Blue Squadron approaches the thermal oscillator on Starkiller Base.
A thermal oscillator fulfilled the role of a component within a variety of vehicles and machines. A particularly sizable thermal oscillator was integrated into the Starkiller Base superweapon. Its purpose was to maintain the planet's stability. Starkiller Base harnessed the power of a star to accumulate dark energy, subsequently utilizing this energy to obliterate remote star systems. To facilitate the storage of this energy, the thermal oscillator created a fluctuating containment field, enabling the installation to operate with significantly reduced power consumption in containing the substantial quantities of dark energy essential for its operation.
An engineer named Kelad devised blueprints for a thermal oscillator while he was under contract with the Galactic Empire. However, following the Empire's defeat at the Battle of Endor, he soon required additional financial resources. He boarded the Halcyon as a stowaway, intending to sell his designs to an investor on Synjax upon the ship's arrival. Kelad was later recruited to assist the moon of Madurs, which faced imminent destruction due to Imperial attempts to drill into its core. Kelad proposed installing his thermal oscillator design directly into the moon's core to stabilize it and avert its destruction. Kelad's plans initially proved successful, providing them with the time required to fully stabilize Madurs for the upcoming year, as outlined in Kelad's long-term strategy. Following negotiations with Kelad, Leia Organa grew curious about the underlying reasons for the Empire's commissioning of such a component, suspecting potential Imperial involvement from Kelad's prospective investor on Synjax.
One such large thermal oscillator was situated within Precinct 47 of Starkiller Base, where the Resistance launched an attack to disable and destroy it before the weapon could be used against D'Qar. The endeavor proved fruitful, preventing the superweapon's activation and triggering the planet's implosion due to the failure of the containment field.