Serpent ' s Smile Serpent ' s Smile was a " Victory " - class Star Destroyer in the service of Warlord Zsinj , a former Imperial admiral who forged his own empire following the Battle of Endor and the disintegration of the Imperial Starfleet . An old warship outclassed by the " Imperial " - class Star Destroyers that made up much of Zsinj ' s fleets , " Serpent ' s Smile " nevertheless served alongside Zsinj ' s flagship , the " Executor " - class Star Dreadnought " Iron Fist " , during the warlord ' s extended conflict with New Republic and Imperial forces . Zsinj had great faith in the captain of the " Victory " - class Star Destroyer , whom the warlord perceived as a fine pilot and a shrewd officer . In 8 ABY , " Serpent ' s Smile " was deployed at the battle of Levian Two , in which Zsinj had set a trap for General Han Solo , who was directing the New Republic task force against the warlord . Before " Serpent ' s Smile " could engage the enemy closely , however , Solo escaped . The " Victory " - class Star Destroyer was deployed later that year in the Vahaba system , where Zsinj believed Solo was located . Alongside " Iron Fist " and " Red Gauntlet " , the latter an " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer , " Serpent ' s Smile " arrived in the Vahaba system , only for Zsinj to discover that he had been led into a trap , his forces prevented from escaping into hyperspace by the gravity well projectors of the Imperial Immobilizer 418 cruiser " Stellar Web " . The warlord subsequently ordered " Serpent ' s Smile " and " Red Gauntlet " to advance upon " Stellar Web " and either destroy it or force it off course , thus allowing " Iron Fist " to slip out of its artificial gravity well and enter hyperspace . " Serpent ' s Smile " took tremendous damage from the New Republic forces as it approached the Interdictor , and Zsinj ultimately decided to sacrifice the old warship , ordering its crew to lock down its course on " Stellar Web " and abandon ship in an attempt to ram the Interdictor off course . Although " Stellar Web " was forced off course , enabling Zsinj to escape , the Interdictor evaded the flaming wreck of " Serpent ' s Smile " , which was classified destroyed . Description . Shipyards began manufacturing " Victory " - class Star Destroyers in the last years of the Clone Wars ; by the time " Serpent ' s Smile " had joined Zsinj ' s warfleet , which had been formed after the Battle of Endor , the warship was deemed to be very old . As well as its main bridge , it possessed an auxiliary bridge and carried a complement of starfighters , as well as escape pods to enable evacuation . Its communications system allowed for logistical data concerning the warship ' s status to be broadcast to other vessels . " Serpent ' s Smile " was underarmed in the face of larger capital ships , possessing few guns on her stern and weaker shields , but its narrow profile and high maneuverability allowed its pilot to move the Star Destroyer at speed through gaps between other warships . History . Service under Warlord Zsinj . In 4 ABY , Emperor Palpatine of the Galactic Empire was killed at the Battle of Endor , where the Imperial Starfleet suffered a disastrous defeat . Admiral Zsinj , " de facto " ruler of the Quelii sector , decided to set out on his own following the Battle of Endor , amassing a large force and gradually expanding his influence , coming to dominate a third of the known galaxy by 7 ABY . Among the large starfleet at Zsinj ' s command , spearheaded by the Warlord ' s flagship , the " Executor " - class Star Dreadnought " Iron Fist " , was the " Victory " - class Star Destroyer " Serpent ' s Smile " , which — despite its age — was fielded by Zsinj alongside newer model capital ships such as " Imperial " - class Star Destroyers . Having consolidated his power base during the chaos following the fragmentation of the Galactic Empire , Zsinj became the target of both a New Republic task force , led by General Han Solo , and an Imperial loyalist fleet , commanded by Admiral Teren Rogriss . From 7 . 5 ABY until 8 ABY , Zsinj engaged in an extended campaign against the two enemy task forces . During the campaign , which increasingly descended into a personal contest between Zsinj and his New Republic opponent , General Solo , " Serpent ' s Smile " was commanded by a captain who was held in high regard by Zsinj . The " Victory " - class Star Destroyer was paired with other warships — such as the " Imperial I " - class Star Destroyer " Red Gauntlet " — in task forces consisting of several capital ships . In 8 ABY , Zsinj set a trap for General Solo in the Levian system . Dividing his forces into three task forces , Zsinj grouped " Serpent ' s Smile " ; " Red Gauntlet " ; the " Dreadnaught " - class heavy cruiser , " Reprisal " ; " Iron Fist " ; and two " Carrack " - class light cruisers together for his main flotilla . The Warlord then lurked with his forces on the outskirts of the Levian system , having attacked the New Republic base on the planet Levian Two to lure Solo and his flagship — the MC80B Star Cruiser " Mon Remonda " — into a trap . Zsinj also kept two other task forces waiting in ambush . Once " Mon Remonda " arrived with a small force of supporting warships , and investigated events on Levian Two , Zsinj sprung his trap , ordering " Serpent ' s Smile " and the other four warships composing the group to follow " Iron Fist " as it advanced upon Solo ' s position . The New Republic general immediately began maneuvering his forces in response , advancing on Zsinj ' s task force in an attempt to escape Levian Two ' s gravity well and flee the system . Zsinj brought his other two task forces into the engagement while retreating his own group before the oncoming New Republic fleet , hoping to prolong the engagement rather than exchange a brief salvo . As Solo ' s fleet neared " Serpent ' s Smile " and the rest of Zsinj ' s first group , New Republic starfighters engaged the " Carrack " - class light cruisers on the left flank of the group , knocking both starships out of the fight . As " Mon Remonda " neared " Iron Fist " and the other warships , however , a second New Republic task force emerged from hyperspace , composed of three capital ships , to harry " Iron Fist " port and aid " Mon Remonda " flight . Vexed , Zsinj ordered " Serpent ' s Smile " , " Red Gauntlet " and " Reprisal " to advance upon the new arrivals and prevent them from throwing up a protective screen around Solo ' s flagship . Meanwhile , the Warlord recalled the starfighters harrying the " Mon Remonda " in order to have them support " Iron Fist " against the newcomers . " Serpent ' s Smile " and the other two capital ships complied with Zsinj ' s orders and moved forward , engaging the enemy , but were unable to prevent the MC80 Star Cruiser " Mon Karren " from interposing itself between " Iron Fist " turbolaser barrage and " Mon Remonda " , absorbing the damage meant for Solo ' s flagship on its shields . Without Zsinj ' s starfighters to harass them , Solo and " Mon Remonda " escaped , along with the rest of the New Republic forces . Over the next weeks , Zsinj grew increasingly determined to eliminate Solo , as the general appeared to be flying personally into the Warlord ' s territories aboard his YT - 1300 light freighter , the " Millennium Falcon " . When a New Republic defector informed Zsinj that Solo and his light freighter would next be located at the Vahaba system , the Warlord made preparations to intercept his adversary there . Destruction at Vahaba . Zsinj led " Serpent ' s Smile " , " Red Gauntlet " , and " Blood Gutter " , a " Carrack " - class light cruiser , to the Vahaba system , in response to Petothel ' s advice . There , the Warlord discovered that a New Republic task force was in fact lying in ambush waiting for him , headed by Solo himself aboard " Mon Remonda " . Zsinj immediately ordered a retreat , but when it became apparent that an Immobilizer 418 cruiser had charged up its gravity well projectors and was preventing the departure of his fleet to hyperspace , the Warlord dispatched " Serpent ' s Smile " and " Red Gauntlet " to eliminate the interdictor . The captain of " Serpent ' s Smile " received the order , and directed the warship toward the interdictor , which was being escorted by the " Crynyd " and the " Skyhook " , two New Republic Star Destroyers . As time was of the essence , the captain merely needed to force the Immobilizer 418 cruiser , " Stellar Web " , to divert from its heading , thus shifting the sphere of effect of the gravity well projectors away from " Iron Fist " . " Serpent ' s Smile " was , however , outgunned by " Crynyd " and " Skyhook " and prepared to take heavy damage as it approached the interdictor . As the Warlord wished to leave the Vahaba system as quickly as possible , he did not order any of his warships to deploy their starfighters , instead trusting the commanders and crews of " Serpent ' s Smile " and " Red Gauntlet " to complete their mission . As " Crynyd " and " Skyhook " opened fire on " Serpent ' s Smile " and " Red Gauntlet " , both of Zsinj ' s warships took damage . " Serpent ' s Smile " captain ordered his crew to rotate the " Victory " - class Star Destroyer ninety degrees on its long axis , allowing the warship to knife between the New Republic Star Destroyers and continue its approach upon " Stellar Web " , while " Red Gauntlet " brought its main turbolaser batteries to bear on " Crynyd " and " Skyhook " . The captain ' s maneuver brought " Serpent ' s Smile " some time , as due to its position between the two New Republic Star Destroyers it suffered less damage , due to the fact that the New Republic commanders could not risk firing all batteries upon the " Victory " - class Star Destroyer without fear of hitting each other ' s vessels . " Serpent ' s Smile " then came face to face with " Stellar Web " , which was continuing its path toward " Iron Fist " from behind its protective Star Destroyer screen . The captain of the " Victory " - class Star Destroyer and the captain of the interdictor were now locked in a game of brinkmanship ; whoever altered the course of their vessel first would lose . " Stellar Web " advanced upon " Serpent ' s Smile " , unloading its forward turbolaser batteries upon the aged warship . " Serpent ' s Smile " decelerated into the path of the oncoming interdictor , its bow taking heavy damage from its opponent ' s guns . The shields protecting the bridge of the " Victory " - class Star Destroyer collapsed and the top hull of the warship was soon awash with flame . The bridge was destroyed in the inferno and the crew in the auxiliary bridge contacted " Iron Fist " for new orders . Despite the belief of the surviving crew that the aged warship could be saved , Warlord Zsinj ordered them to abandon ship , launch all starfighters and lock down their current heading — which was leading to a seemingly imminent collision with " Stellar Web " — in the knowledge that rather than run the risk of " Serpent ' s Smile " crew diverting away from " Stellar Web " , he should instead send an empty wreck to collide with the interdictor . Just as the flaming " Victory " - class Star Destroyer hulk was about to collide with " Stellar Web " , however , Admiral Rogriss aboard the " Stellar Web " reversed the Immobilizer 418 cruiser ' s gravity well generators so that they pushed his flagship away from " Serpent ' s Smile " . In doing so , Rogriss altered course suddenly , leaving the wreck of " Serpent ' s Smile " to hurtle through the space where " Stellar Web " had been . The aged " Victory " - class Star Destroyer was finished ; nothing more than a flaming hulk , it was classified destroyed . Although it had forced " Stellar Web " off - course and enabled " Iron Fist " and Zsinj to escape , " Serpent ' s Smile " destruction was a significant blow to the Warlord . " Serpent ' s Smile " partner ship , " Red Gauntlet " , was also lost during the battle , captured by the New Republic forces . Commanders and crew . During its service under Zsinj , " Serpent ' s Smile " was commanded by a male captain who was held in high regard by the Warlord . Zsinj viewed the man as a canny commander and a fine pilot , trusting him to force " Stellar Web " off course . When Zsinj realized that the captain of " Serpent ' s Smile " was up against Imperial Admiral Rogriss , however , the Warlord became less confident . The crew of " Serpent ' s Smile " were ordered to abandon ship during the Battle of Vahaba and its pilots instructed to launch in their starfighters ; before doing so , the auxiliary bridge crew reported to the Warlord that they would be able to save the old " Victory " - class Star Destroyer if they were given the chance , a request that Zsinj ignored . Behind the scenes . " Serpent ' s Smile " appears in the third novel of Aaron Allston ' s Wraith Squadron trilogy , " " , published in 1999 . Allston identified " Serpent ' s Smile " as a " Victory " - class Star Destroyer in the warship ' s second appearance in the novel , at the Battle of Vahaba , but did not specify whether it was a " Victory I " - class or a " Victory II " - class Star Destroyer .