Nien Nunb/Legends

"Friend, you've helped me so much today, I greatly appreciate it. I can't begin to thank you for your help. You're the type of person who reminds me why we fight against the Empire."

- Nien Nunb

Nien Nunb was a Sullustan smuggler. He grew up in the caves of his homeworld, Sullust, with his sister, Aril Nunb. Later, he worked for the SoroSuub Corporation as a smuggler. During one of his smuggling flights, he befriended Lando Calrissian&mdash;an individual Nunb would have great deals with in later years. It was with Calrissian that he would copilot the Millennium Falcon during the epic Battle of Endor. He went on to become the administrator of the Kessel spice mines, and sporadically worked with the New Republic and its successor, the Galactic Alliance.

Biography
Born on Sullust, Nien Nunb grew up to pilot a freighter for the SoroSuub Corporation. However, as the company gradually came to support the Galactic Empire more and more, Nunb began stealing from his employers. Together with his childhood friend, the politician Sian Tevv, Nunb formed a group of Sullustan raiders whose mission was to fight against SoroSuub and the Empire independently of the Alliance to Restore the Republic. SoroSuub retaliated against Nunb with the help of an Imperial Star Destroyer, resulting in the loss of his ship, the Sublight Queen. However, this didn't hinder Nunb from fighting for his people's freedom.

Convinced by Sian Tevv, Nunb then joined the Rebel Alliance. He was chosen especially by Lando Carrissian to co-pilot the Millennium Falcon during the Battle of Endor. Nien Nunb was awarded the Kalidor Crescent for his heroism in participating in the destruction of the Second Death Star.

Some time after Endor, Nunb was again part of the Falcon crew, this time as the co-pilot of Han Solo. Though Nunb had piloted Solo's starship in wild maneuvers through the shipyards of Fondor, Han could not be convinced by Calrissian to accept Nunb as a temporary substitute for Chewbacca, who was spending time with his family on Kashyyyk. Though suspicious about Nunb's qualities, Han's respect for the Sullustan grew during their mission for Vandelhelm, where he even saved Han's life from a stormtrooper attack.

In 13 ABY, Calrissian purchased the spice mines of Kessel and installed Nunb as administrator. The Sullustan managed to dramatically increase the planet's standards by replacing unwilling slave labor with droid workers. In the same year he assisted Calrissian once more as co-pilot in the Battle of Nam Chorios during the Death Seed crisis.

In 24 ABY, a member of Black Sun tried to murder Nunb on Kessel, but the Sullustan administrator survived the assassination attempt. When the mines were overtaken by Czethros, leader of Black Sun, Nunb allied with Jaina Solo and Lowbacca to regain control.

It is said that Nunb was still administrator of Kessel during the war against the Yuuzhan Vong and that he highly increased the planet's defensive systems to hold off the invaders.

Some time before 43 ABY, he gained a partner's share of the Kessel mines along with Calrissian and his wife Tendra, and helped destroy the subterranean tunnels of Kessel to save the planet from breaking apart from ground quakes.

During 43.5 ABY, Nunb was known to have been a co-owner and manager of of one of Kessel's most prominent mineworks. He was contacted by Ben Skywalker during their search for Sith apprentice Vestara Khai. Nunb informed Ben that a Captain Khai had landed and refueled on Kessel without paying, and had acquired a galactic map update for her ship. He also informed him of the ship's name, She's a Chancer.

Behind the scenes
The character Nien Nunb was realized as a puppet for his appearance in Return of the Jedi. He was performed by Mike Quinn and Richard Bonehill.

The name refers to the fact that the character was "Number Nine" on the creature packing list, but like many of the nicknames given by the crew, it was changed for marketing purposes, according to an interview with Mike Quinn. Mike Quinn interview at Starwarsinterviews.blogspot.com

Nunb was voiced by Kipsang Rotich, a student from Kenya, in his native tongue of Haya. In the movie, Nunb can also be heard speaking Kikuyu, another Kenyan language.

Nien Nunb has been used as a sight gag in several modern cartoons including Family Guy and The Venture Bros.

In Fall 2009, Hasbro released a red B-Wing Pilot in the Legacy Collection Return of the Jedi Line. They are calling him 'Nien Nunb'. Apparently Nunb was originally a B-Wing Pilot who stood behind Lando Calrissian in his red B-Wing gear in the pre-Endor Briefing Room. After the briefing, Lando asked Nunb to be his co-pilot in the Falcon. The figure uses the same mold as Keyan Farlander B-Wing figure, comes with his own helmet similar to Ten Numb with a breathing apparatus attachment.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi novel
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Return of the Jedi 4: The Final Duel
 * Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Star Wars 98: Supply and Demand
 * Star Wars 99: Touch of the Goddess
 * Star Wars 100: First Strike
 * The Vandelhelm Mission
 * Star Wars 107: All Together Now
 * X-wing: Rogue Squadron
 * X-wing: Wedge's Gamble
 * The Last Command
 * Champions of the Force
 * Planet of Twilight
 * Young Jedi Knights: Crisis at Crystal Reef
 * Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
 * Outcast
 * Backlash
 * Backlash