Gar Stazi

"I will surrender, Admiral, when I can no longer fight!"

- Admiral Gar Stazi, to Grand Admiral Morlish Veed at the Battle of Caamas

Gar Stazi was a Duros admiral serving in the Galactic Alliance Defense Fleet at the time of the Sith-Imperial War. A prominent Alliance officer, he commanded the Core Fleet. His actions at the Battle of Caamas, a Sith victory, preserved a portion of the Alliance to continue the fight, as well as made him a legend among the Imperial officers he faced in battle.

Following the escape from Caamas, Stazi became leader of the Galactic Alliance Remnant. He served as its Supreme Commander and led the Alliance from the bridge of his personal flagship, the Scythe-class battle cruiser Indomitable. To maintain his fleet's ability to attack the Sith, Stazi regularly sought spare parts, supplies, new recruits, and even tried to capture major Imperial warships to bolster his forces.

Later, in 137 ABY, part of his fleet participated in the Battle of Mon Calamari. In what turned out to be a major Alliance victory, Stazi's forces managed to capture a prototype Advanced Star Destroyer, as well as cripple the Mon Calamari Shipyards, which prevented the Sith from using them to further their own efforts to control the galaxy.

Command during Sith-Imperial War
"I think it's a trap. I think we were fed the intelligence."

- Admiral Gar Stazi, to the Alliance Triumvirate two days prior to the Battle of Caamas

As early as 130 ABY, Duros Admiral Gar Stazi was the commander of the Galactic Alliance Core Fleet. A prestigious command, the Core Fleet was assigned the crucial role of defending Coruscant and other key Core Worlds. Due to his role as defender of the Alliance capital, Stazi was present during a critical meeting of the Alliance Triumvirate. At the meeting, the Triumvirs Gial Gahan, Nu Toreena, and Bail Antilles listened to a proposed plan for ambushing Emperor Roan Fel at Caamas by recently promoted Rear Admiral Piers Petan. Based on intelligence that Petan had, Fel was scheduled to meet with representatives of the Hapes Consortium and Chiss Ascendancy to discuss plans for joining forces against the Alliance.

Gial Gahan was opposed to the ambush, on the advice on Jedi Master Kol Skywalker. Skywalker argued against sending Alliance forces to Caamas, stating that the New Jedi Order believed that it was an Imperial trap. Stazi agreed with both Skywalker and Gahan as well, expressing his opinion bluntly to the Triumvirate that Caamas was a trap. However, Petan's arguments swayed the third Triumvir, Bail Antilles. Fearing that the Alliance was slowly bleeding away star systems, Antilles agreed to approve Petan's plan. Still wary of the battle plan proposed by Petan, Stazi confided to his friend and fellow officer Jaius Yorub that he planned to cover the Alliance rear and keep means of escape open for the fleet.

During the Battle of Caamas, Stazi watched his worst fears become true&mdash;the Empire had ambushed the Alliance fleet. As the battle raged, any hope of Jedi aid was dashed when news was received that the Jedi Order thwarted a Sith feint near Coruscant. While the Jedi's action was successful, their forces were now out of position to link up with the Alliance at Caamas. Late in the battle, Grand Admiral Morlish Veed, possessing the advantage, called on the Alliance fleet to surrender. Feeling the situation was hopeless, Alliance Admiral Borasco called on all of his forces to accept the terms.

Refusing to surrender, Stazi instead called on any forces willing to follow his lead. Other Alliance commanders such as Admiral Nict of the Pride of Corellia, an old friend of Stazi's, responded to his call. Stazi led the remnants of the Alliance fleet in a fighting withdrawal&mdash;keeping his remaining ships together, and they escaped using a secret hyperspace route. His performance at Caamas made him a legend among the Empire.

Opposition to the Sith Empire


By 137 ABY, Stazi lead the Galactic Alliance Remnant. Composed of the surviving warships of the Core Fleet, as well as other Alliance units, this force was all that remained of the Galactic Alliance following the surrender of its government. During the seven years prior, Stazi maintained a campaign of harassment against the Krayt's Empire. Over time, his attacks proved to make his forces a major threat to the Sith. Stazi led these attacks from the bridge of his personal flagship, the Scythe-class battle cruiser Indomitable.

In addition to numerous battle cruisers and escort vessels, Stazi's fleet also included one of the galaxy's most elite starfighter units&mdash;Rogue Squadron. Led by Weequay Commander Jhoram Bey, the Rogues flew the Alliance's CF9 Crossfire starfighter. Beyond the standard duties associated with fighter pilots, some Rogues were periodically assigned to supply runs, such as Monia Gahan.

The Mon Calamari, longtime supporters of the the Alliance and its predecessors, the New Republic and Rebel Alliance, supplied Stazi with spare parts, supplies, bacta, and new recruits. This helped keep his fleet combat ready, though supplies were increasingly tight due to similar actions undertaken by Roan Fel's Loyalist forces. Like Stazi, Fel also had need for military supplies, as he gathered forces loyal to him at Bastion.

Meeting on the Wheel
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Admiral Stazi. You're a legend among us, you know."

- Captain Mingo Bovark

Over time, the Sith continued to tighten their grip on the galaxy. Already engaged in his own actions against the Sith, Emperor-in-exile Fel decided to approach Stazi with an offer of alliance. Fel dispatched an Imperial fast frigate under Captain Mingo Bovark to meet with the Duro admiral. Stazi chose to directly represent the Alliance Remnant during a meeting held on the space station known as the Wheel. He did not to travel to the Wheel on his flagship, the Indomitable, instead choosing a Galactic Alliance frigate. Arriving at the Wheel aboard a shuttle, Stazi's only companions were three Alliance soldiers, unarmed due to restrictions in place by the Wheel's administrator, Pol Temm.

As the meeting commenced, Stazi expressed his reluctance to join Fel's Loyalist forces, maintaining that he had little to offer the remnants of the Galactic Alliance fleet. He further pointed out that both the GA Remnant and Fel's forces were often competing for the same scarce resources. However, the revelation that Fel had captured Bastion convinced the Admiral that discussions of an alliance were valuable. Bastion provided something that the Alliance did not have: a safe world from which to launch strikes at Krayt's Empire. As such, both Bovark and Stazi commenced negotiations.



Meanwhile, Sith assassin Jor Torlin had been dispatched to the Wheel by Darth Maladi in an effort to find Cade Skywalker, the last known surviving Skywalker and son of Jedi Master Kol Skywalker. Unbeknownst to the Sith, Director of Imperial Intelligence Nyna Calixte, under the guise of her alter ego, Morrigan Corde, also had a vested interest in finding Skywalker. All factions&mdash;Sith, Imperial and Alliance&mdash;had no idea that Cade was actually her son. It was while searching for Skywalker on the Wheel that Calixte discovered the meeting between Stazi and Bovark. After saving Torlin from a gang of criminals, Calixte convinced the Sith agent to work with her to sabotage the conference, arguing that it was their duty to prevent an alliance between Stazi and Fel's forces for the good of the Empire.

Their plan involved using advanced technology known as the Command Override Limpet Droid. The C.O.L.D.s would attach itself to the shuttle's hull, hack into the onboard computers, and order the ship to open fire. After hacking into Bovark's Nu-class Imperial Shuttle, the C.O.L.D.s caused the vessel to open fire on Stazi's own shuttle. Warned of the attack over his personal comm unit, Stazi assumed the entire conference was a elaborate Imperial ruse. His experiences at Caamas and years on the run had ingrained deep suspicion in Stazi regarding Imperial intentions. Revealing a vibroblade he managed to hide in his sleeve, Stazi thrust at Bovark. However, the timely arrival of Imperial Knight Antares Draco, who used Force Push to throw the Duro admiral against the wall, prevented the Duros from harming Bovark. Arriving on the scene with guards of his own, Pol Temm instructed Bovark to leave the Wheel, forbidding him or any other of Fel's forces to ever return. Stazi was allowed to return to his shuttle, and departed the station.

Battle of Mon Calamari
"Only one choice is left to you now&mdash;surrender or be destroyed. Which will it be, Stazi?"

- Admiral Dru Valan

Sometime after the disastrous meeting on the Wheel, Stazi learned of the Imperious, a new advanced class of Star Destroyer. Under construction at the Mon Calamari Shipyards, the warship was larger and more powerful than the Empire's Pellaeon-class Star Destroyer. Always in need of additional forces to carry on his opposition, Stazi planned to capture the Star Destroyer and add it to his fleet. Rogue Squadron pilot Monia Gahan provided intelligence on the Imperious to Stazi, courtesy of her uncle, former Triumvir, and longtime friend of Stazi, Gial Gahan. Gahan had been supplying the Alliance with supplies ever since the end of the Sith-Imperial War. His plan was to access the central computer of the shipyard's defensive systems and shut them down moments before Stazi's fleet appeared. This would allow Alliance commandos to board the Imperious, disable its skeleton crew, and flee the system before any Imperial forces could arrive. Knowing that capture of an advanced warship was the best bet of keeping the Alliance a threat to the Empire, the Duro put into motion the operation.

However, Admiral Dru Valan of the Outer Rim Third Fleet was waiting for him. Expecting that Stazi would try to capture the Imperious, Imperial stormtroopers were ready for both Gahan's sabotage attempt and the Alliance commandos. With both efforts foiled, it appeared to Valan that Stazi and his fleet were trapped between the defensive systems on Mon Calamari and the Imperial fleet.

Despite the appearance of an Imperial ambush, it was the Alliance who in turn trapped the Empire. Valan offered Stazi's fleet a chance to surrender. Echoing his decision seven years prior, Stazi refused to accept the offer. Forming his fleet around the Indomitable, he ordered all Alliance forces to open fire on Valan's fleet. Despite the sudden onslaught, Valan was confident that the orbital weapons batteries on the Mon Cal shipyards would make short work of Stazi's fleet. Unbeknownst to him, the Alliance had a back up plan. With Gial Gahan acting as the diversion, Monia Gahan hacked into the shipyard's central computer and ordered the weapons to target the Imperial fleet. The major batteries on the shipyard inflicted heavy damage to Valan's fleet, including severe damage to the frigates Ironstar and Verpine.

Meanwhile, on the bridge of the Imperious, it became apparent that it was the Alliance that had tricked the Imperials. Disguised as stormtroopers and Imperial officers, Alliance commandos led by Hondo Karr took control of the Advanced Star Destroyer. As Karr's crew piloted the Imperious out of the docks, Stazi ordered them to fall back to the secret rendezvous point and link up with the other Alliance warships already waiting there. Angered by the audacity shown by Stazi, Valan ordered all of his forces to converge on the Indomitable. As the Alliance capital ships fell back behind the shipyard defense systems, Rogue Squadron intercepted and destroyed several Predator-class starfighters. The Rogues' crucial cover kept swarms of Imperial fighters from making attack runs on the Alliance's larger vessels.

Escape
"You struck a superior officer, Jhoram Bey." "For the good of the service, Admiral. And under the implied orders of Captain Yorub." "Still, such an act cannot be permitted without consequence. I'm appointing you to Captain Yorub's position as my second. Teach you not to hit an admiral."

- Gar Stazi and Jhoram Bey, after the Battle of Mon Calamari

With his primary objective of capturing the Imperious achieved, Stazi turned to covering the escape of his fleet. Knowing that Valan would ignore other Alliance warships to kill him, Stazi and the Indomitable stood firm, taking withering fire from the Imperial fleet. One powerful blast struck the bridge, wounding Captain Jaius Yorub and crippling the ship. Over the comm, Valan gave Stazi one last chance to surrender. Instead, Stazi informed Valan of his intention to disable the Mon Cal shipyards, strategically depriving the Empire of their shipbuilding capacity.

As the Rogues covered the escape of the last remaining Alliance capital ships, Rogue Leader Jhoram Bey decided to return to the admiral's flagship and attempt a rescue. Making his way to the bridge, Bey discovered Stazi. Explaining to Bey that it was his duty to remain behind and crash the Indomitable into the shipyards, Stazi ordered him to escape with Yorub instead. Still laying wounded on the bridge, Yorub begged Stazi to escape, saying that the admiral was more than a typical officer&mdash;he was a living symbol for the Alliance. The Duro refused to budge, however, arguing that his life was no more important than any other Alliance officer. Taking matters into his own hands, Bey knocked Stazi unconscious. Relieved that Stazi would now be taken off the Indomitable, Yorub ordered Bey to take the admiral back to his fighter and flee the ship. Following orders, Bey and Stazi escaped.

While an unconscious Stazi traveled to the rendezvous point, Yorub bravely sacrificed himself by slamming the Indomitable into the shipyards. Despite the loss of the Indomitable and several fighters, the battle was a major Alliance victory. The Alliance was further aided by the incompetence shown by Valan, who chose to concentrate his efforts on destroying the Indomitable instead of attacking the rest of the Alliance fleet. Realizing his obsession with Stazi cost the Empire the battle, he considered suicide his only option. Later, at the rendezvous point, Stazi confronted Bey on his actions during the battle. But instead of punishing him, he promoted him to his second-in-command. Stazi also warned his crew that their actions would undoubtedly lead to an Imperial reprisal. However, determined to keep the cause of the Galactic Alliance alive, he ordered his crews to ready the fleet for further battle. Stazi told them that only when the fleet was ready would there be time to mourn those lost.

Personality and traits
"The Galaxy is more important. If I were to fall, the battle must still go on. No one being can be more important than the cause."

- Admiral Stazi, to his aide, Captain Jaius Yorub

Wily and determined, Admiral Gar Stazi was considered a successful fleet commander. His fighting withdrawal from the debacle at Caamas made him a legend with Imperial commanders, as well as revered by those that served under him. Stazi showed tactical and strategic prowess, demonstrating an ability not only to win battles, but to see the larger strategic picture. This was evidenced by his decision to cripple the Mon Calamari Shipyards, which deprived the Sith of a major source of capital ships, as well as a major base of operations in the Outer Rim Territories.

Seven years of fighting the Sith-controlled Empire gave Stazi little patience, as well as a distrust of Imperial motives, evidenced by his reluctance to trust Roan Fel's representative during negotiations on the Wheel. This was also echoed by Alliance personnel like Rogue Squadron commander Jhoram Bey, who warned his subordinates not to keep the admiral waiting for critical information.

Committed to defeating the Sith, Stazi made clear to the officers and crew serving under him that no one individual was more important than the cause&mdash;freeing the galaxy from the oppression of the Sith.

Behind the scenes
Admiral Stazi was created by John Ostrander, writer of the Star Wars Legacy comic series. He first appeared in the Trust Issues story arc, and later in Star Wars Legacy: Indomitable. In his first appearance, he was drawn by Colin Wilson. In his subsequent appearances, Stazi was drawn by Omar Francia. Jan Duursema has said on the Dark Horse message boards that Stazi's name is pronounced STAH-zee.

Gar Stazi was the first Galactic Alliance character specifically named in Legacy. Prior to his appearance, the only hint or mention of the Alliance in the Legacy series was a brief mention of the CF9 Crossfire starfighter and the Galactic Alliance Core Fleet. Stazi is one of only four Duros admirals developed in the Expanded Universe. The other three were also affiliated with the New Republic/Galactic Alliance: Darez Wuht, Tarla Limpan, and Kir Vantai.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Legacy: Trust Issues
 * Star Wars Legacy: Indomitable

Notes and references
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