Kir Kanos

"Death to all traitors of the Empire."

- Kir Kanos

Kir Kanos was the last known surviving member of the Emperor's Royal Guard and was best described in one word, relentless. A true zealot of the Galactic Empire and its ideals. Peace, order, and most importantly justice for all pushed the Empire's ultimate warrior into an unending crusade against those who have conspired to behead the Imperium. From the traitorous emperor Carnor Jax to the greedy Imperial Interim Council, Kanos sense of vengeance is unending.

Biography
Like all the members of the Imperial Guard, not much is known outside of the fact that they were fanatical men and great warriors. Stormtroopers, Imperial Army, Officer Corp, or Imperial Special Forces, no matter where Kanos came from, he was the best among them and so soon after was selected to attend the Imperial Royal Guard Academy on Yinchorr. Under the harsh training of Ved Kennede and the brutal conditions of the Squall, the Empire's most proficient killers were tempered into disciplined guardsmen. Their will manipulated, loyalty tested and camaraderie consilidated through the torturous nature of their training, it seemed unlikely that one as devout as Kanos would befriend the egotiscal and arrogant Carnor Jax, instead he found fellow zealots and his training partner Lemmet Tauk. After several years of intense training Kanos and Tauk was summoned to take the place of fallen guardsmen but before their ascension they were given one final test by Palpatine, to face each other in mortal combat. A confirmation of their ultimate loyalty, to kill one's training partner meant not only to purge the weaker apprentice but to relinquish one's devotion wholly to the emperor. Kanos with hesitation killed his friend and won his place amongst the Empire's most honorable. As Palpatine left, Kanos approached his slain compatriot and broke out in grief and apologized for his actions. Darth Vader watching from afar, was angered by such an outburst and ordered Kanos to fight him. Fighting with the best of his abilities, Kanos failed to even touch the Sith Lord and so was punished with a lightsaber scar across the face. An eternal reminder that his entire life is now dedicated entirely to the Emperor, and that such attachments are not welcome.

Kanos continued to loyally serve Palpatine until the latter's death at the Battle of Endor. Like many of the other Guardsmen, Kanos chose not to ally with any of various Imperial usurpers of the time.

When Palpatine was reborn in 10 ABY, Kanos and the other surviving Guard journeyed to Byss to resume their service to him. However, Kanos' old rival Jax had treacherously damaged Palpatine's supply of clones, thus contributing to his death at the hands of Luke Skywalker.

The despondent Royal Guard made their way back to their headquarters on Yinchorr. However, they were also betrayed by Jax, who used his supply of Blackhole Stormtroopers to slaughter the Guard, with only Kanos escaping.

Kanos made his way to the planet Phaeda, where he managed to convince the local New Republic commander, Mirith Sinn, that they shared a common enemy. When Shev, an officer loyal to Jax's Imperial Interim Council, attacked Phaeda, Kanos defeated his soldiers, then returned to Yinchorr. Despite the fact that Sinn wanted Jax alive, Kanos—in a poetic ending to their rivalry—killed the traitor after a duel in the Squall of the abandoned Academy.

Due to having killed the Imperial leader and reneged on his agreement with the New Republic, Kanos went into hiding from both, despite the romantic feelings he had developed—and suppressed—for Sinn. He assumed the identity of Kenix Kil, a bounty hunter.



He eventually made his way to the Imperial world of Baramorra, whose governor was amassing bounty hunters on behalf of the Council and its new Emperor, Xandel Carivus. Kanos killed the governor and decided to bring down Carivus as well.

Kanos first decided to take care of Grappa the Hutt, who he had learned had captured his love, Mirith Sinn. He succeeded in rescuing her, although he himself was subsequently captured by Grappa and sent to the planet Genon. Sinn rescued Kanos, and together they dealt with Grappa - although she did not recognize the real identity of "Kil".

Kanos, choosing not to reveal either his identity or feelings to her, left Sinn to finish his task of killing "Emperor" Carivus. He managed to accomplish this task with his life, and debated settling down with Sinn - but decided that a Rebel and an Imperial could never be together. He later fought and killed one of Sinn's former soldiers, Massimo, who had betrayed Kanos to Grappa the Hutt and who was now intent on getting revenge on Kanos for abandoning him to the Zanibar on Genon.

The next year, during the Orinda campaign, he appeared on Dathomir, in a mission to assassinate the corrupt "governor" the Imperial Remnant had appointed in its attempt to take over the planet. He eventually succeded, having formed an alliance of convenience with some New Republic heroes.

The false Royal Guards promoted by Admiral Daala and the clone guardsman, Major Grodin Tierce, were killed by him along with pretenders including the false guards who ruled the Second Imperium's Shadow Academy.

Following his exploits on Dathomir, he disappeared. His further exploits, and final fate, are unknown.

Behind the Scenes

 * Kanos was roughly based on a character that Randy Stradley planned for an unwritten story of Marvel Star Wars. Like Kanos, the earlier character was an Imperial Guard who was out to avenge Palpatine's death; and like was planned for Kanos in the proposed Crimson Empire III, he would have eventually fought Luke Skywalker.
 * In the audio drama version of Crimson Empire, Kanos was voiced by Patrick Coyle.

Appearances

 * Crimson Empire
 * The Bounty Hunters: Kenix Kil
 * Crimson Empire II: Council of Blood
 * Hard Currency
 * Nightsaber