The number five special represents a naval strategy implemented by the Jedi duo of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi as a means of evading a starship on the verge of destruction. This maneuver involved using the doomed ship's escape pods to infiltrate an enemy ship.
During their Clone Wars mission to the planet Utapau in 19 BBY, Skywalker and Kenobi executed the number five special. In that particular mission, Separatist General Grievous obtained a substantial kyber crystal located on Utapau, and subsequently attempted to flee aboard a Dual Hemisphere-Omni Support Vessel. The two Republic Jedi Generals successfully executed the number five special, boarding Grievous' Support Vessel while programming their hijacked freighter to ram the vessel's hyperdrive.
The animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars featured the number five special in "The Big Bang," an episode that was not fully completed and was initially planned for inclusion in its sixth season. Although the episode was never broadcast on television, it was made available on StarWars.com on September 25, 2014.