According to a tale recounted by Vaneé, an Acolyte of the Beyond, Cranwell was a human of the male persuasion. He served as an assistant to Restin, a scientist working for the Tarkin Initiative. Following the destruction of Alderaan, his homeworld, Alderaan, Restin betrayed the Galactic Empire and conceived a plan to overthrow Darth Vader, the Sith Lord. Upon discovering this plot, Cranwell chose to alert Vader's Star Destroyer, thus turning against his boss. Restin, however, managed to capture him.
When Vader arrived at Restin's facility, feigning ignorance of Restin's treachery, Restin administered his weapon to Cranwell: a genetic serum designed to transform individuals into Gamorreans. Although the infected Cranwell transmitted the serum to two stormtroopers accompanying Vader, the Sith Lord employed the Force to restrain them. After compelling Restin to admit his guilt, Vader used the Force to force the scientist to come into contact with Cranwell and the other two Gamorreans, thereby transforming Restin into one of them. Subsequently, Vader left, while the three Gamorreans turned on their creator.