Maketh Tua

"You lack imagination, Minister, when it comes to producing results."

- Darth Vader to Maketh Tua

Minister Maketh Tua was a human female that hailed from the planet Lothal, and was a graduate of the Imperial Academy.

In the absence of Governor Arihnda Pryce, the Imperial Governor of Lothal, Tua was tasked with overseeing Lothal's industries, making certain they all operated at peak efficiency for the Empire. However, after a string of failures to put down a growing rebellion on her homeworld, Lothal was visited by Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, the Imperial Governor of the entire Outer Rim. He berated her and the other Imperial leaders for their failures, even executing Commandant Cumberlayne Aresko and Taskmaster Myles Grint for their incompetence, and took control of the situation himself.

However, Tarkin's efforts ultimately resulted in the rebels destroying his own flagship, the Sovereign, and the death of the Grand Inquisitor. In retribution, Tarkin ordered Tua to locate the rebels. Despite doubling patrols, setting up security checkpoints, and establishing curfews, she was unable to discover the whereabouts of the cell. In response, the Emperor dispatched his chief enforcer, the Sith Lord Darth Vader, to deal with the situation. Having failed the Grand Moff, she was summoned to meet with him in person the next day to atone for her failure.

Fearing for her life, she managed to contact the cell and arrange for passage off of Lothal, in exchange for a list of rebel sympathizers on Lothal and its neighboring systems, and information regarding the Empire's true mission on Lothal. Vader, however, suspected she would run, and decided to use her to draw out the rebels and lead them to the larger rebellion. Kallus, an agent of the Imperial Security Bureau programmed a spy droid to shadow the minister, and then personally escorted her to her shuttle for her meeting. However, the cell attacked the shuttle that day, and a rebel ordered Tua to board the ship, telling her that they would be right behind her. As she entered the trooper compartment, the vehicle exploded, killing the minister.

Early life
"You're a level five Academy student? I was too, once upon a time."

- Maketh Tua, to Sabine Wren

Hailing from Lothal, a backwater planet located in the galaxy's Outer Rim Territories, Maketh Tua attended the highly touted Imperial Academy in her youth, hoping to escape the limited existence of her homeworld in favor of a grander, more rewarding life. She proved to be a fast learner and became a level-five Academy student. After completing her studies and graduating, she promptly joined the Galactic Empire.

Eventually, Maketh Tua came to serve under Governor Arihnda Pryce, who ruled Lothal in the name of Emperor Sheev Palpatine. As a minister of Lothal, Tua played a key role in the planet's affiliation with the Empire. One of her initial actions as minister was bringing new government-sponsored housing to Lothal. Those homes were reasonably affordable, and helped the growing population. Later, she attended the going-away party of Dhara Leonis, who had been accepted to the Academy for Young Imperials on Lothal, during which the two spoke.

T-7 ion disruptor shipment
During her time as minister, Maketh traveled to the planet Garel aboard the Star Commuter 2000 shuttle ST-45, accompanied by Amda Wabo, a representative of the nearby world of Ando, and two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO. She had been tasked with picking up some T-7 ion disruptor rifles, which, following their involvement with the attack on Lasan, had been banned throughout the galaxy by the Imperial Senate.

Since Tua was not fluent in Aqualish, she had brought C-3PO along due to his vast knowledge of languages. When another passenger, Ezra Bridger, and his astromech started causing a disturbance and Kanan Jarrus complained to the shuttle's pilot, RX-24, the pilot sent all of the droid passengers, including C-3PO, to the back of the shuttle, as per Imperial regulations. Without her protocol droid to translate, Tua was incapable of communicating with her business partner. It was then that Sabine Wren, undercover as a "level five Imperial Academy student", convinced Tua to allow her to translate for Wabo. In typical rebel fashion, Sabine used Wabo's information in order to steal the weapons while misinforming Tua, tricking her into heading to Bay 17 instead of Bay 7.

Upon the arrival of Tua and her companions at Bay 17, Tua discovered that Sabine had mistranslated Wabo's words and that the disruptors were actually in Bay 7. As Tua, Wabo and their stormtrooper escort made their way there, they were accosted by Chopper. Recognizing the orange astromech, Tua quickly realized she had been tricked and ordered all her men to Bay 7 as fast as they could. There they found the rebels loading the weapons onto their ship. A firefight ensued between the two factions and the rebels escaped on the Ghost with the T-7's.

Soon after this event, Tua contacted Agent Kallus. The rebels were eventually confirmed to be the same ones that Kallus had faced not long ago, on the planet Kessel.

Empire Day
"Citizens, I am Minister Maketh Tua. Governor Pryce sends her regrets, but she was invited to Coruscant to celebrate with Emperor Palpatine himself! Lothal is just as important to our Empire as any world in the galaxy. And she wanted me to show you why. Citizens, I present you with the latest vessel from Lothal's Imperial shipyards, the Sienar Systems advanced TIE starfighter! And who better to take this beauty on her maiden voyage than one of the best Imperial pilots on Lothal&mdash;Baron Valen Rudor."

- Maketh Tua's speech at the 15th annual Empire Day parade

Minister Tua was present at the Empire Day parade where she stood in for Governor Pryce, who was called to Coruscant at the command of the Emperor. During the celebration, Tua stood on stage beside Commandant Aresko, who commented on Pryce's decision to choose him to organize what he believed to be a "spectacle", to which the minister took offense. Tua then turned to address the crowd and introduced the citizens to the new TIE Advanced v1 prototype which was to be piloted by Baron Valen Rudor. As she was speaking, the TIE was destroyed by the Spectres, with the resulting explosion tossing the Tua and the other Imperials into the air as the stage collapsed. After being helped up by a stormtrooper, an infuriated Tua ordered that the party responsible be found and punished. Agent Kallus assured her they would deal with the rebels, but their priority was locating the Rodian Tseebo, who had stolen Imperial secrets. Unfortunately for the Empire, however, both the rebels and the Rodian managed to flee the planet.

The Trap
"The insurgents terrorizing our world will soon be brought to justice. I have assurances from&mdash;''" "''Citizens, Senator-in-Exile Gall Trayvis here, coming to you with a reminder that the Empire applies the term "insurgent" to anyone who dares defy their tyranny, such as some very courageous souls on Lothal. To those rebels, I have a message: The sun may have set on the Old Republic, but a new freedom can be won if we are brave enough to fight for it today. See you soon, my friends."

- Minister Tua's transmission as the signal was hijacked by Gall Trayvis, setting the trap

Tua later broadcast over Lothal, labeling the rebels insurgents before her transmission was hijacked by Senator-in-exile Gall Trayvis, urging the Spectres to meet with him. In reality, Trayvis was secretly an Imperial agent tasked with luring out dissidents to be met with "accidents". Tua later met with Agent Kallus, asking for his assurances that the trap they were laying for the rebels at the Old Republic Senate Building would work. She then tried to stress the Grand Inquisitor's desire to see the Jedi captured. Kallus stated that the Inquisitor was too focused on capturing the Jedi and stated that by targeting the rebels as a group, they would be able to get the Jedi for him.

When the rebels arrived to meet Trayvis, Kallus and his stormtroopers surrounded them. Tua entered the building soon after, noting that Zeb and Sabine were absent. The two rebels soon revealed themselves in the rafters, dropping smoke bombs, which created enough confusion to allow the rebels to flee with Trayvis. Tua hid underneath a desk during the commotion. When the smoke had settled, she started yelling at Kallus to pursue the rebels. But once again, the rebels managed to elude them after discovering Trayvis' true loyalties.

Arrival of Grand Moff Tarkin
"Ah, Grand Moff Tarkin. I am honored by your visit to Lothal.''" "My visit is hardly an honor, Minister." "I admit I was surprised to learn you were coming." "And I, too, have been surprised by what's happening on your little backwater world." "[Chuckles] If you are referring to the insurgents, I&mdash;" "In the absence of Governor Pryce, you have had a single, simple objective, Minister&mdash;to protect the Empire's industrial interest here. Interest which is vital to our expansion throughout the Outer Rim. But instead of protecting this interest, you have allowed a cell of insurgents to flourish right under your nose. Am I correct?" "''[Clears Throat]"

- Grand Moff Tarkin scorns Minister Tua for her failure to suppress the growing insurrection on Lothal

Following the latest failed attempt to stop the rebel cell, Grand Moff Tarkin arrived on Lothal to take charge. Tua personally greeted the governor in the hangar of the Imperial Headquarters, and nervously expressed her pleasure and surprise to have him on Lothal. Tarkin quickly admonished her for failing in her task to protect the Empire's industrial interest and allowing the rebels to flourish under her nose. Tua couldn't manage a retort and merely choked out an awkward cough of agreement with Tarkin's assessment of her. She was not alone in this humiliation as Tarkin proceeded to mock Kallus and the Inquisitor as well.

Some time later, she, Kallus and the Inquisitor were summoned to Tarkin's office and stood at attention behind him as Commandant Aresko and Taskmaster Grint arrived. Tarkin questioned the two on their ineffective methods and consistent lack of results, going so far as to suggest their failures could inspire hope in the public and undermine the security of the entire Empire. Tarkin had the two men executed to serve as a warning to her and the others. Though Kallus was only somewhat unsettled at the execution, Tua was downright horrified by this observation as Aresko and Grint, though incompetent, were loyal and respectful members of the Empire, barely suppressing a scream of horror.

The Siege of Lothal
Tua exhausted every resource to find information on the rebels, with no success, employing such tactics as doubling patrols, setting up checkpoints, and establishing curfews, all of which failed to produce results. After the arrival of Darth Vader, the Sith Lord used Tua as a pawn in his plan to incriminate the rebels.

After Tua explained herself to agent Kallus, Vader unexpectedly entered her office and chastised her for her lack of imagination. The frightened minister, trying hard not to anger the Dark Lord, countered his accusation by claiming that he and Tarkin were expecting miracles. Vader announced his plans to employ more brutal tactics, which shocked Tua and she objected to participating in as she was a mere public official. Vader informed her that she had been summoned off world to account for her failures to Tarkin in person, implying she would be executed. Kallus sardonically offered her assurances that he and Vader would manage in her absence.

Tua apparently discovered the Emperor's true intentions for Lothal which pushed her over the edge and finally made her realize that her beloved Empire was not the perfect and benevolent government she had genuinely believed it to be. Now both appalled by Vader and Tarkin's intentions and fearing for her life, she resolved to defect from the Empire. She sought the help of Old Jho, who put her in contact with the rebels. In exchange for safely transporting her off Lothal she offered secret Imperial information, including a list of Rebel sympathizers on Lothal, and other nearby systems, with powerful allies in the senate. Faced with skepticism and hostility from most of the crew, Ezra Bridger sensed her sincerity and convinced the others to help her.

Unfortunately for Tua, Vader had threatened her life knowing she would attempt to defect. As she attempted to covertly sneak out of Imperial headquarters, Kallus followed her and posed as her escort. Kanan Jarrus disguised himself as a stormtrooper commander to get past security, but was caught by Agent Kallus. Their cover blown, Tua fled to her escape shuttle, which unbeknownst to her, had been rigged to explode. Tua was killed in the blast, and the Empire blamed the rebels for her death.

Legacy
"A beloved citizen of Lothal, Minister Tua's life was cut short by this criminal band of rebels. If you see them, summon Imperial authorities immediately. Trooper corps have been mobilized in an extensive sea&mdash;"

- Alton Kastle, HoloNet News

Following her assassination, the Empire used footage of the attack recorded on the spy droid to incriminate the rebels as her killers, turning the citizens of Lothal against them. Soon after, journalist Alton Kastle covered the falsified story of her demise on the HoloNet News.

The rebels fled Lothal aboard an Imperial shuttle, which was secretly fitted with a transceiver, leading Lord Vader and two Imperial-class Star Destroyer to the location of the Phoenix Squadron.

Tua's warning to the rebels about the Emperor's true intentions for Lothal would be later repeated by the Loth-wolves.

Personality and traits
"My dear, you did great service to your Empire today. Now focus on those level fives!"

- Minister Tua, to Sabine Wren after she "helped" translate her conversation with Amda Wabo

Maketh Tua could be described as a product of Imperial propaganda, and believed the Empire and her own intentions were in the people's best interests. Having studied abroad on worlds more cosmopolitan than her native Lothal, Tua considered herself above the people of a "barely civilized Outer Rim world." She enjoyed the refined conversation of fellow intellectuals, and resented having to deal with unsavory types like Commandant Cumberlayne Aresko in the course of her duties as an Imperial public servant. Minister Tua was a loyal servant of the Empire and a graduate of the Imperial Academy. She followed the will of Emperor Palpatine, which brought her into contact with Agent Kallus and made her a recurring enemy of the Spectres. Unlike other Imperials, she served the Empire out of a sense of belief in its ideas and a desire to spread law and order rather than her own personal ambitions, which set her apart from the Empire's servants such as Agent Kallus, Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, and the Grand Inquisitor. Unlike her Imperial colleagues, Tua was not known to use her position as Minister to vent sadistic or even sycophantic urges, but was nonetheless an ineffectual leader.

Unlike other Imperial officials, Maketh Tua appeared to care for the common people and used her position to introduce government sponsored housing. Tua threw a celebration on Empire Day to rally support for the Empire's goals on Lothal and reassure the citizens of their importance to the Empire. While she often appeared cold and authoritative, she was also friendly, as shown during an encounter with Sabine Wren, a rebel posing as a "level five Imperial Academy student". However, she was capable of bending laws and participating in underhanded actions if it served the Empire's interests. For example, she was willing to mass-produce T-7 ion disruptor rifles on the orders of the Empire, despite knowing that they had been outlawed by the Imperial Senate. In addition, Tua also was self-absorbed and had a short temper.

However, Maketh Tua rarely displayed any sign of weakness, even in the intimidating presence of the Inquisitor. Her confident bravado was only diminished by Grand Moff Tarkin, who publicly lambasted her failings and threatened her career in the Empire's service. Tua was also visibly horrified and shaken by the summary execution of Aresko and Grint at the hands of the Inquisitor. If Tarkin's measures that day were bad enough, Darth Vader's presence on Lothal&mdash;inside her own office&mdash;certainly made Tua more deathly afraid than ever.

Tua revealed her true colors when her superiors shattered her belief in the Empire's supposed good intentions. First witnessing the execution of Aresko and Grint horrified her, and later being ordered by Vader to employ brutal tactics against her own people and morally objecting to the Emperor's true plans for Lothal, all resulted in her choice to aid the rebels.

Behind the scenes
Maketh Tua was created for the 2014 animated series Star Wars Rebels, in which she was voiced by Kath Soucie. Tua made her first appearance in the episode "Droids in Distress", the first episode of the season one.

Abandoned ideas
In the story outline for "Fighter Flight", Maketh Tua was to be the principal Imperial involved in the plot, but was replaced by Supply Master Yogar Lyste in the first draft script.

In an early outline for Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal, it was instead Governor Pryce who was to have died in the shuttle explosion, and Minister Tua would have been promoted to governor.

Appearances

 * Thrawn
 * Servants of the Empire: Edge of the Galaxy
 * Droids in Distress book
 * Ezra's Duel with Danger
 * Sabine My Rebel Sketchbook
 * Servants of the Empire: Imperial Justice
 * Battle to the End
 * Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
 * Sabine My Rebel Sketchbook
 * Servants of the Empire: Imperial Justice
 * Battle to the End
 * Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
 * Battle to the End
 * Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal