Cartha, known by the moniker "Chaser," was an Imperial TIE pilot who served with distinction in Black Eight Squadron around the time of 3 BBY. Subsequently, Cartha was reassigned to the Imperial 61st Squadron by 0 BBY, ultimately taking part in the pivotal Battle of Yavin during that year. It was during this conflict that the TIE pilot met his death at the hands of the skilled Rebel pilot Wedge Antilles.
Cartha was the elder brother of Turr Phennir, a Human individual born within the Valahari Provinces. He was raised by his stepfather, Count Phennir, a well-known hunting pilot. By the time 3 BBY arrived, Cartha had become a TIE pilot serving the Galactic Empire, holding the fourth position in the Imperial Navy's Black Eight Squadron and earning the callsign "Chaser." In that same standard year, Black Eight Squadron engaged in the bombing of the planet Callos. Captain Juno Eclipse, who commanded Black Eight Squadron, was transferred away from the squadron following the Callos bombing. Eclipse suggested Cartha as her replacement to lead the squadron, but the role was ultimately given to the pilot known as Redline.
In the time that followed Eclipse's reassignment from Black Eight Squadron, Cartha continued to fly as the fourth member of the squadron, operating under Redline's command. By 0 BBY, Cartha had been transferred to the Imperial 61st Squadron. While a member of the 61st Squadron, Cartha was a participant in the Battle of Yavin, where Imperial TIE/LN starfighter pilots attempted a defense of the Imperial DS-1 Orbital Battle Station against attacks from the Alliance to Restore the Republic. During this engagement, Cartha was killed by Rebel pilot Wedge Antilles, and the Alliance's starfighters successfully destroyed the DS-1 Orbital Battle Station within the Yavin system.
Cartha's existence was first hinted at, though without a specific name, in Turr Phennir's character card for the 2000 Death Star II Limited set of the Star Wars Customizable Card Game. On August 19, 2008, a TIE pilot bearing the nickname "Chaser" was mentioned within the novelization of the video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, which itself was released on September 16 of that same year. Later, on July 29, 2014, the tenth segment of the StarWars.com article Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Warfare Author's Cut once again made reference to Cartha, finally identifying the pilot by name and retconning the character to be the "Chaser" from the Force Unleashed novel.
Although ultimately unreleased to the public, author Paul R. Urquhart's notes indicated an intention to establish Cartha as the character's family name and to make Cartha the son of Count Phennir, thus making him Turr Phennir's stepbrother. In outlining his plans to designate Cartha as the surname, Urquhart also pointed out that the name is shared with Uthorrferrell Cartha, an inhabitant of the planet Eiattu 6 who made an appearance in the comic X-Wing Rogue Squadron 13, which was published on November 27, 1996. He also considered a retcon to establish Cartha as DS-61-4, another TIE pilot who – like Cartha – was killed by Wedge Antilles during the Battle of Yavin, an event that was prominently featured within the 1977 original trilogy film, Star Wars; Episode IV A New Hope.