ST-718 functioned as a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle for the forces of the Galactic Empire. Following Darth Vader's acquisition of the smuggler Han Solo, encased in carbonite, during Crimson Dawn's auction of Solo on Jekara, this shuttle was employed to transport him to the Super Star Destroyer Executor. Solo's allies, rebels aboard the Millennium Falcon, gave chase to the shuttle, as did the bounty hunters Boba Fett and Beilert Valance. Lobot, the cyborg present on the Falcon, utilized his implants to interface with and briefly incapacitate the shuttle's systems. Despite this, the Imperials were able to regain command, and TIE fighters provided escort for ST-718 as it made its way to the Executor.
ST-718 was a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle manufactured by the Abecederian line and operated by the Imperial Navy. The shuttle was equipped with a Class 1 hyperdrive and a Class 10 backup, along with two engines. It could achieve a speed of 54 MGLT and a top speed of 850 kph. Its weaponry consisted of five laser cannons, including Taim & Bak KX5 laser cannons, GA-60s twin rotating blaster cannons, and ArMek R-Z0 retractable double blaster cannon. Hurst Romodi served as captain, leading a crew comprised of stormtroopers and Imperial officers.
ST-718 served the Galactic Empire in 3 ABY. During the events of the Auction for Han Solo, this Lambda-class shuttle transported the Imperial delegation to the Vermillion on the planet Jekara. Once Darth Vader secured Han Solo for the Empire, the frozen Solo was loaded onto the transport for the journey to Vader's Executor command ship.
The Alliance to Restore the Republic delegation, composed of Princess Leia Organa, Chewbacca, and Lando Calrissian, acted swiftly, pursuing ST-718 in the Millennium Falcon. Simultaneously, the bounty hunters Beilert Valance and Boba Fett formulated their own strategy to intercept the shuttle.
From the cockpit of the shuttle, an Imperial officer informed General Romodi of their impending arrival at the Executor, while another reported multiple inbound vessels originating from Jekara's surface. Romodi denied the request for reinforcements, wary of encouraging similar behavior from other starships toward the Empire. Aboard the Falcon, Carissian devised a plan to unleash a secret weapon upon ST-718. Fett's Slave I also approached the shuttle, but Fett prioritized eliminating the Falcon first. Valance dissented, seeking an alternative approach.
Subsequently, the shuttle received a communication from the Falcon. However, upon connecting the message, the entire ship experienced an electrical surge and shutdown. All primary systems were temporarily disabled as the officers worked to restore them. In another compartment lay the frozen form of Han Solo. This electrical disruption was engineered by Lobot aboard the Falcon, who exploited Imperial systems to create the problem. Just before the rebels could board ST-718, Fett launched a weakened seismic charge at the ship, incapacitating the rebels. As Fett and Valance prepared to board the shuttle, the fleet of the Hutt Clan arrived from hyperspace to attack the Executor.
Caught in the crossfire between the Hutt Clan and the Empire, the shuttle received backup from TIE fighters as Hutt starships converged on ST-718, intending to seize Solo. An officer onboard desperately requested assistance from the Executor as the Hutts closed in. The Hutt ships then deployed magclamps to secure the shuttle, planning to bring it aboard the War barge of the Hutt Council. Other Hutts expressed concern about potential retaliation from the Empire for capturing the shuttle.
The Executor then deployed its TIE fighters to reclaim the shuttle. As the two sides clashed, with ST-718 continuing its trajectory toward the Hutt ship, the Empire remained confident in its ability to recover the shuttle. Time was running out for the rebels because when the shuttle would get too farther away Lobot would not be able to prevent it from restarting its engines. As Fett and Valance developed another plan to board the ship, ST-718's engines started and it freed itself from the Hutts. The ship was then given an escort back to the Executor before docking on the ship.
ST-718 made its debut in the fourth issue of the Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters comic series. Charles Soule penned the issue, while Luke Ross, Neeraj Menon, and Guru-eFX provided the illustrations. Marvel Comics published it on September 8, 2021. The designation "ST-718" was first used in the exclusive preview of Doctor Aphra 15.