Maketh Tua

Minister Maketh Tua was a human female native to the planet Lothal, and was a graduate of the Imperial Academy.

In the absence of Governor Arihnda Pryce on Lothal, Tua was tasked with overseeing Lothal's industries, making certain they all operated at peak efficiency for the Empire.

Early life
Maketh Tua hailed from Lothal, a backwater planet situated in the Outer Rim Territories of the galaxy. In her youth, Tua attended one of the many academies established by the Galactic Empire, the government established by Palpatine at the end of the Clone Wars. By joining the Empire's educational program, the Lothalite hoped she could trade the dull existence of her homeworld for a more glorious life. During her academy days, Tua proved to be a fast learner, and she notably took her level 5 exams. Upon graduating, she promptly joined the Empire.

Eventually, Maketh Tua came to serve under Governor Arihnda Pryce, who ruled Lothal in the name of Emperor 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.

T-7 Ion Disruptors Shipment
During her time as minister, Maketh traveled to the planet Garel aboard the Star commuter shuttle ST-45, accompanied by Amda Wabo, a representative on the nearby world of Ando, and two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO. She had been tasked with picking up some some T-7 ion disruptors, which, following their involvement with the destruction of 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 giving Tua misinformation, tricking her into heading to Bay 17.

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 has faced not long ago, on the planet Kessel.

Empire Day
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 beside Commandant Aresko, who commented on Pryce's decision to choose to 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 Lothal rebels. Tua was angered by this and wanted the rebels to be 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
Tua later broadcasted over Lothal, labeling the rebels insurgents before her transmission was hijacked by Senator-in-exile Gall Trayvis, urging the Lothal rebels 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 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 Governor Tarkin
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 consistant 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. Tua looked on in horror and disgust as Tarkin had the two men executed to serve as a warning to her and the others.

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 entered her office and chastised her for her lack of imagination. The minister, however, countered his accusation by claiming that he and Tarkin were expecting miracles. Vader announced his plans to employ more brutal tactics, which Tua objected to participating in as 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. 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.

Personality
Maketh Tua could be described as 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 Lothal rebels. 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 Agent Kallus, Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, and The Inquisitor. Unlike her Imperial colleagues, Tua was not known to use her position as Minister to vent sadistic or even sycophantic urges.

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 disruptors on the orders of the Empire, despite knowing that they had been outlawed by the Imperial Senate. In addition, Tua also 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.

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 to employ brutal tactics against her own people and morally objecting to the Emperor's true plans for Lothal, all aiding in her choice to aid the rebels.

Behind the scenes
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.

She is voiced by Kath Soucie.

Appearances

 * Servants of the Empire: Edge of the Galaxy
 * Ezra's Duel with Danger
 * Battle to the End
 * Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
 * Ezra's Duel with Danger
 * Battle to the End
 * Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
 * Battle to the End
 * Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal
 * Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal