Volcanic environment stormtrooper
Stormtroopers of the volcanic environment, also referred to as lava troopers, were stormtroopers clad in black armor. They were stationed at Fortress Vader, the castle of the Sith Lord Darth Vader situated on the planet Mustafar. Their service occurred during the Imperial Era. These troopers possessed stormtrooper armor with advanced cooling and heat shields, and they wielded E-11 blaster rifles. The lava troopers defended the fortress against native Mustafarians circa 12 BBY. Around eleven years later, they encountered the Rebel Alliance crew of the YT-1760 Small Transport Auric after the group became stranded on the planet. Furthermore, these volcanic environment stormtroopers protected the fortress from the Force-sensitive Knights of Ren as the Knights executed their heist on Vader's Castle between 3–4 ABY.
Description
During the Imperial Era, the Galactic Empire employed human soldiers known as volcanic environment stormtroopers, or lava troopers, to guard Fortress Vader. This fortress served as the castle for Darth Vader, the Dark Lord of the Sith, on the planet of Mustafar. The volcanic environment stormtroopers had a similar role to magmatroopers, who were also tasked with the defense of Vader's stronghold.
The volcanic environment stormtroopers were equipped with black stormtrooper armor enhanced with cooling systems and heat shields. They also had back-mounted tanks and red breathing tubes. A red line on the right shoulder pauldron distinguished sergeants, while other troopers wore a completely red pauldron. Their weaponry consisted of E-11 medium blaster rifles.
History
Mustafarian raids
Shortly after Fortress Vader was built, specifically in 12 BBY, two volcanic environment stormtroopers were on duty in the castle's hangar bay. One of the troopers heard a "clunk" sound and inquired if their colleague had heard it as well. Following this, the trooper demanded that anyone present reveal themselves, questioning the source of the sound. However, invading Mustafarians quickly overwhelmed the pair.
Around the same year, two volcanic environment stormtroopers were overseeing a landing platform outside Darth Vader's castle. They observed the arrival of a Theta-class shuttle, which was unusual for that time. After a brief discussion about shuttles, the pair were startled by a wailing sound and went to investigate. The sergeant attributed the sound to the wind, but the other questioned this, as both troopers were surrounded by zombies who were victims of a plague. The sergeant was then bitten and proceeded to attack the junior trooper. The junior trooper reported the incident to Darth Vader before succumbing to the infection. Both victims, now controlled by the Mustafarian priestess Mother Sssl, joined the undead horde in attacking Vader. The junior trooper even managed to bite the cyborg Sith Lord, though it did not affect him, only damaging metal.
Rebels and Knights
When the YT-1760 Small Transport Auric, a starship under the command of Commander Lina Graf from the Rebel Alliance, crash-landed on Mustafar around 1 BBY, two volcanic environment stormtroopers were guarding Fortress Vader. Subsequently, seven volcanic environment stormtroopers ambushed Graf and her crew, opening fire with their blasters. Graf returned fire and instructed her crew to retreat to the fortress. The lava troopers then focused their attack on the bodyguard droid XM-G3, who stayed behind to defend Graf, keeping the troopers occupied. XM-G3 later emerged with visible damage but had defeated his attackers. As Graf's technician Skritt occupied the castle's hangar bay during the crew's escape from the fortress, he tossed a Kubaza beetle larva, which summoned its larger mother. At least four volcanic environment stormtroopers guarded the hangar bay. The rebel bowled over a couple of the soldiers and commandeered an All Terrain Scout Transport, and opened fire on the remaining troopers.
Sometime between 3 ABY and 4 ABY, the Knights of Ren, a group of Force-sensitives, broke into Fortress Vader. Vaneé, Vader's attendant, activated an alarm to call in a force of volcanic environment stormtroopers. The Knights directed their efforts toward the soldiers, which allowed their leader, "Ren," to enter Vader's vault and steal the artifact known as the Screaming Key. Ren then inquired whether the Knights had ceased firing their weapons because all the soldiers outside had been eliminated. In response, Vader revealed himself and admitted that he had dismissed the lava troopers.
Behind the scenes
The volcanic environment stormtroopers made their debut in the first issue of the comic series Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle. The comic was written by Cavan Scott, with illustrations by Derek Charm and Chris Fenoglio. IDW Publishing released the issue on October 3, 2018. They were later identified as lava troopers in the series' fifth issue, which was published by IDW again on October 31, 2018. This issue was also penned by Scott, with pencils by Charm and Charles Paul Wilson III. The soldiers received a more formal designation as volcanic environment stormtroopers in Star Wars: Dawn of Rebellion: The Visual Guide, a 2023 reference book by Pablo Hidalgo and Emily Shkoukani. Within the Star Wars Legends continuity, "lavatrooper" was originally used as an alternative designation for the red-armored magma stormtroopers.