Dar Keyis

A starfighter pilot in the New Republic Starfighter Corps during the Galactic Civil War, Dar Keyis was born on the planet of Churba. He was transferred to Rogue Squadron in 4 ABY, about nine months after the Battle of Endor. Prior to joining the elite unit, which was then stationed at the secret Base Delta-Nine, Keyis had already participated in eight combat missions. Keyis' assignment to the squadron, alongside the Rodian Standro Jcir, fellow Human Avan Beruss, and the Tunroth Xarcce Huwla, was part of an effort to bring Rogue Squadron up to full strength before the Battle of Brentaal IV, a New Republic push to establish a presence in the Core Worlds. The new recruits were introduced to their commanding officer, Captain Wedge Antilles, and executive officer Tycho Celchu.

Upon joining the unit, Keyis was given the call sign Rogue Ten, and he and his squadron mates underwent holosimulator training for an assault on the Imperial-held Brentaal Moonbase. Following a recent reconnaissance mission to Brentaal IV by Rogue Squadron, Admiral Gial Ackbar and the New Republic Provisional Council decided to strike the planet as part of their campaign to liberate the Core Worlds and eventually Coruscant, the capital. Admiral Ackbar was to lead the task force assigned to capture Brentaal IV.

The New Republic forces launched their campaign against the Imperial forces in the Brentaal system from the planet Recopia. Keyis, along with the rest of Rogue Squadron, participated in the initial phases of the operation by attacking the Imperial base on one of Brentaal IV's moons. Rogue Squadron and Aggressor Wing spearheaded the assault, facing off against a squadron of elite TIE interceptors. With Imperial capital ships too far out of position to assist, the New Republic successfully landed troops and captured the moonbase.

Following the operation, Rogue Squadron returned to Base Delta-Nine. During downtime, Keyis was playing a game of dejarik against Xarcce Huwla when Captain Antilles arrived and asked to use the hologame table. Keyis allowed his commander to use the device, stating he was going to let Huwla win the match anyway. Antilles used the holographic game table to share information with the squadron that the TIE interceptors present defending the moonbase were from the 181st Imperial Fighter Group, an elite unit under the command of Baron-Colonel Soontir Fel.

Keyis, along with the rest of Rogue Squadron, was transferred to the Brentaal IV moonbase to prepare for the New Republic's assault on the planet itself. While on patrol, he was playing sabacc with other members of the squadron when intelligence reports confirmed Baron Fel's presence on Brentaal IV. Keyis listened as members of the squadron recounted their memories of him—Tycho Celchu and Derek "Hobbie" Klivian had trained under Fel at the Prefsbelt Fleet Camp and admitted they never managed to shoot him down in the simulators.

Later, Keyis and Rogue Squadron participated in the subsequent assault on the city of Vuultin. Rogue Squadron attacked the capital of the planet's ruler, Admiral Lon Isoto, as a diversion, allowing Colonel Horton Salm's Aggressor Wing to attack the city of Oradin and capture its spaceport. Intelligence had placed Fel and his forces in Vuultin, but Rogue Squadron found that the opposition at the city was lighter than expected. Fel had correctly surmised that Oradin was the true target for the New Republic's assault and he inflicted heavy casualties on the Y-wings of Aggressor Wing. However, Isoto felt threatened by Rogue Squadron's assault, believing they were attacking him directly, and recalled Fel and his unit away from Oradin. With news that Fel was heading for Vuultin, Ackbar ordered Rogue Squadron to head to the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser Independence, one of the capital ships assigned to his task force. Despite taking heavy losses, the New Republic succeeded in capturing Oradin.

After the capture of Oradin, Rogue Squadron was stationed there. Following the battle, Keyis and Standro Jcir were in the main hangar when Lieutenant Plourr Ilo profusely thanked Rogue Squadron mechanic Koyi Komad for fixing her maneuvering jets. When Ilo asked Komad how she could repay her, Keyis and Jcir made several joking remarks about buying her a planet or a moon as a reward, since Ilo was also the Princess of Eiattu 6. Ilo offered to take the two pilots for drinks, reasoning that their dumb remarks would start a fight that she could enjoy.

Shortly after Oradin was captured, an Imperial evacuation fleet arrived at Brentaal IV with the intention of rescuing the planet's wealthier citizens from the New Republic invasion. Fearing that the escapees would take much of the planet's wealth and leave the economy in ruins, the New Republic Provisional Council authorized a mission to stop the population from evacuating. Rogue Squadron supported Aggressor Wing while they disabled fleeing transports with their ion cannons, first at Vuultin, then in orbit above the planet. During the space battle, Keyis' X-wing was targeted by a TIE interceptor. Rogue Nine tried to assist Keyis but was too late. His starfighter was hit by weapons fire from the TIE Interceptor. Keyis' X-wing was destroyed, and he was killed in the resulting explosion. Despite his death, the New Republic was victorious; the remaining Imperial forces withdrew from the system, leaving Brentaal and the disabled civilian vessels under New Republic control.

Following the Battle of Brentaal IV, a mass funeral was held for all those who died during the engagement. The ceremony was held on the hangar deck of a Mon Calamari star cruiser. Fifteen caskets, including those for Keyis and squadron mate Standro Jcir, were launched into space while Colonel Salm presided over the funeral. During the ceremony, Antilles reflected on Keyis and Jcir joining Rogue Squadron's roster of the dead and stated that they should never be forgotten.

Dar Keyis was a light-skinned male Human with blond hair and stubble on his face. He was considered a capable pilot, good enough to be transferred to Rogue Squadron, an elite unit within the New Republic military. Despite being a relative newcomer to the squadron, Keyis integrated himself into the unit's social structure easily, joining in on sabacc games and joking around with Lieutenant Plourr Ilo about her noble status.

Dar Keyis wore casual clothing, including a beige-colored jacket with dark brown patches at the shoulders, worn over a white undershirt. He also wore a flight suit while piloting his starfighter and a flight helmet with the emblem of the New Republic on either side. Keyis flew a T-65 X-wing starfighter as a member of Rogue Squadron. The fighter was destroyed during the Battle of Brentaal IV, and Keyis was killed.

Michael A. Stackpole created Dar Keyis as a new pilot joining Rogue Squadron in the four-issue Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron: In the Empire's Service story arc. He first appeared in the first issue of the arc and was killed in the last issue. He was later mentioned in the first issue of the Family Ties arc when Wedge Antilles mused that Keyis was one of the latest Rogues to join their roster of the dead.