Quarsh Panaka/Legends

"This is a dangerous situation, Your Highness. Our security volunteers will be no match against a battle-hardened Federation army."

- Panaka

Panaka was the head of the Royal Naboo Security Forces in the decade before the Empire, and Moff for the Chommell Sector in the decades after.

Ha Panaka Died for nothing in the end - the empire destoried all he worked for.

Biography
Panaka was appointed head of security on Naboo shortly after the former monarch King Veruna was killed; his replacement of Captain Magneta was one of Queen Amidala's first acts as regent. Panaka took the death of Veruna particularly hard, he felt his death was his fault and to ensure this never happened again, he developed an elaborate security setup, involving the Queen's handmaidens and decoys. This would prove to save the life of Amidala more than once.

Invasion of Naboo
"This is a battle I do not think we can win."

- Panaka



Captain Panaka was the head of the security force during the Trade Federation invasion. Queen Amidala refused to sanction force to defend the planet as she was fully aware that her forces would not have been able to defend against the droid army. Panaka was taken prisoner with Amidala and the rest of the government. However, this proved a temporary setback when they were freed by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, shortly after the two Jedi arrived on Naboo. The group decided to go to Coruscant, having Panaka escorting Amidala to plead Naboo's case to the Galactic Senate. After the Royal Ship broke through the blockade, it was noticed that the hyperdrive was leaking. Qui-Gonn suggested looking for somewhere to land and repair whilst Obi-Wan recommended Tatooine. Panaka disagreed, noting that the rulers of the planet were the Hutts, a race known as gangsters throughout the galaxy. Amidala, acting through her decoy Padmé, insisted they travel to Tatooine.

While Qui-Gon, Jar Jar Binks, Amidala, and R2-D2 went scouting for parts for the hyperdrive, Panaka remained behind and guarded the ship—ostensibly guarding the Queen. During a sandstorm, the ship received a falsified transmission from Naboo. Governor Sio Bibble was pleading with the Queen to contact him. Obi-Wan ordered Panaka not to respond, saying it was bait to establish a trace so that the Trade Federation could locate Amidala.

With the hyperdrive repaired, the group arrived on Coruscant and Panaka kept a close eye on Amidala, anticipating an ambush by the Trade Federation. He sat with the Queen in the Senate Rotunda as she and Palpatine made the case against the Trade Federation. After the failure there, he accompanied the Queen back to Naboo for a final confrontation.

The Queen had a plan. First, she made contact with Boss Nass and the Gungan Grand Army and swayed them to her side. Then she sent Panaka to make contact with the Naboo Security Force, including Gavyn Sykes on the emergency channel. He met with them on the plains of Naboo where they were ambushed by a Trade Federation patrol. Fortunately, the Gian speeders made short work of the STAPs. He brought back the leaders to plan strategy—the Gungans would draw the droid army out of the city and engage in battle. Meanwhile, the Jedi together with the Naboo would sneak into the palace in Theed and attempt to capture Nute Gunray.

Using the secret entrance, Panaka split his forces in two. One group was to distract what droids remained behind while the other, including the Jedi, would liberate the starfighters and disable the Droid Control Ship in orbit. The way was blocked by Darth Maul so Panaka's group were forced to go the long way round while the Jedi battled the Sith.

Progress was frustratingly slow battling through the palace but Panaka hit upon the idea of shooting out the windows and using ascension guns to get to the throne room much more quickly. Half the group made their way through the palace while Sabé led the other half the slow way. Unfortunately, they were swiftly captured by droidekas and escorted to the viceroy.



This was all the distraction needed. Sabé's group made it to the Throne room and drew out the droids inside while Amidala grabbed a couple of blasters from a secret compartment in the throne, tossed one to Panaka and they eliminated the droids in the room. Defenseless and humiliated, the Viceroy was forced to sign a treaty of surrender.

After the battle, Nute Gunray and Rune Haako were handed over by Panaka to the Republic for trial who dryly observed that they could probably kiss their trade franchise good-bye. Panaka then participated in the celebrations following the liberation of Naboo.

After the Battle of Naboo
When Queen Amidala's term as queen of Naboo ran out, Panaka remained on Naboo to protect the new Queen, Jamillia. His nephew, Captain Typho, was assigned to protect Amidala.

Upon learning of the marriage between Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, Panaka informed Palpatine, who used this information to his advantage when turning Anakin to the darkside.

Panaka remained close to Palpatine and was later promoted to Moff of the Chommell Sector when the Galactic Empire came to power. As a gift, Panaka gave an ornate statue to the Emperor which was placed in the Emperor's receiving chamber aboard the second Death Star. His fate following the Emperor's death and the subsequent Uprising on Naboo is unknown.

Personality
Panaka was a very pessimistic man. During the Naboo crisis, he was clearly annoyed at the fact that Naboo did not have its own planetary army. He often expressed his opinions on this matter, and regularly disagreed with Amidala's Jedi protectors.

It is possible that Panaka may have harbored feelings of bigotry towards the Gungans of his homeworld, a view that was common among the Naboo prior to their alliance with the Gungans in the Naboo crisis. It may also have been that, because of this belief, Palpatine made Panaka a Moff, as humanocentrism was expressed by many members of the Galactic Empire. This is only speculation however.

Behind the scenes

 * In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Panaka was played by Hugh Quarshie.
 * Panaka's fate has not been established in a canonical source, though there are many fan theories abound, the most common being that he was killed after the Uprising on Naboo.
 * While Panaka's date of birth is unknown, the Attack of the Clones novelization says that he was over 40 years old at that time, so he must have been born before 62 BBY.

Appearances

 * The Monster
 * Cloak of Deception
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Battle for Naboo
 * Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones novelization
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided