Diblen Harleys, a male Human hailing from the world of Coruscant, began his life under the shadow of the Galactic Empire. As the offspring of an Imperial administrator, he was indoctrinated with the belief that the Empire represented order and justice, fueling his desire to join the Imperial Survey Corps. However, the passing of his mother around his fifteenth year marked a turning point. His father revealed the Empire's true face, explaining that the Survey Corps' purpose was merely to locate worlds for exploitation. Disillusioned and angered by this deception, Harleys defected to the Alliance to Restore the Republic, where he served as a skilled fighter pilot and strategist. His tactical contributions proved invaluable during the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, aiding the Alliance in their victory. By 9 ABY, during the Thrawn Crisis—a conflict instigated by the Chiss Grand Admiral Thrawn against the New Republic—Harleys had risen to the rank of Wing Commander, dedicating his time primarily to mission planning rather than piloting. He later became involved in a covert operation orchestrated by Princess Leia Organa Solo and New Republic Intelligence operative Winter to uncover Delta Source, a highly effective Imperial mole embedded within the New Republic's leadership.
Around 19 BBY, during the reign of Emperor Palpatine, Diblen Harleys, a male Human, was born on Coruscant, the galactic capital. Raised by an Imperial bureaucrat, his father, Harleys was taught to believe in the Galactic Empire's ideals of justice and order, shielded from the atrocities committed by Imperial forces. As a young man, he aspired to join the Imperial Survey Corps, with dreams of exploring Wild Space and the Unknown Regions.
At the age of fifteen, Harleys experienced the loss of his mother. Soon after, his father revealed the harsh reality of the Imperial Survey Corps: a career dedicated to finding primitive planets for the Empire's exploitation. He cautioned Harleys to remain silent rather than risk being labeled a dissident. However, Harleys was deeply angered by the years of deception. He felt "brainwashed" into believing in the Empire's false promises. Upon realizing the truth, Harleys joined the burgeoning Alliance to Restore the Republic.
Harleys distinguished himself in the Alliance as a skilled starfighter pilot, later becoming a respected starfighter tactician. During the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, his tactical expertise as part of the planning staff contributed significantly to the Alliance's victory. Following this battle, Harleys steadily climbed the ranks within the New Republic, the political successor to the Alliance to Restore the Republic following the declaration. After the liberation of Coruscant in 6 ABY, the New Republic moved its headquarters to the galactic capital, establishing its government within the former Imperial Palace. Harleys was among those assigned to Coruscant, and shortly before the Thrawn Crisis in 9 ABY, he was promoted to Wing Commander. In this role, he fostered strong working relationships with Colonel Bren Derlin of the Coruscant Defense Force and Supreme Commander Admiral Gial Ackbar.
During the Thrawn Crisis—a military campaign against the New Republic led by the Chiss Grand Admiral Thrawn—the New Republic's war effort was hindered by Delta Source, a clandestine recording device planted in the Grand Corridor of the Imperial Palace by Emperor Palpatine to eavesdrop on members of the Imperial Senate. To locate Delta Source—initially believing it to be a spy within the New Republic's government or military—Princess Leia Organa Solo and New Republic Intelligence agent Winter staged conversations in the Grand Corridor. Their intention was that Zakarisz Ghent, a slicer working for smuggler Talon Karrde, could analyze these conversations to identify Delta Source by determining who overheard them and matching that information with Delta Source transmissions that Ghent had decrypted using sophisticated computer programs. One such conversation suggested that Harleys was tasked with devising a plan to verify the progress of three Imperial-class Star Destroyers under construction at the Ord Trasi shipyards, confirming they were within one month of completion.
Standing at 1.6 meters, Diblen Harleys had blond hair and blue eyes. Growing up, Harleys was a firm believer in the Empire's righteousness, due to his father's role as an Imperial bureaucrat. However, his perspective shifted dramatically after his fifteenth birthday when his father revealed the reality of the Imperial Survey Corps. Feeling betrayed and "brainwashed," Harleys channeled his anger into joining the Rebel Alliance.
Harleys was a well-regarded leader, popular among his soldiers for his outrageous sense of humor and commitment to their safety. He could be both intimidating and persuasive when necessary. While on duty, Harleys typically wore a standard New Republic flight suit, but he personalized it with a blue gemstone earring and a pair of glareshades.
Despite his passion for flying, Harleys's responsibilities often kept him grounded. He was also a relatively young officer for his rank, which sometimes led to him being treated as inexperienced by his peers, despite his close working relationships with Colonel Derlin and Admiral Ackbar.
Harleys was trained in hand-to-hand combat and blaster use, carrying a blaster pistol and a comlink. As a pilot, he was proficient in flying both starfighters and space vessels, including navigating through hyperspace, and could perform starfighter repairs. He was also skilled in driving ground and repulsorlift vehicles. As a tactician and Wing Commander, Harleys possessed a deep understanding of the New Republic's bureaucracy and knowledge of planetary systems. He was a capable leader, adept at managing starfighter groups and Coruscant-based personnel, and well-versed in starfighter tactics.
Diblen Harleys first appeared in Timothy Zahn's The Last Command, published in 1993. Though only mentioned as "Wing Commander Harleys," he received an entry in West End Games's The Last Command Sourcebook in 1994, which provided his first name and biography. This information was later reprinted in The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook.
In The Last Command, Wing Commander Harleys is mentioned in connection with a plan to assess the completion status of Imperial-class Star Destroyers at Ord Trasi. However, this occurs during a scene where Leia Organa Solo and Winter are staging conversations to expose Delta Source. Consequently, it remains unclear whether Harleys was genuinely involved in this mission or if it was misinformation. Nevertheless, The Last Command Sourcebook confirms the construction of Star Destroyers at Ord Trasi.