Caled Galfridian

"You were in the Battle of Hoth, Dad. You didn't take risks?"

- Finn Galfridian, to his father

Caled Galfridian was a Human male from Artorias during the Yuuzhan Vong War in 25 ABY. He was the King of Artorias and lived with his queen, Nina, and two children, Finn and Kaye. Caled was a veteran of the Galactic Civil War, notably fighting in the Battle of Hoth with the Rebel Alliance. He also fought in the defense of his homeworld when the Yuuzhan Vong invaded, although the planet was ultimately lost. Despite losing his wife and daughter to the clutches of the invaders, Caled organized a guerrilla resistance movement to delay the Yuuzhan Vong and find his family. His son Finn would escape the planet and join the New Jedi Order under the tutelage of Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker.

Battle of Artorias
"What was that?''" "''It's a sound I haven't heard since&hellip;quickly inside."

- Caled and his son, during the invasion of Artorias

Prior to the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of Artorias in 25 ABY, Caled ruled an idyllic planet that did not even possess a rudimentary defense force. On the day of the attack, Caled was scolding his son Finn for taking reckless risks. As the two argued, the sound of a large explosion interrupted the two, causing Caled to immediately run to the weapons locker and grab blasters.

The king and his son rushed toward the marketplace to rescue Caled's wife Nina and daughter Kaye, but were unable to make it due to the surrounding chaos. Caled ordered his people to retreat to the shipyards and covered their retreat. The two Galfridians sealed the hangar doors, but the building was besieged by many of the Yuuzhan Vong. To make matters worse, the king was informed by his friend Dulac that all the ships had been sabotaged by a Yuuzhan Vong agent. He ordered Finn and his droid, Prowl, to fix the sabotaged ships while he and the rest of defenders prepared for the assault. The siege came to naught as the Artorians were saved by Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, who cut down the Yuuzhan Vong warriors.

Caled greeted his old comrade-in-arms, who told the king that the New Republic had sent ships to evacuate the populace. Caled personally refused to evacuate, citing his responsibility as king to defend Artorias, as well as finding some sign of his wife and daughter. Although Finn demanded to accompany his father, Caled told him that in light of his own death, the Artorians still needed a king. Caled quickly assembled a strike team to attack the Yuuzhan Vong invaders at the nearby beach. The last time the strike team was seen, they were engaging the Yuuzhan Vong in the surf.

In the meantime, Finn was recruited by Skywalker for Jedi training at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4 after demonstrating his Force ability when he sensed his mother and sister in danger. Nina and Kaye had been overwhelmed by the Yuuzhan Vong warriors in the marketplace, and although Kaye was able to kill one of the warriors, the two Galfridians were herded into a Yuuzhan Vong slaveship and imprisoned.

Leading the Resistance
Caled led the resistance from a base hidden deep underwater, striking against the Yuuzhan Vong's Vongforming of Artorias. During their missions they killed many sentries, which needed to be replaced. The reinforcement were taken from the slaveship Tsam P'ah, which imprisoned many of Artorias' inhabitants. The smaller number of guards aboard the slaveship allowed the prisoners to revolt. At the same time Caled led a mission to rescue his friend Dulac. They succeeded, and brought Dulac to their base.

On Nar Shaddaa Finn had learned through a holocron that Dulac actually was a Yuuzhan Vong wearing an ooglith masquer. He raced back to Artorias with Jacen and Jaina Solo to warn his father. He was too late, however, as Dulac had already revealed himself to Caled and attacked him. Caled, despite his surprise, managed to hold his own in the fight, but Dulac slowly gained the upper hand. The timely arrival of Prowl, who shot Dulac on Finn's command was the end of the struggle between the two men. Dulac, realizing he was about to die, had one final trick up his sleeve: a plaeryin bol. Dulac launched the venom at the King, hitting him full in the face. Dulac was quickly dispatched by Jacen and Jaina, but Caled was already heavily wounded.

Personality and traits
"No. I need to find my family&hellip;and I won't abandon Artorias to these creatures. You don't have time to convince me otherwise, Luke. You have people to save, including my son."

- Caled to Luke Skywalker, during the Invasion of Artorias

Caled Galfridian took his responsibilities as king and father seriously; he was very protective of his family and his people and ready to put himself in harm's way to ensure the safety of both. His authority was evident when he personally ordered the Artorians in the marketplace to retreat to the hangar, as well as when he put himself on the front line in defense of the building. Even when he was offered the opportunity to escape, Caled demonstrated his responsibility as king, remaining behind to organize a resistance movement.

Skills and abilities
Caled's experiences in the Galactic Civil War gave him experience in combat as well as making him a military leader. He was skilled in the use of thermal detonators and in commanding a small army, using the latter to great effect when he led a strike force against the Yuuzhan Vong on Artorias.

Behind the scenes
Caled Galfridian was created by Tom Taylor and illustrated by Colin Wilson for the Star Wars: Invasion comic series. The series features the Galfridian family as they become separated during the Yuuzhan Vong War.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Invasion 1: Refugees, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Invasion 3: Refugees, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Invasion 4: Refugees, Part 4
 * Star Wars: Invasion 5: Refugees, Part 5
 * Star Wars: Invasion 6: Rescues, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Invasion 7: Rescues, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Invasion 8: Rescues, Part 3