The individual known as the Deck Master, or DM, was a human male serving as the Deck Master within the hangar aboard the Rebel Alliance flagship, the New Hope, circa 1 BBY.
This male of the human species had become a member of the Rebel Alliance by the time the Civil War had begun. By the time 1 BBY rolled around, he was part of the crew of the New Hope, taking on the responsibility of managing the flagship's hangar.
His duties involved working within an area of the hangar distinctly marked by yellow-and-black stripes. His typical attire included a towering exoskeleton equipped with a voice amplifier, and he oversaw various operations, including the use of a crane. He was accustomed to seeing mysterious civilians being given ships by his superiors, frequently with disastrous consequences. He voiced his concerns about his inventory and the need for repairs, often expressing criticism of these decisions.
On one particular day, he assisted a Mon Calamari, a Wookiee, and a human, who were primarily seeking maintenance droids. Eventually, Kyle Katarn approached him. Assuming Katarn was also there for a droid, he informed him of their unavailability. When Katarn raised his voice, the Deck Master used his mechanical arms to seize him and lift him to eye level. Katarn reiterated that he was there to select a ship. The Deck Master emphasized that choosing a ship wasn't like shopping in a store, but Katarn provided the necessary data card, which he examined using his actual hands and a mounted computer terminal. He then handed Katarn a printout listing three available ships by their hull numbers. After returning Katarn to the ground, he warned that the Alliance would deduct any damages from his salary, or, since he wasn't paid, from his skin.
Katarn ultimately selected the Moldy Crow. While preparing for a mission to Danuta, he "borrowed" a considerable number of tools, parts, and components from storage areas and nearby ships. This was tolerated by the Deck Master due to Jan Ors's request, who was observing Katarn's actions.
The Deck Master frequently neglected to shave, sometimes for several days, resulting in visible beard growth. The demanding working conditions and the nature of his responsibilities may have contributed to his red eyes, which were noticeable beneath his thick eyebrows.
He was typically found within the confines of his exoskeleton suit, overseeing various tasks, such as directing crane operators. The suit stood ten meters tall, and his position was identified by the words "Deck Master" written on the chest plate. It featured a voice amplifier (instead of a comlink) to ensure his commands could be heard above the hangar's noise. His roll cage was also equipped with a mounted computer terminal, which he used to track ship assignments.
He held a low opinion of his superior officers, whom he referred to as "metal heads on the bridge," believing their ill-considered decisions often caused problems for his work and inventory. In particular, he disapproved of allowing non-pilots, such as agents and other civilians, to be assigned ships, as they often returned them with significant damage.
The Deck Master makes an appearance in Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire and its associated audio drama. In the novel, he is portrayed as busy and operating an exoskeleton, while in the audio drama, he is simply using a noisy welding torch, which he turns off before speaking to Katarn. In the novel, he states that the hangar is not a shop, while in the audio drama, he says it is not "a Hutt's trophy room." Instead of presenting a datacard, Katarn provides a paper from Mon Mothma. Instead of directing him to three ships to choose from, he points him to the ship at slot number three, ensuring him that she could take off the ground. Upon seeing the Crow, Katarn expresses his skepticism that it could fly; the Deck Master admitted that it didn't look much.