"Death Engine" was the name Greedo applied to an Imperial military vehicle which took part in the second wave of an attack on Nar Shaddaa's Corellian Sector in 1 BBY.
The Death Engine was massive and black, with at least ten blast weapons mounted all over its surface. It had two pincer-like projections in front, making it look like a monstrous crab floating on its repulsorlifts. The Death Engine was controlled from a well-protected command cockpit in its center.
As Darth Vader was in overall command of the attack on Nar Shaddaa, and had initially intended to follow the first wave of the Imperial assault, he may have had personal command of the Death Engine. Whoever was in command had no regard for civilian casualties: the Death Engine's attack collapsed an entire quarter of the Corellian Sector, destroying approximately twenty levels.
In the webstrip version of "A Hunter's Fate: Greedo's Tale," the "Death Engine" is not pictured. However, the two Imperial attack ships which took part in the beginning of the battle, identified as disguised "Gamma Assault Shuttles" in the text, have two projections in the front which could be described as "crab-like". The "Death Engine" Greedo sees may simply be another modified Gamma-class assault shuttle.
In the webstrip version of "A Hunter's Fate: Greedo's Tale," the "Death Engine" is not pictured. However, the two Imperial attack ships which took part in the beginning of the battle, identified as disguised "Gamma Assault Shuttles" in the text, have two projections in the front which could be described as "crab-like". The "Death Engine" Greedo sees may simply be another modified Gamma-class assault shuttle.