Jesmin Tainer

Jesmin Tainer was a Force-sensitive female Human who served the Galactic Alliance as an undercover agent and later as a pilot in Wraith Squadron. She was the daughter of the pilots Kell Tainer and Tyria Sarkin Tainer and sister to Doran Sarkin-Tainer.

In 43 ABY, using the false identification of a former Jedi apprentice female Anzat turned bounty hunter named Zilaash Kuh, Tainer was tasked by the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances to assist in the arrest of Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker, and later to capture rogue Jedi Knight Valin Horn, who had gone on a destructive rampage after suffering a psychotic breakdown. After failing to capture Horn because of the intervention of Skywalker, Jesmin Tainer, still undercover, was paired up with Quarren mercenary Dhidal Nyz to capture Seff Hellin, a rogue Jedi suffering from the same disease as Horn. However, they lost their target to Darkmeld, a secret organization formed by Jedi Knight Jaina Solo to counter Chief of State Natasi Daala's attempts to undermine the Jedi Order. Kuh soon after disappeared from Coruscant, and by 44 ABY the Galactic Alliance still had not tracked her down as Tainer stopped to use the alias.

Tainer was afterwards recruited by Garik Loran, and joined the reformed Wraith Squadron. During Wraith Squadron's investigation into Galactic Alliance General Stavin Thaal's involvement with the Lecersen Conspiracy, Tainer revealed that she had adopted the mantle of bounty hunter Zilaash Kuh during Natasi Daala's reign as Chief of State of the GA.

Arrest of Skywalker
"Who are you?''" "''Zilaash Kuh. Not, I am afraid, at your service."

- Luke Skywalker and Jesmin Tainer

In 43.5 ABY, Jesmin Tainer was tasked by Galactic Alliance Security to integrate Daala's special-missions force under a false identity. Tainer then created the persona of Zilaash Kuh, a female Anzat bounty hunter who joined the New Jedi Order as a human and was expelled from the Order when the deception was discovered, only keeping her lightsaber of her time as a Jedi apprentice. "Kuh", alongside the Quarren bounty hunter Dhidal Nyz and Skakoan hunter Hrym Mawarr, was then hired by Galactic Alliance Security to assist in the arrest of Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker under the supervision of Security Captain Savar.

Tracking rogue Jedi
"The Chief of State has ordered us to take the rogue Jedi into custody. Surely you've heard of her. Natasi Daala."

- Jesmin Tainer, to Luke Skywalker, on Valin Horn

Tainer was later hired by Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala to capture rogue Jedi Knight Valin Horn, who was suffering from a psychotic breakdown that made him believe that everyone he knew&mdash;except for others suffering from the same disease&mdash;had been replaced by impostors. During the hunt for Horn, Tainer was assisted by the Rodian bounty hunter Kaddit. They were unsuccessful, however, as Skywalker captured the fugitive Jedi.

Shortly after Skywalker's trial and exile from the galactic capital of Coruscant for dereliction of duty, Galactic Alliance Security was issued a warrant from Daala for the arrest of Horn. Under the command of Captain Savar, Galactic Alliance Security forces&mdash;accompanied by Tainer and the cyborg mercenary Vrannin Vaxx&mdash;went to the Jedi Temple and arrested Horn. He was then encased in carbonite and taken to the Armand Isard Correctional Facility, a prison on Coruscant.

In a later mission, Tainer again teamed up with Dhidal Nyz, this time to capture Seff Hellin, a rogue Jedi suffering from the same psychosis as Horn. Because the psychosis made Hellin believe that everyone but Horn had been replaced with an impostor, he attempted to free Horn from the Armand Isard Correctional Facility. Tainer piloted Nyz's cargo hauler to the prison, and Nyz captured Hellin in an electric-pulse net. However, members of Darkmeld&mdash;a secret group formed by Jedi Knight Jaina Solo to counter Daala's attempts to undermine the Jedi Order&mdash;intervened, and captured Hellin themselves. In the ensuing speeder chase, a security speeder&mdash;stolen and piloted by the bounty hunter and Darkmeld affiliate Tahiri Veila&mdash;maneuvered underneath Nyz's and Tainer's cargo hauler. Veila's partner, Imperial Remnant Head of State Jagged Fel, ravaged the bottom of the hauler with his beskar crushgaunts. The hauler began to malfunction, and Tainer and Nyz fell behind and were forced to give up the bounty. Soon afterward, Tainer stopped using her bounty hunter alias and the Galactic Alliance Security stated that Kuh identification documents were indeed forgeries, but that her true identity and whereabouts remained a mystery to the government.

Wraith Squadron
Following the Jedi Order's exile from Coruscant, Jesmin Tainer, the true identity of Kuh, revealed about her disguise to her fellow Wraith Squadron members during the investigation into GA General Stavin Thaal's involvement in the Lecersen Conspiracy.

Personality and traits
"Care to surrender the prisoner? It will save everybody trouble."

- Tainer, to Skywalker, after the latter captured Horn

Tainer under the alias of Kuh was somewhat domineering, and frequently attempted to take control of situations. She considered herself to be superior in comparison to others, especially the Jedi Order, whose popularity had fallen in the public eye in light of recent events&mdash;including Jacen Solo's fall to the dark side of the Force and transformation into the Sith Lord Darth Caedus, along with Hellin's insanity, Horn's rampage, and Skywalker's trial and subsequent exile. Kuh was well-known for her use of a personal lightsaber, and was also adept at piloting, as she flew Nyz's cargo hauler during their attempt to capture Hellin.

Equipment
"You're not a Jedi."

- Luke Skywalker, to Tainer

Force-sensitive through her Jedi mother, Tyria Sarkin Tainer, Jesmin utilized a lightsaber as her personal weapon. After the New Jedi Order strenuously analyzed holos of Tainer during her times as Zilaash Kuh, they discovered that her lightsaber's hilt appeared to have been modeled on the hilt of Old Republic Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi's last lightsaber. During the hunt for Horn, Tainer flew with Kaddit in a racer speeder, and in the later raid on the Armand Isard Correctional Facility, she piloted Nyz's flatbed cargo hauler while he attempted to capture Hellin.

She also carried identification documents that were excellent forgeries due to her status as Galactic Alliance Security undercover agent.

Behind the scenes
Zilaash Kuh was created by Aaron Allston for his first Fate of the Jedi novel, Outcast, released on March 24, 2009. She later received brief mention in Allston's Conviction, the seventh novel overall and Allston's third and final installment in the series. In X-wing: Mercy Kill, the first post-Fate of the Jedi novel, which was also written by Allston, the author revealed that it was Wraith Squadron member Jesmin Tainer, the daughter of Kell and Tyria Sarkin Tainer, who adopted the persona of Zilaash Kuh.

Appearances

 * Outcast
 * Conviction
 * X-wing: Mercy Kill