Tal Merrik/Legends

"What? He was gonna blow up the ship."

- Anakin Skywalker's "casual" reaction to Obi-Wan Kenobi, seconds after killing Merrik

Tal Merrik was a greedy and corrupt senator hailing from Duchess Satine Kryze's homeworld of Kalevala. He assisted the Death Watch during the Clone Wars in their effort to convert Mandalore back to its warrior roots.

Biography
The senator placed a box in the cargo bay on the Coronet containing multiple assassin droids whom he planned to use in the assassination of the Duchess Satine Kryze. However, although his first plan failed, he still managed to take the Duchess hostage. On the bridge, Merrik killed the pilots of the ship in order to gain access to the communications, he could contact Death Watch leader Pre Vizsla to make him aware of the progress and call for reinforcements to get him off of the ship.

Soon after, Kenobi found the captor and captive. The senator revealed to Kenobi and Satine that he would win in one of two ways, no matter what happened. First, he could use the blaster that he was holding to the Duchess's head. Second, he had a detonator in his position to blow up the engines (which he rigged), effectively blowing up the ship and killing himself along with everyone aboard. Still, Kenobi persistently followed the two around the ship, until he cornered Merrik. At this time, Satine caught him off guard and stepped on his foot to break free of his grasp, gaining possession of his blaster in the process. Again he reminded the two that he could still blow up the entire ship and everyone on it at the press of a button. The traitorous senator spent his final moments mocking would-be murderers Kenobi and Satine.

He claimed how the Duchess would look down upon Kenobi for killing him, and how everyone would call the famously pacifist ruler of Mandalore a hypocrite if she was found to have committed murder. He was suddenly stabbed in the chest from behind by Anakin Skywalker with his lightsaber, meeting his fate and showing who really is "the cold-blooded killer".

Personality and traits
Merrik was known to use other people to achieve his own goals and put on an air of gentleness to fool them.

Behind the scenes
Merrik is voiced by Greg Proops in The Clone Wars television series. His drawing and dress is loosely based on Dante Alighieri.

Notes and references
Tal Merrick Tal Merrik