Dellis Tantor began as a young recruit within the stormtrooper ranks. The accomplishments of his brother aided his advancement until he transitioned to Imperial Intelligence, where he could utilize his significant skills. It was there that he discovered the Galactic Empire had executed his father. After informing his brother Brenn, who had become an Imperial general, of this betrayal, he found himself imprisoned. Ultimately, he gained his freedom during the Liberation of Coruscant.
Dellis Tantor's birth occurred on Garos IV to a middle-class family amidst a time defined by civil war. The Galactic Empire intervened, bringing an end to the conflict. This imposition of peace deeply impressed his father, leading him to enlist as a military transport pilot. He instilled in his sons a respect for the stormtroopers responsible for maintaining order. However, a resistance movement emerged against the Empire, resulting in the destruction of the Tantor family's home during an episode of fighting. Stormtroopers rescued Dellis and his older brother Brenn from the wreckage, prompting them to pledge to become stormtroopers themselves.
Brenn was immediately accepted into the Academy of Carida and began stormtrooper training. Dellis followed year later. During their training, they received the devastating news that their father had been killed by Rebels while delivering medical supplies to Graal'diin. Both proved to be exceptional cadets, with Dellis demonstrating particular skill in technology. However, they were mysteriously prevented from joining a stormtrooper squad because they were not clones, a fact unknown to them. They persistently pestered Cattena Squadron, which was stationed at the Academy, until the captain of the squad, impressed by their determination, allowed them to join as "honorary stormtroopers." Despite this, they never gained full acceptance from the rest of the unit, with whom they did not socialize. Dellis found this more frustrating than his patient brother did. While Brenn was committed to becoming a stormtrooper, Dellis applied to Imperial Intelligence, the Imperial Security Bureau, and the Commission for the Preservation of the New Order (COMPNOR) in the hope of better utilizing his talents.
As Tantor neared acceptance into Imperial Intelligence, Cattena Squadron was dispatched to Kalaan in 0 BBY. During the battle, the squad leader was killed, and Brenn assumed command. While clearing the city, Dellis was shot by a fighter from the Kalaanite resistance. As Brenn knelt beside his wounded brother, Captain Beri Tulon, a training officer scouting for candidates for a special project, gave Brenn a battlefield promotion to lieutenant and ordered him to report to the Star Destroyer Inquisitor. Dellis was taken along and placed in a bacta tank.
Soon recovered, Tantor appeared to receive orders from his brother during Brenn's first training mission on Tatooine. This training was interrupted when an escape pod from the Tantive IV was tracked nearby. In the search for the droids, Dellis used his technical skills to slice into records within a Jawa sandcrawler and Ben Kenobi's hut to retrieve information.
Tantor continued to serve under Brenn when he was sent to Ruul. There, he sliced into the planet's central computer complex, which had been seized by Rebels. When damage to the facility prevented the transmission of vital data on Rebel movements to the Star Destroyer overhead, Tantor deployed a series of remote relay beacons to a nearby broadcast antenna.
The information recovered from the Ruul complex led Brenn and his superior, Grand General Malcor Brashin, to Sarapin. Dellis played a critical role in the Imperial operation when Brenn discovered that the energy collection facilities he was sent to recapture had been locked down by the Rebels. Dellis successfully sliced into each facility and reactivated the essential power stations.
Tantor's importance grew when he determined that the Rebels had captured a drilling station. The Rebels had lost control of the drill, and its malfunction was causing seismic activity. Brenn ensured Dellis reached the drilling station, where he promptly shut it down.
After the Sarapin operation, Brashin delivered the disheartening news to Brenn and Dellis that the Death Star had been destroyed by Rebel starfighters, resulting in the deaths of nearly all Imperials aboard. These deaths created a significant void in the Imperial officer corps, which Brenn and Dellis were quickly promoted to fill. Brashin promoted Dellis to colonel and transferred him to Imperial Intelligence, separating him from Brenn.
Tantor proved to be a skilled operative, eventually achieving the rank of major, though Imperial Intelligence did not seem to recognize Brashin's promotion. However, within the harsh environment of Imperial Intelligence, Tantor became disillusioned with the Empire. Driven by curiosity and suspicion, he secretly accessed Imperial files concerning his father. There, he discovered a copy of his father's death warrant. The Empire had executed him as an example to other pilots after he lost a shipment of grain to pirates, and then lied to his family, manipulating their patriotism. This was the reason Brenn and Dellis had been restricted from fully joining the stormtrooper corps.
Disgusted, Tantor lost all confidence in the Empire. He knew his superiors would detect his unauthorized access to the file. He received orders from Brashin to report to Ruul and suppress an uprising. Tantor suspected he would not return from this mission. He realized he had to inform Brenn, now a high-ranking general.
Brenn, elated after his success at the Battle of Hoth, was initially overjoyed to see his brother after two years apart. Dellis, anxious and wanting to avoid associating with Brenn for fear of implicating him, gave Brenn a datadisk containing a copy of their father's death warrant. He explained that they had been betrayed and exploited by a cruel Empire. He then informed Brenn of his mission to Ruul. Without a proper farewell, Dellis hurried out.
Tantor was apprehended before he even reached Ruul. Instead of being executed as he expected, Tantor was imprisoned in a dungeon beneath the Imperial Palace on Coruscant, alongside other political prisoners.
Meanwhile, Brenn, deeply disturbed by his brother's accusations, became increasingly conflicted. Shortly after their conversation, Brenn defied Brashin's orders to massacre innocent refugees on Abridon. Enraged, Brashin ordered Brenn to report to Kalaan for disciplinary action. In the same message, he delivered the devastating news that Dellis had been killed en route to Ruul.
Brenn managed to defect to the Rebel Alliance, but Dellis's supposed death continued to haunt him. More than three years after their last conversation, Brenn received the most welcome surprise of his life.
Now a New Republic general, Brenn led the final assault on the Imperial Palace. His troopers stormed the Palace, eventually discovering a dungeon filled with political prisoners. Tantor was freed and brought to his brother's attention. Overjoyed, they shared an emotional reunion inside the Palace. As they walked onto the Palace steps, they were greeted by General Tyr Taskeen, who welcomed Tantor to freedom with the words, "Welcome to the next chapter in the history of the galaxy".
Dellis Tantor began his Imperial service as an enthusiastic and idealistic student. Determined to become a stormtrooper, he remained optimistic despite being initially refused. However, he was realistic, eventually accepting that he would not be admitted into the corps. Instead, he was willing to compromise and serve in Imperial Intelligence or the ISB.
Tantor found temporary reprieve when his brother was promoted, allowing him to serve under Brenn. Though they enjoyed working together, they were separated when Dellis transferred to Imperial Intelligence after Sarapin. Tantor apparently had reason to suspect the Empire, motivating him to investigate the circumstances of his father's death.
The results of his investigation shattered his once-strong faith in the Empire. Targeted by the government he served, he was determined to safely deliver the information to Brenn. With that accomplished, he seemed resigned to his fate, perhaps trying to minimize scrutiny on his brother, reflecting his deep fraternal loyalty.
Tantor possessed exceptional skills with computers and communication equipment, frequently acting as a slicer on missions, recovering data, and breaking codes. This likely remained his specialty within Intelligence. However, he was not just a computer specialist; he retained impressive combat skills suitable for stormtrooper service.
In Star Wars: Force Commander, Raphael Sbarge provided the voice for Dellis Tantor.