Venka

"Snap to it, soldier."

- Lt. Venka

Venka was a bridge officer aboard the Super Star Destroyer Executor during the Battle of Hoth. He briefly served as the ship's captain following that battle.

Biography
Born the son of a wealthy industrialist on Coruscant, Venka was a spoiled child whose family connections got him through one of the oldest, most prestigious military academies at the top of his class. His family's notoriety also gained him a position on the Executor, the Imperial Fleet's premiere flagship, at the young age of twenty-seven.

Shortly before the Battle of Hoth, after the death of Admiral Kendal Ozzel at the hands of Darth Vader, Executor captain Firmus Piett was promoted to admiral and put in command of the fleet. Much of the operation of the Executor fell to Venka, but Piett denied him a promotion to captain saying that the rest of the Hoth campaign would be a test of his ability to command. Venka hated Piett for it. He believed Piett was simply lucky to be next in line and questioned his true ability. After the Rebels fled Hoth, Venka was in the crewpit while Vader was giving instructions to bounty hunters regarding the capture of Han Solo. He later informed Piett of a priority signal received from the Avenger.

While the fleet closed in on the Millennium Falcon as it fled from Bespin, Lieutenant Venka organized a boarding party. After the Falcon stunned the officers by escaping into hyperspace, Piett finally promoted Venka to captain, perhaps realizing how lucky he really was when Vader somehow spared the admiral's life.

A short time after his promotion to captain, Venka was apparently replaced by Captain Kallic.

Behind the scenes
The character of Venka first appeared in the 1989 first edition of the West End Games sourcebook Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back as an example of a standard star destroyer officer, and was only given roleplaying stats. The 1996 second edition of the sourcebook included a full profile of Venka as part of a major expansion by Pablo Hidalgo.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Therefore I Am: The Tale of IG-88