Paltr Carvin

"Carvin leads, and will lead for life." "You say that as if life is a synonym for long."

- Delak Krennel and Ysanne Isard

Paltr Carvin was an Imperial general and Tribune who briefly ruled the Galactic Empire in 5 ABY. A member of the Imperial Ruling Council, Carvin seized control after Sate Pestage was accused of treason and fled Imperial Center. Working with Director of Imperial Intelligence Ysanne Isard, Carvin put out a warrant for Pestage's arrest, and as a result the former Grand Vizier was captured on Ciutric IV.

Carvin appointed Admiral Delak Krennel to retrieve Pestage and bring him back to Imperial Center, but the ensuing First Battle of Ciutric IV prevented that. Pestage had been rescued by New Republic agents, but the agents themselves had been forced to stay on the planet due to the presence of the Interdictor Star Destroyer Binder. Krennel initially failed to take control of the situation however, turning it into a fiasco. Meanwhile, Isard had Carvin's closest colleagues assassinated, before having the general himself arrested. As control over the Empire was wrested from his grasp, Carvin was taken to the Lusankya prison facility, where he was to be reconditioned to serve Isard loyally.

Ascension
"If Pestage is a traitor, then we are the state."

- Paltr Carvin

A general in the Imperial Military, Paltr Carvin was appointed to the Imperial Ruling Council at some stage prior to or in 5 ABY. After Emperor Palpatine's first death at Endor in 4 ABY, the council and Grand Vizier Sate Pestage became embroiled in a brief power struggle for control of the Empire, with Pestage eventually taking the Imperial throne for himself. The council, eager to overthrow Pestage and take the reins of the Empire themselves, became informally allied with Director of Imperial Intelligence Ysanne Isard, who acted as a neutral intermediary between it and Pestage. Following the disastrous Battle of Brentaal IV, the council, headed by Carvin, was summoned to a meeting by Director Isard. She insinuated that Pestage had entered into a pact with the New Republic, and intended to effectively turn the Galactic Empire over to them. Specifically, Isard suspected that Pestage had met with Leia Organa on Axxila, and had subsequently given orders to let her escape the planet.

Carvin was dubious, and when Isard informed him that she had obtained incriminating data files from "confidential sources" he accused her of being a liar. Isard did not baulk at the accusation, and instead insisted that her prime interest was state security. Musing over the accusation, Carvin surmised that the Ruling Council would have to rule in Pestage's stead, if what Isard said was true. Council member Challer was quick to caution the general however, and went on to question Isard. The Director requested that the Ruling Council strip Pestage of power and put an end to his treason, and Carvin complied.

As a result, Isard was given carte blanche to ground ships in order to prevent Pestage's escape from Imperial Center. Meanwhile, Carvin and his Tribunal charged the Grand Vizier with treason, put out a warrant for his arrest, and assumed control of the Galactic Empire. In his new position as Tribune, Carvin began sporting the rank insignia of an Admiral. When Pestage was placed in custody by Governor Brothic on Ciutric IV, Isard prepared to send her own men to "recover" him, to apparently stand trial on Imperial Center. Carvin would have none of it however, and ordered Isard to have her people merely secure Pestage, and not transport him. At the same time, he had Admiral Delak Krennel travel to Ciutric IV in the Star Destroyer Reckoning, to fetch Pestage personally.

Isard protested at first, and then requested permission to personally observe Pestage's retrieval. Carvin was incredulous, questioning Isard as to whether she actually had any responsibilities to attend to on Imperial Center itself. He and his colleagues denied Isard permission, ordering her to leave the task to Krennel and attend to her duties on the capital. The Madame Director disobeyed the Tribunal however, and sent her agents to Ciutric IV. Simultaneously, Republic agents attacked the planet, and broke Pestage out of custody. Both Krennel and Isard's men had failed to stop the enemy, but the participation of the Intel Director's Interdictor Star Destroyer, Binder&mdash;which was able to prevent ships from entering hyperspace&mdash;had kept the Republic from escaping, and had forced them to retreat to the wilderness of Ciutric IV.

Fall
"I will never become your plaything." "Oh, General Carvin, I think you will find you will become all manner of things when you reach the Lusankya facility."

- Paltr Carvin and Ysanne Isard

Carvin and the Tribunal placed sole blame for the fiasco on Isard's shoulders, and fiercely upbraided her for disobedience. The general warned the Director that if she did not cooperate with the Tribunal in the future, her career under their rule would be stopped short and abruptly terminated. Carvin then provided Krennel with more fighters with which to smoke the Republic agents out, but the TIE craft were subsequently destroyed by Rogue Squadron.

While this was happening however, Isard was moving to overthrow Carvin. She had her agents assassinate Tribunes Challer and Plumba, before sending Royal Guards to apprehend Carvin. The general was beaten by the guards before being brought before the triumphant Isard. He could do little more than cry treason, helpless before the Director. Isard planned to make Carvin serve her as she stepped into his role as ruler of the Empire, but the general insisted that he would not cooperate. The Director was not fazed at all, as she was confident that a stint in the Lusankya prison facility would make the general change his mind. With that, Carvin was hauled out of Isard's presence, and taken into captivity.

Personality and traits
"How is it you have so little to do here on Imperial Center?"

- Paltr Carvin

A power-hungry man, Paltr Carvin was eager and quick to take Sate Pestage's role when the Grand Vizier was accused of being a traitor to the Empire. He was, on occassion, pulled back into line by his colleagues, such as Challer, but was essentially considered to be the head of the Empire following Pestage's depature from Imperial Center. His leadership initially inspired confidence in others, such as Delak Krennel, but he would later shift blame to cover his own mistakes, shaking the faith some people had in him.

Carvin thought Ysanne Isard insignificant, and was quick to deflate her arguments during meetings. The feeling was mutual on Isard's end&mdash;the general was considered a fool by the Director of Imperial Intelligence. Carvin was quick to shoot down Isard's request to travel to Ciutric IV, and together with his colleagues, mocked the Director by reeling off a list of objectives she had failed to accomplish. Later, when beaten and bloodied before Isard, he remained defiant, and refused to serve her, although she was confident that the Lusankya prison facility would help change his mind.

Behind the scenes
Paltr Carvin made his first and only appearance in Mandatory Retirement, which was the final story arc of the X-wing: Rogue Squadron comic series. Mandatory Retirement was written by Michael A. Stackpole and penciled by Steve Crespo.

Appearances

 * X-wing Rogue Squadron: Mandatory Retirement