Scimitar assault wing The Scimitar assault wing was an elite bomber unit operating within the Imperial Navy during the Galactic Civil War . Led by Captain Tomax Bren , the Scimitar assault wing — also known as " White Death " due to the light coloration of their starfighters — was based off the " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer " Retribution " , and assigned to the Qeimet fleet . Comprised of six squadrons , the Scimitar assault wing employed a variety of craft to achieve their mission profiles . Their primary craft was the TIE / sa bomber , with TIE / LN starfighter s and TIE / rc starfighter s providing support along with MT / 191 drop - ship s for coordinated ground assault landings . The unit made its reputation during the Hook Nebula campaign , where Captain Bren ' s tactics and strategies — many of which breached Imperial High Command ' s guidelines on the use of TIE bombers — resulted in several victories , and the wing was credited for playing an integral part in the elimination of the Alliance to Restore the Republic presence in the Hook Nebula region . The Imperial retreat following the Alliance victory at the Battle of Endor saw the Scimitar assault wing change mission profiles , and they were increasingly called upon to cover retreats and evacuations . Still considered an elite unit , the wing survived the post - Endor period through inaction until the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn from the Unknown Regions . Thrawn rearmed the Scimitar assault wing with the new Scimitar assault bomber , a craft designed in conjunction with Captain Bren . Equipped with seventy - two of the new craft , the Scimitar assault wing was employed as a front - line asset , and was instrumental in the assault on the planet Mrisst during Thrawn ' s campaign against the Alliance ' s successor state , the New Republic . Following Thrawn ' s defeat at the battle of Bilbringi , the Scimitar assault wing was left to languish , and Captain Zgorth ' sth of the New Republic ' s Department of Threat Assessment postulated that Bren would soon lead the unit to defect to a Imperial warlord faction in order to see action , leading Zgorth ' sth to suggest that the New Republic would be prudent to eliminate the unit at the first opportunity . History . Hook Nebula campaign . The Scimitar assault wing was a specialized bomber unit serving within the naval forces of the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War . Formed shortly after the introduction of the TIE / sa bomber into the Imperial Navy , the Scimitar assault wing was created from six separate bomber squadrons , initially as a temporary measure to counter the Alliance to Restore the Republic presence within the Hook Nebula , a strategic sector in the Outer Rim Territories . The assault wing was assigned to the Qeimet fleet , and was based off the " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer " Retribution " , which was stationed near the Hook Nebula and tasked with eradicating the Alliance presence in the region . The Alliance had taken control of key manufacturing and industrial centers on several resource - rich planets within the Hook Nebula , and were using their output to resupply their own forces . In addition to driving out the Alliance forces , the Qeimet fleet was also ordered to punish those worlds that had allowed the Alliance to establish a presence on their surface in the first place . The Scimitar assault wing was assigned a key role in the operation , which included the precision bombing of enemy targets without damaging industrial and manufacturing facilities that the Empire wished to take control of for their own use . Placed under the command of Captain Tomax Bren , the Scimitar assault wing was the first unit of its type deployed to the Qeimet fleet . Upon assuming command , Captain Bren immediately set about changing the way the Scimitar assault wing operated . Instead of adhering to the guidelines issued by Imperial High Command regarding the deployment and usage of TIE bombers , Bren began altering the unit ' s tactics , deployment formations and mission attack priorities to better suit the mission profiles and battle theaters in which the wing was assigned to operate . The changes he implemented were looked down upon by some of the wing ' s older pilots , but they proved to be effective . During the Hook Nebula campaign , Bren and the Scimitar assault wing were responsible for curtailing Alliance gains in the sector . The Scimitar assault wing ' s primary mission was planetary assault and low - level atmospheric bombing runs . While fully capable of conducting these missions in support of ground troops , the Scimitar assault wing was also capable of independent bombing missions , which were used for psychological intimidation and to destroy tactical targets . The unit was so adept at this mission profile that they could bomb a single building to kill entrenched Rebel leadership , or eliminate an entire government by destroying them while in their own council chambers . Since the formation of the unit , the Scimitar assault wing performance record became the standard for Imperial planetary assault and orbital support missions . The first use of Bren ' s new tactics was at the siege of the planet Nulan VI , where the Scimitar assault wing employed deep - atmospheric precision bombing to force the surrender of the planet ' s Rebel - held capital . Later tactical innovations included the " Vertical Swoop , " which was used to great effect against entrenched Rebel anti - atmospheric defenses during the assault of the Aturi Cluster . The Scimitar assault wing also participated in an assault on the planet U ' Dray . Combat losses incurred during the ongoing campaign placed the wing understrength , forcing them to accept replacements of TIE pilots from the training squadron aboard the Qeimet fleet flagship , " Victorious " . However , due to the ongoing assault on U ' Dray , the new pilots had no time to undergo standard indoctrination into the wing and were required to complete their training exclusively in live - fire bomber combat missions . Despite the presence of the Scimitar assault wing , the Alliance secured victory at U ' Dray , although the Empire was eventually victorious in the Hook Nebula campaign , and the actions of the Scimitar assault wing were credited as a major factor in the victory . During the campaign , the assault wing earned the battle name " White Death " due to the light coloration of their TIE bombers , which made them difficult to detect by ground observers during their attack runs until they had struck their target . Upon the conclusion of the Hook Nebula campaign , Captain Bren submitted several post - campaign reports regarding the deployment and composition of bomber wings , advocating a carrier - based fleet and the need for TIE wings to be reconfigured to suit the needs of the current mission and combat theater . He also submitted recommendations for a proposed TIE Bomber Mark 2 which would eliminate several flaws that he felt were present in the current generation of TIE bombers , including a less visible profile and upgrades to the craft ' s deflector shields and armor . Bren also filed reports on his new tactics , including the Vertical Swoop and the Coordinated Bombing - Landing . The reports and tactics were distributed to other TIE wings throughout the Empire : the Imperial Army – controlled wings adopted Bren ' s tactics , as they often faced similar challenges during their missions , but the Navy - based wings saw little use for his innovations . Despite their record and success rate , the configuration of the Scimitar assault wing was copied by only a handful of units within the Imperial Military . Mixed fortunes . Following the Hook Nebula campaign , the Scimitar assault wing was deployed in a number of other assault missions , but none were as demanding as its previous assignment . Following the death of Emperor Palpatine at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY , the Scimitar assault wing found itself employed in a new role . Instead of participating in invasion s and ground assaults , the wing was assigned to covering evacuations and running interference as the Empire was reduced to a quarter of its size under constant pressure from the Alliance ' s successor state , the New Republic . Considered to be too valuable to waste on anything other than crucial missions , the Scimitar assault wing survived the post - Endor period mainly through inaction . In 9 ABY , Grand Admiral Thrawn returned from the Unknown Regions to take command of the remnants of the Empire . Thrawn had read Bren ' s mission reports and recommendations for an upgraded version of the TIE bomber and agreed with his assessments . After consulting with Bren , Thrawn ordered the production of a new TIE model based on the Captain ' s recommendations and specifications . The Scimitar assault bomber was the result ; Bren ' s earlier reports had found some purchase with the designers at Sienar Fleet Systems , who had agreed with the pilots ' findings . As a result , the Scimitar had been in the planning stages for several years , and production on the new starfighter began in weeks . Outfitted with the new Scimitar assault bomber , the Scimitar assault wing played a crucial role in Thrawn ' s campaign against the New Republic . They were employed to strike at targets such as shield generators and planetary defenses , and a full wing of seventy - two craft played a vital role in the assault on the planet Mrisst . However , Thrawn ' s death at the Battle of Bilbringi left the Scimitar assault wing as part of Captain Gilad Pellaeon ' s command . The wing was ignored by the resurrected Emperor during Operation Shadow Hand , and its members quickly found themselves as an elite unit with no mission profile . A High Command unwilling to engage the ascendant New Republic did not know how to use the wing , and it was often without adequate support . Sometime after the defeat of the resurrected Emperor , Captain Zgorth ' sth of the New Republic Department of Threat Assessment authored a report on Imperial and mercenary units that could potentially pose a threat to the security of the New Republic . He believed that Captain Bren would ultimately bridle under the restrictions and inactivity that his unit was forced to endure , and eventually defect to another Imperial faction in order to be used effectively . While Zgorth ' sth felt that inducing Bren to retire himself and his unit was the most ideal approach to countering the wing , he doubted that Bren would do so , as he was loyal to the New Order . Instead , he called for the elimination of the wing by drawing it into an assault mission and using high - speed starfighters to destroy or cripple the unit . Organization . Flight personnel . Under Captain Bren ' s guidance , the officers assigned to the Scimitar assault wing were considered to be more dedicated to the goals of the New Order than their comrades , and more politically reliable . Scimitar assault wing pilots were held to a high level of discipline due to the unit ' s precisely timed and coordinated bombing runs , where split - second timing and reactions were needed to ensure a successful mission . Mission timing was considered to be extremely critical , as all deployed elements , flight s , and squadrons were relied upon to be exactly where they were meant to be when the designated time came . Pilots were drilled that success was achieved through each member of the wing doing exactly what was required of them at the given moment . Penalties were enacted upon squadron members who failed in their duty due to their own negligence , or the application of initiative . In some cases , pilots who were deemed to deviate from the mission consistently were demoted to dropship duty . Extremely capable and dedicated , the pilots of the wing often sought to better their own outstanding records and mission performance . As most of their missions tended to be atmosphere - based , the pilots of the Scimitar assault wing were among the most skilled TIE pilots to fly in atmosphere throughout the Imperial Military . Each pilot assigned to the wing completed fifty combat missions before rotating out to serve in a support capacity , including pilot training and mission planning . As new pilots qualified for the support rotation , those pilots already serving in a support position returned to combat duty . Each individual pilot was trained to fly starfighters , with a speciality in piloting Scimitar assault bombers by 9 ABY . They were also trained gunners , and could repair their craft if the need arose . Technical skills possessed by wing members including training in communications equipment and computer programming and repair . They were also trained in survival techniques , and were skilled in the use of a blaster and unarmed combat . Each pilot was issued with a navigation computer linkup helmet equipped with an internal comlink , a high - gravity stress flight suit with life support equipment , a week ' s worth of emergency rations , and a blaster pistol . Captain Tomax Bren . Captain Tomax Bren was the inaugural commander of the Scimitar assault wing , and presided over the unit until at least 10 ABY . Described as a loyalist maverick , Bren ' s changes to the wing ' s operational duties were in direct contravention to Imperial High Command ' s standing guidelines regarding the deployment of TIE bombers . Only the outstanding success rate of the wing saved the Captain from censure by High Command . An investigation into Bren ' s attempts to change Imperial doctrine was convened and prosecuted , but ultimately the wing ' s successes led Bren to be vindicated and left in charge of the assault wing . However , Bren had effectively exchanged his career for the good of the assault wing , but it mattered little to him , as it allowed him to remain in command and fly in service to the Empire . His career languished , but as long as he kept securing victory for the Empire , he was politically untouchable . Headquarters . The Scimitar assault wing was stationed aboard the " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer " Retribution " , which was assigned to the Qeimet fleet during the Galactic Civil War . As the Scimitar assault wing earned a reputation for excellence and became the most well - known of the Qeimet fleet ' s fighter wings , their effectiveness and success led them to become the Qeimet fleet ' s shock unit of choice for dangerous assaults . As a result , the " Retribution " was subordinated to the assault wing , and was exclusively tasked with providing support to the unit which was an unorthodox move , but proof of Captain Bren ' s combat record . Following the Imperial defeat at Endor , the " Retribution " briefly served in the forces commanded by Governor Lobax Resuun and served as his flagship and the seat of government for the Tamarin sector . By 10 ABY , the " Retribution " was back with the Qeimet fleet . Squadrons . The Scimitar assault wing was comprised of six individual squadrons . Three squadrons were equipped with the TIE / sa bomber , and were primarily employed to achieve the assault wing ' s main mission goals . In general , the assault wing deployed its bomber squadrons to attack strategic and tactical targets from orbit or atmosphere . While used to support ground operations , single flights or elements were routinely detached to eliminate smaller targets on the battlefield . Two squadrons flew TIE / LN starfighter s and were used for escort and fighter support for the bomber squadrons . When not used to screen the bombers , the TIE fighter squadrons were employed in ground strafing missions , and to harass enemy soldiers and vehicle convoys . The sixth squadron was known as the Special Unit squadron , and was made up of reconnaissance craft and drop ships . The Special Unit squadron was divided into three flights ; the first flight was comprised of equal numbers of TIE starfighters and TIE / rc starfighter s , and were deployed to gather intelligence for the assault wing using the recon craft ' s specialized sensors and long - range communications packages . The TIE starfighters assigned to the flight would cover the slower reconnaissance fighters when needed , but if the mission profile allowed for TIE / rcs to be unescorted , the TIE fighters were detached to assist the escort squadrons . The other two flights of the squadron were made up of Meller & Dax MT / 191 drop - ship s used for the transport of ground troops during combined assaults . While not used for combat duty , the drop ships served as cargo vessels and shuttles . Spacecraft . TIE / sa bomber . The Scimitar assault wing operated three squadrons of TIE / sa bombers . Developed by Sienar Fleet Systems , the TIE / sa was the successor to the TIE / gt starfighter , which was a TIE starfighter variant that was deployed as a ground - targeting starfighter and bomber . Originally designed with a single elongated pod that contained the flight system and ordnance bay , Sienar soon realized that adding an extra pod would give them more room to incorporate the bomber ' s systems . The starboard pod housed the pilot , along with flight computers and life support , while the port pod was the bomber ' s ordnance bay . Measuring 7 . 8 meters in length , the TIE / sa was armed with two laser cannons and could be equipped with concussion missiles , proton bombs , orbital mines , and free - falling thermal detonators . TIE / LN starfighter . TIE / LN starfighters were deployed in two dedicated squadrons by the Scimitar assault wing , with several more assigned to the first flight of the Special Unit squadron to act as escort for the unit ' s TIE / rc starfighters . Produced by Sienar Fleet Systems in staggering quantities , the TIE / LN starfighter was one of the most recognizable symbols of Imperial Military might , and several variant models such as the TIE / rc reconnaissance starfighter , TIE / fc fire control starfighter , and the TIE / gt bomber were employed by the Empire . Exceptionally fast and maneuverable , the TIE / LN lacked a hyperdrive and deflector shields and was armed with only two laser cannons . Delicate and vulnerable , TIE squadrons often compensated for their deficiencies by shooting first , attacking in swarms , and accepting casualties . Nevertheless , TIE pilots were considered to be an elite force within the Imperial Navy , and were respected and feared by their opponents . TIE / rc starfighter . The Scimitar assault wing deployed TIE / rc starfighters in the first flight of their Special Unit squadron alongside TIE / LN starfighters for escort . Measuring 6 . 3 meters , Sienar Fleet Systems ' TIE / rc , also known as the TIE / reconnaissance , was a variant of the standard TIE / LN used for forward scouting during combat . The TIE / rc carried an upgraded sensor package and a long - range communications array to allow them to scout ahead of the main Imperial force and relay data and intelligence on the enemy . Lacking a hyperdrive , the TIE / rc was equipped with enhanced thrusters to allow it conduct fast reconnaissance sweeps and avoid combat , and was mounted with a single laser cannon for offensive and defensive purposes . MT / 191 drop - ship . Scimitar assault wing ' s Special Unit squadron employed two flights of Meller & Dax MT / 191 drop - ships . Measuring 52 . 5 meters in length , the MT / 191 was designed to powerdive into a planet ' s atmosphere before landing on the surface in a controlled manner after the freefall . Covered in an ablative coating known as VACX to increase the craft ' s hull rating , MT / 191 drop - ships were armed with a single light laser cannon which was retracted into the body during atmospheric entry . The MT / 191 was capable of transporting up to 160 passengers , and was also capable of landing on a planet normally . Scimitar assault bomber . Introduced in 9 ABY , the Scimitar assault bomber was the result of Captain Bren ' s recommendations for an improved TIE bomber , design work by Sienar Fleet Systems engineers who had agreed with his findings , and the return of Grand Admiral Thrawn . After consultations with Bren , Thrawn ordered the Imperial industrial centers to begin producing the Scimitar assault bomber . Measuring 13 . 8 meters in length , the Scimitar was powered by an ion thrust sublight engine and two interlocked repulsorlift generators . The result was a stable , nimble atmospheric craft that was employed as a dedicated assault bomber . Armed with two laser cannons — which could be angled to conduct strafing runs — the Scimitar ' s main weaponry was twin racks of concussion missiles mounted under its wings . Behind the scenes . The Scimitar assault wing was first mentioned in the first edition of the " Imperial Sourcebook " , published by West End Games in 1989 . The information was reprinted in the second edition of the work , published in 1994 . Also in 1994 , " The Last Command Sourcebook " made mention of the Scimitar assault wing — referred to as the " Scimitar Wing assault group " — in the entry for the smuggler Dravis . The information was reprinted in " The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook " released in 1996 . The wing was mentioned within the entry for the Scimitar assault bomber in 1996 ' s " The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels " , and the unit ' s later history was detailed in the " Special Military Unit Intelligence Update " feature written by Timothy S . O ' Brien and published in " Star Wars Adventure Journal 15 " in 1997 . 1998 ' s " Star Wars Encyclopedia " made reference to the unit in its entry for the Scimitar assault bomber , as did " The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels " in 2003 . Issue 84 of " The Official Star Wars Fact File " mentioned the Scimitar assault wing while detailing the Scimitar assault bomber , while 2007 ' s " Starships of the Galaxy " for Wizards of the Coast Roleplaying Game and 2008 ' s " The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia " did the same in their entries for the Scimitar assault bomber . In 2000 , Decipher , Inc . produced the " Death Star II Limited " expansion pack for the " Star Wars " Customizable Card Game . In the expansion , cards representing a Scimitar Squadron were included , designating them as an elite TIE bomber unit . However , the squadron ' s commanding officer is designated as Major Rhymer , not Captain Bren . No official source has linked Scimitar Squadron with the Scimitar assault wing .