Moradmin Bast/Legends

"We've analyzed their attack, sir, and there is a danger. Should I have your ship standing by?"

- Chief Bast to Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin

Moradmin Bast was the personal aide to Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin aboard the first Death Star.

Youth
Chief Bast learned cunning and patience by hunting big game as a youth, earning him the ability to accurately estimate his enemies.

Time in the Galactic Empire
Bast attended the conference in which Tarkin announced the dissolution of the Galactic Senate and he witnessed as Darth Vader almost killed Admiral Motti. Bast preferred to remain silent during the whole conference.

He used his estimation skills that he learned in his youth to ascertain the threat that starfighters posed to the Death Star, concerns that were brushed aside by Tarkin. Despite his reservations, Bast remained with his superior until the Death Star's destruction.

Another officer with a striking resemblance to Bast later served with Darth Vader, and ordered the blockade and curfew of Kashyyyk.

Behind the scenes
Chief Bast was portrayed by Leslie Schofield in A New Hope. Cut footage from A New Hope featuring Schofield was used in The Star Wars Holiday Special.

Canon explanation regarding his survival
Though scenes of Chief Bast talking with Darth Vader cut from A New Hope were included in The Star Wars Holiday Special, Bast's presence with Tarkin during the final moments of the Death Star show that this is not the same officer. On the StarWars.com message boards, Leland Chee originally noted two opposing C-canon on his survival, but was later shown that the film itself counters the idea that he survived.

The lookalike officer in the Holiday Special has not yet been identified, and his connection with Bast, if any, has not been explained.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope