Imperial Navy Trooper

**Imperial Navy Troopers**, also known as **Naval Troopers**, **Imperial fleet troopers**, were the marine soldiers of the Imperial Navy, the naval branch of the Galactic Empire's military. Those troopers, who were separate from the elite white-armored stormtroopers or the troopers of the Imperial Army, were trained in advanced warfare and independent command, which included shipboard combat, repulsing boarders, and pacifying escaped detainees. Additionally, most were cross-trained in some operational duty. Like gunners and ground crewmen, Navy Troopers played a vital role in the day-to-day operations.

## Characteristics

While not as feared by Rebel troopers as their Imperial stormtrooper brethren, they still maintained an aura of importance as they participated in Imperial Military assaults on installations and other on-the-ground operations. However, they were most commonly found guarding and maintaining far-away outposts, mining stations, and jails, and generally were not as well trained or competent. They were also found aboard Imperial ships, such as *Executor*-class Star Dreadnoughts, *Cantwell*-class Arrestor Cruisers and the *Eclipse*.

Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin himself selected a number of Navy troopers, later known as Death Star Troopers, to set up a commanding force aboard the Death Star battle station. Aboard the Death Star, those elite troopers were charged with a variety of duties for which their combat skills were not necessarily required, such as guarding detention blocks and operating the battle station's planet-killing superlaser alongside Imperial weapons technicians.

Gate officers were Navy Troopers who controlled which ships could pass through the Shield Gate over Scarif to reach the facilities below.

## History

During the Imperial Period, low-ranking Navy troopers piloted and monitored the orbital climate control mirrors around Coruscant. This was known as *"riding the mirrors"* and was considered the loneliest as well as most tedious assignment at the Galactic Capital.

Navy troopers investigated Mitth'raw'nuruodo's planet early in the era of the Galactic Empire, only to fall victim to Thrawn's traps before he boarded their Star Destroyer, the *Strikefast*. After Thrawn had risen through the ranks of the Imperial Navy and became an Admiral, Navy Troopers served under him in the Battle of Batonn.

Three navy troopers guarded the room in which Imperial Navy Cadet Han Solo's tribunal was held. As Solo pled his case, he began approaching Commodore Almudin, prompting one of the troopers to step forward. Solo stopped speaking and stepped back.

During the Lothal campaign, several navy troopers worked in Lothal's Imperial Complex's command center. During the final battle to liberate Lothal, former ISB agent turned Rebel Alliance Captain Alexsandr Kallus disguised himself as a trooper. The troopers then allowed Governor Pryce and the Rebels to land. When the rebels attacked, the troopers attempted to lock down the complex to no avail. The remaining navy troopers perished after Protocol 13 was initiated and the complex was destroyed.

From 3 BBY to 0 BBY, Death Star troopers, the subgroup of Imperial Navy troopers served aboard the first Death Star. One of their members, Nova Stihl, attempted to escape the Death Star during the Battle of Yavin, but was killed. When the Rebels managed to blow up the Death Star, all Death Star troopers aboard the battlestation were killed.

In 3 ABY, Imperial Navy troopers on the *Executor* were ordered to drag away the body of Lorth Needa, after he was killed by Darth Vader for losing the *Millennium Falcon*.

Navy troopers also took part in the on-the-ground engagement of the Siege of Inyusu Tor.

In 4 ABY, Navy troopers served aboard the second Death Star and the Endor moon in the Endor shield generator bunker. During the Battle of Endor, many of the troopers aboard the Death Star fled their posts, with those remaining being killed when the battlestation exploded.

Navy troopers later worked aboard the *Eclipse*, the flagship of the Dark Empire.