Battle aboard the Empirical

During the Imperial Era in 2 BBY, a battle occurred on the Empirical in the Dominus system. The Empirical, a modified cruiser that belonged to the Sith Lord Darth Vader, was a mobile research vessel that conducted highly classified experiments on prisoners and unique alien species. In addition to a bridge crew of Imperial officers, the Empirical's security personnel was composed of a platoon of Imperial soldiers handpicked by Vader.

Six months before the battle took place, Darth Vader discreetly transferred the damaged body of his unconscious apprentice, Starkiller, to the Empirical. Known only as "Subject 1138," the crew assumed that Starkiller was just another one of the Dark Lord's experiments. As a result of Vader's machinations, the entire crew was caught by surprise when Starkiller broke out of the medical bay in an escape attempt. As the ship's military personnel unsuccessfully attempted to kill the apprentice, the holodroid PROXY maneuvered the Empirical on a direct course for the Dominus system's star, in accordance with Vader's order to protect the secrecy of Starkiller's existence. Together with PROXY and former Captain Juno Eclipse, Starkiller escaped on the Rogue Shadow just before the Empirical was destroyed by the star.

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