Tyro Caladian

"If ever you need me again, Master Kenobi, I am here for you."

- Tyro Caladian

Tyro Caladian was a male Svivreni lawyer and bureaucrat working as a Senatorial aide during the last years of the Galactic Republic. He was cousin to Curran Caladian, also a Senatorial aide. A firm believer in democracy and an expert in many of the rules of the Senate, Caladian had a reputation that attracted the attention of Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, who needed such expert assistance in his activities, and asked for Caladian's collaboration.

Tyro Caladian repeatedly helped Kenobi in his endeavors, providing him with information, support, and specialized help against the likes of corrupt Senator Sano Sauro of the planet Eeropha, criminal Granta Omega and fugitive Jenna Zan Arbor who was hiding on Romin. All of those people were enemies of the Jedi Order. During that time, Caladian and Kenobi became personal friends, and the regular contact with the Jedi also gained Caladian the esteem of other Jedi such as Siri Tachi and Ferus Olin. While reluctant to break the law for his friends, Caladian agreed to do so on occasion. At the same time, Caladian's steps attracted the attention of Sauro, who actively blocked some of Caladian's movements&mdash;rendering Caladian's help to the Jedi useless&mdash;and openly considered the Svivreni a personal enemy. While investigating on behalf of Kenobi, Caladian discovered a conspiracy involving the highest echelons of the government of the Republic. Before he could report the details, Caladian was assassinated.

Investigating Sauro
"How do you know that? There's been no official word.''" "Why are you in this office?" "''Because you hear everything."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi and Tyro Caladian, after Caladian surprised Kenobi sharing supposedly secret information.

Tyro Caladian and his cousin Curran Caladian, both of them male Svivreni, joined the Galactic Senate and became Senatorial aides at about the same time. Tyro Caladian was assigned to a small office in the lower level of the Senate Building of Coruscant; he soon took up most of the available space with a desk and several file containers. He became a rising bureaucrat and lawyer, and started making a name for himself as an specialist in obscure Senatorial procedures with a high respect for the ideals of the Galactic Republic.

In 26 BBY, Caladian was approached by the Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had heard of the Svivreni's reputation. Kenobi and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, were tracking a criminal named Granta Omega who, according to their sources, had the support of Senator Sano Sauro of Eeropha. Although Kenobi had the Supreme Chancellor's nominal help, he still needed to formally petition Sauro to show Kenobi his private files. Fearing that Sauro would use legal tricks to evade disclosing his files, Kenobi asked Caladian to explain the ins-and-outs of legal protocol necessary to prevent this. Caladian, who opposed Sauro's previous activities, obtained every needed signature and approval for an order to reveal against Sauro.

Nonetheless, Sauro bribed a committee he served on, causing a discontinued procedural rule to be approved, authorizing him to reject Caladian's order to reveal so that not even the Chancellor could revoke his decision. Caladian, who already had a busy agenda with subcommittee hearings at that point, met with Kenobi and Vice Chancellor Mas Amedda to hear the official answer and, full of rage, he threatened to appeal. Caladian offered Kenobi his help in any further inquiry the Jedi could have. Sauro understood that Caladian was his political enemy and placed a trace in Caladian's comlink, so as to track any of the Svivreni's activities&mdash;a completely legal measure he would later pretend to have done because he was afraid of Caladian. Later, Caladian remembered that Sauro could only block his personal files, but not other people's files about him. He immediately claimed all the files in the Senate registry about Eeropha from all of the nine years Sauro had been serving as a Senator and began to check them one by one.

While he was busy with this, Caladian was once more visited by Kenobi. As a part of a completely different quest, or so he thought, Kenobi was researching Senator Berm Tarturi of Andara, whose child Gillam had been kidnapped. Caladian was already familiar with Tarturi's personal plight and he told Kenobi about Tarturi's political predicaments: He was wrestling Sauro about the redistribution of hyperlanes, and this distraction could lead to Tarturi losing a hearing, which would in turn allow Sauro to lever yet another committee. In a heated debate with Kenobi, Caladian theorized that Sauro might have allied with Rana Halion, ruler of Ieria, against Tarturi.

Following up on this hunch, Caladian researched any known illicit activities of Sauro from 31 BBY and used a probability software to find some of Sauro's secret meeting places, leading Caladian to discover that Sauro was indeed meeting with Halion. He told Kenobi about this through his comlink and then met with the Jedi in a public café. As Sauro was snooping Caladian's calls, he warned Halion, and she in turn lost her pursuers. Kenobi then discovered the bug in Caladian's comlink.

Caladian continued his political research on the Sauro–Halion link, alongside several Jedi experts such as Jocasta Nu. He took a moment to offer his personal sympathy to Senator Tarturi due to his problem. Eventually frustrated at his lack of success, Caladian was again contacted by Kenobi. This time, the Jedi needed forged identifications for himself and his friend, fellow Knight Siri Tachi, so that they could pretend to be the kings of Cortella. Although shocked, Caladian helped them.

Aiding and abetting the Jedi
"Can I return to 'technically'? Technically, you'd still be in violation of several laws I can easily think of. If you get caught.''" "We're not going to be caught. That's where you come in." "''Oh."

- Tyro Caladian and Obi-Wan Kenobi discuss a Jedi infiltration on Romin

In 25 BBY, Caladian was again visited by Kenobi, this time along with Tachi and her Padawan learner, Ferus Olin. The Jedi wanted his help to apprehend the fugitive Jenna Zan Arbor who was hiding on the planet Romin, where the corrupt ruler Roy Teda rejected any request for extradition of criminals. Caladian informed them that the Senate was forced to obey the local rules, and the Jedi could not reach the planet without official approval from the Senate. Kenobi asked Caladian for a loophole, but the Svivreni was not aware of any. Only when Caladian commented on a group of fugitives that had recently escaped from a prison only to be caught again during a long series of breakouts, did Kenobi chance upon a new idea: they could impersonate the fugitives. Caladian reacted by detailing several laws which would be broken during any such stunt, but Kenobi reassured Caladian by insisting that they would not get caught as Caladian could provide them with forged documents, background information and even the fugitives' starship, which was still impounded by the authorities.

Caladian also used a Stop Comm order to temporarily prohibit the press from leaking the re-capture of the fugitive band, the Slams, for three days. He obtained their impounded Ubrikkian yacht and, bemused at the prospect, explained that the person Kenobi would be impersonating was somewhat of a dandy, something that Kenobi had a hard time feigning. Lastly, Caladian provided all the available information about Romin. Caladian's help proved invaluable during Kenobi's mission.

Endgame
"Tyro, I need you once again."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

In 24 BBY, Tyro Caladian witnessed an audience during which Sauro's faction, including Senator Bog Divinian of Nuralee, questioned Obi-Wan Kenobi. Although Sauro had mustered significant power, Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan opposed him, maneuvering to meet privately with Chancellor Palpatine and a representative of Sauro's point of view; this only increased the already great respect Caladian felt for Organa.

Immediately after the audience, Kenobi met with Caladian and talked about several schemes Sauro and Divinian might be involved in. Caladian explained that although Sauro controlled several Mid Rim planets, he was disliked in the Core Worlds and as such he would not try to topple a popular politician like Palpatine, as Kenobi suspected. Kenobi obtained recordings that Divinian had made for his biographers, and he gave Caladian a copy, as the Jedi was unable to understand the real meaning of his words. Caladian discovered that Divinian was preparing a speech for his own nomination as Supreme Chancellor, but he could not tell Kenobi on time. Eventually, Kenobi discovered it on his own&mdash;there was a plot to murder Palpatine and several other politicians using seeker droids, apparently staged by Granta Omega.

Continuing his investigation, Caladian discovered a top-secret conspiracy involving several important politicians, apparently reaching the highest levels of the government, and unrelated to the assassination attempt Kenobi already knew about. Caladian used his comlink to contact Kenobi and tell him, but at that point Kenobi was in a tunnel and static jammed the communication. Nonetheless, Caladian wanted to tell him personally.

Caladian joined Kenobi in the Grand Convocation Chamber of the Senate, where the seeker droids tried to shoot their targets. Kenobi had been joined by several other Jedi, countering the attack of the killer machines, but they were unable to prevent numerous fatalities. Caladian jumped to meet with Kenobi during the battle, but the Svivreni was riddled with blaster fire, seemingly aimed at Palpatine. Although Caladian reached Kenobi's position, he was dying and unable to talk; he simply performed a traditional Svivreni good-bye gesture and, with fear in his eyes, looked at Palpatine. Weeping, Kenobi loudly enunciated the traditional Svivreni words of farewell.

Legacy
"The journey begins. So go."

- Obi-Wan Kenobi

Caladian's death was not the only loss sustained by the Senate on that day: thirteen other aides, ten Senate Guards and twenty-one senators met their end as well. Later research discovered that the seeker droid that killed Caladian had been programmed to go after him specifically. Kenobi believed that this was strange, as an aide was a lowly target for an assassin.

Caladian's memorial was so crowded that many of his friends were physically outside the room during the ceremony. His office was re-assigned to another person in only two days. Before the new individual took office, Kenobi requisitioned Caladian's files to be archived in the Jedi Temple. Five years after Caladian's death, he was fondly remembered by many of his friends, including his cousin Curran Caladian and the Jedi Ferus Olin.

Personality and traits
"My ears are happy! It is the voice of my friend Obi-Wan!"

- Tyro Caladian

Tyro Caladian was a furry Svivreni who, like many others of his species, had a stout complexion. His fur, covering most of his body including the hands, raised whenever he felt angry. He commonly dressed in navy tunics. Caladian had a small face with two likewise little, but bright, dark eyes, and similarly undersized, pointed, glittering teeth.

Caladian was familiar with the traditions and culture of his peaceful species, which he followed. He used gestures and euphemisms to avoid uttering the word "goodbye," which was considered a jinx in his culture. He also used a thick ring of metal to hold his long mane of black hair, which reached his waist. When nervous, Caladian sometimes manipulated the ring.

The Svivreni wanted to specialize in the administration of the Galactic Senate. Using youthful enthusiasm, acute awareness and a natural skill for bureaucracy and politics, he became an expert in his field, knowledgeable in complex and arcane rules. Caladian also managed to hear almost all of the important, confidential conversations in the Senate, despite not being a participant in many of them. He could also obtain forged identifications if needed. A hard-working person, Caladian flooded his office with containers made of plastoid to keep durasheet documents, sometimes jamming the door in the process.

Caladian believed in the value of democracy, even though he admitted corruption was rampant among the Senators and was frequently worried because of it. However, he still believed in certain Senators, particularly Bail Organa, and considered that they were the norm, rather than the exception. He could not imagine a way to spread civilization through the galaxy other than the Republic. Caladian particularly disliked Senator Sano Sauro; Sauro's dirty deeds had reached Svivren and, although his scheme there had been stopped, Sauro himself was never formally accused, something that made Caladian's blood boil.

Caladian was well-liked among his friends, who were plentiful. The Svivreni was affectionate, being warmer in his deals with Kenobi than Kenobi's colleague Mace Windu. When his relationship with Kenobi led to Caladian becoming a target to spies and saboteurs, Caladian felt honored, as that meant he was becoming more important.

Behind the scenes
"Listen to me. I've dug back, looking for links. And I stumbled on something. Something&hellip;much more&hellip;terrible.''" "I know about the assassination plot on Palpatine." "What? No&hellip; [comlink crackles] &hellip;can't talk about it over a comlink. We must meet. This involves the highest level&hellip;great evil&hellip;" "I know, Tyro! Sano Sauro!" "''&hellip;only you can truly understand&hellip;"

- Tyro tries to report to Obi-Wan

Tyro Caladian first appeared in the novel Jedi Quest: The School of Fear, written by Jude Watson and published by Scholastic in 2003. Caladian made successive appearances in further novels by Watson. He also shared an entry with Curran Caladian in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.

Jedi Quest: The False Peace heavily implies that Tyro had managed to find information related to Palpatine's secret scheme to take over the Republic and become Galactic Emperor, and thus Palpatine sent the seeker droids to kill the Svivreni, silencing him. A major hint is that seconds before his death, he looks over Kenobi's shoulder and is scared at the sight of Palpatine&mdash;although Kenobi believes that it is death that scares Caladian. Another hint is when he attempts to reveal the details of a dangerous plot to Kenobi over his comlink, but the static prevents him from telling all the details.

Appearances

 * Jedi Quest: The School of Fear
 * Jedi Quest: The Changing of the Guard
 * Jedi Quest: The False Peace
 * The Last of the Jedi: The Desperate Mission
 * The Last of the Jedi: Underworld