| |
| Danik Kreldin | |
|---|---|
| Biographical information | |
| Homeworld | |
| Born |
40 BBY, Corellia |
| Died | |
| Physical description | |
| Species | |
| Gender |
Male |
| Height |
1.8m |
| Hair color |
Gray |
| Eye color |
Brown |
| Skin color |
White |
| Political information | |
| Affiliation | |
| Rank | |
| Position |
Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces, Select Committeeman |
| Station | |
| Callsign |
Nightmare of Athaniss |
Danik Kreldin (40 BBY - 15 ABY) was the Supreme Commander of the Galactic Empire. He was a veteran of nearly forty years, having served in the both the Old Republic Navy and its successor organization, the Imperial Navy. His long and accomplished career ended in 15 ABY, after attempting to remove Emperor Aleister Vadim from the throne. He was reported executed by COMPNOR after his subsequent capture. He left behind a legacy of devastation, responsible for the genocidal butchering of the Griffon people, the Chandrilan Massacre, the Dacan Pandemic, and the "Imperial revival of 14 ABY", which included the recapture of Coruscant in early 15 ABY.
At the end of his career, Kreldin was revered as one of the best pilots in the galaxy, earning himself the title of Nightmare of Athaniss for his performance during the Imperial Civil War's Athaniss Campaign. He was a cunning military strategist and tactician, plotting many of the Empire's victories, including the Imperial Blitzkrieg, the largest military offensive undertaken by the Empire in the years after the defeat at Endor.
Before ascending to the role of Supreme Commander, Kreldin was a High Admiral and one of several chief officers in the Imperial Navy. In 14 ABY he retired from active military duty and took up the role of military advisor to Darth Malign and the Imperial High Command. It was through this capacity that he engineered the Imperial Blitzkrieg. However, the political climate in the Empire changed overnight with the Battle of O'paal: a majority of Imperial High Command was eliminated in a single blow. Kreldin was chosen to assume control of the military, securing his promotion to Grand Admiral and Supreme Commander.
Kreldin was also renown as the founder of the Black Stars squadron, the Imperial special operations unit. His trademark red TIE Interceptor led the unit in several engagements against the Republic, earning the unit a notorious reputation. Beyond combat, Kreldin was an accomplished swoop racer, consistently remaining in the top tier of the G4 circuit, and was known to have amassed one of the galaxy's largest private weapons collection.
Biography[]
Early life (40 BBY - 22 BBY)[]
Danik was born to Kennith and Tesera Kreldin on Corellia in 40 BBY, a wealthy family descended from Corellian nobility that lived within the confines of the luxurious Kreldin Estates.
As a youth, Danik idolized the Jedi and dreamed of fighting alongside them in the service of the Republic. This hero worship and desire to protect the Republic shaped his childhood. This dream led to reckless behavior, such as late night swoop racing through the streets of Corellia and "borrowing" his father's private starship for a joyride to Coruscant.
As he grew older and realized he would never be a Jedi, Danik chose to follow in his father's footsteps and join the Judicial Department. Due to his father's connections, he was given a fast-track through the academy, graduating several months before the outbreak of the Clone Wars.
Clone Wars (22 BBY - 19 BBY)[]
The war would strongly reinforce Danik's strongly held beliefs of duty to the Republic and a strong sense of justice. He saw the Confederacy as a threat to the stability of the galaxy and vowed to service the Republic to the best of his abilities. With Judicial Department assets merged with the newly formed military of the Old Republic, Danik was assigned to a newly built Acclamator-class assault ship, Aken. His service aboard Aken would take him the battlefields of Geonosis to Alaris Prime and beyond.
While there were non-clone combat personnel, it was not typical in the early days of the war, as most non-clone personnel were stationed aboard warships as officers. Danik, however, longed to be behind the controls of a starfighter and was finally given his chance during the Battle of Thule. He proved his skill with a starfighter and was given permanent assignment to the Aken's starfighter wing. By the Second Battle of Sarapin, Danik was already an ace and had earned himself a reputation through the ranks of the Republic Navy. After the Battle of Jabiim, Danik was reassigned to Jabiim's Ghost and given command of Red Squadron.
His service during the war would take him across the galaxy, participating in many of the war's major engagements, including the titanic Battle of Coruscant. After Coruscant, the war was drawing to a close, and with it came the rise of Emperor Palpatine and the Galactic Empire.
Imperial Career (19 BBY - 15 BBY)[]
At the end of the Clone Wars, Danik was a lieutenant, ace and established squadron leader. The war, however, had transformed Danik's perception of the galaxy. His childhood heroes, the Jedi, had seemingly turned against the Republic and its leader, Palpatine, and had even attempted to assassinate him. This betrayal warped Danik's views. He now believed the Republic was defunct and incapable of securing peace in the galaxy. When Palpatine declared the First Galactic Empire, Danik pledged his unwavering loyalty to the new regime. He was now among the first of the new TIE pilots in service of the Imperial Navy.
Inter-war period (19 BBY - 0 BBY)[]
Danik Kreldin in the early days of the Galactic Empire.
Many of the operations during the years between the end of the Clone Wars and the rise of the Alliance to the Restore the Republic were small planetary conflicts and uprisings against the Empire. It was understood that many of the worlds once held by the Confederacy would be unwilling to answer to Imperial authority and a strong hand would be needed to restore order. Danik's beliefs were that Imperial rule and obedience to the New Order were necessary to prevent another war - he had witnessed the horrors of the Clone Wars and the betrayal of the Jedi first hand, and he would do whatever necessary to ensure the galaxy would remain stable and at peace.
He was eventually assigned to a newly built Imperial-class Star Destroyer, Tyrant, and promoted to command Tyrant's starfighter wing.
Early Galactic Civil War (0 BBY - 4 ABY)[]
Danik Kreldin, shortly before the Battle of Endor.
Danik's service aboard Tyrant took him to the far reaches of the galaxy in pursuit of the Rebel Alliance. He believed Imperial High Command was not taking the threat of the Alliance as serious as it should; he saw the similarities to the Confederacy years prior. His requests for a more focused hunt of Alliance cells fell on deaf years until the Battle of Yavin changed everything. With the death of Grand Moff Tarkin and the destruction of the Death Star, Tyrant was assigned to Death Squadron and the hunt for the Rebellion began in earnest. It was during his service with Death Squadron that Danik had his first albeit brief confrontation with Han Solo and Millennium Falcon as part of the force in pursuit of the notorious smuggler.
While Hoth was a resounding success, Danik knew the fight was far from over. His worst fears came to realization two years later, with the death of Palpatine during the Battle of Endor. Danik's TIE was heavily damaged during the confrontation, but he, along with Tyrant, were successful in escaping with the surviving Imperial forces.
After Endor (4 ABY - 11 ABY)[]
A state of confusion came upon the Empire. The Emperor was dead. The man who had been ruling the Empire ever since there was an Empire. Even before there was an Empire, it was Palpatine who led the Old Republic throughout the dark days of the Clone Wars. Who could possibly step up and take his throne? Danik pondered this question as he gathered the survivors of Shadow Wing aboard Tyrant as the Star Destroyer fled with several other Imperial warships from Endor to the safe-haven of Imperial Center.
When Kreldin arrived at Imperial Center he saw the planet in a state of mass-panic. Riots were being conducted by civilians, only to be put down with heavy force by Imperial Stormtroopers under orders of the Imperial Ruling Council. A sizeable fleet was already in orbit over Imperial Center, consisting of elements of the normal defense fleet and several survivors from Endor. But already reports were coming in from Intelligence channels of certain Imperial commanders taking what they considered "theirs" and going Warlord. The Imperial Ruling Council, currently being led by Sate Pestage and Ars Dangor tried their best to keep the Empire from breaking into a million pieces without the leadership of the Emperor.
Post-Endor Imperial power struggle (4 ABY - 8 ABY)[]
But the Ruling Council could not achieve this goal. The Post-Endor Imperial power struggle began and the Galactic Empire which had reigned over the galaxy for over two decades was fragmented. Danik watched around him as greedy Imperial commanders split off and began carving out their own "kingdoms", some even daring to call themselves the new "Emperor". The crew of the Tyrant remained loyal to the Empire, and thus the Ruling Council currently residing on Imperial Center. Imperial forces began to dig in on Imperial Center, preparing for a long, exhausting campaign against the Alliance which, in the aftermath of their victory at Endor, were attracting even more recruits and member worlds.
Imperial Center is invaded.
Imperial Center would be the key to it all, or so the Imperial strategists figured. If Imperial Center was to be lost, so would all hope for the Empire. After months of building up defenses and adding new warships to the defense fleet that arrived upon request of the Council, the Alliance launched their attack on the Imperial capital. The Battle of Coruscant would be even larger than Endor and result in the destruction of a large number of warships on both sides. Danik fought long and hard against Rebel starfighters, and was tasked with Shadow Wing to shoot down as many Alliance troop transports as possible before they touched the surface. Despite Danik's best efforts, the Alliance gained a foothold on the capital and after weeks of fighting the Imperials were forced to retreat, largely due to the number of Imperial commanders who simply abandoned the Empire during the fighting.
Danik survived the engagement, but loss sixty-percent of his wing. After Imperial Center's fall to the Rebellion, the Imperial Ruling Council - now at half its previous roster - fled to the distant Faylar system, deep in the Outer Rim, where they set up their remaining council on the dark world of Dreven. Dreven was announced as the new Imperial capital and Tyrant arrived promptly to boost the planet's defenses and contribute its expertise to the dwindling resources of the "Galactic Empire". Warlord Tagger was declared the new leader of the Imperial Ruling Council, now dubbed the Interim Ruling Council.
Danik looked upon Tagger with disdain, seeing an incompetent and foolish political commander who sought only more political clout over a flailing government. Despite his lack of faith in the new leader's capabilities, Danik did not want to splinter the Empire any further and he cast his loyalty in with Tagger and the Interim Ruling Council, as they represented the only legitimate form of power left in the remnant of the Empire. Danik managed to convince Lennox, Tyrant's commander, to remain loyal as well. Tyrant was added to the roster of Tagger's newly constructed Emperor's Pride Fleet, which he gave the mission of retaking of Imperial Center from the "New Republic".
Elements of the Emperor's Pride Fleet in formation.
The |mission to retake Coruscant was a complete disaster. Emperor's Pride Fleet was ambushed at several key points along the route to Coruscant from Dreven and was ultimately repulsed from Coruscant.
Upon their return to Dreven, the survivors of the mission were met with scorn. Tagger vanished, believed assassinated, and Connor Dobbs took his place to rule the Council.
Danik found no rest in the wake of the failure at Coruscant. Daily they were called to duty to combat attacks by various Warlords throughout ever-dwindling Imperial territory. Attacks by the Republic were rare but did occur, as the Republic was concerned with adding new states through diplomatic means and fortifying their territory. As far as the Republic was concerned, the Empire was dead, devoured by its internal power struggle. Danik felt the same way, seeing no hope for a revival of the Empire.
Two years would pass with constant fighting against the Imperial Warlords. The Empire itself was on its last breath, exhausted of resources and manpower. Its leadership was woefully incompetent, the Council going through several leaders after Tagger: Dobbs would be executed by Wyth Skellheim, who in turn would disappear after only several months and replaced by Alaric Darkstar. Danik merely saw pathetic politicians squabbling for power when they should have been focusing their attention on the two wars that engulfed the Empire. Wyth would return sometime later, causing a division amidst the Empire as Skellheim attempted to regain power from Darkstar. Danik took neither side during the fighting, and managed to convince Lennox to keep the Tyrant outside the fighting as well. Alaric Darkstar would eventually beat out Skellhim in the battle for the throne, but Darkstar himself would eventually step down and be replaced by Grand Moff Ariak Caldny.
Caldny proved himself a capable leader. Although the Battle of Sluis Van ended in defeat for the Empire, it showed the Republic that the Imperial Military still had teeth and was slowly but surely emerging from its internal power struggle.
The Battle of Etti IV would be a large victory for the waning Galactic Empire.
All the skirmishes and battles during the Civil War, however, would pale in comparison and importance to the Battle of Etti IV. Two months after the battle at Sluis Van, Danik awoke within his cabin to a battle alert. The fleet was to deploy immediately to Authority territory. In the hangar bay of Tyrant, Danik delivered orders to his squadron. Han Solo had been captured at Etti IV, and now the Imperial and Republic fleets were at a stand-off over the capital of the Authority. Tensions were high, but back-scene politics and interference from a Dark Lord of the Sith by the name of Sabbathius Osbourne had enabled the Empire to receive Solo as a prisoner. Danik flew daily runs with Shadow Wing through Etti IV space, as reconnaissance and escorts. Danik ordered his wing to prepare for imminent battle, although no one knew if battle would actually break out in neutral territory. But when news of Solo's hand over to the Empire came to light, the Republic was the first to attack. The Imperials responded immediately and swiftly. The Republic would be defeated at Etti IV, a decisive blow to the New Republic and the Empire's largest victory since the Second Battle of Bajic.
Morale soared high through the ranks, and Danik was restored with confidence. Buying drinks for his squadron, Danik and his unit celebrated back on Dreven. Despite the hard-won victory, the Empire was still in no position of restoring itself to its former glory. The Republic saw their defeat at Etti IV as a minor set-back and remained complacent about the Empire, confident they would eventually swallow themselves whole in civil war and become a thing of the past.
After Etti IV, Caldny stepped down and was replaced by the charismatic and mysterious Bacharan Valak, a former admiral in the Imperial Navy turned Warlord. Danik saw a calculating and brilliant mind in Valak, one that could restore the Empire to its former glory. Valak's leadership would take Tyrant and Danik to outward planets like Tatooine, where Danik would participate in the eradication of the V'ez-Tcha criminal syndicate, and Sullust, where the Third Battle of Sullust would see the Empire's capture of the strategic Republic world and its facilities. Danik, now a Captain, was witness to the genocide unleashed upon the Sullustan population, but his hatred of the Republic had turned him into a man who saw the genocide as a necessary precaution to prevent any uprising against Imperial rule. The occupation would last several months before the Imperials were forced to give up and retreat due to increased pressure from the Republic to reclaim the world. Tyrant would be given a hero's welcome at Dreven, and commemorated by Valak himself for its actions at Sullust.
The next year would see a radical change in the galactic climate. Danik would participate in the campaign against the Griffon Alliance at Pride-1, participating in its capture and eventual liberation by the Griffons and a task force sent by the Republic. Afterwards, the Vigilant Movement would see its rise and fall, effectively putting an end to the Imperial power struggle that had been waging for the past three years.
Valak's Great Campaign (8 ABY - 10 ABY)[]
Danik would receive his second Navy Cross after the Caspian Annexation Campaign, a venture initiated by Valak to capture the vital Caspian system and annex the Caspian Democratic Union. Danik would score four killing shots against Caspian spacecraft and Shadow Wing itself lost only one pilot. The campaign, led by Valak's Warlord, Jarl Rellik, would come to an end after the signing of a non-aggression pact between the two states. Valak would be coronated Emperor soon after the end of the conflict, making him the first to bear the title of Emperor since Palpatine himself.
The war took a drastic change when Tyrant was ordered to Gastus IV. There, Danik witnessed a massive battlestation appear out of hyperspace, and after a battle against the Republic fleet, destroy the planet with a single shot from its superlaser. The Death Star III was introduced to a stunned galaxy, and the Imperial war machine was in full-swing. Led by the Death Star III, the newly-revitalized Imperial fleet moved from planet to planet, recapturing territory faster than the Republic could respond.
From Gastus IV, Valak's campaign would take Danik back to Pride-1, onward to Dac and Sluis Van, leaving a path of destruction in the wake. Sluis Van itself would be entirely wiped out like Gastus IV, and Dac would fall to Imperial occupation and its shipyards wiped out from a blast emitted by the Death Star III. The Republic was on its knees, and the tip of the Imperial spearhead was pointed at Coruscant. Danik's optimism, however, was tempered by his own past experiences. He had served at Endor when the second Death Star was destroyed, and also remembered the day when news of the first Death Star's destruction reached him. Overconfidence in their technological superiority had led to the Empire's downfall, and he knew it could happen again.
Imperial Army units advance on Coruscant during the Third Battle of Coruscant.
Danik was promoted to Commodore during the Great Campaign. He would help in the planning of the invasion of Coruscant, assisting High Command by providing his expertise in starfighter tactics and logistics. Danik would lead the 301st Starfighter Battlegroup into battle over Coruscant, and after the rout of the Republic fleet, his starfighters would fly daily runs over Coruscant's cityscape, dropping bombs and running reconnaissance as the month-long siege of the planet dragged on. Tyrant was heavily damaged during the battle and was sent in for repairs. Danik was transferred off the old warship to Imperator II-class Star Destroyer HIMS Malevolent.
In 10 ABY, he would lead a special task force to Mutanda to assist the Authority in combating the Griffons, and would later assist in the subjugation of Kashyyyk. Afterwards, Danik would return home for the first time in decades in an Imperial attack which saw the retreat of the Republic fleet.
Imperial Civil War (11 ABY)[]
The Republic, with the help of the Griffons Alliance and Talon Karrde, a man who would later become one of Danik's greatest adversaries, had discovered the location of the Death Star III and had sent an infiltration team to sabotage the station prior to its assault. Deep in the asteroid field of Sluis Van (created by the destruction of the planet several years prior), the Republic launched its assault. Danik felt a sense of guilt over the destruction of the previous two Death Stars, feeling if he had been present at Yavin he could have prevented the fatal shot that destroyed the first Death Star and that he should have followed the Rebels into the superstructure of the second Death Star. He was adamant to not let the Republic destroy the third.
He was given command over the defense fleet's starfighter group by the First Fleet Commander, Dyne Haederfeld. The two opposing fleets clashed and after a kamikaze run by countless Republic ships laden with explosives the Death Star was destroyed. Danik took charge of the Imperial fleet after Haederfeld's death and ordered a retreat. The Imperial fleet regrouped at Selene and plans were made for the next step. Valak was still alive and in control, but the destruction of the Death Star loosened the Empire's grip on the newly developed Galactic Confederation and the galaxy as a whole. As defiance towards the Empire grew, a certain group took the opportunity to launch their surprise attack on distant Dac.
Led by a man saying he was none other than Palpatine, this group seized control of Dac and its defense forces. The so-called Palpatine attracted a significant portion of the Imperial Military to his banner. Palpatine declared Valak a traitor to the New Order and declared war. The Imperial Civil War had begun.
Danik was at Endor and did not believe Palpatine had survived. Danik remained loyal to Valak and used his reputation to keep many others from defecting. The war was in full-swing, with Outer Rim worlds falling at a terrifying pace to Palpatine and his supporters. Palpatine's military eventually reached the Core, setting up a foothold on the vital Tarkin Corridor by taking Athaniss. But the Empire would allow no further advance of Palpatine's forces into the Core: Admiral Kendal Osbourne was given charge of a task force by Valak to reclaim Athaniss and drive Palpatine and his supporters from the Core and back to Dac. Danik, recently promoted to Rear Admiral, was given charge of the task force's starfighter complement and assisted in the planning of the campaign.
No less than three battles would ravage Athaniss for control of the world, but finally the military force of Palpatine was forced to retreat. The Imperial fleet advanced full-speed, driving Palpatine back to Dac. Danik was given joint command over a special task force with Admiral Salin Fawzy to break-off from the main Imperial fleet and launch a surprise attack on the Griffons at Mutanda, as the Imperial fleet was nearby. The Empire had been craving for revenge against the Griffons since their betrayal at Sluis Van.
Mutanda fell swiftly. Danik received the Order of Liberation after the fall of Mutanda, handed to him by an aid of the Emperor himself. He rejoined the main fleet prior to the final push against Palpatine, who had holed himself and his supporters up at Novar III after his defeat at Dac by a joint Republic-Griffons task force.
Palpatine was captured and revealed to be an impostor:. He was then swiftly executed on live holonet for the Empire to see. The civil war ended, and the Empire put itself back on the road to recovery. While the Empire received a damaging blow, Danik emerged from the civil war as a hero and capable leader. He was given the nickname Nightmare of Athaniss, a nickname he would come to be feared by for years to come. His crimson starfighter would be his trademark, signaling fear in the opposing forces.
Retribution against the Griffons (11 ABY)[]
After the end of the Civil War, the Empire brought its attention back on the Griffon Alliance. Danik was given his first real fleet command, hundreds of warships assembled under his authority as a rear admiral, and charged with launching a massive assault on Pride-1, the famous space station sitting in the middle of Talon's Cut. Danik led his fleet well, but despite his efforts, he could not punch a hole through the Griffon defense line. Fortunately for Danik, the second attack wave arrived several hours into the engagement, led by Admiral Fawzy. The combined assault overwhelmed the Griffons. Danik watched as countless turbolaser and missiles poured into the spacestation. Before it could be destroyed entirely by the Imperial fleet, the crew aboard the Pride-1 detonated the self-destruct, destroying it and several nearby ships and robbing the Empire of their revenge.
The Empire was unable to fully complete its desired retribution; Cochran remained as the final Griffon stronghold, and after the failed attack on it months prior, the war against the Griffons was put on hold as Valak ordered the military to focus more on the Republic itself.
Late Galactic Civil War (11 ABY - 15 ABY)[]
The Black Stars (11 ABY - 12 ABY)[]
Black Star I, the red TIE Interceptor
During the Imperial Civil War, Kreldin was transferred to |Tormentor, where he met Fianar Reanus. Together, the two formulated plans to build an elite special operations squadron. Together, they discussed their ideas with Admiral [Kendal Osbourne]] and Vorn Paro, Director of the Imperial Security Bureau and Imperial Army general. The Black Stars were to be an elite squadron of pilots who doubled as commandos and spies, independent of the main military apparatus and free to execute missions and tasks on their own accord outside High Command's authority, answering only to the Emperor, Osbourne and COMPNOR.
The team would consist of five highly trained soldiers flying five TIE Interceptor Mark IIs and stationed aboard a modified Corellian Corvette, HIMS Admiral Canis, named after the late Grand Admiral Russel Canis. Danik was given command of the unit, while Reanus was made captain of Admiral Canis. The other three original members were Tynan Aileron, Gorian Ingsa, and Jermaine Kerexis.
On the very first day of their conception, the Black Stars deployed on a mission to prove their worth by launching a solo assault on Athaniss, then controlled by the impostor Palpatine. The Black Stars managed to deliver a mocking blow against the armed forces of Palpatine. Their effectiveness earned them the right to maintain their independence.
With the success of the Black Stars, Danik rose to the top of the Republic's most wanted list and earned the ire of Republic starfighter pilots. Danik and the Black Stars led a mission to Oro IV in a in a daring assault and successfully defended Charad from a Republic attack. They were also given missions from COMPNOR's Vorn Paro, such as the much-acclaimed attack on the RMS Daedilus.
During his time leading the Black Stars, Danik began a personal rivalry with the smuggler Axel Vichten, who, during his time with the Republic, fought the Black Stars several times and each time eluded capture. Due to his growing power and influence in the Empire, Danik was awarded a spot on the highly secretive and influential Select Committee, the ruling body of COMPNOR.
Danik and the Black Stars would assist at the Battle of Kappa. Axel would once again engage the Black Stars in battle in an attempt to lure them away from the main battle. Danik and his squadron mates would chase the smuggler through the dangerous Kappa Asteroid Field, dealing heavy damage to the smuggler's ship, Boomstick, but Kreldin and his men were unable to capture Axel before his jump to lightspeed upon clearing the field.
Danik grew obsessed with tracking down and killing Axel, but all this would have to wait. The unit would be disbanded by Osbourne, who had begun to take over the Empire in the wake of Valak's mysterious disappearance from galactic affairs. The unit had grown too far in popularity and had been attracting too much attention, as well as growing far too distant from the main Imperial military body. Danik was angry with the decision, but kept his mouth shut and went along with the decision.
On the Road to Damnation (11 ABY - 12 ABY)[]
Preparation for the Fourth Battle of Coruscant began, and Danik was tasked with leading the defense fleet which would "retreat" after a short engagement with the Republic fleet to attack Bothawui. Meanwhile, Imperial troops on the planet would trap the Republic Army beneath the planetary shields and wipe them out.
Several days before the battle, Danik was on the planet and preparing to board his shuttle when a mysterious individual approached him and the Imperial checkpoint he was departing from. He was unaware that the man was none other than the powerful Jedi Master Aurejin. Aurejin used a Force trick on Danik to grant him access beyond the Imperial checkpoint. The trick worked, and Danik unwittingly allowed the Jedi through. He left the planet, completely unaware he had let one of his greatest enemies slip by him. When he returned to his flagship, Tormentor, he was greeted by the arrival of a Republic-marked transport that had taken a wrong hyperspace jump. Danik immediately ordered the capture of the transport, which proved easier than he had imagined. The Republicans gave up without a fight, and the crew taken prisoner. They were locked up in one of the concentration camps set up across the planet, and Danik personally oversaw their interrogation. In one of his very first acts of cruelty, a trait which would grow over the years, Danik forced one of the prisoners to kill another, a helpless Bothan child.
During the actual engagement, Danik executed his orders without delay, pulling back from Coruscant upon the arrival of the Republica fleet. During the "retreat", HIMS Subjugator was destroyed by a concentrated attack, but she would be the only loss of the engagement before the Imperials jumped to lightspeed on the road to Bothawui. Danik's fleet would emerge from hyperspace and begin their attack on Bothawui while the battle continued to rage on Coruscant. Danik's fleet ravaged Federation space for hours, suffering minimal losses and dealing heavy blows to both the Republic and Bothan defense fleets and facilities throughout the system. Ports were turned to scrapped, defensive batteries ruined, and planet-based facilities wiped out, and the Republic fleet was reduced to half its size before Danik ordered a tactical withdrawal back to Coruscant to finish the main battle.
Upon his return to Coruscant, Danik led his fleet once more against the Republic and saw their systematic destruction. Heavy losses were inflicted upon the Republican assault fleet, and they were eventually forced to retreat with losses top much to bear. The success of the campaign would earn Danik his next Navy Cross and a personal commendation from the Imperial Ruling Council. Danik had worked himself into the spotlight, but his success would be short-lived.
The Neo-Imperial Movement and the War of the Throne (12 ABY - 13 ABY)[]
Valak's disappearance had left a gaping hole within the Imperial command structure that few were capable of filling. Valak had been the Empire's undisputed ruler for half a decade, and his leadership had saw the Empire rise from the ashes to nearly total victory in the Galactic Civil War. One, however, saw himself fit for such leadership: Admiral Kendal Osbourne, beloved within the Imperial Navy. It was the Navy's respect for Osbourne that enabled him to take grip over the Imperial Ruling Council and establish himself as the leader of the Empire.
Danik would gain permission to reform the Black Stars squadron at this time; he recruited several new members, including Grymm Selcan and Mark Avery. The new Black Stars met limited success, partly due to the troubling times: a new war was on the horizon that would rip the Empire apart.
Danik remained loyal to Osbourne despite his hard feelings regarding the Black Stars disbandment in the past. When Osbourne finally declared himself the new Emperor, civil war erupted. Lorn Rhys, the former leader of the Vigilant Movement that had been destroyed years prior by Valak, was still alive and had formed an alliance with Vassily Korolov, a former Guardsman who had worked his way up the chain of command. Rhys had earned the loyalty of COMPNOR, Imperial Intelligence and the Stormtrooper legions, and with these groups, collectively known as the Whitecoats, launched a surprise attack against Osbourne and his forces at Selene.
Danik was stationed aboard Admiral Canis at the time when the war started; his first reaction was to fight back against the Whitecoats, but when it became apparent that the COMPNOR and Stormtrooper units aboard his vessel were not going to allow such an action, he was forced to cooperate and reluctantly kept his mouth shut. Danik watched helplessly as Dark Eminence slammed into Selene, vaporizing countless civilians and military personnel and rendering the planet inhabitable. After the Battle of Dreven, Danik finally decided it was time to stand up and fight back against the traitors that had ripped the Empire apart once again.
Aboard Admiral Canis, Danik gathered his most trusted officers and his Black Stars, and together they discussed their current situation. Danik managed to convince his officers to support him in his attempt at fighting back. The plan was to catch the Stormtroopers off-guard, ordering their deployment to the hangar bay in preparation for a combat drill. When they reached the hangar, however, Danik would open the hangar to vacuum, sucking the Stormtroopers out into space. His naval security troops and other loyal crewmen would combat against the remaining Stormtroopers and COMPNOR Observers.
Over Selene, Danik ordered the helm to deploy to sector seventeen, an open area of space well away from the main Imperial defense fleet. They were on drill and were to execute a typical boarding operation; the Stormtroopers were ordered to the hangar bay to prepare for a boarding. Before the order could be carried through, a gun was pulled on Danik from one of his officers. The officer, in reality a COMPNOR Colonel, was well aware of Danik's intentions. After giving out a order, COMPNOR units across the ship sprung up and seized important controls and sections of the vessel, as well as apprehending suspected "traitors" with the help of the Stormtroopers. Danik would have none of it. Fighting broke out on the bridge; the COMPNOR Colonel was injured, and Danik shot in the arm. His crew, however, remained valiantly loyal to Danik. As Danik limped from the bridge, one crewman, equipped with a grenade detonated his charge with his last breath of life. As Danik entered the turbolift amidst a cross-fire between Stormtroopers and naval security troops, the bridge was completely wiped out.
Danik managed to sneak to the hangar bay and avoid detection. An all-out manhunt for Danik began throughout Admiral Canis, but Danik made it aboard his Lambda-class shuttle. When it became apparent that Danik was aboard the shuttle, Stormtrooper units rushed in to take Danik down. Danik, however, managed to escape and after a hot pursuit by TIE Interceptors, Danik made the jump to hyperspace, heading to Nar Shaddaa.
Months prior, Danik's old friend, Fianar Reanus, had retired from the Empire. He entered business with Greiko Lornan, forming Sigma Star Industries. Danik and Reanus had both purchased a Marauder-class Corvette from Kuat Drive Yards, Truth & Reconciliation. Danik allowed Reanus to take the Corvette with him on his business venture. When the civil war broke out and Danik's coup failed, he fled to Nar Shaddaa to join up with Reanus aboard Truth & Reconciliation. Together, the two conspired to retake the Empire from Rhys and restore the throne. Together, they laid down the foundation for the Neo-Imperial Movement. Greiko offered his support, and Sigma Star Industries became the front for the organization, its money used to fund the war effort. From Truth & Reconciliation, the Movement took off, attracting many former Imperials who left in wake of the civil war, including famous Imperials such as Wescal Cantrell, Grymm Selcan, Mark Avery, Stark Kaempfer, and Palarain Todeth. Independent mercenaries such as Krackor Reincus also lent their support, and the ranks of the Movement swelled.
Danik and Reanus went undercover inside Imperial territory to gain intelligence about the new government and its leader. While Kreldin and Reanus were both gone, however, Greiko consolidated his power and turned the Movement around entirely. The Movement's objective turned from fighting Rhys to causing havoc for the entire galaxy; actions such as the Kashyyyk Massacre earned the Movement a bad reputation. The Republic added the Movement to their most wanted list. Now the Movement was hunted by the Empire and the Republic, something the small movement could not handle.
When Danik returned to the Movement with Reanus, he plotted against Greiko to remove him from the Movement. Danik met with Morrison Van Sen of the Corporate Sector. The meeting was a large success that sealed a pact between the two entities; the Movement was supplied with weaponry and ships, but the pact was to remain absolutely secret. Should the Movement be compromised, van Sen would deny any involvement.
Aboard Truth & Reconciliation, Danik and Reanus, with their loyal supporters, attempted a coup against Lornan. The coup failed, Lornan's security forces too large to overcome. Danik and his supporters fled, leaving the Movement behind to found the Restoration of the New Order.
It was decided to launch an attack against the old Neo-Empire by assaulting the headquarters of Sigma Star Industries on Nar Shaddaa. Danik led the assault, and after a fierce firefight Lornan was captured and the headquarters seized. When the smoke cleared from the firefight, Danik led Lornan aboard Truth, now back in his hands, and planned his next move: restore the Neo-Empire and defeat Malus. Danik traveled with Lornan to Etti IV to meet with Scaven Marx and van Sen to discuss Lornan's arrest; however, upon arrival, everything unraveled.
Marx had cut a deal with Lornan and the Empire. Upon his arrival on Etti IV, the Empire arrived and launched an attack on Danik and his small contingent of troopers. Petra Doom and Salin Fawzy shot Danik four times and brought the older man to near death; he was apprehended by Authority forces when they stormed the starport along with Selcan. The others escaped aboard Truth and Reconciliation to fight another day, blasting past the Imperial blockade around the planet.
Danik underwent intensive medical care under Authority hands. While recuperating, the Empire began negotiations with the Authority to have Danik handed over to face trial and execution at the hands of Malus. After spending days in a bacta tank, Danik was visited by Marx, a high-ranking official in the Authority with extensive influence within the Empire. Marx offered Danik a chance to live and avoid execution. Marx had no love for Malus, and even respected the aging pilot. Danik agreed, and Marx put a plan into motion to rescue Danik.
A clone of Kreldin was utilized, procured by Marx in an Authority lab, using Spaarti cloning cylinders. It was then announced Danik died from his injuries inflicted by Doom and Fawzy, offering Danik's cloned, lifeless body as proof to the Empire. Meanwhile, Danik himself slid from the Authority medical complex with Marx's help and was smuggled onto Marx's private shuttle and taken to Nar Shaddaa. Grymm would be released from prison some months later, but Danik would go into hiding, working in secrecy for Marx while plans were drawn up to overthrow Malus.
During this time, Danik slipped into a deep depression. He did not know how long Malus would remain in power, as all his attempts at usurping Malus had failed. His Neo-Imperial Movement was all but destroyed and his hopes for a restored Empire that grew during Valak's reign were all but gone. When Coruscant was invaded by the Republic, Danik would infiltrate the battle zone and land on the planet in the wake of the Empire's retreat. Although he had no love for Malus' regime, he had even less love for the Republic, and joined an Imperial resistance cell that had been left on the planet in the wake of the Empire's retreat.
Return to Power and the Imperial Blitzkrieg (13 ABY - 14 ABY)[]
Danik Kreldin, shortly after his return to the Empire.
- "But... I'd like to kill Danik Kreldin.
Then the scum is dead." - — Talon Karrde and Dalin
A new hope for the Empire was emerging: Darth Malign, an Imperial Warlord, consolidated a vast power base inside the Empire and had even earned the support of Korolov. The ineptness of Malus was apparent, and the Empire rose up against its "Emperor". Malign's fleet blockaded Dreven and Malus himself was imprisoned in a slate of carbonite. When news of this reached Danik, he came out of hiding and, with Marx, now a Grand Moff in the Empire, presented himself to Malign who approved of Danik's return. He was given a hero's welcome back, and was awarded the Order of Liberation for his actions against the Malus regime.
Danik was returned to the frontline and given a promotion to High Admiral. With his newfound authority, Danik began to plan for the Empire's grand come-back. His plan called for the production of a new virus and a massive build-up of military resources, not seen since the aftermath of the Battle of Yavin. Towards the end of his planning stages, Danik was given yet another offer by Malign: to serve on the Imperial Ruling Council as one of the powerful Imperial Advisers.
Danik's plan was finally initialized in early 14 ABY. The new virus was released through the efforts of the Imperial Privateers on Dac, and soon spread throughout the entire galaxy, affecting daily life and shifting the political boundaries. The Dacan Pandemic would increase the territorial holdings of the Empire. All this, however, was a precursor to Danik's true plan: the Imperial Blitzkrieg.
Danik was given de facto authority over the Imperial Military for his operation. Feigning an assault on Mikassa, drawing the Republic fleet out in preparation for a possible assault on Dac, Danik led his main fleet to Chandrila. In a battle that lasted a mere six hours, Chandrila was occupied. Danik would then go on to reclaim his homeland of Corellia in a sweeping victory. Sometime shortly after the fall of Chandrila, Kreldin was admitted into Darth Malign's Brotherhood, where he was tasked with spying on Vassily Korolov and the COMPNOR leadership.
Dozens of star systems would continue to fall daily. Sullust was blockaded and Dac assaulted. The Blitzkrieg, however, would come to a temporary halt with the emergence of the Moff Sekirol Crisis. Danik was given command over Task Force Nebula to crush Moff Jorgen Sekirol and regain control over the INFERNO System Cannon and the entire Chiarn sector.
The crisis would culminate in the Battle of the Gate of Thrawn. The battle would end with an Imperial victory over the rebel forces, and Danik would be honored for his success against the Principality. With the crisis averted, Danik resumed his Blitzkrieg. The blockade around Sullust was lifted after a final push that saw the planet completely occupied, and after months of more fighting the Empire found itself in control over nearly seventy-percent of the known galaxy. The success of the Blitzkrieg saw Coruscant, still under Republic control, cut off from the rest of the galaxy. Danik ordered a blockade of the hyperspace lanes into and out of Coruscant, preventing all traffic into the system. Danik planned to starve the population into submission and bide his time before enacting the full assault to reclaim the Imperial capital.
Post-Blitzkrieg (14 ABY)[]
By this time, Danik became the target of a manhunt by the Republic's flagship: NRSD Crusader. He decided it was time to destroy the flagship once and for all in an effort to crush the Republic Military morale. He would draw Crusader out by using HIMS Conqueror, the flagship of the Imperial Task Force Hammer, and himself as bait. As he predicted, the Republic took the bait; unfortunately the plan went awry during the battle. Johmac Mabru, a pilot of Ghost Squadron, landed a direct hit on Conqueror's bridge with a torpedo. The torpedo pierced the hull and wiped out the bridge, taking its captain, Antal Brencis, with her. The ship, however, was saved from total destruction; she managed to limp to Etti IV when command was reverted to her secondary bridge.
Danik saw his plan unraveling, and he called in for immediate reinforcements upon his arrival at Etti IV. Docking at Theseus Station, the Imperials were forced into an agreement with the Republic forces in order to uphold the Authority's policy of neutrality. Forced to cooperate, Danik put together an even more devious plan. With Imperial reinforcements just on the outskirt of the system, Danik collected an elite group of commandos. Dressing themselves as Republic crewmen, the commando squad, led by Sandor Woden, Danik's special agent, infiltrated Crusader, also docked to Theseus, and executed Danik's plan.
Reaching the gun batteries, the commando squad took control of them and opened fire on Conqueror. The Imperials responded, declaring the Republic had broken the neutrality pact. The Imperials responded in full-force, destroying Crusader and several more warships, but at the loss of Conqueror and |New Order, both iconic vessels in the Empire. The battle was deemed a success, despite the heavy losses.
A few weeks later, the Jedi Ai'kani Za'netra was apprehended by Imperial forces. Danik had some past history with this Jedi, squaring off against her on Athaniss during the foiled attempt to execute Han Solo. Danik oversaw her interrogation and ordered her shipped to OS Guardian, the Imperial orbital station over O'paal. Upon his arrival there, however, the station fell under attack by a Republic commando unit, the FST-01 Firecats. The battle would result in the destruction of the space station, and the loss of the majority of Imperial High Command. The battle would prove to be a decisive blow against the Empire, high on its victory during the Blitzkrieg, and the prospect of a fourth civil war loomed over the Empire.
The White Uniform and the Empire's Retribution (14 ABY - 15 ABY)[]
Danik as a Grand Admiral.
- "To all Imperial units, this is Grand Admiral Danik Kreldin. Execute Base Delta Zero. Repeat, execute Base Delta Zero."
- — Grand Admiral Kreldin issuing the order to destroy Cochran.
The fall of Imperial High Command sent many in the Empire worrying. It was decided that would be elevated to Grand Admiral by Korolov and made the Empire's Supreme Commander.
The announcement of Danik's promotion quelled the Empire's fear of another power struggle; Danik was in charge now, and the end of the war was near. Danik's first action as Supreme Commander was to set in motion a plan to deliver the Empire's long-awaited retribution against the Griffons, which had been set aside years earlier. He would invade Cochran full-force and wipe the planet clean of life. Before he could execute his plan, however, he was kidnapped on Corellia by his old Jedi nemesis and former Rogue Squadron pilot, Johanna Siri te Danaan. Taken to Tatooine, Danik was tortured by the fallen Jedi and forced to denounce the Empire publicly to the galaxy and to apologize for his war crimes.
When news of Danik's kidnapping reached the Empire, the military dispatched a task force to Tatooine to rescue him. Johanna managed to elude Imperial forces, but Danik was rescued and brought back to the Empire in time to launch the invasion of Cochran. Danik's back was broken by Johanna during his torture, and he was stuck to a medical bed during the entire battle. He had the medical bed and his medical equipment brought up the bridge of HIMS Malevolence, his flagship.
Danik's fleet moved in and swept away the Griffon Naval defenses in a matter of two hours; the subsequent arrival of a Republic task force led by Admiral Moralis Rodriga slowed the Imperial advance, but even the Republic reinforcements were no match for the Imperial fleet. With the Republic on the retreat, Danik ordered the Imperial fleet to open fire on Cochran, giving out the code word Base Delta Zero. Before the hour was over, Cochran was a wasteland, devoid of any life and rendered uninhabitable. He would recover from his injuries shortly after Cochran to begin planning for his final offensive: the liberation of Coruscant from the hands of the Republic.
Death of a Legend (15 ABY)[]
- "This is Commander Wolf to all TIE Fighter Squadrons, I want these NR slaughtered. I want their heads floating the debris of this war zone! I WANT THEM ALL DEAD!!"
- — Wolf, upon seeing Danik's red TIE destroyed.
The New Republic was on its last breath. The Empire continued to increase in size and power, its shipyards pumping out new warship after warship and its cloning facilities developing more and more batallions of Stormtroopers by the day. All seemed lost for the Republic, and Danik was riding high as the Empire's undisputed Supreme Commander.
He was in a position of supreme power in the Empire, behind only Korolov and Malign. Danik began planning for what he considered to be his grand finale: the invasion of Coruscant and the death of the Republic. The seed of the invasion had already been planted a year earlier when he launched his blitzkrieg across the galaxy. For months he had been overseeing the blockade around the Coruscant system as Warlord Korolov infiltrated the Republic Senate as Viktor Faust in an attempt to undermine the Republic war effort and make invasion easier.
Stormtroopers were shipped into Coruscant daily under the guise of Coruscant Guards under a new directive initiated by Faust. All the while, Danik tightened his grip around Coruscant, crushing Operation Shado Kolpo and continuing to harass Republic efforts to feed and supply Coruscant.
When the time was right, the green light was given. On Coruscant, Faust revealed his true identity and destroyed the Republic Senate. Across the planet, Stormtrooper units went active, taking over vital sections of the planet. In orbit over Coruscant, Danik's grand fleet moved in and a titanic struggle between the Republic and Imperial navies began.
During the early fighting, Danik decided to engage the enemy head-on in his starfighter, Black Star I, the crimson Interceptor he had been using for over a decade. Suiting up, Danik took off and went to the frontlines.
The Imperial fleet moves in over Coruscant against Republic opposition.
The Republic soon learned that Danik was not onMalevolence, but was flying Black Star I. The Republic Navy gathered a task force led by NRSD Reprisal and several hundred starfighters. The goal of the task force was to hunt Kreldin down and eliminate him. The goal of hunting Danik down was achieved rather quickly; his crimson starfighter stuck out like a sore thumb. Danik was escorting a bomber squadron as they prepared to assault NRSD Monarch. Kreldin faught back with every ounce of skill he posessed, his years of combat flying proving too much for the Republicans. He zipped in and out of his opponents' targeting computers, destroying ship after ship in nearly impossible feats. Eventually, however, the overwhelming numbers would begin to take its toll on the aged pilot. As HIMS Broadsword and War Shrike Squadron moved in to assist Danik, a lucky shot by Kyrin Sh'vani landed against Danik's Interceptor. The shot sent Danik spiraling out of control, and the ship exploded moments later.
After the end of the battle, Coruscant was in Imperial hands. Danik's loss was a heavy blow to the Empire, and High Command scrambled to find a replacement. Survey teams found the remains of Black Star I, but Danik's body was never found. The Old Man of the Empire, the Nightmare of Athaniss, was declared dead. A state funeral was held for Danik on Corellia. While the Empire mourned the loss of its hero, it also rejoiced in the defeat of the Republic and the liberation of Imperial Center. Aleister Vadim would reveal himself as Emperor of the Galactic Empire, seating himself on Coruscant. The galaxy would enter a new age.
A Survivor's Tale (15 ABY)[]
- "Dead? No, not yet. Still something I have to do."
- — Danik to Krieg Inrokana before bringing him into the plot to overthrow Vadim.
After Black Star I was destroyed, Danik found himself in the cargo bay of a freighter, watched over by a medical droid. Completely unaware of his surroundings or who he even was, Danik was soon greeted by the owners of the freighter. They told him he was found by them sometime after Coruscant fell to the Empire, floating amidst wreckage in space. The freighter crew took Danik in as they prepared to make their journey to the safety of Dac, which was receiving the largest numbers of refugees from Coruscant.
Danik, stripped of his memories and left with nothing on him other than his pilot's uniform, took on the name of Alois. Thanking the freighter crew for their generosity, Danik set out on Dac, anxious to rediscover himself and get back to where he belonged. While on Dac he would encounter his old friend and enemy, Sandor Woden, an agent for the New Republic Intelligence agency. His memory still lost, Danik was unaware of Sandor's true identity, and Sandor himself failed to recognize Danik behind his changed appearance, as he was now sporting a rather messy beard and other alterations. Nevertheless, the two would become friends again on Dac, and Sandor would influence Alois' way of thinking regarding the current political atmosphere.
Unaware of his Imperial ties, Danik, or Alois, decided to join Sandor in his own self-righteous crusade. The pair would be responsible for the terrorist bombing on Caspar in a botched assassination attempt, and later for widespread destruction on Corellia. However, as the weeks went by, Danik's memory began to recover. Soon, Sandor realized Alois' true identity and Danik was back to his former self.
A Failed Plot (15 ABY)[]
- "Maybe I will replace all your statues and tributes in the Empire with memorials to Axel Vichten, a true patriot to the Galactic Empire who rooted out your treachery to me."
- — Darth Malign to Danik
With his memory back, Danik sought to return to his old position in the Empire. Unfortunately for the aging veteran, things would not turn out this way. The Empire had changed during his time as Alois. The government and military, and all aspects of Imperial life, were under the rule of Vadim and Korolov. Danik had little respect for Korolov, and Danik's opinions of Aleister Vadim were even more low; Danik had been one of the few to know the truth behind Vadim long before his galactic unveiling. Danik knew Vadim was not human and, above all, had no care for the Empire or the New Order. Vadim's address to the galaxy only proved Danik's fears.
He knew it would be up to him to save the Empire before it fell even further under the sway of Vadim. Danik, using his leverage as a respected war hero and former Supreme Commander, began to secretly reach out to other trusted Imperials still in the military and government. He brought the most prominent of these individuals to his Estate for a private meeting, including Lynae Cassius-Caiton, Antoine Dareus, Krieg Inrokana, Solon Halwinder, Keline Nelhrn, Dises Diaglo, Wescal Cantrell, Damien Loki Katon, Thraken Quadrix, Juran Reinzhiner, and others, to discuss the situation that he felt was destroying the Empire.
Surprisingly, Danik found that most if not all of those he contacted felt the same way. Hoping that he would receive the loyalty of the military should he make a move against Vadim, and with the support of his "inner circle," Danik felt that the Empire could still be saved before it fell completely by Vadim. Unfortunately for Danik, before his move could be executed, a mole revealed the intentions of his organization. COMPNOR, under the authority of Korolov, moved quickly. The Estate was attacked, Kreldin arrested, and the movement fell apart. Everyone involved was rounded up and questioned extensively by COMPNOR. Members of Danik's "inner circle" received the most scrutiny; Loki was executed after refusing to accept Vadim, while others were either exiled and discharged from Imperial service or simply accepted Vadim as their leader, despite their previous feelings. Danik was held in prison, his public figure destroyed in the eyes of the Empire by the workings of COMPNOR. Vadim now had utter control over the Empire. From the isolated chambers of his cell, Danik felt the Empire was doomed. In his mind, he had done his best to save it and he failed to live up to the precepts of the New Order. Left to rot in his prison cell, Danik's fate after his imprisonment is unknown to all but Vadim and his lieutenants.
Legacy[]
Although he was reported executed by COMPNOR in 15 ABY, Danik's legacy continued to live on. In 23 ABY, a third Neo-Imperial Movement emerged under the leadership of Lord Aldus Thel.
Miscellaneous[]
Weapons Collector (13 ABY - 15 ABY)[]
Danik began collecting weapons, equipment and rare items in 13 ABY. Within a year he was the owner of the single largest privately owned weapons collection. It was said that Kreldin could supply a small army. Many enthusiasts traveled to browse his collection of goods, and his collection was eventually showcased on Etti IV in late 14 ABY at CDEW.
Black Sun (14 ABY)[]
At the urge of his savior, Scaven Marx, Danik was brought into the fold of the highly secretive criminal organization, Black Sun. Danik, however, was uneasy about this new appointment.
Danik was made Captain of Expatra, the military branch of the organization. Danik, however, had his misgivings about serving with a criminal organization as it went against his belief in the rule of law and the Imperial justice system. He felt obligated, however, to continue assisting Scaven, his "savior." However, when Scaven left Black Sun, Kreldin did not take long to sever all ties with the organization in late 14 ABY. Gimel Daleth, leader of Black Sun, confronted Kreldin aboard Malevolence, threatening him. No one was allowed to quit Black Sun, and any deserters faced death - Kreldin, however, ignored Gimel's empty threats and politely had her "escorted" off of Malevolence, never to bother him again. He left her with a warning: should anyone in the Empire find out about his involvement with Black Sun through her or her agents, he would bring down the harshest form of Imperial retribution that a Grand Admiral could. Satisfied that his secret was safe, Kreldin left Black Sun completely behind him.
Corporate Sector Authority (14 ABY - 15 ABY)[]
The Etti IV Crisis in 14 ABY, which saw the large Second Battle of Etti IV, brought up the need for a new appointment of Imperial Advisor. The role of Imperial Advisor was previously held by Dises Diaglo, but Kreldin, then a Military Advisor and the overseer of the Empire's operation during the Crisis, was given the appointment and made Imperial Advisor to the Corporate Sector Authority. He would serve in this capacity until his death in 15 ABY.
Appearance and Equipment[]
Danik Kreldin stood at a less-than-intimidating 1.8 meters, and was, for all intents and purposes, average in his appearance. Following his retirement from the military, Danik was often seen wearing a fedora atop his head, covering his ever graying brown hair, and a trench coat over a Corellian-made suit. Eventually he would wear his white grand admiral's uniform upon coming out of retirement.
At least three sheaths were worn under his trench coat, holding a variety of melee weapons, typically Vibro-Rapiers, and throughout his body he had many Rodian Daggers and assorted knives concealed, as a last line of defense. He would later come to possess a Corellian Rapier, a rare and treasured weapon exclusive to the Corellian nobility.
From time to time, especially during his bounty hunting days, Danik could be seen in Enhanced Armor and its attached jetpack, carrying high-class weaponry, including two ZCF Grenade Launchers and two MWC .48 Enforcer Pistols.
In space, he came known by his trademark crimson-painted starfighters and starships, including the infamous TIE Interceptor Mark 2, Black Star I, known to his enemies as SF-5085, its transponder.
His other vehicles were the Z-95A Headhunter II, Red Comet; the Z-96 Headhunter, Der Kummer; the Scimitar Assault Bomber, War Horse; the A-wing, The Nightmare of Athaniss; the Lambda-class Shuttle, Corellian Hope; and prior to the fall of the Neo-Imperial Movement, the Marauder-class Corvette, Truth and Reconciliation. All of these vehicles were purchased by Kreldin over the years, with the exception of The Nightmare of Athaniss, an A-wing which he disabled in combat and took as his own.
Achievements[]
- Winner of the first MUSHy Awards for Best Actor.
- MUSH Legend, November 2002.
- Official Feature Character, 2005
- Imperial Assistant Faction Head, 2005-2006