- "Gentlebeings, it has been both an honor and a privilege… Good luck!"
- ―The conductor bids farewell to the Aurorient Express band while heading for an escape pod
An individual who belonged to an insectoid sentient species worked on the luxury cruise liner Aurorient Express in 38 BBY, where they served as a conductor for the ship's band. During a cruise through the atmosphere of the planet of Yorn Skot, the ship was attacked by Fastlatch-class defense droids, which was orchestrated by the Green Forge eco-terrorist group under the guise of pressure pirates, to which Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi were dispatched to thwart. The conductor and the band were interrupted when the Jedi crashed through the ship's skylight and onto a banquet table.
Unbeknownst to the conductor and the ship's passengers, the Green Forge wanted to force entrepreneur Clode Rhoden to close his gas mines, and the ship was sent on a collision course with the Yorn Skot mining station. Later, the passengers were ordered to evacuate the stricken ship and the conductor was among the evacuees; they had left the band behind when the insectoid's boarding number was called, bidding the cephalopods good luck in their own evacuation. Eventually, the conductor and the band were reunited aboard the rescue frigate.
Biography[]
- "Well, should we play another?"
- ―The conductor to the band
Thirty-eight years before the Battle of Yavin, an individual from an insectoid species served as the conductor for a band that played on board the Aurorient Express, a luxury liner that was cruising the gas giant of Yorn Skot. Unbeknownst to the conductor and the other passengers, the ship was besieged by Fastlatch-class defense droids, and Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi had been dispatched on a mission to thwart the attack. It was when the two Jedi had crashed through a skylight and onto a banquet table that the conductor and the band were interrupted and made aware of their presence.[2]
Disguised as an attack by pressure pirates and orchestrated by the Green Forge eco-terrorist organization, the group intended to use the ship to destroy the Yorn Skot gas mines owned by wealthy business being Clode Rhoden. Due to the attack, the passengers of the beleaguered ship were ordered to evacuate. The evacuation was carried out in an orderly fashion, with the passengers assigned to various life pods by number. During the evacuation, the conductor was still directing the band, and inquired as to whether or not they should play another song. The maestro was asked by the cephalopod musicians if the ship had life pods large enough to support them, to which the insectoid replied that such a design feature was assumed. The band leader was interrupted by a boarding call that announced the insectoid's assigned life pod. The conductor bid the band good luck and hurried to evacuate.[1]
Later, the conductor was reunited with the band aboard a Galactic Republic rescue frigate. The insectoid rushed to greet the bandmates, who appeared irritated.[1]
Personality and traits[]
- "Now boarding life pods B-0515 through B-0714…"
"That's me!" - ―The Aurorient Express's announcer alerts the conductor
The conductor about to perform.
A rotund insectoid, the band conductor had red eyes, a gray exoskeleton, and a pair of antennae on the head. The conductor's head also sported a strip of black hair. The conductor was dressed in formal clothing, with a green vest, black pants, and a yellow cummerbund around the waist. Though the conductor was focused on their own itinerary, the insectoid felt that it was both an honor and a privilege to work with the band and bade the mollusks good luck with their evacuation.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
The insectoid conductor appeared as a background character in the miniseries Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan: The Aurorient Express, which was published by Dark Horse Comics in February and June of 2002. Written by Mike Kennedy and drawn by Lucas Marangon, the series was composed of two issues, which were later collected in the Star Wars Omnibus Rise of the Sith.
Appearances[]
- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan: The Aurorient Express 1 (First appearance)
- Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan: The Aurorient Express 2