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D
Dagobah
Swampy planet where the Jedi Master Yoda hid from the Empire. Yoda trained Luke on Dagogah, and he died there when he was 900 years old.
Darth Vader
Was born Anakin Skywalker and lived on the planet Tatooine. The Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi trained him until he turned to the dark side of the Force and became Darth Vader. By the time of A New Hope, Vader had become second-in-command of the Empire. When he fights a duel with Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back, Vader reveals that he is Luke's father. In Return of the Jedi, Luke defeats Vader in a duel but does not kill him. Darth Vader turns back to the light side and becomes Anakin Skywalker once again when he saves Luke by throwing the Emperor down a shaft.
Death Star I
The size of a small moon, the Death Star was designed to terrify planets into obeying the Empire. It had a superlaser with enough destructive power to obliterate an entire planet; Alderaan was used as a "demonstration" of that power. Despite all its large-scale defenses, the Rebels were able to find a weakness from stolen technical readouts, and destroy the Death Star with X-Wing fighters.
Death Star II
In Return of the Jedi, the second Death Star was being in built over Endor. Darth Vader killed the Emperor, dropping him down a shaft, while on it. Lando Calrissian and Wedge Antilles destroyed the Death Star by bombing its main reactor. The destruction of the second Death Star was the beginning of the end for the Empire.
Deflector shield
A force field that repulses solid objects and absorbs energy, protecting anything within the shield. There are two kinds of deflector shields: ray shielding and particle shielding. Ray shielding defends against blaster bolts and radiation, particle shielding prevents matter from entering the shield. Deflector shields are critical on a starship.
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E
Emperor Palpatine
All that is currently known of Palpatine's past is that he was once a Senator in, then the Supreme Chancellor of, the Old Republic. He was the most powerful dark side Force-user known at that time, and the Empire he ruled was spread throughout most of the galaxy. He was a tyrant and considered by many to be pure evil. He was killed by his own apprentice, Darth Vader, on the second Death Star.
Endor
The second Death Star was being constructed above Endor in Return of the Jedi. The Battle of Endor took place both on the planet's surface and above it in space. Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and the two droids went to the planet to disable the deflector shield surrounding the Death Star. Before this could be done, however, the Rebels had to fight Imperial troops in a trap that had been laid for them by the Emperor. In the space around the Death Star, Rebel ships had to fight TIE fighters, Star Destroyers and, when the shield came down, the Death Star itself. The battle, and the rebellion, was won when the Death Star was destroyed.
Ewoks
Small, furry, hunter-gatherer natives of the planet Endor. Without the help of the Ewoks, the Battle of Endor would have been lost by the Rebels.
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F
Force, The
An energy field that surrounds all living things. It is created by microorganisms known as midichlorians. Certain people, who are born with a high enough midichlorian count, can manipulate the Force and use it fight, heal, see the future, sense the feelings and ideas of others, move objects, and change the perceptions of others. Weak-minded people can be made, through the Force, to think they have seen or heard something when nothing is there.
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G
Galactic Civil War
The war between the Galactic Empire and the Alliance to Restore the Republic. The Alliance's first major victory was the Battle of Yavin; they won the war at the Battle of Endor.
Galactic Empire
Commonly known as The Empire, this name is used to refer to the space within the boundaries, military and political, ruled by the Emperor. The Empire was a regime of tyranny and evil. Supported by its huge military and held together by the evil power of the Emperor, the galaxy was held for many years in the oppressive and corrupted grasp of the Empire. (See also Imperialization)
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H
Hoth
Ice planet used by the Alliance as a base after the Battle of Yavin. They were forced to evacuate after the Battle of Hoth, which occurred when the Empire discovered their presence there.
Hutt
Fat, slug-like beings that can live up to 1,000 years, they believe themselves to be physically and mentally superior to all other species. They enjoy power and wealth, and can often be found at the head of criminal organizations.
Hyperspace
A dimension of space-time that can only be reached by traveling at lightspeed. Hyperspace allows huge distances in space to be traveled very quickly.
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I
Imperialization
The philosophy of the Empire, Imperialization focuses on the conquest of star systems, the regulation of commerce, and the taxation and appropriation of goods and services for the benefit of the Empire. Imperial citizens, under this philosophy, play a distant second to the economic and military needs of the Empire.
Interrogator droid
A terrifying droid used by the Empire to question prisoners, using torture and chemical injections. One of these droids was used to interrogate Princess Leia on the Death Star.
Ion cannon
Uses bursts of ionized energy to overload and fuse circuitry in mechanical and computer systems. Ion cannon, unlike blaster bolts, cause no structural damage. However, they are able effectively stop a ship without destroying it by neutralizing weapons, shields, engines, and other vital systems. A planetary ion cannon was used by the Alliance during the battle of Hoth.
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J
Jabba the Hutt
A notorious crime lord who ran his organization from the desert world of Tatooine, Jabba was involved in smuggling, gambling, spice dealing, slave trading, murder, loan sharking, and protection. When Han Solo failed to pay for spice he had been forced to dump during a job for the Hutt, Jabba put a bounty on him. When Solo's friends came to rescue him, Jabba was killed by Princess Leia.
Jedi
Jedi Knights are Force-sensitive people, human and non-, who use only the light side of the Force. They were able to accomplish this by only using the Force when they were calm and at peace, for knowledge and defense. For over a thousand generations, the Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. Darth Vader was a Jedi Knight who fell to the dark side of the Force, he helped to hunt down and destroy the Jedi when the Empire began. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, two surviving Jedi, trained Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Jedi.
Jedi Master
A Jedi Master is a Jedi who has successfully trained a Padawan apprentice to become a Jedi Knight. Yoda was a Jedi Master.
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K
Kessel Run
The planet Kessel is a prison planet where convicts are used to mine spice (see definition below). Spice that is stolen from the prison is transported to criminal organizations by smugglers who use the Kessel Run-a secret and very dangerous space route to and from the planet. Smuggler pilots also use the Kessel Run to determine who has the fastest ship and best flying skills by logging how long it takes a ship to successfully make the run. Han Solo bragged that the Millenium Falcon made the Run in less than 12 parsecs; this was a new record.
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L
Lando Calrissian
A gambler who had won the position of Baron Administer in a card game, he allowed the Empire to set a trap for Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker in exchange for the promised safety of his citizens. Calrissian helped the Princess and Luke Skywalker escape, and later participated in the rescue of Han Solo. He became a general in the Rebel Alliance, and, with the assistance of Wedge Antilles, destroyed the second Death Star.
Lightsaber
The weapon of the Jedi, the lightsaber is a long, glowing sword that is more elegant than a blaster and requires a great deal of skill and fighting knowledge to use.
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M
Millenium Falcon
Han Solo won ownership of the Millenium Falcon from Lando Calrissian in a sabbacc game. Han and Chewbacca use it as a smuggling ship and temporary home. The ship has been used in the Battle of Yavin, where Solo's decision to join the battle allowed the Death Star to be destroyed, and the Battle of Endor where, piloted by Lando Calrissian, the ship was used to destroy the second Death Star. The Falcon is always in need of repair, and her constantly malfunctioning hyperdrive has become famous. A smuggler's ship, the Falcon has hidden compartments and is heavily armed and shielded.
Mon Mothma
When the Empire was started she organized cells of resistance all across the galaxy, then, using her own beliefs in freedom and the basic rights of all beings, she united them into one Alliance to Restore the Republic. She is first seen in a Star Wars movie in Return of the Jedi; she has been the head of the Alliance since its formation.
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N
New Order, The
The Imperial regime, following the philosophy of Imperialization, is known as The New Order.
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O
Old Republic, The
The former galactic government that was toppled by the Empire. The Alliance was fighting to restore this democratic and civilized form of government.
Outer Rim Territories
The star systems located on the farthest edge of Imperial space are collectively known as the Outer Rim Territories. The desert world of Tatooine lies in the Outer Rim.
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P
Probe Droid
Probe droids are designed to perform reconnaissance missions, gathering data and transmitting it back to their masters. One of these droids, also known as probots, located the Rebels on Hoth.
Proton torpedo
A projectile weapon that is used by both starfighters and capital ships. Proton torpedoes were used to destroy both Death Star battle stations.
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Q
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R
Rebel Alliance, The-(see Alliance to Restore the Republic, The)
Rancor
A five-meter tall carnivore that was kept under Jabba the Hutt's throne room and fed those who displeased Jabba. The rancor was killed by Luke Skywalker during the mission to rescue Han Solo.
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S
Sabacc
The electronic card game (with rules similar to poker) played in casinos across the galaxy; Lando was playing sabacc when he won Cloud City, and Han beat Lando in a sabacc game and won the Millenium Falcon.
Sand People
Also known as Tuskin Raiders, the Sand People terrorize farmers on Tatooine, stealing water and other valuable commodities. They have also been known to kill and kidnap those farmers and their families. Traveling on banthas and using the traditional gaderffi stick as weapons, the Sand People are nomadic and have a rich culture and language all their own.
Sarlacc
A terrifying creature that lives in the Great Pit of Carkoon on the planet Tatooine, it was used by Jabba the Hutt to execute prisoners.
Sith, The
The total opposite of the Jedi, the Sith use the dark side of the Force; they use anger, fear, and aggression to accomplish their goals.
Star Destroyer
Triangular-shaped capital ships used by the Empire, there are three classes: Victory (oldest and smallest), Imperial, and Super (over 8 kilometers long). Star Destroyers are immensely powerful and deadly.
Stormtroopers
Elite Imperial shock troops who are totally loyal to the Emperor, stormtroopers will rush into battle and follow any order without thought for their own safety for survival.
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Tatooine
Desert planet located in the Outer Rim Territories, both Anakin and Luke Skywalker were raised there. On Tatooine, Obi-Wan Kenobi went into hiding during the purge of the Jedi. Jabba the Hutt's headquarters were situated on the planet also.
TIE fighter
The Imperial equivalent of an X-Wing, the TIE fighter is a one-man starfighter. They have no shields, to make the ship faster, and no life support-the pilot must where a breath mask while flying.
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U
Ugnaught
Pig-like labors who live and work on Cloud City, they can be seen in the Cloud City scenes in The Empire Strikes Back.
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Vader
See Darth Vader
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W
Wedge Antilles
An expert X-Wing pilot who participated in the destruction of the first Death Star, the Battle of Hoth, and, with the help of Lando Calrissian, destroyed the second Death Star. Wedge is the only minor character to survive all three movies.
Wicket
Young and rambunctious Ewok who found Princess Leia on Endor and brought her to the Ewok village. He convinced the Ewok tribe to cooperate with the Rebels and to participate in the Battle of Endor, which would have been lost to the Imperials without the Ewoks' assistance.
Wookiee
Shaggy, tall, and frighteningly strong, Wookies are loyal friends and fierce fighters. Wookies were declared a slave species by the Empire. Chewbacca the Wookie became Han Solo's best friend and co-pilot when the smuggler, then Imperial officer, rescued him from slavery.
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X
X-Wing
X-Wings are fast, highly maneuverable, and extremely well armed one-man starfighters. There is a recessed socket in the back of the fighter, where a R2 unit can be placed to assist the pilot. X-Wing fighters are used almost exclusively by the Alliance, and were present at the Battles of Yavin and Endor.
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Y
Y-Wing
An older, slower class of starfighter, a wing of Y-Wings flew against the Death Star.
Yavin 4
The fourth moon (covered in dense jungle) orbiting the gas planet, Yavin, that was used as a secret base for the Alliance before the destruction of the first Death Star during the Battle of Yavin.
Yoda
A small, green Jedi Master of an unknown species, Yoda was one of the last surviving Jedi in the galaxy. He hid on the swamp planet of Dagobah during the Imperial Era, and trained Luke Skywalker as a Jedi. He died when he was 900 years old.
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Z
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Friends In The Force was created by Starwarsian on August 28, 2000, and The Classic Star Wars Dictionary was begun September 7, 2000 with the help of The Star Wars Encyclopedia.