Jesmin Ackbar

"With my name, Uncle. My commanders were afraid of putting me in the line of fire, for fear that I'd be killed...and that you'd blame them."

- Jesmin Ackbar to her uncle on what brought her to Wraith Squadron

Jesmin Ackbar, was a female Mon Calamari and the niece of the famed Admiral Ackbar. She chose to embark on a career as a pilot for the New Republic, however, prior to her placement within Wraith Squadron she rarely saw combat from the cockpit of a starfighter. Throughout her early career she was often marginalized by her superior officers within Starfighter Command; the reason being that because she was a direct blood-relation to the Admiral of the Fleet, no squadron commander wanted to be held responsible for her death. This caused Jesmin to feel that her training had been a waste of resources.

Wraith Squadron service
When Commander Wedge Antilles began putting together a roster of pilot-candidates for Wraith Squadron, he wanted pilots who had track records of being chronic screwups, insubordinates, and generally those who would otherwise be considered to have careers headed for the incinerator. Although Jesmin was neither a bad pilot nor a troublemaker, and indeed had exemplary marks during her own training, she was brought in to serve as the squadron's communications specialist. During the unit's initial training, she was backhanded by another candidate, a Quarren named Triogor Sllus, who was washed out of the squadron two days later. After the unit's first action in the defense and evacuation of the Folor Base and the subsequent capture of an enemy vessel, the two relatives were able to visit, and the topic of Jesmin's place in the squadron came up. Ackbar had been surprised to see her name on the roster, in reaction she asked that he not place blame on Wedge should she be killed in combat while serving in combat. Ackbar agreed, noting her renewed happiness and expressing faith in her ability and Wedge's training methods, advising her to trust the commander.

Now stationed aboard the captured modified CR90 Corvette Night Caller, Wraith Squadron soon found itself pitted against Warlord Zsinj as they began their task of systematically bringing down the financial empire that funded his war machine. During an assault on the Zsinj-affiliated pirates of Blood Nest, one the moons of M2398-3, Jesmin's X-wing was hit by a ground-based pulse cannon. Her snubfighter suffered serious damage, including a failed inertial compensator and, despite the best efforts of fellow pilot Kell Tainer to save her fighter by using his own craft to redirect its course, it was shattered upon the surface of the moon. During the engagement itself however, Jesmin scored three kills, officially becoming an ace. Due to the circumstances of the damage her ship suffered she was rendered unconscious, and thus did not suffer. Tainer, though his attempts to save the Mon Cal pilot proved futile, would be awarded the Kalidor Crescent for his conspicuous bravery.

A Letter to the Admiral
After Jesmin's death at M2398-3, Wedge Antilles composed and sent the following letter to Admiral Ackbar.

Personality and traits
Like most Mon Calamari, Jesmin was peaceful by nature yet was intensely loyal and dedicated to her cause and comrades. She was a skillful pilot who scored high marks during her training, and was also highly adept at communications, both in protocols, use of technology and even basic to intermediate cryptanalysis. It therefore came as a surprise to both her uncle and her future commanding officer when she applied for and was accepted into Wraith Squadron, a unit which was intended to be made up of misfits and those facing the ends of their careers but who still wanted to prove themselves; it was this innate sense of loyalty, of not wanting to be a burden and a waste to her cause that drove her. Jesmin was also known to possess a light-hearted sense of humor, frequently finding amusement in the mannerisms and joking of her comrades in the squadron, as well as indulging in good-natured banter. Her time in the squadron and subsequent death had a profound effect on her commanding officer at the time, Wedge Antilles.

Behind the scenes
The character of Jesmin Ackbar was created by author Aaron Allston for the novel X-wing: Wraith Squadron. In X-wing: Iron Fist she is mistakenly referred to as Jasmin Ackbar.

Appearances

 * X-wing: Wraith Squadron
 * X-wing: Iron Fist
 * X-wing: Isard's Revenge