Why did Vader turn up on an ordinary ISD in ROTJ?

[Jean Paul]

He'd been on the Executor, but then in ROTJ he arrives at Endor on a regular impstar. The Executor then presumably turns up sometime later with a fleet of ISDs, and then Vader, who has been hanging around the DS "motivating" the construction crews goes back to it.

Is there a known reason why he was separated from Executor?

The only thing I can think of is that Executor was held back for Palpy to make his big entrance on. We saw his shuttle entering the DS in ROTJ, but we never saw the ship it came from.

However, disposessing vader of his SSD so that Palpy could ride in on it seems a bit odd - there were a bunch of other SSDs, and Palpatine could have used one of those, or re-assigned Vader to one if he really wanted the first-in-the-class for his own personal Emperormobile.

[Enforcer Talen]

I think he's being sneaky. the dsII is a secret project. shh.

[Bob the Gunslinger]

The Executor was in the shop getting an oil change.

[Luzifer's right hand]

Maybe the hyperdrive on an ISD is a faster than the hyperdrive of a SSD?

[Trytostaydead]

As was stated in Shadows I think, you just don't crank up an executor for a little trip.

[Lord Pounder]

IMHO it was being held/spruced up for Palpatines use who later turns up with it at the Death Star.

[FedRebel]

Is there a known reason why he was separated from Executor?

Maybe the Executor was busy heading up an occupation force in a galaxy far far away

More likely Palpatine wanted to ride the flagship of the Imperial fleet to the DS2

[LadyTevar]

Is there a known reason why he was separated from Executor?

More likely Palpatine wanted to ride the flagship of the Imperial fleet to the DS2

I'm thinking this is the best explanation, personally. It's more impressive to arrive on the 'best ship of the fleet' than one of the smaller, more common ISDs.

[JME2]

The Executor is the most prominent ships in the Imperial Navy; its absence from Coruscant or other well known hotspots would get the Alliance worried and possibly delay the mission. We can only assume that by the time Rebel agents had learned of the Executor's absence, the Rebel fleet was already on its way to Endor.

[Praxis]

They were probably trying to help get that soldier stuck in the Executer out.

[UCBooties]

Though the Executor was Vader's command ship, many of Vader's activities durring the trilogy fell well outside the domain of the Imperial Navy. While on any of those missions for which fleet detachments weren't neccisary it is entirely likely Vader traveled on other ISDs or smaller ships to move about, because it would be logisticly wasteful to have an SSD ferry you around the galaxy on Dark Side errands while it could be used in command group fleet engagements. The Executor was most likely at one of the fleet engagements or forming a command group for the Emperor's trap at Endor. The Executor was most likely engaged when it came time for Vader to crack some heads so he just ordered transport from one of Coruscant's home fleet ISDs to take him to Endor.

Or yeah, maybe Palpy called Vader up and was like "Dude, I need the keys to the Executor so I can look all kinds of badass for the DSII crew."

As for there being a bunch of SSDs, I only know of four, two of which (Zsinj's Iron Fist and Dalla's Night Hammer), had not been created at that point in the timeline while the other (Isard's Lusankya) was burried under the surface of Coruscant at the time, and while it's certainly flashy durring takeoff, one wonders if it would be the most practical way of getting to the Endor system.

[White Haven]

Slight note.../what/ fleet engagements? This is the 'we've got hundreds of thousands of warships, FABRICATI DIEM, PUNC' Imperial Navy...so who's terminally stupid enough to provide them with an opportunity for a set-piece fleet battle?

[Rogue 9]

As for there being a bunch of SSDs, I only know of four, two of which (Zsinj's Iron Fist and Dalla's Night Hammer), had not been created at that point in the timeline while the other (Isard's Lusankya) was burried under the surface of Coruscant at the time, and while it's certainly flashy durring takeoff, one wonders if it would be the most practical way of getting to the Endor system.

You need to pay closer attention. The Iron Fist did exist pre-Endor AFAIK; Zsinj seized it when he went warlord. The Razor's Kiss was not completed pre-Endor, and was destroyed before being finished. The Intimidator existed pre-Endor, and was captured by the Yevetha soon afterwards; Black Sword Command was said to have two other SSDs in addition to the Intimidator, but they were not named.

[UCBooties]

I had forgotten the Black Sword Command, my mistake. I had not mentioned Razor's Kiss because it was never completed. I have just checked the unofficial encyclopedia and it has this to say about the Iron Fist:

Iron Fist
Zsinj's flagship Super-class Star Destroyer, the Iron Fist was originally christened the Brawl, but was renamed in honor of his first command, the Victory-class ship also called Iron Fist. It was pursued by Han Solo and the fleet supporting the Mon Remonda during the early years of the New Republic, before Solo resigned his commission. In a series of battles at Kuat, Vahaba, and Selaggis, Solo nearly destroyed the Iron Fist, but Zsinj always proved to be one step ahead. At Selaggis, Solo came the closest to killing Zsinj, but Zsinj used the Second Death to flee with the Iron Fist intact. These events took place just prior to the Hapan delegation to Coruscant and Prince Isolder's proposal of marriage to Leia. It was later destroyed at Dathomir by Solo's fleet. (CPL, SOC, CTD)

I had thought there was a line in one of the books dealing with Zsinj stating he had nearly bankrupted his war effort building the Iron Fist, my mistake. The section on the Brawl states that it was one of the 4 Super Star Destroyers created by the KDY, validating your statements.

So yes, there were other SSDs around, but my point still stands that it would be impractical for Vader to just whistle it up when he needed a ride. You don't have a ship like that, especialy if it is your flag ship, just floating around. Vader wasn't with it because it was stationed somewhere where it was deemed neccisary while Vader was doing his thing.

I appologize for my earlier false statement regarding the number of SSDs.

[Rogue 9]

Bleh, Brawl is a dumb name for an SSD anyway. Iron Fist is much cooler. It's okay, we all make mistakes.

[UCBooties]

Point conceded about fleet engagements, but it is still unreasonable to take away the command of a battle group when you need a ride.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Is there a known reason why he was separated from Executor?

Maybe the Executor was busy heading up an occupation force in a galaxy far far away

More likely Palpatine wanted to ride the flagship of the Imperial fleet to the DS2

There's no such thing as "Flagship of the Imperial Fleet" - this isn't the brain-dead UFP Starfleet.

[Illuminatus Primus]

Slight note.../what/ fleet engagements? This is the 'we've got hundreds of thousands of warships, FABRICATI DIEM, PUNC' Imperial Navy...so who's terminally stupid enough to provide them with an opportunity for a set-piece fleet battle?

The Imperial Navy does perform the role of "retiring" overly independent or recalitrant member worlds or Moff Governors. The Navy is prepared to dismantle their fleets if they attempt to make a stand to the death.

[White Haven]

Given the soon-to-be existence of the second Death Star, any Moff revolt would likely be either quietly aborted before it went public, or centered on an all-out OH MY GOD KILL IT BEFORE IT COMES OPERATIONAL. Somehow I don't see a Moff, who quite probably has enough of an intel network to catch wind of such a massive construction project as the Death Star II, rebelling elsewhere in the Empire with a superweapon like that so close to completion.

[Praxis]

Is there a known reason why he was separated from Executor?

Maybe the Executor was busy heading up an occupation force in a galaxy far far away

More likely Palpatine wanted to ride the flagship of the Imperial fleet to the DS2

There's no such thing as "Flagship of the Imperial Fleet" - this isn't the brain-dead UFP Starfleet.

Technically, the fleet's flagship is whatever ship the flag officer was on.
The Executer would be considered the flagship of the Imperial fleet over Endor (though there is no 'flagship of the Empire' like the federation has) because the flag officer was Admiral Piett.

[Illuminatus Primus]

We're not even talking about outright rebellion - insufficient allegiance and conformity to the New Order were gross offenses. Excessive independence and autonomy were enough to land one of the strategic fleets over your capital world for a "shock treatment."

[White Haven]

Diminshing Returns: When your tax income diminishes because you keep bombing the fuck out of your taxpayers.

[Agent Fisher]

Diminshing Returns: When your tax income diminishes because you keep bombing the fuck out of your taxpayers.

FUQ

[Trytostaydead]

I had thought there was a line in one of the books dealing with Zsinj stating he had nearly bankrupted his war effort building the Iron Fist, my mistake.

I think you're thinking about Dark Saber. Where Pellaeon is first shown the Knight's Hammer, a SSD and he was said that the Executor, that one ship, nearly bankrupted the Empire.

[Cal Wright]

Well, let's look over some facts. This is assuming the SSD brought the Emperor to the DS II, since it was around Endor when the strike team arrived, and then had numerous ISDs backing it up by the time the fighting started.

Vader himself could have been galavanting on said 'Sith' missions. Pure speculation. However, since he wasn't looking to engage the Rebel fleet at this time, he didn't really need to pull the SSD away from any mission it would currently be on.

Second, they wanted it to be secret except to the Rebels that the Emperor was going to the DS II. Therefore, Vader is on an ISD that no on knows about, while a very prominant and ever present SSD sits in orbit or conducts strikes on military targets. Therefore, when the SSD finally starts moving around, the Emperor quietly boards and heads off to the DS II.

In this case, based purely on speculation coupled with evidence supported by what we know in RotJ, the Emperor, I assume, set it all up so that people would not know he was gone from Coruscant, and that the Rebels really do think they have broken into a major secret. That being not just the DS II in a vulnerable state, but the Emperor over seeing final construction.