- "Hello, beautiful."
- ―Chelli Lona Aphra
The Ark Angel II, formerly known as the Ark Angel,[1] was a modified Bellicose-class heavy lifter[2] owned by the rogue archaeologist Doctor Chelli Aphra.[12] It was repaired and enhanced by Aphra with exotic starship components manufactured by the Hapes Consortium, and other components from Kuat Systems Engineering and MandalMotors.[2] During the Battle of Vrogas Vas, the Ark Angel was destroyed. Sometime after the battle, the ship had to be so extensively rebuilt that Aphra decided to rename the ship to the Ark Angel II.[1] It was used by Aphra to transport her crew and Luke Skywalker to the Citadel of Ktath'atn.[11]
History[]
The Ark Angel was extensively rebuilt after[1] it was destroyed during the Battle of Vrogas Vas when it was dropped on Commander Karbin, killing him.[8]
Ordu Aspectu[]
It was used to transport Doctor Chelli Aphra, 0-0-0 (Triple-Zero), Krrsantan, and BT-1 from Fulan Ro to Archaeo-Prime on the Cosmatanic Steppes.[12] Korin Aphra asked Aphra, his daughter, to help him find the Ordu Aspectu, after leaking info about her shady discovery on Booth XII. so then the crew, now with Korin Aphra, departed for Yavin IV.[13] There, being chased by Captain Magna Tolvan, they calculate where the Fortress of Garn is. They then left to find it.[9]
Once arriving at the Fortress of Garn, the adventurers began exploring, while in close pursuit by Captain Magna Tolvan. 0-0-0 and BT-1 went back to the Ark Angel II, not informing Chelli and Korin Aphra of the Imperials.[10] Chelli and Korin awakened Rur, causing the entire Citadel to collapse. Later, 0-0-0, BT-1, and Black Krrsantan escaped on the Ark Angel II, while Korin and Chelli Aphra escaped on Tolvan's Imperial shuttle.[18]
Citadel of Ktath'atn[]
On Horox III, Doctor Aphra landed with the Ark Angel II to persuade Luke Skywalker to come to Ktath'atn to meet with the Queen of Ktath'atn. The ship transported 0-0-0, BT-1, Black Krrsantan, Aphra, and Skywalker to Ktath'atn, without Princess Leia Organa's knowing.[11]
Later, 0-0-0 and BT-1 intercepted Organa, Han Solo, and Sana Starros as they entered the planet. Han Solo insisted on flying to Aphra, supposedly damaging the Ark Angel II.[16][19]
After the battle, Aphra, 0-0-0, BT-1, and Black Krrsantan left in the Ark Angel, while the others left in the Millennium Falcon.[20]
Auction of Eternal Rur[]
Weeks later, Doctor Aphra would attempt to sell the artificial intelligence crystal known as Eternal Rur aboard the space station Sorca Retreat, using the Ark Angel II to board the station.[21] The auction collapsed however when Rur escaped containment and 0-0-0 gained access to the stations weapons, firing upon the guests. [22]This turn of events forces Aphra to escape the station, leaving the Ark Angel II behind, taking the Shadow University's ship instead. Aphra escapes aboard the ship, returning the artifacts aboard the ship to both the Shadow University and the University of Bar'leth, leaving Shadow University aboard the Ark Angel II.[23]
The Farkiller[]
With Aphra now taking on Vulaada Klam as her ward after the Chase on Milvayne, the two, along with Klam's pet qaberworm Gurtyl, used the Ark Angel II to transport the group to the Slinani Migration Shrine where they made off with the ancient sniper rifle known as the Farkiller. The three left the Shrine aboard the Angel, briefly staying at an Abandoned Spice Mine on the planet Unox to attempt to contact buyers for the Farkiller.[24]
Unfortunately for the group, they were intercepted by the Rebellion, who captured the group and the Ark Angel II with them to Trading Post Sh'ung-tesk. On the trading post, the Rebellion takes the Farkiller from Aphra to use for their superweapon, offering Aphra a position in the Rebellion in exchange for help in building the weapon. Aphra rejects the offer, [25] flying the Ark Angel II off the post and onto Arbiflux along with Klam and Gurtyl to briefly hide out at Lona Aphra's house.
Unfortunately again for the group, their location was discovered by the Empire, who hired mercenaries to take the group out, including Black Krrsantan, who betrayed the mercenary group and helped save Aphra, Klam, and Gurtyl, with the four leaving the planet aboard the Angel. Aboard the Angel, the group met up with Indigo Squadron with Aphra now taking up the Rebellion's offer to work on the superweapon, secretly only doing so as a front to steal back the Farkiller. Before she does so however, she is stopped by her lover, Strike Team Misericorde leader Magna Tolvan. [26]Despite this, Aphra manages to convince Tolvan to let her steal the Farkiller back, knocking Tolvan out and escaping the Rebellion ship with the weapon and Black Krrsantan aboard the Ark Angel II, which was being piloted at the time by Klam, leaving Gurtyl behind to fight off the Rebellion and help their escape.
Aboard the Ark Angel II, Aphra would make an announcement to the Empire via their communication systems that she would be gifting the Farkiller to the Empire as a show of good will, landing the Angel at an Imperial Communication Relay on Usk Minor to do so. From their, Aphra, Klam, and Krrsantan would be picked up in a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle by Minister Pitina Mar-Mas Voor and taken to Coruscant, leaving the Ark Angel II behind.[27]
Legacy[]
Shortly after leaving the Ark Angel II behind on Usk Minor, Aphra would imply that the Ark Angel II was destroyed sometime shortly before her search Rings of Vaale and after leaving the ship on Usk Minor. [28]
The Ark Angel III would be named after and succeed the Ark Angel II.
Behind the scenes[]
Just as Chelli Lona Aphra was conceived as the archaeological antithesis of Indiana Jones, the title character of Lucasfilm Ltd.'s Indiana Jones franchise, the Ark Angel was named after the Ark of the Covenant, the title MacGuffin of the film Raiders of the Lost Ark.[29]
Appearances[]
Sources[]
- Artist Kev Walker Discusses Marvel's Doctor Aphra #2 - Exclusive Commentary on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Star Wars: Destiny — Legacies (Card: Ark Angel) (backup link)
- Star Wars: Build Your Own X-Wing 12 (Starfighter Aces: Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra – Galactic Hunter for Hire)
- Allies and Adversaries
- Star Wars: Outer Rim
- Starships and Speeders
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Star Wars: Build Your Own X-Wing 12 (Starfighter Aces: Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra – Galactic Hunter for Hire)
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 Starships and Speeders
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Darth Vader (2015) 4
- ↑ Doctor Aphra: An Audiobook Original
- ↑ The Star Wars Book places the Battle of Vrogas Vas in the year immediately following the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas states concluded in 0 ABY. Therefore, the Battle of Vrogas Vas must have taken place in 0 ABY. As the Ark Angel was destroyed during Battle of Vrogas Vas as seen in Darth Vader 15, its destruction must also take place in 0 ABY.
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2020) 2
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Darth Vader (2015) 3
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Darth Vader (2015) 15
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Doctor Aphra (2016) 4
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Doctor Aphra (2016) 5
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 The Screaming Citadel 1
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Doctor Aphra (2016) 1
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Doctor Aphra (2016) 2
- ↑ Darth Vader (2015) 8
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 3
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Doctor Aphra (2016) 7
- ↑ Darth Vader (2015) 7
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 6
- ↑ Star Wars (2015) 31
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 8
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 9
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 11
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 13
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 32
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 33
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 34
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 35
- ↑ Doctor Aphra (2020) 2
- ↑ Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 2