Black 11

For other uses, see Black Eleven (disambiguation).

"Fighter Control, this is ST-One-One, Lieutenant Vil Dance of TIE fighter Alpha Squadron."

―Villian Dance aboard Black-11^[3]

Black 11, also known as Black-11, was the designation of a TIE/LN starfighter in the Imperial Black Squadron which was assigned to the Imperial Star Destroyer Steel Talon above the prison planet Despayre prior to the Battle of Yavin. Frequently used by Alpha Squadron's Lieutenant Commander Villian Dance, it was used by Dance to pursue and destroy the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle RLH-1 when the shuttle attempted to escape Despayre. By 4 ABY, Black 11 was operated by a TIE pilot nicknamed "Wampa," and stationed aboard the Super Star Destroyer Executor. At that time, Black 11 frequently served as an escort to the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader's shuttle, the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle ST 321.

Description[]

"Go to tactical channel five, that's tac-fiver, and log in."

―Villian Dance gives orders while piloting Black-11^[3]

Black 11,^[4] also known as Black-11,^[3] was a TIE/LN starfighter^[4] manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems.^[1] It was powered by twin ion engines and contained flight control systems, which emitted green lights that would turn on when their power-up stud was touched. The TIE/LN starfighter was additionally armed with twin laser cannons operated by a fire-control button. Black 11 had a hatch that would hiss shut when closed.^[3]

At least one TIE pilot operated Black 11.^[4] The starfighter had a communication system that would automatically activate upon startup, and included tactical channel five which was a lower-powered band with a shorter range. Black 11 also had a sensor, with a screen that would ping when the starfighter had spotted a target. Its equipment included thrusters and throttles for movements, and a control panel which would alert the pilot when they reached Minimum Safe Distance—the safest distance relative to a gravity well at which it could enter hyperspace without being destroyed.^[3]

History[]

Alpha Squadron[]

"Attention, shuttle RLH-One. Turn the craft around and proceed immediately to Star Destroyer Steel Talon's tractor beam range."

―Villian Dance flying Black-11 and communicating to RLH-1^[3]

Black 11 was attached to the Galactic Empire's Black Squadron^[4] during the Galactic Civil War against the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Prior to the Battle of Yavin, Black 11 was stationed aboard the Imperial Star Destroyer Steel Talon above the prison planet Despayre. Docked aboard a hangar when idle, Black 11 had been frequently used by the Imperial Alpha Squadron's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Villian Dance, who also operated under the call sign ST-1-1. Dance had found Black 11 to be one of his favorite TIE/LN starfighters, noting that some were better than others in ways such as being faster and tighter in turns, or having laser cannons that were quicker to fire.^[3]

When a group of prisoners on Despayre stole the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle RLH-1, Alpha Squadron responded under Dance, who piloted Black 11 in the skirmish that followed. Black 11 caught up to RLH-1, and when the occupants refused to surrender, the starfighter prevented the shuttle's escape into hyperspace by destroying it.^[3]

Service on the Executor[]

Avenger-ROTJ — Black 11 (right) escorts ST 321 to the Death Star II battlestation.

By the year 4 ABY,^[5] Black 11 was stationed aboard the Executor,^[4] the Imperial Super Star Destroyer that was both the flagship of the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader and the command ship of Death Squadron.^[2] Black 11 often served as an escort to Vader's^[4] Lambda-class T-4a shuttle, ST 321,^[2] and by that time was operated by a pilot who was nicknamed "Wampa" for their icy precision in battle.^[4]

In 4 ABY,^[5] Black 11 and another TIE/LN starfighter, alongside ST 321, were transported by the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Thunderflare to the Endor system. The two starfighters then escorted ST 321 to the system's Imperial battlestation, Death Star II, for Darth Vader's unannounced visit there shortly before the Battle of Endor.^[2]

Commanders and crew[]

"Copy, Alpha Leader!"

―Alpha Squadron responding to Villian Dance^[3]

When stationed aboard the Steel Talon prior to the Battle of Yavin, Lieutenant Commander Villian Dance was among the TIE pilots randomly assigned to Black 11. It was a favorite of his, and it was used by him in the mission to destroy the shuttle RLH-1.^[3] By 4 ABY,^[5] the pilot nicknamed "Wampa" operated Black 11 when it was stationed aboard the Executor.^[4]

Behind the scenes[]

Black 11 first appeared in the opening scene of 1983's original trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.^[2] The TIE fighter was first named in the 2000 Death Star II Limited expansion set of the Decipher, Inc. Star Wars Customizable Card Game.^[4] The starfighter reappeared in the 2007 novel Death Star, written by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry, where it was also given the name Black-11.^[3]

A discrepancy exists between the opening scene of Return of the Jedi and its novelization released in the same year. In the novel, several TIE/LN starfighters are described as escorting ST 321 to the Death Star,^[6] contradicting the film's depiction of only two such starfighters performing that duty.^[2] Based on that discrepancy, this article avoids treating the novelization as a confirmed Black 11 appearance, and considers the Return of the Jedi film as its first appearance.

In 2003, a rotated version of Black 11 was used on the EX-4-9 card for the Empire Strikes Back expansion set of the Star Wars Trading Card Game. The card image is an altered version^[7] of a film still from the Hoth asteroid field in 1980's Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back.^[8]