Official Star Wars Databank Update: What Secret Does Starkiller Base Hold?

By Ethan AndertonSept. 7, 2015 7:00 am EST

Coinciding with last week's Force Friday festivities, the official Star Wars website made a few additions to their databank that should have fans of the galaxy far, far away raising one of their eyebrows inquisitively. Some of them we already new about while others have some vague new details that just have us asking more questions.

For example, at Comic-Con Domhnall Gleeson spoiled the fact that The First Order base in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was called Starkiller Base, inspired by the original surname for Skywalker in the first draft of the script for the first Star Wars movie. And now The Force Awakens Starkiller Base has officially been added to the databank. However, its description raises some questions. Beware of spoilers!

If you feel the need to see the databank entry yourself, you can see it right here on StarWars.com. However, it's a rather boring entry because it doesn't have an image just yet, and the only text that accompanies the entry is this:

An ice planet converted into a stronghold of the First Order and armed with a fiercely destructive new weapon capable of destroying entire star systems.

We already knew Starkiller Base was where The First Order was holed up, but this is the first confirmation that the ice location we've seen in the second teaser trailer and the single new shot in an international TV spot is that specific base. And now we know that this base holds a weapon that is more powerful than either of the Death Star space stations.

What we don't know though is how this weapon operates, or if like the two Death Stars before it, the weapon is actually the planet. After all, the description does say the planet was converted into a stronghold and armed with this weapon.

But if the planet has been turned into a weapon, can it move around the galaxy like the Death Star? I would say that it seems ludicrous for a planet-sized weapon to move like a ship does, but the Death Star was the size of the small moon and the second Death Star even bigger, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

The other option is that the weapon is merely concealed within the planet. Our friends at ScreenRant recall the weapon known as the Sun Crusher from the Expanded Universe (part of the Legends line of stories now). It was just the size of a starfighter, but could make a star turn into a supernova, taking out an entire solar system in the vicinity. Maybe Starkiller Base merely has the weapon housed inside of it instead of the planet being the weapon. All we know for sure is Starkiller Base is going to be a force to be reckoned with for the Resistance.

But that's not the only new addition to the Star Wars databank as over a dozen other entries were added to the website, but only with vague bits of information about each. Some we've heard of before, while others are completely new. Here's the list and brief descriptions of today's additions with respective links to their page in the databank:

Goss Toowers – Goss Toowers is part of the tireless technical crew that provides mechanical support to the Resistance's fleet of starfighters.

Tasu Leech – Tasu Leech leads the notorious Kanjiklub gang, an intergalactic criminal organization.

B-U4D (Buford) – Tough and hard-working, B-U4D (Buford) is part of the ground crew that keeps the Resistance starfighters fueled and combat-ready.

Resistance Troopers – Soldiers of the Resistance are well trained and well equipped, but must rely on hit-and-run tactics when faced with the overwhelming might of the First Order.

First Order Flametroopers – Specialized Stormtroopers of the First Order, Flametroopers carry incendiary weapons that can transform any battlefield into an infernal blaze.

First Order Riot Control Stormtroopers – Armed with specialized weapons, the First Order's Riot Control Stormtroopers are trained to subdue crowds in the most ruthlessly efficient manner possible.

First Order Interrogator Droid – Prisoners of the First Order are compelled to divulge their deepest secrets when subjected to the terrible Interrogator Droid under the command of Kylo Ren.

First Order Snowspeeder – The First Order deploys these fast, maneuverable gunboats for combat in subzero climates.

Unkar's Thugs – The strong-armed bullies who work for junk dealer Unkar Plutt help keep his scavenging business running on the remote, lawless world of Jakku.

Ello Asty – Ello Asty is a skilled if occasionally reckless X-wing starfighter pilot for the Resistance.

Guavian Death Gang Enforcers – The security soldiers of the Guavian Death Gang wear high impact armor that makes them stand out among other deadly criminals.

PZ-4CO (Peazy-Fourseeo) – PZ-4CO is a constant fixture in Resistance base control rooms, offering tactical data and communications support during important operations. (Get a look at the droid right here).

Sarco Plank – A scavenger and trader who scours frontier worlds for riches, Sarco Plank must wear a specialized mask that keeps his native atmosphere circulating through his alien lungs. (This character also apparently appears in a new children's book set shortly after Episode IV, and you can see him on the back cover right here).

ME-8D9 – Known as Emmie by the unallied scoundrels on Takodana, ME-8D6 is a protocol droid that is often called upon to translate less-than-legal deals.

As you you've already noticed, some of these characters already have toys out on shelves. Others, like the droids listed, we haven't heard about yet. The most mysterious one is ME-8D9, only because the droid works on a planet called Takodana. That's been rumored to be where our heroes encounter Maz Kanata, the motion-capture performance created alien character played by Lupita Nyong'o.

Those seem to be all the new additions to the databank as of now. You can also find new characters like Finn, Rey, Poe Dameron, Captain Phasma, Kylo Ren and some other previously revealed vehicles in The Force Awakens in the databank, but there's nothing else that's been found which we haven't heard of previously. Surely it will be updated here and there leading up to December 18th, so we'll see if anymore interested tidbits come out of the official website. Stay tuned.