Cal Omas

"I think a Chief of State who's just won a war against an implacable enemy might have a lot of currency with the Senate and the people."

- Luke Skywalker

Cal Omas was an Alderaanian who served as the last Chief of State of the New Republic and the first for the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, which he helped found. His record of service goes far back, stretching to the Rebel Alliance through the New Republic, where he served as the Alderaan Sector’s senator.

Early service
Cal Omas served with distinction in the Rebel Alliance during the Galactic Civil War, following the destruction of his home planet of Alderaan. Like many idealistic survivors of that world, he devoted himself fully to the Rebellion. He served in the Rebel military for several years under the Mon Calamari Admiral Ackbar, and after the major Rebel victory at the Battle of Endor,    went on to become a politician in the New Republic. He was elected to the Senate by the survivors of Alderaan in 11 ABY, following the selection of Leia Organa Solo as the new Chief of State. After the ascension of Borsk Fey’lya as Chief of State in 23 ABY, Omas was selected to serve on the Advisory Council, becoming one of the more moderate and few pro-Jedi members in the body, a stance that made him a rarity.

Yuuzhan Vong Invasion
Around the time that the Yuuzhan Vong invaded in 25 ABY, Omas, along with Senator Triebakk of Kashyyyk, supported Luke Skywalker's proposal of a new Jedi Council. Soon enough, however, Coruscant grew more and more aware of the scope and destructive potential of the Vong, and following the Battle of Ithor, where the Jedi Knight Corran Horn was blamed for the ensuing devestation, the New Jedi Order had blame heaped upon them. In spite of this, Omas continued his support of Skywalker's Jedi.

His stance constantly put him at loggerheads with Chief of State Fey'lya, who was convinced that the Jedi had a vendetta against the Bothans. In the first year of the war, based upon intelligence from Talon Karrde, Omas recommended that a defence force be assigned to Corellia, but was outvoted. The War, however, went poorly for the Republic. The Vong cut a swathe towards the core, and eventually, Coruscant itself fell. Omas went missing during the evacuation, and wavering Repbulic feared for the worst, especially the Jedi he had vehemently supported.

Fey'lya had sacrificed himself, and the Repbulic was in disarray, on the run as it had been in the heyday of the Empire. However, Omas had escaped the chaos on Coruscant, and had managed to flee with a minimum of fuss. He made his way to Mon Calamari, where he was reunited with the remainder of the Advisory Council.

Election of 28 ABY
"With sorrow for our countless dead, but with hope for our future. With sadness for the many who have fallen, but with confidence in the many who have taken their place... I accept the Senate's nomination to be Chief of State of the New Republic."

- Cal Omas, inauguration 28 ABY

Omas was one of the candidates to replace Fey'lya as the new Chief of State for the New Republic. Unlike the previous elections for the position, where the candidate selected won by large margins, the election promised to be a closely fought match. His primary opponent, Fyor Rodan of Commenor, immediately placed himself as the candidate who wanted to end the war- without any help or advice from the Jedi. Omas made his view clear – he fully intended to work with the Jedi to win the war.

Omas began meeting regularly with Jedi Masters Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker, who supported him for the position. During the initial round of voting, Omas was behind Rodan by several points. After receiving the support endorsement of Cola Quis of Ryloth, Omas and Rodan were in a dead heat. It was help from Talon Karrde and Lando Calrissian, who used their considerable clout to convince additional senators to support Omas, which finally gave the Alderannian a majority.

Learning of this, the Vong dispatched spies to assassinate the favourite for the position Chief of State, although their plans were foiled by Mara Jade Skywalker. Closing in for the kill, Omas<ref offered Ta'laam Ranth of Antar 4 a seat on his Advisory Council as Minister of Justice, he secured a huge majority, with 85% of the senators electing him the new Chief of State.

Creation of the High Council
"The new head of state, this infidel Cal Omas, permits his subordinates such freedom?"

- Shimrra Jaamane

After being elected, Omas worked with Luke Skywalker to form the High Council, a body composed of six Jedi and six non-Jedi. The High Council immediately began planning ways to turn the tide of the war against the Yuuzhan Vong. Much of their debate focused around the use of the Alpha Red virus, powerful weapon capable of destroying all Vong-based life. Following the advice and counsel of retired admiral Ackbar, Omas and his current Supreme Commander, Sien Sovv, readied the reforming New Republic Defense Force for battle, intent on swinging the war into the Republic’s favor. Following the major victory at the Battle of Ebaq 9, the New Republic and their Jedi allies finally managed to gain the advantage in the war. Omas then promised Master Skywalker that the Alpha Red program would not be deployed, unless as a last resort.

Birth of the Galactic Alliance
"Confine the Senate to its proper sphere, for one thing. It should legislate and supervise, not try to run the administration from day to day. A truly independent judiciary would curb their more ambitious maneuvers. A new federalism, that properly defines the boundaries between the Senate and the regimes on the various planets."

- Cal Omas, on the Galactic Alliance

Chief of State Omas realized that a new government was needed if the Galaxy was to survive the horrors of the Yuuzhan Vong War. During the early stages of the invasion, political infighting and weak leadership led the New Republic to a great number of defeats. Omas realized that the cumbersome organization of the New Republic could not withstand the pressures of the galactic war. As a result, Omas instituted a massive reorganization and streamlining of the government. Named the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, or Galactic Alliance for short, it began the long task of bringing the galaxy back together. Even with all these governmental reforms, the problem of the Yuuzhan Vong remained. Omas guided the Alliance as its membership grew to include the Imperial Remnant, as well as other worlds that had been isolated once the war began. Despite numerous sets backs, the Alliance finally secured victory during the Liberation of Coruscant. Omas was present on the Ralroost when the Yuuzhan Vong, led by Nas Choka, formally surrendered. Victory secured, Omas emerged as a popular leader. Yet, maintaining the peace and rebuilding the galaxy proved to be difficult job.

Post war, 30-35 ABY
Cal Omas continued to serve as Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance for at least five years after the peace treaty between the Alliance and the Yuuzhan Vong. There was some concerns about his ability to serve as a peace time Chief of State, and the office had clearly taken a toll on him physically. The immense weight of leading the galaxy during this period of reconstruction was so demanding that it was wondered if anyone could bear the stresses. The once easy going and light hearted Omas became more standoffish and quicker to anger or frustration. His relationship with the Jedi was also not what it used to be. While the Jedi and Omas did not enjoy the cordial relationship they had during the war, Omas realized the advantages of the Jedi. He considered them servants of the Galactic Alliance just as much as himself.

Swarm War
The Killik crisis further strained relations, with Omas feeling that the Jedi had sided with the Killiks over the Galactic Alliance. He even attempted to neutralize the order by appointing Corran Horn interim leader while Skywalker was out of contact on Woteba. After Skywalker's return, he ordered Zakarisz Ghent to bug Luke's office, and Han Solo suspected that Omas informed the Chiss about the Jedi's plan to end the Swarm War without a xenocide, though it is unknown if Omas was indeed the one who leaked it. Eventually, Luke Skywalker decided to work side by side with the Galactic Alliance during the Swarm War, which was a huge lift of spirits for Omas. However, following the end of hostilities, Skywalker pulled the Jedi members off the High Council, feeling that Jedi had no business in running the government. It is unknown what Omas reaction was to this, though the fact that the Jedi continued to support and defend the Alliance was no doubt looked upon favorably by the stressed Chief of State.

Confederation-Galactic Alliance War
"In these times, a smile from a Jedi is a hopeful sign."

- Cal Omas, speaking to Grand Master Luke Skywalker, 40 ABY

In the years following the conclusion of the Swarm War, the Galactic Alliance began experiencing major disagreements with certain, more independent member worlds like Corellia. Talks over trade, citizenship, and size of local militaries were hot button issues, which took a toll on the unity the Alliance had experienced since the conclusion of the Yuuzhan Vong War. Omas was still Chief of State during the subsequent Confederation-Galactic Alliance War, starting in 40 ABY. As the more independent members of the Alliance began to protest increasing government regulations, diplomatic efforts to diffuse the crisis began to fail. Omas, at the advice of his senior military commanders, including Supreme Commander Gilad Pellaeon, approved a display of military force near Corellia, one of the most vocal opponents to new regulations. Yet, when the wary Corellians decided to launch a pre-emptive counterstrike on the Alliance Second Fleet, the crisis threatened to erupt into a new galactic civil war. Omas led efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis, while mysterious acts of treachery and sabotage threatened to doom the peace efforts on both sides. Despite his own personal hope for a peaceful resolution, several of his chief advisors continued to pressure the Chief to declare war. His more militant advisors, like Jacen Solo and Supreme Commander Cha Niathal, argued for increased pressure on Corellia backed by real threats of force. Omas increasingly became a minority voice for peace as actions undertaken by the Galactic Alliance Guard and the Blockade of Corellia caused more discord. After the assassination of Corellia's President, Thrackan Sal-Solo, Cal offered Corellia a chance at peace and an order to disarm themselves. The Corellians refused, paving the way for a certainty of war. As diplomacy began to fail Omas met with Luke Skywalker and Jacen, mentioning the possibility for him to be given emergency powers to end the war. After the Hapan space battle, Omas and Niathal both pressured Luke to appoint Jacen as a Jedi Master.

Final Days in Office
"Would you water the plants while I'm away, please? I'm afraid I'm under arrest."

- Cal Omas, speaking to his security guard while being detained by the Galactic Alliance Guard, 40 ABY

After the Battle of Gilatter VIII, Omas felt that the lack of a victory over the Confederation was helping spurn brushfire conflicts all across the galaxy and had further pushed more worlds behind Corellia. When he received a message from Five Worlds Prime Minister and Confederation leader Dur Gejjen about coming to a cease-fire agreement, Omas secretly journeyed to neutral Vulpter to discuss the terms.

Colonel Jacen Solo had members of GAG, who had been monitoring the Chief of State, send Captain Lon Shevu, newly-promoted Lieutenant Jori Lekauf, and Ben Skywalker to Vulpter to record the conversation and assassinate Gejjen.

Omas had seemingly agreed with Gejjen to "terminate" Niathal and Jacen in their respective positions as leaders in the Galactic Alliance as part of the conditions for having Corellia end hostilities and return to the Alliance.

Jacen Solo, upon learning this information and using a loophole in galactic law, removed Cal Omas from power in a bloodless coup and placed the Alderaanian under house arrest, though Omas suspected Jacen in Gejjen's death. Cha Niathal took over as acting Chief of State and asked Jacen to join her as joint leaders of the Galactic Alliance.

Jacen's betrayal
Jacen was forced to kill Mara as she had deduced that he had sworn himself to the Sith. Owing to the unexpected chain of events leading to that fierce battle, Jacen didn't have time to cover his tracks and Ben Skywalker had worked out that Jacen was indeed the assassin. Ben contacted his cousin who was aboard the Anakin Solo and bluntly asked whether Jacen did kill his mother. Jacen didn't expect the directness of the question but "accidentally" let it slip that Cal Omas might have been responsible and played Ben a recorded message that Omas certainly thought the Jedi were no longer his allies and that they need to be moved out of the way.

Filled with grief and rage, Ben went straight to where Cal Omas was being held under house arrest with the intent of killing the former chief of state. Cal Omas was fully expecting an assassination although he was expecting Jacen Solo to be the one who would try and finish him off; he had rigged his body explode with a thermal detonator should his heart stop just as Borsk Fey'lya had done during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of Coruscant.

Omas was able to calm Ben down enough to reveal the full extent of Jacen's depravity and how he'd been set up. Ben was momentarily confused but the arrival of the GAG who had been tipped off by Jacen that an assassin was on his way to kill Cal Omas threw the scene into complete disarray. Omas managed to get a hold of a blaster from a guard that Ben had already dispatched and began to fire wildly. Ben batted the bolts aside, trying not to hit the crazed politician but didn't realise Omas' true intent until it was too late; Omas impaled himself on Ben's lightsaber in an attempt to publicly expose Jacen for the corrupt, dangerous individual that he was. He knew how the death of the former head of the Galactic Alliance would play out over the Holonet and it would be enough to bring his enemy down.

Omas apologised to Ben and advised him to get out before the bomb exploded, taking him and a good section of the tower where he was being held with him.

Behind the scenes

 * In Kathy Tyers' Balance Point, Omas' surname is misspelt "Ornas".

Appearances

 * Vector Prime
 * Dark Tide I: Onslaught
 * Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial
 * Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse
 * Balance Point
 * Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream
 * Destiny's Way
 * Ylesia
 * Force Heretic I: Remnant
 * Force Heretic II: Refugee
 * Force Heretic III: Reunion
 * The Unifying Force
 * Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
 * Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
 * Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
 * Betrayal
 * Bloodlines
 * Tempest
 * Exile
 * Sacrifice
 * Inferno