Stinger The Stinger was a Surronian assault ship given to Prince Xizor of the Black Sun crime syndicate in exchange for his assistance to the hive craft guild that created it . Although basically a " Conqueror " - class assault ship , the vessel was uniquely customized by its creators . By the Clone Wars , the ship had come into the hands of Galactic Republic Admiral Tarnese Bleyd , but Xizor reacquired it after his death . Xizor eventually presented it to his bodyguard , the Human replica droid Guri , who had it redesigned to meet her needs , radically overhauling the ship ' s systems . Among the systems upgraded by Guri were the hyperdrive and weapons , making the ship both fast and deadly . It continued to serve as her personal transport even after the death of Xizor in 3 ABY . Description . The ship that became known as the " Stinger " , like all Surronian vessels , was an individual creation . Though it fit into the general category of " Conqueror " - class assault ships , it was designed according to the tastes of the hive craft guild that created it , and featured a number of unusual extras that set it aside from similar ships . Even so , when the vessel came into the possession of the Human replica droid Guri , she was not satisfied with its performance and began to overhaul its systems , heavily modifying it to meet her exacting standards . The resulting vessel was fast , tough and truly unique . The ship was roughly twenty - eight meters long , with a curved hull that had an almost sculpted appearance . It comprised fore and aft sections linked by a slender " neck . " The fore section housed the cockpit while the main cargo hold , reactor core and engines were located in the larger aft section to the rear of the neck . Retractable landing skids were located on the underside of the ship , under both the fore and aft sections . A retractable entry ramp under the neck allowed access to the ship , while a separate hatch provided access to the cargo hold . A further hatch , located on top of the vessel , allowed access to the main reactor core , while the core ' s exhaust valves were located at the rear of the vessel . Propulsion . The " Stinger " was powered by eight Surronian ion engines mounted around the rear section — two dorsal and two ventral A2 - grade ion engine s , along with two port and two starboard A2 . 50 - grade ion engine s . Together , these engines combined to produce a sublight speed greater than that of the T - 65 X - wing starfighter and only slightly below that of the TIE Interceptor , then the fastest starfighter in the Imperial arsenal . Under atmospheric conditions , the " Stinger " was capable of reaching speeds of up to 1 , 150 kilometers per hour . Though the sublight engines were considered satisfactory by Guri and left largely untouched during her redesign , the droid had the original Class 1 Corellian Engineering Corporation H1 . 5 hyperdrive replaced with a modified Class 1 CRC H2 - 1 hyperdrive for even quicker hyperspace travel . In addition to the new hyperdrive , the ship also had a Class 10 backup hyperdrive in case the primary drive failed . The ship was already agile , but Guri had new systems installed to take advantage of the ability to adjust the engine exhaust nozzles . By allowing the pilot to individually adjust the nozzles using the onboard computer system , Guri eliminated the need for maneuvering jets and further increased the maneuverability of the ship . Guri also installed a set of four emergency braking jets at the front of the rear section to provide the ship with an advantage in firefights . Guri utilized the braking thrusters in a variety of combat maneuvers , such as causing the ship to stop suddenly while being pursued , often leading the pursuing ship to overshoot its target , leaving it vulnerable to the " Stinger " weapon systems . Armament . The ship ' s weapons were also upgraded during Guri ' s redesign . Its most obvious weapons were a pair of fire - linked ion cannons and a double laser cannon turret . The ion cannons , which were part of the ship ' s original armament , were mounted to either side of the cockpit and could be used to disable targets for capture . The laser turret was mounted to the top of the rear section and allowed the pilot to use lethal force when required . While the ion cannons faced directly in front of the ship , the turret provided a greater arc of fire and could be controlled from a dedicated gunnery position or , using a redundant fire - control link , could be operated from the cockpit , albeit at reduced accuracy . Though it did not initially appear imposing , this was merely a deception , and the turret ' s power rating was equivalent to a double heavy - laser cannon . In an atmosphere , the ion cannons had an effective range of 3 . 6 kilometers , while the laser turret operated at a range of 2 . 5 kilometers . However , the ship ' s most dangerous weapon was less obvious . The " Stinger " carried a large arsenal of proton torpedoes , which could be fired backwards at unsuspecting pursuing craft . Furthermore , the torpedoes could be deployed as a spray to maximize the chances of hitting the target . The ship ' s shield generators were also enhanced to improve their performance . Other systems . When Guri took possession of the " Stinger " , the droid decided that the crew quarters and cargo area took up an excessive amount of space aboard ship . She had the crew quarters removed completely , while much of the cargo hold was filled with new systems and controls , overflowing from the engineering crawl space located behind it , including shield generator capacitors , reactor core control systems and reserve drive modules . The remaining cargo space was limited to twenty - five tons — small by light freighter standards — and though it was occasionally modified to provide basic accommodation for up to two passengers , there was little room for comfort , with only a small refresher unit and little in the way of food supplies . The forward compartment contained the cockpit , which had adequate seating for any passengers in addition to the pilot . A small emergency escape pod located at the rear of the cockpit , however , had room for only the pilot to vacate the vessel in the event of its destruction . Many of Guri ' s modifications were not apparent from outside the ship . Her droid reflexes allowed her to operate the ship without a crew , but she utilized an advanced MicroThrust Processors computer system to automatically monitor internal systems , redirecting power or activating reserve systems in the event of a major overload . This allowed her to focus on piloting and combat duties . The ship ' s computer could also be set to autopilot , allowing it to automatically adjust its vector to follow an incoming descent course for docking , and at least partially controlled using a remote control device . Other modifications included an upgraded communications package to better monitor comm channels , and an efficient sensor cluster , located in the fore section , to provide the pilot with data on the ship ' s surroundings . Guri also fitted security mechanisms , such as linking an auto - destruct system from the cockpit to the power core , which would be triggered in the event that somebody attempted to steal the vessel . History . Early history . Surronian vessels were generally reserved for young Surronians as they prepared to join one of their world ' s craft guilds — only in exceptional cases were they presented to non - Surronians . Prince Xizor , who would become leader of the Black Sun crime syndicate , became one of the few such non - Surronians to possess a Surronian ship , awarded to him by a hive craft guild in gratitude for a favor the Dark Prince had performed . At some point prior to 20 BBY , the ship was being used in some pirate activity when it was captured by Galactic Republic forces . News of the ship reached Republic Admiral Tarnese Bleyd , who bargained to have it assigned as his personal transport . Bleyd used the vessel whenever he left his command ship , the medical ship " MedStar Nineteen " , bound for ground stations on the planet Drongar , finding it faster than other transports available . During the Clone Wars , Bleyd and the Hutt Filba struck a deal with Black Sun to provide the syndicate with bota supplies from Drongar . When Bleyd attempted to double - cross Black Sun , he was murdered by their operative Kaird . The ship fell into Black Sun ' s hands once more as Kaird stole the vessel following Bleyd ' s death , using it as his personal transport . By the time it came into Kaird ' s possession , it had acquired the name " Stinger " . Shortly after the Declaration of a New Order saw the Republic reborn as the Galactic Empire , Kaird became involved in a contest with Xizor for a vacant position as one of Black Sun ' s vigo s . Seeing Xizor as a potential threat , Underlord Dal Perhi preferred Kaird for the position and instructed him to follow Xizor on a mission to Coruscant ' s Yaam Sector , where he was to assassinate the Dark Prince . Kaird took the " Stinger " to the Eastport landing field and set out to locate Xizor . However , when he finally attacked Xizor , his rival emerged victorious , taking the Nediji assassin captive . Xizor decided to take Kaird to his facility in Coruscant ' s Factory District to have him brainwashed to kill Perhi . However , with the unexpected arrival of a group led by Jedi Knight Jax Pavan , Xizor was forced to flee the facility aboard the " Stinger " . Service to Guri . Xizor kept the ship stored in his hangar for several years until he acquired the assassin droid Guri to serve as his lieutenant and bodyguard . Deciding that a unique droid required a unique ship , Xizor gave Guri the Surronian vessel to serve as her personal transport . Guri , however , felt that the ship wasted space on amenities designed for an organic crew , along with unnecessary storage space . Xizor granted the droid permission to redesign it to suit her needs and Guri , aided by Black Sun ' s skilled outlaw tech s , began upgrading the vessel to improve its performance . The redesigned ship ' s lack of comforts , coupled with its deadly firepower , made it an ideal choice for the Human replica droid . Guri used the vessel whenever she was off Coruscant , with it serving as both a transport and her mobile base of operations , from which she could command Black Sun ' s forces around the galaxy . She was also known to use the ship to smuggle precious cargo for the Falleen crime lord . Over time the ship came to be feared by criminals from Coruscant to the Outer Rim worlds . Guri used the " Stinger " while performing many missions for the Dark Prince , including journeying to Gelgelar to kill the Ubese bounty hunter Boushh after he attempted to charge Black Sun more than specified on a contract . She would later keep the bounty hunter ' s armor stored in a locker aboard the ship . In 3 ABY , Guri took the " Stinger " to Rodia to rendezvous with Leia Organa , who was seeking Black Sun ' s assistance in uncovering who was responsible for a recent attempt on Luke Skywalker ' s life . Guri hid the ship in a small clearing in the rain forest , before proceeding to the Next Chance casino for the meeting . She later used the ship to return to Coruscant , taking Organa and her Wookiee companion Chewbacca there to meet with her master . Shortly afterwards , Xizor was killed and his palace destroyed after he was revealed to be the threat to Skywalker . However , both Guri and the " Stinger " survived . By 4 ABY , Guri had decided to locate her creator , Massad Thrumble , in an effort to purge her assassination programming . To this end , she took the " Stinger " to Hurd ' s Moon , the last known location of the reclusive scientist . En route , the " Stinger " was confronted by an " Imperial " - class Star Destroyer and Guri was ordered to shut down the ship ' s engines . Guri , however , decided to flee and , when the Star Destroyer pursued , launched a spray of proton torpedoes from her rear launchers . The unsuspecting Imperials were surprised by the sudden show of firepower from the civilian vessel and the Star Destroyer was destroyed . Guri eventually arrived at Hurd ' s Moon , where Thrumble agreed to help if she retrieved his droid Doc , who had been stolen by the scientist Spinda Caveel . Guri proceeded in the " Stinger " to Caveel ' s base on Murninkam . As she entered orbit , Guri came under attack from three droid - controlled picket starfighters . The " Stinger " firepower allowed her to eliminate the threat , but the ship was damaged in the fight and crashed into the Kajiin Swamp on the world below . Though the " Stinger " sank into the swamp , Guri was able to get out and proceed with her mission . She eventually returned after freeing Doc and utilized her remote control to raise the ship from the swamp . However , as Guri and Doc prepared to leave , the bounty hunter Kar Yang , who had followed Guri in an attempt to take her back to Xizor ' s niece , Savan , was able to place a homing beacon aboard the ship . Yang followed the " Stinger " back to Hurd ' s Moon , but was eventually killed by Guri , who was successfully reprogrammed by Thrumble . Owners and operators . Tarnese Bleyd . Tarnese Bleyd was a Sakiyan whose clan was ruined after his pride - father Tarnese Lyanne was double - crossed in a deal with the Black Sun vigo Shiltu the Hutt . He left Sakiya to find employment with the Galactic Republic and eventually became an admiral in the Republic Navy , commanding the medical ship " MedStar " . Bleyd considered his assignment a waste of his talents and decided to make a profit out of his position by working with the Hutt Filba to supply bota to Black Sun . When the Black Sun agent Mathal informed Bleyd that Black Sun wanted a larger supply , Bleyd murdered him , only to subsequently killed by Kaird , another Black Sun operative . Bleyd acquired the " Stinger " after specifically requesting it as his personal transport , following its seizure by Republic forces . Though it was an unusual ship for a Republic admiral , Bleyd found its speed advantageous and was pleased to have a ship that looked as good as it performed . Kaird . Kaird was a Nediji who joined Black Sun after being banished from his flock and leaving his homeworld of Nedij . Kaird originally worked as an assassin for the crime syndicate but , after his assassination of Tarnese Bleyd , became a candidate for vigo in just over a year . However , Kaird simply wanted to retire to his homeworld . Knowing that nobody could simply leave Black Sun , Kaird hoped that , by becoming a vigo , he could make enough powerful allies within the organization to be allowed to leave . This brought him into conflict with Prince Xizor , who also sought the only vacant vigo position . The two sparred for some time before Xizor managed to capture him . Xizor planned to brainwash Kaird and turn him against Underlord Dal Perhi , but Kaird was freed by the intervention of a group led by Jax Pavan . Rather than return to Black Sun , Kaird decided to finally go back to Nedij . Kaird stole the " Stinger " from Bleyd after killing the admiral . The ship was one of his most prized possessions and he hated relinquishing control , even for automated docking . He lost the ship to Xizor , after the Dark Prince captured him . Kaird considered the loss of the ship to be among the worst indignities he suffered at Xizor ' s hands . Xizor . Xizor was a Falleen , the only son of King Haxim and groomed to succeed his father as a provincial ruler on their homeworld . Instead , Xizor chose to leave his world and traveled the galaxy , establishing Xizor Transport Systems and becoming part of Black Sun . Xizor rose rapidly through the ranks of the organization , securing his place as its undisputed leader by 7 BBY . However , the death of most of his family on Darth Vader ' s orders , during an attempt to contain an out of control bioweapon , led him to develop a hatred for the Dark Lord of the Sith . When Xizor learned that Luke Skywalker was Vader ' s son , he decided to kill the young Rebel . Xizor ' s plan backfired and his palace on Coruscant was ultimately destroyed by the Rebels , while Xizor himself perished soon after when Vader learned of his treachery . Xizor received the " Stinger " in payment for his assistance to a Surronian hive craft guild and appreciated its sculpted shape . The ship spent many years stored in his hangar , largely forgotten , until he presented it to Guri . Following Guri ' s redesign , Xizor christened the ship the " Stinger " . Guri . Guri was a Human replica droid created by the researchers Simonelle and Massad Thrumble to serve as an assassin droid . After being sold to Prince Xizor , she served as his lieutenant and chief enforcer until his death caused her to set out on a personal quest to locate Thrumble and get him to purge her assassin programming so she could start a new life , though Xizor ' s niece , Savan , attempted to stop her and to ensure the droid ' s continuing service to Black Sun . Guri was eventually able to defeat Savan and was successfully reprogrammed . Throughout her existence , Guri made use of the " Stinger " as her personal starship . It was Guri who was responsible for a major upgrade of the vessel , customizing it to meet her needs . However , Guri never developed an attachment to the ship , which she saw as only a piece of equipment . Behind the scenes . The " Stinger " was created as part of the " " multimedia project and first appeared in Steve Perry ' s " Shadows of the Empire " novel , followed shortly by the comic adaptation . Perry used the ship once more in the " " comic series . Kilian Plunkett produced early concept art of the " Stinger " for " Shadows of the Empire " , showing its size in comparison to a T - 65 X - wing starfighter . An informational pack of drawings and descriptions for all new ships in the project , including the " Stinger " , was also produced by Sue Rostoni . In it , the " Stinger " size was stated as similar to that of the " Millennium Falcon " . " The Official Star Wars Fact File 139 " incorrectly states that the " Stinger " was destroyed along with Xizor ' s Palace in " Shadows of the Empire " , even though it includes images of the ship taken from " Shadows of the Empire : Evolution " , which is set after the palace ' s destruction . The " Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook " established that the " Stinger " was given to Xizor in return for a favor performed for its creators , a fact that was later repeated by the " Rebellion Era Sourcebook " . Perry and Michael Reaves included a " Conqueror " - class assault ship in the Clone Wars novel " " and , though it was not named in the book , Reaves confirmed on the Jedi Council Forums that it was the same ship seen in " Shadows of the Empire " . " MedStar " depicts the ship in the ownership of Tarnese Bleyd , after being confiscated from a pirate . Since it was known to have been created for Xizor , this article assumes that the pirate had an affiliation to Black Sun , and that the ship eventually returned to Xizor ' s possession after Bleyd ' s death . The details of how Xizor finally took possession of the ship were revealed in Reaves ' s 2008 novel , " " . Although " The Official Star Wars Fact File 137 " stated that Xizor gave the ship the name " Stinger " only after Guri ' s redesign , " Jedi Twilight " calls it by that name while still in the possession of Kaird . As the most recent source , this version of events is used in this article .