Turr Phennir

"General Turr Phennir. Supreme Commander of the Confederation military. At your service."

- Turr Phennir

Turr Phennir was an Imperial pilot and General. In 40 ABY, he became the Supreme Commander of the Confederation military.

Fame and glory
"Glad to have you with us, Captain Phennir."

- Soontir Fel welcomes Turr Phennir into the 181st Imperial Fighter Group

Turr Phennir was a Human male who lived during the reign of the Galactic Empire. While the Galactic Civil War raged, both Phennir and his brother served the Imperial Navy as starfighter pilots, but Phennir's brother was killed in action during the Battle of Yavin in 0 BBY by Rebel Alliance pilot Wedge Antilles. Phennir continued to serve, and by approximately 1 ABY, he had achieved the rank of captain and received a scar on the left side of his face. At that time, he was recruited into the 181st Imperial Fighter Group by Major Soontir Fel on the Imperial capital world of Coruscant. Fel had recently transformed the 181st from a fighter wing into an elite three-squadron-strong fighter group, and he saw in Phennir a genuine desire to further the glory of the Empire. Although the 181st was led by Colonel Evir Derricote, Fel took charge of the group's training and spent the next two years preparing his pilots for a variety of missions. Flying TIE fighters, Phennir and his fellows engaged and destroyed Rebel forces on numerous occasions.

At some point between 0 BBY and 3 ABY, Phennir encountered a lone Rebel pilot somewhere in space. A dogfight ensued, and although Phennir was bested, he escaped in his damaged fighter. Around the same time, Phennir participated in several space battles between Imperial and Rebel forces. Fought in the Corellian, Dantooine, Karthakk, Naboo, and Tatoo systems, each battle saw Phennir and several other Imperial pilots support an Imperial Lancer-class frigate as it squared off against a Rebel EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate.

In 3 ABY, the pilots of the 181st were briefed by Lord Darth Vader about an upcoming strike at a Rebel fleet moving supplies in and out of the planet Derra IV. An Imperial strike force brought Phennir and his fellows to their target, where the 181st participated in an attack on an Alliance supply convoy and its starfighter escort. Phennir personally destroyed four transports as the Empire routed its enemies, denying them a critical munitions shipment. After returning to Coruscant, the pilots of the 181st were debriefed, and were afterward given a lavish ceremony where Galactic Emperor Palpatine presented them with medals. For his actions, Phennir was promoted to commander and given control of the fighter group's second squadron, the 2/181st. Derricote was made a general and promoted out of pilot duty, which left the newly-dubbed Baron Fel a colonel and the leader of the 181st.

Victories and defeats
"Isoto acts for the Empire, the Empire we serve.''" "That Empire died with the Emperor. Isoto serves himself, and Pestage and Isard. They are not'' the Empire."

- Soontir Fel and Phennir

Shortly after Derra IV, the 181st were attached to Death Squadron, Lord Vader's personal fleet. When the Empire discovered a hidden Rebel base on the remote world of Hoth, Vader immediately brought the fleet to his enemies. The AT-AT walker group known as Blizzard Force attacked the base on the ground, and Death Squadron remained in orbit as Rebel transports evacuated the planet. The 181st engaged the transports on Vader's orders, and, after a great loss of life on both sides, the Rebel base was destroyed, but a number of Alliance ships were able to escape. By 4 ABY, Phennir was promoted to major and was given the role of the 181st's Executive officer, and the group's starfighter of choice became the TIE/In interceptor. Phennir flew the interceptor Saber 2 and was responsible for the logistics of the 181st's Saber Squadron. His wingman was a pilot with the call sign DS-181-4.

In 4 ABY, the 181st were stationed with Death Squadron at the Empire's second Death Star battlestation in the Endor system. The Emperor, who was personally overseeing the final stages of the station's construction, moved the Imperial fleet to the far side of the moon Endor and lured the Rebel Alliance to the incomplete superweapon with the intention of destroying them. When the Alliance Fleet attacked, they were caught in an ambush. Flying in Saber 2, Phennir was assigned to protect the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Avenger during the ensuing battle. Although the Death Star was protected by a deflector shield, Rebel commandos on the moon destroyed the planetary shield generator, allowing Rebel starfighters to enter the battlestation and cripple its reactor core, which in turn destroyed the entire station and killed the Emperor. The Imperial fleet nevertheless fought for several more hours before retreating to the planet Annaj.

Deprived of their leadership, a number of Imperial officers seceded from the Empire and declared themselves warlords. The 181st remained loyal to the Imperial throne, which was seized by Grand Vizier Sate Pestage, but Phennir came to believe that the Empire he had previously served was dead. The Rebel Alliance reorganized into a New Republic and began to push toward Imperial-held systems in the Core Worlds, and nine months after Endor, the 181st were dispatched to defend the planet Brentaal IV. The battle was orchestrated by Director of Imperial Intelligence Ysanne Isard, who secretly intended for Brentaal IV to fall and tarnish the image of her political enemies. Initially, a single squadron of the 181st was sent, but when they were destroyed and the world's moonbase taken by the New Republic, the rest of the fighter group was dispatched to defend the planet itself.

Disaster at Brentaal
"He might have power, but it is not the sort that can be transferred to you.''" "Sir, if you think I want to supplant&hellip;" "''I don't think that, Turr. Be cautious, man. There are games being played here, and it's not good for a pawn to dream."

- Fel and Tennir discuss Lon Isoto's role in Ysanne Isard's manipulation of events at Brentaal IV

After Phennir and his fellows arrived onworld, Fel received orders from Admiral Lon Isoto: protect his capital city of Vuultin. Fel was able to persuade him to allow all but one flight of the 181st to instead defend the strategic spaceport facilities in the city of Oradin, and Phennir came to see Isoto as an incompetent self-serving coward. The 181st established base in an Oradin hangar, where Phennir sought out Fel and indicated that the entire fighter group would follow him if he disregarded all of Isoto's commands. He further suggested that Fel usurp Isoto and become a warlord based out of Brentaal IV. Although sympathetic, Fel disregarded the suggestion and remained committed to defending the planet's citizens. Phennir acknowledged his decision, and the two boarded their interceptors after being informed by a technician that a New Republic attack was imminent. Over Oradin, the 181st resisted an attack by the Y-wing fighter group Aggressor Wing, and Fel led Alpha Squadron in destroying them while Phennir took the remainder of the fighter group to make an run on attacking assault carriers. Phennir singlehandedly brought one of the carriers down. When Isoto commed Fel and demanded that he retreat to the besieged Vuultin, Phennir urged him to ignore the command, but Fel relented to his superior officer and took Alpha Squadron to defend the capital. He ordered Phennir to leave nothing for Oradin's conquerors, and Phennir inflicted heavy damage on the city before following the Baron. However, the attack at Vuultin had been a feint, and the New Republic forces retreated to Oradin.

In Vuultin, the members of the 181st were invited into the throne room of Isoto's lavish palace, where the Admiral celebrated the city's survival and presented Phennir with an award for his destruction of the carrier: The Vuultin Starburst, created for the occasion by Isoto himself. Save for Fel, who refused any reward, the rest of the fighter group received the Oradin Diamond award, which Isoto also gave to himself. Despite Fel's humility, Isoto declared the day "Fel's Day," and a round of wine drinking ensued. Phennir spoke with Fel and dismissed his medal, believing that the battle had been just another day to kill their enemies. Fel suggested that Isoto's overconfidence was affecting Phennir, and opined to the shocked Major that the entire incident was a game orchestrated by higher powers. At that moment, Grania&mdash;one of Isoto's concubines&mdash;approached the two and offered herself to them. Phennir followed Fel's lead in politely refusing, but his reluctance showed to the Baron, who gave him the go-ahead. Phennir scooped Grania into his arms and proceeded to a more private location.

Not long afterward, the New Republic struck at Vuultin. As the X-wing fighters of Rogue Squadron assaulted the city's defenses, the 181st launched to engage them, and the battle soon moved from the atmosphere into space. Several interceptors were shot down by the Rogues while the rest of the 181st attacked the Y-wings of Aggressor Wing. Phennir approached Rogue pilot Tycho Celchu and attacked with a determination to kill one of the New Republic's best pilots; however, Vuultin had fallen, and the battle was already lost. Fel thus allowed Phennir only one pass at Celchu before taking the 181st to regroup with the Star Destroyer Eviscerator. When Celchu reversed his throttle and slipped behind Phennir, he broke to port and retreated to the Eviscerator. Meanwhile, Fel's interceptor was crippled by an ion blast from Agressor Wing's Colonel Horton Salm. Captured by the New Republic, Fel defected from an Empire in which he no longer believed, and command of the 181st was given to Phennir.

Regaining ground
"The real One Eighty-first is still serving the Empire with loyalty and skill, under Turr Phennir."

- Teren Rogriss, in 7 ABY

The New Republic continued their coreward push toward Coruscant over the next two years, and in 6 ABY, Phennir and the 181st were stationed at the Bilbringi Shipyards, where they were answerable to Admiral Teren Rogriss. When the New Republic's Admiral Nammo brought elements of the New Republic Third Battle Group to Bilbringi, Phennir and the 181st played a role in their defeat. The New Republic nevertheless conquered Coruscant one year later, and Imperial leadership was thrown into flux. Various individuals ruled over the next few years, and Phennir and the 181st remained loyal to the throne. However, in 11 ABY, the entire Imperial Ruling Council was killed, and the Galactic Empire ceased to exist. The holdings of various warlords were unified to form the Imperial Remnant in 12 ABY; by that time, Phennir&mdash;now considered the Empire's greatest starfighter ace&mdash;was stationed with the 181st on the planet Borosk, in Remnant territory.

New Head of State Gilad Pellaeon sought to expand the new government's borders through conquest, and he brought the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Reaper to Borosk and collected Phennir and the 181st. The fighter group and the Star Dreadnought swiftly captured the Mid Rim planet Orinda and six systems coreward of it along the Entralla Route. Their final conquest was Lonnaw, from where Pellaeon dispatched emissaries to the New Republic, informing them that no further offensives would be launched if the new Imperial borders were respected. Instead, the New Republic dispatched a fleet led by General Antilles that consisted of Rogue Squadron and the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Lusankya to the front lines. Before Antilles caught up with Pellaeon's fleet, the 181st and a complement of Imperial-class Star Destroyers captured the defenseless worlds of Hewett and Tartaglia. When Antilles arrived in the Mid Rim, Phennir brought the 181st to the Reaper aid as the fleet engaged Rogue Squadron and the Lusankya at Darkon and Traval-Pacor. Both engagements were won by the New Republic, who secured the worlds.

The Rogues then defeated the 181st at Ithor and conquered the planet, and the two starfighter groups fought to a stalemate at Orocco. Afterward, the 181st and the Lusankya battled for control of Tyan, and the 181st emerged victorious. At that point, the fleet carrier Endurance was added to the New Republic's arsenal, and it joined Antilles's fleet in defeating the 181st and the Reaper at Obredaan. Pellaeon's fleet fell back to Orinda, where the New Republic attacked. Phennir led the 181st as, alongside the Reaper, it defended the world against the entirety of Antilles's forces. Pellaeon sprung a trap when six interdictor cruisers and the Star Dreadnought Dominion decanted from hyperspace; the Endurance was destroyed, and the Lusankya retreated. Orinda was secured as the edge of the Imperial Remnant's territory, but subsequent border clashes with the New Republic became common. In 13 ABY, both governments turned their eyes to the neutral planet Adumar.

Emissary of the Empire
"General Turr Phennir.''" "Wedge Antilles." "It seems we're here for the same reason." "I suspect so." "You'll understand if I don't wish you luck." "''Likewise."

- Wedge Antilles and Phennir, after meeting on Adumar

Located in Wild Space, Adumar was a planet with rich ordnance-producing resources that had just recently discovered the wider galaxy. Its citizens held fighter pilots in high esteem, and when the Imperial Remnant discovered that it was interested in joining them, Phennir&mdash;now a general&mdash;and three other members of the 181st were dispatched on a diplomatic mission to a world that insisted it negotiate with the Remnant's best pilots. Admiral Rogriss brought them to Adumar in the Star Destroyer Agonizer, and, after making planetfall in the nation state of Cartann, the pilots were welcomed by the nation's government with pomp and ceremony. That evening, they attended a reception at the palace of Cartann's perator, Pekaelic ke Teldan, in the nation's capital of Cartann City. After leaving their blasters at the door, Phennir and his men were greeted by a large crowd of government officials and pilots in the palace's outer hall. Phennir was surprised to bump into Wedge Antilles, and, after a reach for his blaster came up empty, he realized that Adumar had also invited the New Republic's best pilots in an effort to judge both governments. In a tense moment, Phennir and Antilles shook hands, acknowledged each other's missions, and parted company. Before the night was over, the pilots bore witness to a duel between two locals, Cheriss ke Hanadi and Depird ke Fanax, who fought with Adumar's local blastsword weapon.

With Phennir and Antilles now aware of each other's presence, Rogriss was made to swear to Cartann's government that he would leave the system peacefully should they choose to side with the New Republic. Over the next several days, Phennir and his men tested out Adumar's Blade-32 superiority fighters in the planet's skies. After launching from the Cartann Bladedrome military base, they were routinely challenged to dogfights by local pilots, who sought to gain honor by killing them. They accepted and won each challenge, killing their opponents and gaining considerable honor themselves in the eyes of their hosts. Their popularity in Cartann rose above that of Antilles and his three Rogue Squadron pilots, who exclusively used simulated weapons in their aerial duels. Phennir and his men were often invited to dinner by Cartann nobles, and as the days passed, the invitations began to come from nobles of higher prestige, who preferred Phennir's adherence to local customs over Antilles's effort to spare lives. One day, the 181st pilots accepted challenges from and shot down two half squadrons of experienced pilots. While returning from the base to the city, their wheeled transport was surrounded by gawking locals, who shouted accolades and passed them gifts. The procession stalled Antilles' own transport, and Phennir gave his opposite number a mocking smile.

With the prospect of joining the galactic community becoming very real, Cartann's government invited representatives from the world's other nations to Cartann City in order to discuss the possibility of forming a planetary government. A reception was held at the Perator's palace, and Phennir and his men attended in Adumari dress. Phennir kept a watchful eye on Antilles' men, who stood out in New Republic dress uniforms, while the other 181st pilots regaled admiring nobles with dogfighting anecdotes. Before the Perator spoke, ke Hanadi accepted and won two consecutive challenges from blastsword duelists, after which Perator ke Teldan gave a speech in front of a flatcam that broadcasted across all of Adumar. He declared that Cartann would henceforth be the center of an Adumari government led by himself, and when the flatscreens turned off, he told the visiting dignitaries that they had one day to officially acquiesce. Two more blastsword duels closed off the night, and the following evening, Phennir and his men followed the New Republic pilots' lead and arrived at the Perator's palace in formal Imperial attire. Ke Teldan announced that the Yedagon Confederacy and the nation of Halbegardia had issued statements of defiance, and he asked the eight visiting pilots if they would fly with Cartann in a war against the two nations. Phennir immediately pledged his men to the Perator's cause, but Antilles refused, and the New Republic pilots were consequently exiled from Cartann.

Fighting for Cartann
"Would you&mdash;and it would please us greatly if you would&mdash;lead units of the Cartann armed forces in action against our enemies, so that we might grasp the full measure of your skill and honor?''" "''It would be my tremendous honor to demonstrate what we have to offer the people of Cartann and Adumar."

- Perator ke Hanadi and Phennir

The other Adumari nations ultimately defeated Cartann, however, and Phennir barely escaped the planet with his life, escaping a space-battle where Antilles damaged the TIE Defender Phennir was now flying.

Second Galactic Civil War
In 40 ABY, Turr Phennir was appointed Supreme Commander of the Confederation military, taking control of the combined fleets of the Confederation Fleet of the Confederation, in their war against the Galactic Alliance.

Phennir laid a trap for the Galactic Alliance Fleet at Gilatter VIII, but Jacen Solo warned the fleet of the minefields that they were about to enter, meaning that the battle became a straightforward and rather indecisive duel between the opposing fleets. Nevertheless, the Confederation quickly hailed the clash as a victory for Phennir.

Later, Phennir would blockade Corellia when Sadras Koyan fired Centerpoint Station at the Alliance Second Fleet. When Corellian Minister of Information Denjax Teppler asked Phennir to send reinforcements to Corellia, Phennir refused to do so until Koyan was removed, before sending a Commenori fleet to Corellia.

Continued service
Phennir continued to serve as the Supreme Commander of the Confederation and was present as the Confederation representative in the first meeting of the Unification Summit on Coruscant in 43 ABY. He attended alongside Natasi Daala of the Galactic Alliance and Jagged Fel of the Empire in an effort to reconcile the galactic divisions brought on by the Second Galactic Civil War.

Behind the scenes
Turr Phennir was created by Michael A. Stackpole for the X-wing: Rogue Squadron comics.

He has also appeared in Legacy of the Force and Star Wars Galaxies.

Appearances

 * X-wing Rogue Squadron 22: In the Empire's Service, Part 2
 * X-wing Rogue Squadron 23: In the Empire's Service, Part 3
 * X-wing Rogue Squadron 24: In the Empire's Service, Part 4
 * X-wing Rogue Squadron 25: The Making of Baron Fel
 * X-wing: Solo Command
 * X-wing: Starfighters of Adumar
 * Exile
 * Fury
 * Outcast
 * Outcast