Wookieepedia:Featured article queue/October 2, 2009

Demetrius Zaarin was an Imperial admiral who sought to install himself as Emperor of the galaxy during the Galactic Civil War. Originally a Grand Admiral, Zaarin was the Imperial Navy's head of starfighter research and development. At his facility "Research," he developed such starfighters as the TIE Advanced and the TIE Defender. He also secured new technology for the Empire from third parties, such as the Habeen. In addition to his design skills, he was a talented tactician. At some point in his career, however, he grew dissatisfied with Emperor Palpatine's rule, and began making preparations to take over the Galactic Empire.

Allying himself with disenchanted Emperor's Hand Arden Lyn, Zaarin eventually decided to move against Palpatine in the wake of crime lord Prince Xizor's death in 3 ABY. His loyal forces captured Palpatine over Imperial Center, but they were thwarted by reinforcements from Lord Darth Vader and Vice Admiral Thrawn. Left with little alternative but to flee, Zaarin began harassing Palpatine's TIE Advanced production facilities in the Omar system, and then attempted to cripple Imperial TIE Defender factories. He was eventually outwitted by Thrawn at To-phalion Base, and he perished in the Unknown Regions when the corvette he was aboard, the Vorknkx, exploded due to a malfunction.