions how he and others in IX3244-B failed to reach Bright Tree Village
While IX3244-B's frigate remained in Endor's orbit, further scans showed many primitive life forms on the moon. Toss sent Kiviett and others from the team to the moon to investigate. After landing on Endor, Kiviett and the other team members attempted to reach[1] the native Ewoks' Bright Tree Village.[3] The Ewoks, however, led them in circles and confused even the team's best scouts. Ultimately unable to reach the Ewok village, the IX3244-B members decided to retreat back to the frigate after more than two hours of wandering in circles.[1]
When Kiviett reported the team's trouble from the Ewoks to Toss, the latter dismissed the concerns, viewing Endor as a great site for the Death Star's construction.[1] However, Palpatine would be dissatisfied with the superficial nature of IX3244-B's reports, and would later send another Survey Team to Endor. That team was led by Sergeant Pfilbee Jhorn, who viewed IX3244-B as disgraces to the Imperial Military for failing to mention the presence of such dangers as Gorax, condor dragons, and Sanyassan Marauders.[4] Ultimately, 4 ABY's[3] Battle of Endor led to the Alliance to Restore the Republic defeating the Empire. Kiviett was still serving as IX3244-B's second-in-command when he was captured by the Alliance, and recounted his experience with the Survey Team while talking to Alliance historian Voren Na'al and offering to join the Alliance as a planetologist.[1]
Behind the scenes
IX3244-B was created for "Report to Imperial Command", a short narrative story included in 1987's The Star Wars Sourcebook, authored by Bill Slavicsek and Curtis Smith.[2] The unit was expanded on in "Imperial Scouting Party," a story written by Michael Stern and released in 1990's Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi.[1] The Survey Team would again be mentioned in 1995's The Illustrated Star Wars Universe,[4] before being mentioned in 2002's The Official Star Wars Fact File 11. That source mentioned Pfilbee Jhorn being a part of IX3244-B,[3] although The Illustrated Star Wars Universe mentioned Pfilbee Jhorn led the team that went to Endor after IX3244-B,[4] making the Fact File 11 statement an in-universe error.
Appearances
"Report to Imperial Command" – The Star Wars Sourcebook (First appearance)- "Report to Imperial Command" – Star Wars Sourcebook, Second Edition
- "Imperial Scouting Party" – Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi
- "Imperial Scouting Party" – The Movie Trilogy Sourcebook
- "Imperial Scouting Party" – Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi, Second Edition
Sources
- The Illustrated Star Wars Universe (Indirect mention only)
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 11 (END10, The Battle of Endor) (Indirect mention only)