Assault on the Tantive IV

The **Assault on the Tantive IV** was a chase that occured across the galaxy during the Galactic Civil War, as Princess Leia Organa attempted to flee the unknown battle in which Rebel Spies were able to steal the plans to the DS-1 Death Star Mobile Battle Station. Leia flew the *Tantive IV* to Tatooine, where she her ship was ultimately captured and boarded by Darth Vader in his Star Destroyer, The Devastator.

## Prelude

#### Previous: Unknown Battle

During the Galactic Civil War, the Rebel Alliance launched an attack from its hidden base on the Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel Spies were able to steal the plans of the DS-1 Death Star Mobile Battle Station. They were able transmit the plans to the *Tantive IV* where Princess Leia received them, making and copy and began to flee from the battle. Darth Vader was also present at the battle in the *Devastator*, where he began a chase of the ship to retrieve the plans, thus saving the Death Star from a potential rebel attack.

## Recount

#### The Chase

The *Tantive IV* would flee from the *Devastator* for a long journey. The Devastator would fire on the Tantive IV relentlessly, hoping to break it's shields. The Rebel ship would not return fire, hoping to maintain the illusion of a consular ship on a diplomatic mission. Eventually, the chase would take the ships above the planet Tatooine. Once above the planet, the Star Destroyer was able to make a shot that would disable the Corvette's main reactor, making it and eventuality that the rebel ship would be unable to continue the pursuit for much longer. Rebel troops aboard the Tantive IV would prepare for boarding once captured. Droids C-3PO and R2-D2 would begin to find a space to hide in the dark corners of the ship. Rebel Troops gathered around doors in groups, preparing for the Imperial boarding party that was to come. The Tantive IV eventually stops being able to outrun the Star Destroyer, captured in a tractor beam and brought into the hangar of the ship.

#### The Boarding

Once the Tantive IV was docked within the bays of the Star Destroyer, Darth Vader would push forward his personal 501st squadron of stormtroopers. The stormtroopers blew down the doors to the rebel ship, pushing their way inside, meeting with the rebels in the corridors and engaging in small blaster fights. The rebels however were quickly cut down by the stormtrooper fire, pushed to retreat further inwards to the center of the ship. This would begin a chase through the ship, stormtroopers gunning down the rebel personnel as they attempted to flee. Once the Rebel forces had been almost defeated and rounded up, Darth Vader boarded the ship, intent of finding the Death Star plans. To avoid the plans being located, Princess Leia places the Death Star plans in R2-D2, giving him orders to evacuate the ship and land on Tatooine.

#### The Search

The surviving Rebels were rounded up and taken prisoner by the 501st while Darth Vader interrogated Captain Raymus Antilles on the location of the plans. The stormtroopers were unable to locate the plans in the main computer, informing this to Lord Vader. After Raymus Antilles would refuse to surrender the information on the plans, Darth Vader proceeded to choke him to death. Darth Vader made a order to the lead Commander of the 501st to tear the ship apart until the plans were found. Princess Leia continued to hide in the workings of the ship until she was found by a small contingent of stormtroopers who discovered her. Leia was able to defend herself, shooting and killing on stormtrooper, however was quickly stunned by another and brought to Darth Vader. R2-D2 carries out his mission to reach Tatooine, getting into an escape pod with C-3PO which launches. Unable to find traces of any lifeforms aboard the escape pod, the Empire does not destroy it. When brought before Darth Vader, Princess Leia attempts to maintain the story that she is on a diplomatic mission to Alderaan. Darth Vader however announces her a member of the Rebel Alliance and a traitor to the Galactic Empire, sending her into Imperial custody.

Darth Vader instructed his men to send a distress signal before sending word to the Imperial Senate that all in the ship were destroyed, framing the attack as an accident that resulted in the deaths of all on board. When informed that the plans were not aboard the ship and no transmissions were made, however an escape pod was released, Darth Vader surmised that the plans must have been in the pod and were now on the planet below. Darth sent an order to Commander Praji to oversee the search on the ground for the plans with a contingent of Sand Troopers.

## Event Chronology

* The *Tantive IV* reaches Tatooine, fleeing from *The Devastator*'s constant fire.
* The *Tantive IV* is captured by *The Devastator.*
* Darth Vader boards the *Tantive IV*, searching for the Death Star plans.
* Princess Leia hides the Death Star plans in R2-D2, giving him a secret mission to go to Tatooine.
* Raymus Antilles is killed, strangled to death by Darth Vader.
* R2-D2 and C-3PO escape the battle in an escape pod, crashing down on Tatooine.
* Princess Leia is found and captured, taken into Imperial custody.
* Darth Vader sends a contingent of Sand Troopers down to the Tatooine to search for the plans, aware that an escape pod was dispatched.

## List of Combatants

### Alliance to Restore the Republic

##### Rebel Commanders

1. Princess Leia Organa
2. Raymus Antilles

##### Rebel Personnel

1. Jeremoch Colton (Pilot)
2. Toshma Jefkin (Rebel Ensign)
3. Cariso Smadis (Rebel Ensign)
4. Several Platoons of Rebel Soldiers

### Galactic Empire

##### Imperial Commanders

1. Darth Vader
2. Praji (Commander)

##### Imperial Personnel

1. Bolvan (Gunnery Captain)
2. Hija (Gunner)

##### Stormtroopers

1. 501st Legion
2. TK-9091 (Stormtrooper Commander)
3. TK-3338
4. TK-4247
5. Tarvyn Lareka
6. Several contingents of stormtroopers

## Appearances

1. Star Wars: Episode 1 - A New Hope (First Mentioned)