Kenth Hamner

"All through your life, you fulfilled your duties with strength, grace, and honor, and we will remember. Only one duty remains. Go onward and break trail so that we may someday follow."

- Izal Waz, giving Master Hamner's eulogy

Kenth Hamner was a Human male Jedi Master in the New Jedi Order, and later its acting Grand Master. A native of the planet Corellia, he took Izal Waz as his apprentice. Hamner fought on the Order's behalf during the Yuuzhan Vong War, where he led the communication between the Order and the New Republic and earned a seat on the Jedi High Council. During the subsequent Dark Nest Crisis, Hamner was a loyal supporter of the New Republic's successor state, the Galactic Alliance, believing that the Order should primarily serve the interests of the Alliance. During the Second Galactic Civil War, Hamner followed the other Jedi in joining Grand Master Luke Skywalker's Jedi Coalition, which fought against the Sith-controlled Galactic Alliance. In 43 ABY, two years after the war's conclusion, Hamner was installed as the acting Grand Master of the Jedi Order when Chief of State Natasi Daala exiled Luke Skywalker for failing to prevent the damage caused during the previous war.

Hamner's tenure as Grand Master was short, as the members of the Council and other senior Jedi, were dissatisfied with his leadership during the period of unrest between the Order and the government of Natasi Daala. While Hamner pursued a relatively lenient policy towards Daala and the Galactic Alliance, the rest of the Masters advocated a much more aggressive stance, especially when the Jedi Temple was besieged under Daala's orders. Ultimately, in 44 ABY, the Council believed that Hamner was responding poorly to the crisis on Coruscant and removed him from his position. After attempting to prevent the launch of StealthX starfighters off Coruscant to aid Luke Skywalker against the Lost Tribe of Sith, an act he believed to be treasonous, he attacked Jedi Master Saba Sebatyne, who led the militant faction of the Jedi. Hamner was killed during his duel with Sebatyne, who took his place as Grand Master until Skywalker's return.

Early life
Kenth Hamner was born into a wealthy family on Corellia. He served in the Combined Defense Forces of the New Republic, reaching the military rank of colonel before resigning his commission to accept Jedi training from Luke Skywalker. Sometime after he completed his training, Hamner served a salted nerfloaf to his Arcona student Izal Waz. By doing so, he unwittingly sent his apprentice into a salt addiction that threw him off his Jedi path.

Jedi liason to the military
During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Hamner was the official liaison officer between the New Republic military and the Jedi. In the first year of the war, Hamner was at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4 when smuggler Talon Karrde arrived to speak with the Jedi. While waiting for the meeting to begin, Hamner listed with several other Jedi as Jacen Solo and Anakin Solo argued over Anakin's desire to accept an offer to go to the Corellian system and reactivate Centerpoint Station to use in defense against the Yuuzhan Vong. The argument ended shortly after Karrde arrived with Luke Skywalker, and Karrde informed them that the Hutts, who had recently struck a deal with the invaders, had ceased shipments of spice to the Tynnani, Both, and Corellian systems, indicating they may be the next targets of the Yuuzhan Vong. Hamner asked him if there was any way to approach the Hutts and ask them, and Karrde told him that the New Republic Intelligence Service was attempting to do just that, but if the Jedi could bring the information to them, it might improve their image. Hamner and the other Jedi decided to send Jedi Master Kyp Durron and Jedi Knight Ganner Rhysode with Karrde to meet with a Hutt representative to try and gain the information.

Several months later, Hamner was on Coruscant, where he served as a strategist for the New Republic military, while also attending Jedi meetings. At one meeting, he reported to several other Jedi that the military was being forced to withdraw from places within the Inner Rim and the Colonies without reinforcements from the destroyed Fondor Shipyards. Hamner thanked the Force that Anakin had reactivated Centerpoint so that it could be used to defended nearby systems if it got repaired, but Anakin pointed out that the New Republic was now in danger of being kicked out of the Corellian system by the new government there. Hamner told him not to blame himself for the situation that had occurred when he reactivated Centerpoint, and that he had handled himself well in a difficult situation. The Jedi then discussed various reports from other Jedi stationed around the galaxy looking for signs of Yuuzhan Vong activity, as well as a report from Tekli, Master Cilghal's padawan, who reported overhearing a suspicious conversation she believed might be about a Yuuzhan Vong infiltrator on Coruscant.

As the war entered its second year, Hamner's status as a liaison with the New Republic alerted him to an arrest warrant placed by Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya, which was aimed at keeping Skywalker and his wife, Mara Jade Skywalker, under house arrest. Hamner went to the Skywalker's residence, and after congratulating Mara on her pregnancy, he informed them of the arrest order, which was based on the testimony of a Peace Brigade member "released" by the Yuuzhan Vong who claimed Luke and Mara were behind a violation of the tenuous cease-fire agreement between the New Republic and the Yuuzhan Vong on Yavin 4. Hamner also told them that Fey'lya had only ordered the arrest order due to intense political pressure, trying to keep a moderate stance on the Jedi issue. Luke asked him what his opinion on the situation was, and Hamner told him that Luke would likely be expected to make a statement condemning any unsanctioned Jedi activity. Luke refused to do so, and Hamner agreed with him, and that Fey'lya had made no move to impound their ships yet, so he likely just wanted them in exile in case he ever needed them. Mara was angry with Fey'lya, but as she expressed her disappointment, she cried out in pain and collapsed, with the illness that had been plaguing her reemerging. Hamner transported both Skywalkers back to their apartment where doctors were waiting, and bid them farewell.

In the third year of the war, the Yuuzhan Vong were closing in on Coruscant, having captured several nearby planets to prepare their fleets at. However, the Jedi were now working closely with the New Republic, with Chief Fey'lya having thrown his full support behind them. Hamner traveled from Coruscant to Eclipse Station, the secret Jedi base, to meet with Luke and the best tacticians among the Jedi. He reported that a massive Yuuzhan Vong fleet had gathered at Borealis, and that the New Republic military believed that they were massing to attack Coruscant. Mara pointed out a group of Yuuzhan Vong ships disguised asteroids in the OboRin Comet Cluster, and Hamner told her the military was monitoring them. As they studied the displays showing the positions of the invaders fleets, Hamner and the other Jedi were surprised when Luke began acting distracted and felt anger, grief, and despair growing inside him. Luke brought his fist down on a display, shocking Hamner, and Mara told them that Luke had just sensed Anakin Solo, who had been leading a strike team to Myrkr to destroy the Voxyn queen, die. Hamner and the other Jedi were shocked and depressed by this news, but Luke said that Anakin had died for a reason. As they waited for orders, Mara took charge of the meeting, telling them to prepare all ships, and asking Hamner to contact Admiral Sien Sovv and ask him to prepare docking facilities for the Jedi on Coruscant.

Appointed to the High Council
Some four years into the war, Master Hamner was appointed to the Galactic Alliance High Council, and attended the first meeting of the council on Dac, the temporary capital of the New Republic. Hamner and the other High Council members discussed the progression of the war, and retired Admiral Ackbar's plan to lure the Yuuzhan Vong into a trap. They also discussed Admiral Traest Kre'fey request for more Jedi in his fleet, but were disturbed by his and his fellow Bothan's declaration of Ar'krai against the invaders, intending to commit genocide against them. The council decided to send Jedi to the fleet, but warn them about the declaration, and use their meld to direct the fleet and prevent any illegal action. Fellow council member Tresina Lobi mentioned a need to give assignments to the Jedi apprentices who had survived the mission to Myrkr, and Hamner suggested promoting them all to the rank of Jedi Knight, as they were highly experienced, and then let them decide for themselves on how they could best serve the order. The other council members agreed with his suggestion, and they arranged a ceremony to knight the apprentices. During the ceremony, Hamner helped robe Jaina Solo, Tenel Ka Djo, and Tesar Sebatyne in their new Jedi Knight robes. After the ceremony, Hamner and the other participants went to a party thrown in honor of the new Knights, and discussed the Solo Slingshot with Han Solo.

Several weeks later, Hamner attended another meeting of the High Council, called by new Chief of State Cal Omas. They discussed more details of Ackbar's plan, but Director of New Republic Intelligence Dif Scaur announced the Alpha Red project, which was a biological weapon that would kill every single Yuuzhan Vong and their creatures. Hamner, his fellow Jedi, and several other members of the High Council were horrified by the project, and voted against it. However, Omas told them that the High Council was advisory only, and that, although he was sorry it had come to this, the project would go forth and wipe the Yuuzhan Vong out, and Ackbar's offensive would not be carried out. Hamner and the other council members who had opposed the measure met after the meeting to discuss various ways to change Omas' mind. However, the Old Republic Jedi Knight Vergere learned of the project and sabatoged it, causing Ackbar's offensive to be carried out and buying Hamner and the other Jedi time to try and win the war before the weapon could be replicated.

As the war continued, many senators began to argue for the newly formed Galactic Federation of Free Alliances to carry the battle to the Yuuzhan Vong and attempt the end the war immediately, following the massive victory at Ebaq 9. Hamner attended a meeting of the senate where Sullustan senator Niuk Niuv argued for a renewed offensive, and Niuv's arguments for the destruction of the Yuuzhan Vong were met with a lot of support. Hamner was disappointed and annoyed that the senate was acting reckless in their wish to end the war quickly, and left the senate session to join an in progress Jedi meeting. Shortly after this, he was summoned to a meeting with Cal Omas, with whom he had developed a close working relationship, along with the Skywalkers, Leia Organa Solo, Releqy A'Kla, and Sien Sovv. They agreed that the best strategy at that point would be to reconsolidate their forces before pursing new offensives. Luke also announced that he and Mara would be leaving on a mission to the Unknown Regions, where he hoped to enlist the Imperial Remnant and Chiss Ascendancy in helping to defeat the Yuuzhan Vong, as well as look for the legendary living planet of Zonama Sekot.

Hamner was left in charge of Jedi affairs whenever Luke Skywalker was otherwise occupied, including when he left known space for the Unknown Regions to try and find the legendary planet of Zonama Sekot.

During the Battle of Yuuzhan'tar, Hamner was one of six Jedi strike team members sent to the surface to rally the Shamed Ones and help to overthrow Supreme Overlord Shimrra Jamaane once and for all.

Dark Nest Crisis
"Jedi are bound by a great many duties, often contradictory."

- Kenth Hamner

After the war had ended, Hamner was one of many Jedi who believed that the Order was answerable to the Galactic Alliance government, and should serve its interests before any others. Hamner was concerned with the actions of the Jedi Knights in the border wars between the Chiss and Killiks. After Admiral Sien Sovv was killed in a spaceship crash caused by a pilot drunk on black membosia, and he attended Sovv's funeral alongside fellow Master Kyp Durron. Hamner supported Corran Horn when he was appointed temporary leader of the Order while Luke was being held hostage by the Killiks. Hamner later led a Jedi squadron on the attack on the Gorog nest ship.

Second Galactic Civil War
During the Second Galactic Civil War in 40 ABY, Hamner was one of the many Jedi present at Mara Jade's funeral on Coruscant and along with Corran Horn, believed that it was a necessary step in Skywalker's mending process. After Han and Leia Organa Solo had been forced to flee the Jedi Temple, Hamner and Horn approached fellow Master Saba Sebatyne to give the eulogy, since she had been Mara Skywalker's friend, and had known her better than the other masters. Hamner, along with fellow Master Kyle Katarn, expressed overt disapproval of Jacen Solo's presence at the funeral. After the eulogy, Hamner thanked everyone for helping the Jedi Order to celebrate Mara Skywalker's life, and asked them to keep her example in mind during the difficult days ahead. During the Battle of Kuat, Hamner commanded Dark Sword squadron until the Jedi Order left the battle to go to Kashyyyk. After the Attack on Ossus, Hamner most likely traveled with all of the other Jedi to Endor, and later to Shedu Maad. After the Jedi opted to remove Darth Caedus from power, Hamner, along with the rest of the Council, agreed that Jaina Solo was best suited to take down her brother.

Ascension to Grand Master
"Kenth Hamner? Was he chosen because he's the dullest Jedi ever? He says two sentences and it puts Kowakian monkey-lizards to sleep."

- Han Solo

Following the death of Caedus and the rise of the new Chief of State Natasi Daala, relations between the Alliance and the Jedi Order reached a breaking point. Chief Daala began to doubt Master Skywalker's ability to lead the Jedi and resented their policy for self-policing; something she felt that Caedus' brief but destructive reign proved they were unable to do. As such, Daala had Skywalker arrested for dereliction of duty; in exchange for his freedom, Skywalker was forced into exile and forbidden to involve himself in Jedi affairs.

With Skywalker exiled, a new head of the Order was required and Master Hamner was appointed to the position of acting Grand Master of the Jedi Order and leader of the Jedi High Council. Hamner proved somewhat willing to appease Chief Daala and agreed to her demands that each active Jedi be assigned an observer, handpicked by the Chief of State's office, who would accompany them on operational duty. However, this law was stopped thanks to legal action taken by the New Jedi Order's lawyer, Nawara Ven.

While Hamner's politics were to appease Daala's government, he unofficially sanctioned Jaina Solo's creation of a covert organization to undermine Daala's attempts to take control of the Jedi Order. It was named Darkmeld. Solo and Hamner did not inform the other Masters of Darkmeld's existence however. When Seff Hellin was captured by the resisting Jedi, Daala sent Captain Oric Harfard of Galactic Alliance Security to arrest Hellin whom they believed was at the Jedi Temple. Hamner truthfully denied knowing where Hellin was as Solo hadn't kept him in the loop.



After Jysella Horn came down with the same madness as her brother and Hellin, and Natua Wan's capture by Darkmeld, journalist Javis Tyrr found the location of Hellin and Wan's prison within the Jedi Temple. Daala and a group of GAS officers arrived at the Temple to confront Hamner. The Acting Grand Master confirmed that they were holding Hellin and Wan and that given the Jedi's policy of self-policing, they were in their rights. Daala agreed to leave the two mad Jedi in Hamner's jurisdiction, however, Hamner, Solo, Cilghal and Tekli (who were working for Darkmeld) were forced to publicly apologize for their actions and turn over all the Jedi working for Darkmeld.

Standing up to Daala
"That's wonderful, wonderful news, Cilghal. News we sorely needed. News...I sorely needed. Thank you."

- Kenth Hamner to Master Cilghal

When Cilghal refused to turn over mad Jedi Bazel Warv and Yaqeel Saav'etu to GAS officers, despite their warrant, Hamner tried to convince her to honor the warrant. Cilghal refused and brought the affair before the Council. There, Jaina Solo informed them that the GA was using Mandalorians to try and rival the Jedi. Hamner, who learned that Jagged Fel, an ally of the Jedi, had withheld this information, barred him from coming into the Temple. The Council, with Hamner's reluctant approval, sanctioned a massive media coup against Daala and decided not to honor the warrant for the arrest of the mad Jedi.

Hamner assigned Han and Leia Solo to evacuating Hellin, Wan, Warv and Saav'etu to the Jedi Academy on Shedu Maad which was out of Daala's jurisdiction. After a short battle with Mandalorians, they succeeded. The media strike was totally successful and Daala was publicly humiliated. Many started to view the Jedi more sympathetically and a wave of public discontent followed.

Shortly thereafter, Hamner presided over a meeting of the Jedi that dealt with several galactic problems, such as slavery and a possible resurgence of Black Sun.

In retaliation for her humiliation, Daala sent Mandalorians to attack the Jedi Temple, and stopped the secret Jedi expedition that was to be investigating the events at the Maw Cluster. In the aftermath of the attack, several high-profile Jedi had warrants issued for their arrest, including Master Hamner.

When the Jedi refused to turn over the psychotic Knights Sothais Saar and Turi Altamik, Daala ordered a Mandalorian siege of the Temple. After debating with the rest of the Jedi Council on what to do, Hamner sent out his assistant and apprentice, Kani Asari, to negotiate. However, Mandalorian commander Belok Rhal simply noted that she was neither Saar nor Altamik and shot her from point-blank range, killing her.

Hamner was contacted by Galactic Alliance Supreme Commander Nek Bwua'tu, who maintained that he valued the Jedi and that he hoped the situation would end well. He also asked Hamner about a tip he had received saying that the Jedi were mobolizing a strike team of StealthXs. Hamner confirmed it and also informed Bwua'tu of the foe that the Skywalkers had discovered in their exile, revealing that the foe was a mutual one for both the Galactic Alliance and the Jedi. Convinced, Bwua'tu offered the full cooperation of the Galactic Alliance Navy with the Jedi under the condition that Hamner did not deploy the starfighters until Bwua'tu specifically asked him to do so.

Death
"No! You will not lead the Jedi Order into treason! I forbid it!"

- Kenth Hamner to Masters Saba Sebatyne, Kyp Durron, Kyle Katarn, and Octa Ramis

After the Mandalorian siege was lifted, the Jedi Council put a great amount of pressure on Hamner to strike back against Daala. Kenth refused to act in the hope that Admiral Bwua'tu would awaken from his coma and thus alleviate the tension between both the Order and the Chief of State. The tension between Hamner and the rest of the council, however, would soon reach its culmination: after hearing of a slave revolt on Blaudu Sextus, the Council sent two Jedi Knights to investigate whether Freedom Flight, a secret organization that sought to eradicate slavery completely, was behind it. While there, the Jedi were forced to attack a squad of Mandalorians to prevent them from slaughtering both the rebellious Octusi (on Daala's orders) and the reporters covering the story (who were also working for Freedom Flight). When the media broadcast the story, the reporters mistakenly announced that the Jedi's actions meant the Order would support all slaves who rebelled against their oppressors. While Hamner didn't like this, the rest of the Council decided that the media's mistake was actually the will of the Force. While the Council discussed what their official response would be, Han Solo revealed the secret deal between Hamner and Bwua'tu. The other Masters, furious that Hamner had kept such a huge issue from them, cast a vote of no confidence that removed Hamner from his position as Acting Grand Master and confined him to his quarters.

When he discovered that the Jedi were launching their StealthXs to aid Luke and Ben against the Sith, he believed the act to be high treason. In order to prevent this, he escaped from his quarters, incapacitating the two Jedi Knights standing guard there, and made his way to the Operations Hangar, where he was confronted by two more Jedi Knights, Yantahar Bwua'tu and Vaala Razelle. After failing to convince them to let him enter, he knocked them unconscious and entered the hangar. There, he confronted Saba Sebatyne, who had led the vote in no confidence against him, as well as the other Masters preparing for launch. Being unable to convince them to stop the launch, Hamner decided to try and prevent the launch by disabling the controls of the hangar doors, but Sebatyne confronted him and the two dueled. Hamner pierced Sebatyne in the abdomen with his lightsaber, but the Barabel managed to shove Hamner off of the catwalk. She then caught Hamner with the Force as he floated in mid-air dozens of meters above the flight deck. Hamner still did not give up in his mission, and used the Force to hurl his lightsaber at the hangar door controls. As the Barabel Jedi Master fought Hamner for control of the lightsaber in the Force, she lost her grip on him, and he fell to the hangar floor, dying on impact. Sebatyne managed then to halt the lightsaber, and the StealthXs launched. The Jedi fighters arrived on Pydyr in time to help the Skywalkers escape the Sith, and Sebatyne was voted by the Council&mdash;against her own wishes&mdash;to take Hamner's place as acting Grand Master. The Jedi subsequently organized a funeral for Hamner, which was attended by members of the Jedi Order, the Galactic Alliance, the Imperial Remnant, and other groups. At the end of the ceremony, the Arcona Jedi Knight and Hamner's former apprentice Izal Waz lit Hamner's corpse as part of the ritual of cremation. Later, following the Jedi coup against Daala, Luke Skywalker returned to resume his role as Grand Master.

Behind the scenes
Hamner was introduced in James Luceno's second novel in The New Jedi Order series, Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse. He later played a minor role in subsequent novels until the Fate of the Jedi series, in which he became Grand Master and was killed in the sixth book, Vortex.

Appearances

 * Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse
 * Balance Point
 * Recovery
 * Edge of Victory II: Rebirth
 * Star by Star
 * Destiny's Way
 * Force Heretic I: Remnant
 * Force Heretic III: Reunion
 * The Final Prophecy
 * The Unifying Force
 * Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
 * Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
 * Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
 * Inferno
 * Invincible
 * Outcast
 * ''Omen
 * Abyss
 * Backlash
 * Allies
 * Vortex
 * Conviction
 * Ascension