Katana fleet - Definition

The Katana fleet (known more eerily as "The Dark Force") is a fictional starfleet from the Star Wars universe. It was featured in Timothy Zahn's Dark Force Rising.

The Katana fleet was launched in about 45 BBY¹ by the Old Republic, but fell victim to a hive virus that wiped out the crew after driving them insane. The fleet, consisting of 200 Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser, was lost in space for many years, until Talon Karrde stumbled upon it.

Nearly fifty-five after the fleet was lost, Grand Admiral Thrawn became interested in it. However, the Grand Admiral's teachery turned Mara Jade against the Empire and she, along with Luke Skywalker, rescued Karrde from Thrawn's forces and brought him to the New Republic. Thrawn stole the information from him, and both sides secured some of the fleet.

1. It was stated by Talon Karrde that the fleet was lost in 32 BBY (at the time of The Phantom Menace,) but Captain Pellaeon set it at fifty-five years prior to the date of the story (which is set in 9 ABY.) It is far more likely that a high-ranking Imperial officer has the correct date than a smuggling chief, especially because it was stated by Karrde as being "about ten years before the Clone Wars."

Example Usage of Katana