Solar Sunday 12-31-17

Today's planet is Dantooine. Datooine can be found in the Raioballo sector of the Outer Rim at one of the end points on Myto's arrow. It is a planet covered in grasslands, rivers, and lakes. The planets main sentient species were humans and the native Dantari. The majority of the planets inhabitants are farmers by trade and occupy small villages throughout the several continents on the planets surface. While the planet lacks any tactical significance it was important to the Republic to secure control of it during the clone wars due to the pureness of the planet. Dantooine was seen as a sort of haven and piece of beauty that deserved to be preserved and protected due to its innocence and majesty. Dantooine was the site of a large battle during the clone wars where Jedi Master Mace Windu and a battalion of clone troopers defeated an army of super battle droids and a seismic tank. Mace Windu won fame for this victory due to the fact that he was without his lightsaber for most of the battle.

Dantooine

Dantooine farm

The Battle of Dantooine

Dantooine surface

Dantari

seismic tank at Battle of Dantooine

Mace Windu at the Battle of Dantooine (before losing lightsaber from first seismic tank strike)

Books to read: Events prior to the Phatom Menace

So I recently rewatched Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and it got me thinking. As I saw the opening scene where Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi begin their negotiations with the Trade Federation I couldn't help but wonder what some of the missions the pair had been on prior to the Phantom Menace were like. So I did some digging and found the following list of books dealing with the endeavors and adventures of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan before The Phantom Menace.

1. Legacy of the Jedi by David Burroughs Mattingly, Set during Qui-Gon Jinn's padawan years

2. Jedi Apprentice: The Rising Force by Dave Wolverton, Set 12 years prior to Phantom Menace

3. Secrets of the Jedi by David Burroughs Mattingly and Judy Blundell, Set 7 years prior to Phantom Menace

4. Cloak of Deception by James Luceno, Set 1 year prior to Phantom Menace

Solar Sunday 12-24-17

Today's planet is Eriadu. Eriadu is the home world of Grand Moff Tarkin. It was a planet in the Seswenna Sector of the Outer Rim. Eriadu was one of the Outer Rim's most active trade hubs. Its surface is covered mostly by large cities and industries. There is a orange haze of pollution that can be seen in Eriadu's atmosphere. A year before the events of the Phantom Menace Qui-Gon Jinn ad Obi-Wan Kenobi infiltrated a Trade Federation Conference on Eriadu and fought a terrorist organization called the Nebula Front who were secretly working under Darth Sidious. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were able to defend Chancellor Valorum but were unable to prevent the deaths of the rest of the Trade Federation Directorate. This unfortunate loss allowed the Neimoidians to seize control of the Trade Federation.

Chancellor Valorum

Neimoidian

Eriadu's surface

Eriadu

Solar Sunday 12-10-17

Today's planet is Hypori. Hypori is a planet located in the outer rim territories. The planet has a hydrothermal landscape and is mostly barren. The battle of Hypori occured during the clone wars on the planets surface. During the battle of Hypori Separatist General Grievous made his first appearance. Jedi master Ki-Adi-Mundi, Shaak Ti, Aayla Secura, and K'Kruhk barely escaped with their lives. Jedi Knights Sha'a Gi and Tarr Seirr were killed by Grievous. After the clone wars the planet was used by Commander Orson Krennics team of engineers to develop weapons for the Galactic Empire, including blueprints for the Death Star.

K'Kruhk

Tarr Seirr shortly before his demise

Sha'a Gi moments before his death 

General Grievous (revealing himself to the Jedi for the 1st time)

Ki-Adi-Mundi and Shaak Ti taking on Grievous

Ki- Adi- Mundi upon seeing Aayla Secura barely alive

Hypori landscape (aftermath of the Hypori slaughter)

Hypori

Solar Sunday 12-3-17

Today's planet is Yavin 4. Now I know this is a planet most Star Wars fans are familiar with but I want to talk about its intriguing history . Yavin 4 is a jungle planet riddled with the ruins of a lost civilization. You would recognize these ruins from A New Hope as the rebel base where they launched their strike against the first Death Star. The lost civilization in question is the Massassi. The Massassi were an ancient warrior civilization predating the Galactic civil war by 5,000 years. The Massassi were enslaved by the Sith and built great temples on the planets surface. It was on Yavin 4 that Anakin Skywalker dueled the Sith acolyte Asajj Ventress. Its where we see the first glimpse of his dark side. Its ironic that the rebels years later would set their base of operations in the birth place of their enemy.

Massassi warrior

Anakin after killing Asajj on Yavin 4

Rebels exploring Yavin 4's ruins

The great temple (rebel occupation)

Yavin 4

Solar Sunday 11-26-17

Todays planet is Rattatak. Rattatak is a planet located in the outer rim systems. The planet features many mountainous regions and a harsh climate with little vegetation. The planets inhabitants include Rattataki and Weequay. Asajj Ventress slaughtered the warlords and appointed herself ruler over the Rattataki after her Jedi master was brutally murdered by Weequay raiders. Count Dooku discovered the young Asajj and took her under his wing and trained her to become a Sith Acolyte. Rattatak is one of the settings for Genndy Tartakovsky's Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 1, Chapter 6.

Weequay raider

Rattataki

Rattatak

Dooku on Rattatak

Asajj and Dooku in the fighting pits on Rattatak

Solar Sunday 11-19-17

Today's planet is Moraband. Moraband (also known as Korriban) is the home world of both the Sith Order and Sith species. The planet mostly consists of red sand and mountain ranges. It was abandoned after centuries of war and conflict desolated the surface. It's original inhabitants, the Sith species, were incredibly violent and xenophobic. Naturally, this lead to conflict and allowed the planet to become a sort of haven for the dark side. The planet is in fact so infected by the dark side that only the strongest of Jedi can endure a pilgrimage. The last Sith Lord to be buried on the planets surface was Darth Bane. Darth Bane was infamous for establishing the rule of two within the Sith Order.

Darth Bane

Moraband (Korriban)

Pure Sith (species)

Solar Sunday 11-12-17

Today's planet is Cato Neimoidia. Cato Neimoidia is the home planet of the Neimoidians. The Neimoidians are frequently seen within the ranks of the Trade Federation. The battle droid was designed to resemble the skeletal frame of the Neimoidians to strike fear into the hearts of their enemies. The planet is mentioned by Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi in Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith while congratulating Anakin Skywalker on rescuing the Chancellor.

Neimoidian

Cato Neimoidia

Solar Sunday 10-29-17

Today's planet is Tython. Tython is the ancient homeworld of the Je'daii. The Je'daii are the the ancestors and founders of the Jedi Order. Tython had 2 moons, Bogan and Ashla. The Je'daii practiced true balance in their knowledge of the force. If they strayed too much towards the dark side they were banished to Bogan, if they strayed to much towards the light side they were exiled to Ashla.

Tython

Ashla (moon)

Bogan (moon)

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D VS. ISD 2 Avenger, Who would win?

Imagine this, the crew of the starship Enterprise is on an exploratory journey in an unknown part of deep space. As they just get out of warp drive a humongous Imperial Class Star Destroyer materializes. The Star Destroyer fires its main guns and thus an epic naval space battle erupts. Who will win? Let's have the facts decide. 

I'm starting this off with the Star Destroyer. The ISD 2 is the second model of Imperial Star Destroyer to be manufactured by the Kuat Drive Yards. It has an upgraded communications tower and is armed with 60 heavy ion cannon emplacements, 60 turbolaser batteries, 10 tractor beam emplacements, and 72 tie fighters. It's maximum speed is 975 kilometers per hour and it carries 2 dome shield generators. 

The USS Enterprise- D (TNG model) was built by Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards for exploratory missions via Starfleet. The Enterprise-D carries with it 12 Phaser arrays, 2 torpedo launchers, 250 photon torpedoes, and antimatter mines. Its maximum speed is warp 9.2, but in combat its standard speed is approximately 9656.07 kilometers per hour.

In Conclusion, the ISD 2 outguns the Enterprise-D by 106 armaments and is protected by 1 more shield generator than its opponent. However, the Enterprise-D is about 8,681.07 KPH faster than the ISD 2. This means that even if the ISD 2 deployed all of its TIE squadrons and unleashed all of its armaments it would still have a very slim chance of landing a hit. By this factor alone and much to my dismay, I have to say the Enterprise-D is victorious.

ISD 2 Avenger

USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D

Weapon log: Stargate SG-1, Which weapon is most practical for intergalactic exploration?

The primary weapon of choice for SG teams in seasons 1-3 of Stargate SG-1 was the Heckler & Koch MP5A3 submachine gun. Its is first seen being carried by Jack O'neill and Samantha Carter in season 1. The MP5 is a fully automatic submachine gun that fires 9mm NATO rounds. It is generally used for close range engagements since its maximum effective range is 200 meters. In season 4: episode 8 the FNp90 Personal Defense Weapon was introduced. This became the standard issue weapon for all SG teams for the remainder of the series. It is a fully automatic bullpup submachine gun with a top mounted magazine. It fires a less common 5.7 x 28mm round. It's maximum effective range is 200 meters. The FNp90 is definitely an upgrade from the MP5A3 due to the fact that it is ambidextrous and has more powerful ammunition. However, I believe that the best weapon for intergalactic exploration is the Steyr AUG A3. The AUG, like the FNp90, is bullpup in design. Unlike the FNp90, the Steyr AUG features the ability to quickly change barrel lengths thus allowing SG teams the ability to switch from close range combat to medium or long range. The AUG also features a more powerful and common 5.56mm NATO round. The AUG is combat proven and adaptive.

SG operative with a MP5A3

Daniel Jackson with a FNp90

Steyr AUG A3