Grappa (Rodian)

"If you run, we shoot you down!"

- Grappa

Grappa was a Rodian mercenary hired by the government of Osarian to serve as a captain in the Osarian First-Force. His hiring was a response by Osarian to the quickly escalating Osarian-Rhommamool conflict; the planet's own military was too small and technologically limited to pose a threat to Rhommamool. Despite being supplied with outdated equipment, Grappa served his Osarian masters dutifully.

In 25 ABY, Grappa was ordered by Shunta Osarian Dharrg to halt a New Republic ship carrying the former Republic Chief of State, Leia Organa Solo, who was on a diplomatic mission to Rhommamool. His superiors wanted to forcibly arrange a meeting with Organa Solo in order to hinder her from inadvertently heightening the Rhommamoolian leader's stature in the sector. Grappa's attempts at redirecting the Republic ship were unsuccessful; two of the ships under his command were destroyed in the ensuing battle, forcing the remainder of the First-Force squadron to retreat.

Service in the Osarian First-Force
Some time prior to 25 ABY, Grappa was hired by the government of Osarian to serve in the Osarian First-Force, the spaceborne branch of the planet's military forces. The authorities on Osarian were concerned that the escalating conflict with their neighbor planet, Rhommamool, would erupt into war, and were thus looking to hire mercenaries to complement their technologically inferior military.

Grappa and his fellow mercenaries were supplied with Z-95 Headhunter starfighters by the Osarian government. Although the ships were considered outdated by 25 ABY, the mercenaries were able to overcome this hindrance by employing advanced starship tactics. At some point, Grappa was granted the rank of captain in the First-Force.

Encounter with the Jade Sabre
"You come with us. To Osa-Prime."

- Grappa

In 25 ABY, captain Grappa was ordered by his superiors to intercept a New Republic shuttle, the Jade Sabre, carrying former New Republic Chief of State Leia Organa Solo, who was on a diplomatic mission to Rhommamool. The Jedi Mara Jade Skywalker and Jaina Solo accompanied Organa Solo in the shuttle. Although Organa Solo's mission was to negotiate peace between the two planets, Shunta Osarian Dharrg, head of the Osarian government, was worried that her visit would inadvertently cause the stature of Nom Anor, the leader of the extremist Red Knights of Life organization that controlled Rhommamool, to increase, both on Rhommamool itself and in the sector at large. Dharrg wished to meet with the diplomat before she could do so with Anor, and ordered Grappa to use force if necessary to achieve this.

Grappa approached the Jade Sabre with four Z-95 Headhunters, hiding two more some distance away in case the Sabre did not come willingly. He made viewscreen contact with the shuttle, and demanded the passengers follow him and his pilots to Osa-Prime, the capital city of Osarian, to meet with Shunta Osarian Dharrg. The crew aboard the shuttle refused, and attempted to flee the First-Force Headhunters by out-navigating them with their technologically superior shuttle, fearing that a gunfight would lead to a diplomatic crisis. Grappa and his Rodian mercenaries were forced to open fire and bring forth the two covert fighters in order to keep up with the Jade Sabre.

Despite the fact that the shuttle was piloted by the Jedi Jaina Solo, whose sensitivity to the Force gave her a huge advantage, the First-Force Headhunters managed to position themselves in increasingly favorable shooting positions while pursuing the shuttle. The battle seemed to go in Grappa and the First-Force's favor, when the Jade Sabre suddenly incapacitated a Headhunter by crashing into it. Within moments, a T-65XJ X-wing starfighter piloted by yet another Jedi, Wurth Skidder, joined the battle, blasting two Headhunters to pieces. The First-Force ships realized that they were unable to win the battle, especially considering the approaching Mediator-class battle cruiser that had followed far behind the Jade Sabre. The Rodians piloting the remaining Headhunter fighters chose to retreat. It is unknown whether or not Grappa was aboard one of the two Headhunters shot down by Wurth Skidder.

Personality and traits
Grappa was not one to deny an order; he was willing to risk his life by attempting to capture, and even fire upon, high-profile New Republic officials. His adeptness at starship tactics was such that he and the ships under his command were able to successfully out-navigate the Jedi Jaina Solo, who had the enormous advantage of being sensitive to the Force, as well as prompting Mara Jade Skywalker to give his piloting abilities critical acclaim. Grappa had the appearance of an average Rodian; his skin was green, and a tapir-like snout adorned his face. His head did sport one prominent feature&mdash;his spiny head ridge. His voice was described as uneven, although this could be a result of him straining his Rodian vocal cords while speaking Basic.

Behind the scenes
Captain Grappa was created by the author R. A. Salvatore. His only appearance is in the novel Vector Prime of the The New Jedi Order series.

Appearances

 * Vector Prime