The political instability surrounding the Clone Wars prompted the Republic's most important leaders to travel in well-armed conveyances, in order to thwart would be assassins and kidnappers. During his ascension to Emperor, Palpatine traveled in a distinctive tri-winged shuttle that was a harbinger of Imperial design trends to come. The elegant ship featured an articulated wing system that deployed the wings in a splayed, lateral configuration during flight. During descent and landing, the wings folded upwards, to allow the landing skids to extend from the bottom of the craft. Palpatine flew in this vessel during his voyage to Mustafar, to recover the ruined form of his apprentice, Darth Vader.