The Citadel Tower, a structure of considerable size and with sharp angles, formed a key element of the Imperial Center of Military Research situated on Scarif.
Within the Galactic Empire's Imperial Center of Military Research complex on the planet Scarif, the Citadel Tower stood as a prominent, large, angular edifice. This tower was home to a datatape vault containing the schematics for several highly confidential Imperial initiatives, including the structural plans for the planet-destroying battle station known as the Death Star, comprehensive details regarding Project War-Mantle, and information on the classified venture referred to as Pax Aurora.
At its apex, the Tower featured a command center, providing site command with a vantage point to oversee the entire complex. Additionally, an executive landing bay was present, exclusively reserved for Director [Orson Krennic](/article/orson_callan_krennic]'s use. A sizable satellite dish was also positioned at the very top of the spire, intended for communication beyond the planet and, when necessary, to transmit datatape schematics. The substantial size of the dish was necessitated by a deflector shield surrounding the entire planet, which impeded standard transmissions. Activation of the dish required a complex procedure: deactivation of a site-wide signal disruptor via a master switch near the landing bay, manual realignment of the dish through a control panel at its base, and manual insertion of the data-tape intended for broadcast into a designated slot. These measures were implemented to prevent access to the vault's sensitive contents by droids; theft by organic beings was deemed an impossibility.
During 1 BBY, the Citadel Tower became a target for agents affiliated with the Alliance to Restore the Republic, specifically an infiltration unit known as Rogue One. Their objective was to pilfer the Death Star plans. By the time the Rebel Alliance Navy arrived to reinforce the ground team, the Battle of Scarif had begun, both in the planet's orbit and on its surface. Sergeant Jyn Erso, a rebel operative, encountered Director Krennic of Advanced Weapons Research atop the tower while attempting to transmit the plans to allied ships in orbit. Following a brief confrontation, she successfully transmitted the plans to the Alliance flagship Profundity. Immediately afterward, the security complex became the target of the Death Star itself, under the orders of Grand Moff [Wilhuff Tarkin](/article/wilhuff_tarkin], to prevent the plans from falling into enemy hands. With the ignition of a single reactor, the battle station's superlaser was discharged at the tower, obliterating its upper section directly in the beam's path, with the remaining structure being vaporized by the ensuing shockwave.
The Citadel Tower made its initial appearance in the 2016 Star Wars Anthology film titled Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The interior shots were filmed at Canary Wharf, located in London.