Wilhuff Tarkin

"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."

- Leia Organa

Wilhuff Tarkin was a Human male who served the Galactic Republic and, later, the Galactic Empire. During the Clone Wars, Tarkin served as a Republic captain and was taken prisoner by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, before escaping with the help of a Jedi and clone trooper strike team. He was later promoted to Admiral and presided over the trial of Ahsoka Tano, who was framed for the bombing of the Jedi Temple Hangar.

After Supreme Chancellor Palpatine transformed the Republic into the Galactic Empire, Tarkin became the regional Governor of the Outer Rim and commanded the Death Star. He believed that fear of the battle station would keep the local systems loyal to the Empire, and used it to destroy Alderaan to showcase the station's power. The Rebel Alliance, however, stole plans to the Death Star and was able to destroy it during the Battle of Yavin, killing all those on board&mdash;including Tarkin.

Early life
Wilhuff Tarkin was born into a wealthy family on the planet of Eriadu several years prior to the Battle of Naboo.

Battle of Murkhana
During the early stages of the Clone Wars Tarkin was a Commanding officer at the Battle of Murkhana. Tarkin spearheaded the assault against the Confederacy of Independent Systems.

Captured by the Confederacy
Sometime after the Battle of Murkhana Tarkin served under Jedi master Even Piell. Tarkin and Piell undertook a Mission to Secure the Nexus Route. The Nexus Route was a strategically important hyperspace route that led both into the heart of the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Galactic Republic. Before Tarkin and Piell were able to return to Republic Space securing the information to the Republic they were attacked by the Confederacy Navy. Before they were boarded Piell and Tarkin each memorized half of the information regarding the Nexus Route, they then erased it from the ship's computer. Shortly after they and several clone troopers were captured and taken to the Seperatist controlled planet Lola Sayu, a volcanic world home to the Citadel, a prison built hundreds of years before that was designed to hold renegade Jedi if any had lost their way.

Later Piell was rescued by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker his Padawan Ahsoka Tano and several clone troopers that made up the rest of the rescue team. Piell informed Skywalker that Tarkin posessed the other half of the Nexus Route and that he and several clone troopers were being held in a seperate cell. Skywalker and his team made their way to Tarkin's cell destroying several battle droids along the way. They then freed the Republic officers and began their escape from the Citadel.

To the shuttle
"You lack faith in the Jedi.''" "I find their tactics ineffective. The Jedi Code prevents them from going far enough to achieve victory, to do whatever it takes to win, the very reason why peacekeepers should not be leading a war. Have I&hellip;offended you?" "No. I've also found that we sometimes fall short of victory because of our methods." "''Well, I see we agree on something."

- Anakin Skywalker and Tarkin discuss the Jedi Order's place in the war.

Tarkin was at first suprised to see Piell again, and elated to be freed from capture. Tarkin was feeling despaired about their current situation for they were still deep in enemy territory. General Kenobi worked out a plan to ecape, Tarkin disagreed with Kenobi's plan stating it would be better to stay together to bring strength in numbers, providing the already small group with better protection to escape the Citadel and protect the Nexus Route information. Piell and the others rejected Captain Tarkin's plan, they then split up into two groups, Tarkin still tried to convince them greater strength would be found in greater numbers compared to splitting up, Piell agreed with Kenobi and ordered Tarkin to accompany Skywalker's group. Tarkin was annoyed that his seemingly superior plan was rejected, but still did as commanded and followed Skywalker into the old tunnels under the Citadel.

They began moving through the tunnels, Skywalker noted that everything was going according to Kenobi's plan so far, Tarkin again voiced his opinion of the matter, asking what would happen if Kenobi's plan began to fail. Skywalker stated Jedi worked at their best when they had to improvise, Tarkin informed Skywalker he only respected those who took action, Skywalker retorted that he only respected those who understood gratitude, reminding Tarkin he would have still been a prisoner if not for the efforts of the Jedi.

Skywalker's Padawan learner Ahsoka took lead of the group, Tarkin lacked faith in the young girl, clone captain Rex attempted to persuade Tarkin otherwise, telling him he had served under her many times before and never failed him. Tarkin was unconvinced and and dismissed the clone's thoughts with silence. While the group made their way throught the old tunnel system towards the rendevous point, Tarkin became increasingly impressed with the layout and structure of the Citadel, Tano was annoyed asking Tarkin how he could admire such a. Tarkin then explained to Tano there entire ordeal proved his claim, he then explained that he wished the Citadel had been claimed by the Republic and not the Seperatists. Tano still disagreed with Tarkin while Skywalker agreed with him.

Tarkin then admitted to Anakin that he had earned his trust but not the rest of the Jedi Order, for in Tarkin's experience the Jedi's tactics had proved ineffective. The Jedi Code prevented the them from going far enough to defeat the Confederacy and end the Clone War. Anakin, rather than being offended by Tarkin's opinion, agreed with him, stating that their tactics did keep they from going far enough achieve victory at times. Tarkin and Skywalker came to a mutual respect for one another.

They soon reached the shuttle's location, but before they could board the were attacked by a Seperatist droid garrison and several laser cannons. Tarkin reached the conclusion that to take the shuttle and escape they would have to attack in a full forward assault, but before a decision could be made the shuttle was destroyed by the droids. The group was then forced to retreat from the superior numbers of their enemies.

Escape from Lola Sayu
Soon they were provided a set of coordinates where they would be picked up by a Jedi led rescue team. Tarkin questioned what would become of them if the Jedi failed to rescue them, much to Piell's annoyance. Skywalker warned Tarkin that arguing with Piell was ill fated, Tarkin stated he stood by his principles without compromise no matter what. Tarkin did not feel threatened by Piell for his career was sound, he had found favor with the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic Sheev Palpatine. Anakin retorted that he had also fallen into favor with the Chancellor, causing the pair to grow a further sense of respect for one another.

Soon the group was attacked by more droids and several anoobas, the group reached a cliff face, unable to climb down they locked in their ascension gun cables, Tarkin climbed onto Skywalker's back and repelled down the cliff. Tarkin then engaged the droids in combat, shooting down at least one STAP and several commando droids, Tarkin was saved by a clone navy trooper who sacrificed himself by pushing Tarkin out of a blaster bolt's path by taking it himself. After the battle Tarkin informed the group that more squads would soon be on their way. General Piell fell in battle, slain by an anooba, but before he died he passed on his half of the information to Ahsoka Tano, much to Tarkin's annoyance. The Jedi held a short funeral for Master Piell before moving on. Soon the group made their way to the coordinates and were attacked by more battle droids and the Citadel's sadistic caretaker Osi Sobeck. After a brief battle Sobeck was all that remained, he was unarmed and at Tarkin's mercy, Tarkin fired his blaster rifle, wounding Sobeck. Sobeck charged Tarkin, lifting him over his head. Sobeck was about to throw Tarkin into a river of lava when Ahoska Tano stabbed Sobeck through the back with her lightsaber. Captain Tarkin recovered, thanked Tano and then stated that Skywalker had trained his Padawan well. They were then picked up by the rescue team and were taken to the safety of Coruscant.

Carida Incident
"We're scanning large amounts of rhydonium on that ship!"

- Wilhuff Tarkin, during the Carida incident

In the latter stages of the Clone Wars Tarkin and many other members of the Republic Navy and Jedi Order convened to discuss their ongoing efforts to defeat the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Shortly before the conference was set to begin a Venator-class Star Destroyer, the Renown which had been hijacked and loaded with highly explosive ryhdonium by the Seperatists, came out of hyperspace near the space station Valor, the location of the conference. Tarkin's Astromech droid Z9 notified Tarkin he was unable to contact anyone on board the Renown. Moments later Renown exploded. The shockwave shook Valor while debris crashed into the hull. Luckily D-squad a squadron of droids led by Coloneol Meebur Gascon sent on a secret mission was able to stop Renown and detonate the bomb before it reached the station, saving Tarkin and everyone else on board. Tarkin later wrote a request to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine blaming the Jedi for the incident, for they had been incompetent in preventing the attack in the first place, and requesting he retire the Jedi from leading the Clone War.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Galactic Defense
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Tarkin
 * Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Tarkin
 * Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Tarkin
 * Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope