Jal Te Gniev

Jal Te Gniev was a Human pilot for the Rebel Alliance.

Flying for the Alliance
"One damn mission! One damn lucky shot!"

- Jal Te Gniev

At the time of the Battle of Yavin, Jal had flown 31 missions and destroyed 80 TIE Fighters.

However, he did not participate in the Battle of Yavin due to measles. His X-wing was borrowed by Luke Skywalker. Gniev felt great hatred towards Skywalker because he felt as though he had been denied his rightful glory in destroying the first Death Star, especially considering he had flown thirty-one missions for the Alliance.

While nearly getting into an argument with Wedge Antilles an alarm went off. Jal jumped the gun, rushed to his fighter while drunk and opened the S-foils too quickly, scraping the wings on the hangar wall, and crashed the fighter into a nearby tree. He was then sentenced to a Court Martial by Alliance High Command where he was reassigned. General Jan Dodonna attempted to help Gniev's grievances, but Gniev was uncooperative and angrily accepted reassignment to Dubrava as a recruiter.

A new assignment
"I will take Dubrava! Anything will be better than being forced to see your stupid looks one more time."

- Jal Te Gniev to General Dodonna

While on Dubrava, Gniev made his way to the local cantina and its array of intoxicating drinks. A young Dubravan named Bobek found the cantina and requested to join the Alliance. Gniev, drunk, blindfolded Bobek and had him walk into a trap door in the boardwalk, falling into the swampy water below. Humiliated and disillusioned, Bobek left. Also while drunk, Gniev mentioned the name "Skywalker" to Nevana, who, in turn, mentioned it to Sarma. Soon enough, Imperial forces heard of the name and began to seek its source: Gniev. A squad of stormtroopers attacked the cantina and set it ablaze, burning dozens of Dubravans alive.

Gniev was barely able to escape, but reappeared some distance away, only to encounter a pair of stormtroopers. By chance, Bobek was nearby and killed one of the troopers. The second trooper shot Bobek and was then drowned by Gniev. Bobek admitted to purchasing the blaster with the intent to kill Gniev, but used it against the Galactic Empire when the chance arose. With Bobek's death, Gniev reevaluated himself and set out to save Luke Skywalker, whose life he had placed in extreme jeopardy.

Sacrifice
"This one's for you Bobek!"

- Jal Te Gniev

Gniev then acquired a Z-95 Headhunter which he flew to Jazbina to save Skywalker. Skywalker, meanwhile, had become entangled with Lord Prepredenko and Princess Syayna. Upon the arrival of Darth Vader and a Star Destroyer, the situation on Jazbina looked grim. Gniev landed on the planet and joined the efforts of Skywalker and Syayna to save the planet. Using Skywalker's X-wing, Gniev flew into space to attack the Star Destroyer. Amused, the Imperial forces let loose a squadron of TIE fighters, but Gniev was able to slip through the shields and unleash his entire supply of proton torpedoes into the heart of the warship. He was consumed by the massive explosion of the Star Destroyer, which crippled the Imperial effort to subdue Jazbina. Gniev's sacrifice, however tragic, saved the day on Jazbina.

Behind the scenes

 * Interestingly, the name 'Gniev' is very similar to the Polish word 'gniew', which means anger.

Appearances

 * Vader's Quest