Class-3 CFC

Class-3 CFC
Production information
Manufacturer	Figg and Associates
Model	Class-3 CFC
Type	Carbon-freezing chamber
Locations	Cloud City, Bespin
Physical and technical specifications
Width	5.5-meter diameter platform
Usage and history
Purpose	Carbon-freezing
Affiliation	Galactic Empire

"This facility is crude, but it should be adequate to freeze Skywalker for his journey to the Emperor."

―Darth Vader

The Class-3 CFC was a carbon-freezing chamber manufactured by Figg and Associates.

Details

"Lord Vader, we only use this facility for carbon freezing. You put him in there, it might kill him!"

―Lando Calrissian, on Cloud City's Class-3

Han Solo was frozen in a Class-3 chamber on Cloud City

A carbon-freezing chamber produced by Figg and Associates, the Class-3 CFC had a platform measuring 5.5-meters in diameter which could be used to freeze volatile substances such as tibanna or coaxium in carbonite, suspended within a stasis-like hibernation field for storage. The Class-3 featured a liquid carbonite reservoir and a repulsorlift-equipped freezing block with life-form indicators. These devices were operated by a crack technical crew of Ugnaught workers and, with modifications, were capable of freezing a living subject to place them in suspended animation.

History

"And, honestly, I love [carbon freezing prisoners]. Makes handling rebel scum so much simplier. Don't have to feed them, don't have to worry about them escaping."
"I heard it was actually Lord Vader's idea. Came up with it when he was here not long ago."

―Two Cloud City-stationed stormtroopers

Han Solo is forced into a Class-3 carbon freezing chamber on Cloud City by the Galactic Empire.

A crude Class-3 CFC was part of Cloud City on the planet Bespin and used for freezing carbonite. However, in the year 3 ABY, the Sith Lord Darth Vader intended to use the facility to freeze the human Luke Skywalker, a Alliance officer and young Jedi. While Vader claimed Skywalker was to be frozen so he could be delivered to Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine, Skywalker was secretly Vader's own son, and Vader hoped to turn the young man the dark side of the Force as his own Sith apprentice, with whom he would overthrow the Emperor. Having experience with carbon-freezing but understanding the Cloud City facility was crude, with Baron Administrator Landonis Balthazar Calrissian even warning the Dark Lord of the Sith the process could kill Skywalker, Vader elected to test the process on Skywalker's friend and fellow rebel, Captain Han Solo. After freezing Solo and confirming the smuggler survived, with Vader then giving the frozen Solo over to the bounty hunter Boba Fett for delivery to the crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure, he ensured Skywalker would be lured to the platform, where he awaited for his son's arrival. The duel on Cloud City between Skywalker and Vader began atop the CFC platform, where the two exchanged lightsaber blows until Skywalker fell into the freezing chamber. However, he was able to use a Force jump to escape the chamber just in time, which impressed Vader.

After Skywalker's escape and Vader's departure, a small Imperial Garrison remained behind and occupied the city, where they made use of carbon-freezing to subdue prisoners for transport and to save money. Word spread amongst the ranks that the idea began with Vader. Meanwhile with Fett, who had delayed his return to Jabba in order to settle an old score, the presence of an organic in the carbonite caused an issue with the matrix that threatened to melt Solo, forcing Fett to head to the moon Nar Shaddaa to meet with Doctor Ragon. While he thought the idea of freezing an organic in the carbonite was stupid in the first place, Ragon was able to stabilize Solo, promising Fett upfront that no such issue would happen again. While Solo would briefly be stolen by the resurgent Crimson Dawn syndicate in an act that kicked off the War of the Bounty Hunters, Fett reclaimed Solo in the battle over Jekara and successfully delivered the frozen smuggler to Jabba, who would keep the frozen Solo as a wall decoration. After almost a full year in carbonite, Solo awoke in 4 ABY with a case of hibernation sickness but would shortly recover.

Appearances

• Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (First appearance)

Non-canon appearances

• LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "The Lost Treasure of Cloud City"

Sources

• Star Wars Helmet Collection 4 (Helmets: Luke Skywalker — X-wing Pilot) (Picture only)
• Star Wars: Fascinating Facts (First identified as Class-3 CFC)