Garik Loran

Biography

Childhood and early career

Loran, who was of Lorrdian heritage and a native of Pantolomin, starred in thinly veiled Imperial propaganda holodramas such as The Black Bantha, Jungle Flutes, and Win or Die as a child, effectively becoming the galaxywide face of Imperial recruitment. During his childhood acting career, Loran earned the nickname "Face" due to his attractive appearance, and it remained with him throughout his life. He was kidnapped by an extremist group that had been expelled from the Rebel Alliance, and his face was scarred when Imperial stormtroopers massacred his captors during a rescue attempt. However, before their deaths, his captors thoroughly informed him of the atrocities committed by the Empire and Imperial Intelligence as a prelude to his planned execution. Loran seized this opportunity to disappear, leading his fans to believe he had died in the conflict. The Empire exploited his supposed death to tarnish the image of the New Republic, blaming them for his demise. Loran chose to keep the scar, viewing it as a reminder of the extent to which he had aided the Imperial cause. Following this incident, Loran secretly returned to his home on Pantolomin; his parents later sent him to Lorrd, their homeworld, while publicly maintaining the fiction of the famous holostar's death.

As a young man on Lorrd, he adopted the alias Kal zet Berri and was taken in by Zenobia le Ingiana, the governor of Lorrd, as a favor to Loran's parents. He attended the Sebs Jemas Flight School in Lorrd City and was already contemplating joining the Rebel Alliance. During his time on Lorrd, he occasionally visited Hart and Parn Starships, a starship dealership in the city of Qatamer, as he was interested in starfighters. On one such visit, Loran entered an R-22 Spearhead starfighter and played a prank on Zak and Tash Arranda, a pair of children his age, by activating the starfighter's targeting system, frightening them. He then exited the starfighter and introduced himself to them, but the three were soon escorted from the premises due to Loran's antics. As it turned out, the Arrandas were also staying with the governor, allowing the three youths to spend time together. Later, Loran showed the two Arrandas around Qatamer, pointing out various sights and locations of interest. He also assisted them in playing a prank on their uncle Mammon Hoole by imitating Tash's voice.

Shortly thereafter, the Arrandas discovered an Imperial plot to unleash buried ancient weapons on Lorrd. After being captured, they escaped and thwarted the Imperial plot, but the last Imperial agent, Raygar, attempted to eliminate them with a thermal detonator. Loran "borrowed" the R-22 from Hart and Parn's lot, flew to their rescue, and saved the Arrandas, but damaged the starship in the process. He was unconcerned by the damage and wondered if the proprietor, Hart-and-Parn Gorra-Fiolla, would allow him to purchase the ship instead. He also revealed his true identity to the Arrandas before they departed with their uncle.

Upon reaching adulthood, Loran used his own funds to acquire an A-wing starfighter and joined the New Republic, where he was assigned to Colonel Edor Crespin's Comet Squadron. After being forced to eject to avoid a proton torpedo, Loran purchased an X-wing "for variety" but ended up at the same base Crespin commanded. The colonel considered Loran's previous Imperial film work a disgrace, and a subsequent altercation between the two resulted in Loran insulting Crespin, diminishing the former actor's prospects for a piloting career.

He had a brief relationship with a female lieutenant at the Academy, during which he was locked out of his quarters naked as a practical joke. Although Loran played it off, he was still written up and had to clean everyone's boots for graduation. The actor was ill-suited to the disciplined life of military command, and charges of insubordination plagued his career. In reality, Loran despised himself for promoting the Imperial cause and projected his self-loathing onto any form of authority.

Wraith Squadron

In 7 ABY, Loran found a final opportunity when Wedge Antilles and Wes Janson, New Republic starfighter pilots, began forming the starfighter-commando hybrid squad that would become Wraith Squadron at Folor Base. Antilles and Janson primarily recruited candidates facing the end of their careers due to disciplinary issues or impending court-martial. Loran excelled in squadron training, ranking second behind demolitions expert Kell Tainer. Once the squad was assembled, Flight Officer Loran was designated Wraith Eight. He quickly befriended his wingman Ton Phanan, a medical doctor almost as bitter as Loran.

Charade

When Imperial Apwar Trigit arrived over Folor to attack the base, Loran assisted in sounding the alarm and participated in the subsequent ambush against Trigit's TIE Fighters that he deployed against the base. Loran, who already had four kills to his name from his prior service, scored two more, becoming an ace in his first engagement with the Wraiths. The Wraiths, who suffered no casualties in the engagement, jumped out of Folor base, only to have the entire squadron disabled by an empion mine planted by Trigit's forces in an asteroid field. With one X-wing permanently disabled and hostiles likely to arrive soon, Loran suggested leaving the craft behind with a pilot in a jury-rigged pilot's chair with a laser rifle, so that when their attackers pulled in the debris from the attack, the pilot could protect himself. The idea evolved until they left Wraith pilot Voort saBinring in a shielded compartment pulled from their Lambda-class shuttle, Narra, with a small repulsorlift and a stripped-down laser cannon. When the corvette Night Caller arrived, saBinring was pulled into the ship and hit the bridge with the crude laser cannon weapon, killing the captain. Once the rest of the squadron burst from cover in their freshly repaired X-wings, the corvette quickly surrendered, and Antilles decided to have them pose as the Night Caller's crew, as they had learned that Trigit was unaware of the capture of the ship.

Loran, utilizing his acting and disguise skills, impersonated both "Lieutenant Narol" with the aid of some impromptu prosthetics and Captain Zurel Darillian. The Wraiths visited Viamarr 4, where Loran delivered his first performance and learned that Zsinj was establishing businesses under false names on signatory worlds to generate resources and income. The deception grew more complex when Jesmin Ackbar and Eurrsk Thri'ag employed Darillian's holorecorded diary to create an overlay of Darillian over Loran, generating a lifelike holograph of the captain over Loran's words and movements. The Night Caller's next destination was Xartun, where Loran revealed the location of a transparisteel manufacturing plant, which the other Wraiths subsequently destroyed after the disguised Loran departed. Loran also assisted in fighting a group of pirates on M2398 after negotiations failed, delivering the eulogy of Jesmin Ackbar after she was killed in combat.

Shortly thereafter, Loran employed his acting skills in a different manner when he and fellow Wraiths posed as members of Talon Squadron, Wraith Myn Donos's first command, to help Donos recover from the catatonia caused by the destruction of Talon Squadron in an Imperial trap. The following day, Loran had his first conversation as Darillian with Zsinj via holocomm. The warlord instructed him to assist Apwar Trigit in eliminating the survivors of Folor Base—ironically, Loran was one of those survivors. Zsinj also instructed them to rendezvous with a supply ship. To avoid having to let the crewmen onto their ship, Loran and the other Wraiths conducted a mission to Storinal to steal biological agents and TIE fighters, where Loran posed as a stereotypical country idiot from Agamar. Using the agents, they infected the supply ship's shuttle with Bunkurd Sewer Disorder, preventing a rendezvous for fear of contagion.

Trapping the Implacable

After a quick raid on Todirium III in the Night Caller, Trigit instructed "Darillian" to meet him to attack Talasea, where Rebel forces were believed to be congregating. Upon arriving in-system, the Wraiths realized that Trigit had discovered the trap and dropped the Implacable out of hyperspace prematurely, leaving the frigate Provocateur and the corvette Constrictor for the Wraiths to engage. At the ensuing Battle of Talasea, Loran devised a tactic known as the "Loran Spitball," in which a group of X-wings would fire a salvo of proton torpedoes while still in their carrier's bow hangar, providing an unexpected addition to a ship's firepower in the opening moments of battle. Loran was heading towards his fighter when Night Caller took a hit that destroyed the bridge, leaving Loran to take over the ship from the auxiliary bridge. The Wraiths defeated the two other ships in the following engagement, and Loran was promoted to lieutenant for his actions.

Following a hasty refit, the Night Caller set out again to try and trap the Implacable. Loran convinced both Zsinj and Trigit that they had narrowly escaped an ambush and that they should attack the Rebels at Ession. Upon their arrival in that system, Loran had to improvise another performance, almost revealing his assumed identity when Admiral Trigit discovered he was unfamiliar with the Imperial Intelligence term "follow best." However, Loran delivered an impromptu speech detailing "Darillian's" supposed love for Intelligence Director Ysanne Isard, impressing the Admiral and allowing Night Caller to gain a critical launch point for the next engagement.

In the Battle of Ession, Loran flew in his X-wing with the Wraiths and the Night Caller against Zsinj, aided by Rogue Squadron, General Horton Salm's Green Squadron of BTL Y-wing starfighters, and General Crespin's Blue Squadron of A-wings. The Night Caller executed the Loran Spitball against the Implacable, weakening the vessel while Antilles maneuvered the ship into a dust cloud on Ession's moon, hiding it from the Star Destroyer. After a prolonged engagement, the Wraiths destroyed the Implacable, although they lost Thri'ag and Falynn Sandskimmer, and several pilots were forced to eject, including Loran's wingman Phanan, who lost his spleen after being struck by debris from the failing ship. For his part, Loran scored kills on the Implacable's TIEs and also helped torpedo the Destroyer. After the battle, the Wraiths were granted leave on the planet Borleias.

Return to action

The squadron then went back to Coruscant, but all their leave time hadn't expired yet. While in a bar, they were attacked by a cyborg and got into a bar fight. Military police quickly responded, rounding them up for the altercation, but Loran noticed that their captain's walking mannerisms and story didn't add up, and he signaled Antilles of the trap, who gave Loran the lead. Loran struck the first blow, and the Wraiths quickly put down the ersatz policemen, who were later discovered to be infiltrators. Loran received some official scrutiny for his actions and judgment, but he proved his talent for matching a person's mannerism and walking style with their planet, exonerating himself.

The incident resulted in cancellation of their leave time and Antilles put them to work trying to "get inside" Zsinj's mind to figure out what his modus operandi and motives were. Loran led one of the planning groups, and concluded that Iron Fist was the key to both Zsinj's power and strategy, asserting that Zsinj would try to raid Kuat for a new Super Star Destroyer. Loran also somewhat facetiously surmised Ysanne Isard was alive, which the New Republic would learn years later was true.

Loran also became involved in a plan to trap a corrupt New Republic Colonel Atton Repness in a blackmail and theft scheme that had already snared one of the Wraiths, Tyria Sarkin, back when she was attending the Academy. Loran and Ton Phanan recruited Lara Notsil, an intelligent prisoner from the Implacable who was believed to be Trigit's unwilling mistress, to be sponsored through pilot's training as bait for Repness. Notsil, officially free of scrutiny, agreed under the condition that she be admitted to Rogue or Wraith Squadron upon graduation from the Academy. Little did Loran or Phanan know that Notsil was actually Gara Petothel, one of Trigit's intelligence operatives, and well-trained enough to fool Loran by masking her Coruscanti heritage with a barely noticeable Aldivian accent. Notsil did better than expected, and eventually lured Repness out and betrayed him.

Pirate Captain

Acting on reports of Zsinj's recruitment of pirates, Loran and some of the other Wraiths were order to pose as the Hawk-bat Independent Space Force, with Loran using his acting skills and a large amount of fake burn scar makeup to become the leader of the group, General Kargin. The Wraiths infiltrated an Imperial base on Halmad using the same ruse that had been attempted against them on Coruscant, but in the guise of the Hawk-bats. They stole five TIE Interceptors to equip their forces with, in addition to the Sungrass, a dilapidated transport that served as their launching platform when they weren't at Hawk-bat Base, an abandoned mining base in the Halmad system. They started their piratical spree by attacking a tanker after Loran picked up their navigational data from a drunk crew member planetside, and continued from there. Loran and most of the other Wraiths made a short layover on Mon Remonda, the Mon Calamari cruiser where they were officially stationed, to pick up orders and supplies, and Notsil, fresh from graduating with honors on an accelerated training program, joined them as one of the Wraiths. This was much to Loran's relief, as his plan had stood a high chance of failure or angering Intelligence Director Airen Cracken.

To maintain the deception that they were stationed on Mon Remonda, Loran and the Wraiths launched a raid on Lavisar against Imperial (non-Zsinj) forces stationed there, believing that Zsinj's elite Raptors were present. It was a deception by Zsinj though, designed to trick the New Republic into weakening Imperial worlds for Zsinj to take over. At the same time, Loran found himself plagued by pranks by a stuffed Ewok toy named Lieutenant Kettch and attracted to Dia Passik, a Twi'lek female who had recently joined the Wraiths.

Returning to Hawk-bat Base, where Tainer, Phanan, Ekwesh, and Castin Donn were waiting, Loran once again pretended to be Kargin, formulating a plan to attack Halmad's two bases for starfighters. Simultaneously, he became increasingly worried about his comrade and close friend Ton Phanan, whose sadness and lack of motivation had only worsened. Before he could have a meaningful discussion with Phanan, they commenced their offensive against Halmad, only to discover that the planet had sought protection under Zsinj's banner.

The Iron Fist materialized, and the Wraiths encountered stronger planetary defenses after capturing the Bastion, an old tanker for refueling in orbit. They called off their mission, destroying numerous enemy starfighters while retreating and intentionally crashed their captured tanker into the Iron Fist to slow down its pursuit. During this chaos, Phanan was shot down and sustained severe injuries. Loran risked his own life by landing his fighter to rescue him. Successfully avoiding Zsinj's forces searching the area, he located Phanan. He tried to bring the injured pilot to safety, but Phanan refused to allow Loran to surrender to save him. Ton, realizing his impending death and regretting letting his past control him, confronted Loran for making the same mistake. Phanan passed away soon after, designating Loran as the sole inheritor of his estate. Deeply saddened, Loran destroyed his wingman's body and went back to Hawk-bat Base. Upon reading Phanan's will, he learned that Phanan had instructed him to use the inherited funds to remove the facial scar he had carried as a symbol of remembrance and shame for many years, or else the money would go to his hated holodrama rival, Tetran Cowall.

Encountering Zsinj

Loran had little opportunity to mourn, however, because Zsinj, impressed by their combat skills over Halmad, reached out to the Hawk-bats and requested a meeting to discuss potential employment. As the leader of the pirates and the squadron's primary actor, he was chosen for the mission, along with Dia Passik and Kell Tainer. Their initial discussions with Zsinj went very well, with the warlord quickly agreeing to hire them for a risky mission in exchange for a substantial payment. Loran also seized the opportunity to use saBinring's genetically altered background as a cover story for Lieutenant Kettch. Zsinj believed Kettch to be a member of the Hawk-bats, based on comm modifications that had disguised Antilles' voice as that of an Ewok during the events on Halmad. Loran's interaction with Zsinj led him to believe that the warlord possessed more knowledge than he revealed.

The mission took a dangerous turn when Zsinj presented them with Wraith Castin Donn, who had disobeyed orders by infiltrating the Iron Fist to insert a destructive program into the vessel. He had failed, been captured, and now Zsinj demanded that Loran execute the prisoner as a demonstration of loyalty. Loran attempted to avoid the request, but Zsinj was insistent. Dia Passik, however, did not hesitate. She shot Donn in the throat, having realized that he was already dead and that his apparent breathing was a deception.

After they departed the Iron Fist, Loran asked Passik to explain her actions. While doing so, she became overwhelmed with emotion and nearly ended her own life due to the horror of what she had done. Loran prevented her from doing so and thanked her for saving them from certain death.

Loran attempted to take responsibility for Donn's death, but Antilles explained that Donn was at fault for disobeying orders, as they had confirmed that he was not aboard before leaving. The unit's morale suffered greatly, even after discovering that their mission for Zsinj was actually a raid on Kuat to steal the latest Super Star Destroyer. Their spirits were somewhat improved by a unit dance organized and hosted by Ekwesh to celebrate life. Lara Notsil—his new wingman—and Janson arranged for Loran to dance with Passik, during which Passik confessed her attraction to him, and they shared a kiss.

Loran then led the Hawk-bats into combat at Kuat alongside Zsinj's fleet against the Imperial defenders, with some of the Wraiths strategically positioning themselves to sabotage the Super Star Destroyers later. Zsinj's forces successfully escaped with the new Destroyer, Razor's Kiss, but a program planted within it by a Wraith revealed the ship's location. The Wraiths, except for those hidden in ambush positions on the Star Dreadnaughts, joined the anti-Zsinj New Republic fleet led by Han Solo and engaged Zsinj's forces. Loran flew in an X-wing this time, attacking Razor's Kiss and defending the B-wing starfighters of Nova Squadron as they targeted the Iron Fist. During the battle, Loran sustained serious damage and considered making a suicide run into the Iron Fist's shield generators. However, remembering Phanan's last words, he aborted his final run and allowed himself to be escorted back to a landing bay. While receiving medical attention for his injuries, he also had his scar removed. The remaining Wraiths, all having survived the two battles, happily reunited on the damaged Mon Remonda to celebrate their victory.

Warlord Pursuit

Following the destruction of Razor's Kiss, Loran and the Wraiths returned to Coruscant aboard the Mon Remonda for repairs and refitting of their ships, as well as some much-needed rest for the pilots. While there, Loran and Notsil developed a novel tactic involving a paired TIE Interceptor and X-wing. The X-wing's shields would protect the TIE, while the TIE would guard the X-wing's rear. During the subsequent squadron briefing, Loran was promoted to brevet captain, becoming the temporary commander of Wraith Squadron, as Antilles took command of all of the Mon Remonda's fighters and resumed active duty with Rogue Squadron. Loran adopted the callsign Wraith One and designated Notsil as his wingman, Wraith Two.

On their first mission after the refit, Zsinj's forces ambushed the Mon Remonda. Loran and the Wraiths were once again assigned to protect Nova Squadron, but later assisted in taking down a Carrack-class light cruiser to relieve the pressure on the Mon Remonda. The starfighter assault successfully diverted enough enemy attention from the Mon Remonda, allowing Solo's fleet to escape into hyperspace. After the battle, the New Republic pilots realized that they had gained little intelligence on Zsinj's activities since the destruction of Razor's Kiss. Loran suggested creating a fake Millennium Falcon to draw out the warlord. The Wraiths acquired another YT-1300 light freighter, naming it the Millennium Falsehood, to impersonate the Falcon in a series of decoy raids.

However, the Wraiths first planned to attack the Binring Biomedical Product facility on Saffalore, which Zsinj had been using to modify various nonhuman species, a project that had created Voort "Piggy" saBinring, a Gamorrean Wraith. Loran led the infiltration team, advancing deeper into the facility under the cover of darkness, but the entire place turned out to be a trap designed to eliminate them. The trap was triggered when the team activated a trapdoor that dropped them into an incinerator. They managed to escape by blasting through the wall, but several pilots, including Loran, suffered burns and other injuries. He and the others fought their way out of the complex in a daring, albeit reckless, assault, capturing Dr. Edda Gast, one of Zsinj's scientists, during their escape. Loran called in their air support, the Rogues, to cover their extraction. With Rogue Squadron providing cover, Loran and the others returned to the Mon Remonda. Despite their injuries, he felt positive about the mission, recognizing that his squadron had survived and succeeded in an environment specifically designed to kill them.

The Mon Remonda then attacked Zsinj's Raptors on Jussafet Four, an Imperial world, and defeated them after sustaining damage from brainwashed New Republic pilots. Afterward, Imperial Admiral Teren Rogriss requested a meeting with one of Solo's officers. Loran was sent to meet the Imperial admiral and discovered that Rogriss was Solo's Imperial counterpart: the leader of an anti-Zsinj task force. The two agreed to unofficially cooperate against their shared enemy, the warlord, in a completely informal manner.

Throughout her time in Wraith Squadron, Loran began to suspect that Lara Notsil was not who she claimed to be. When she was anxious, unguarded, or disturbed, her body language suggested to him that she was from Coruscant, not Aldivian. Loran requested additional information about her past from New Republic Intelligence. On their following mission to Kidriff Five, he received a data transmission confirming that Lara Notsil was actually Gara Petothel, an Imperial Intelligence agent. Loran suspected she would attempt to betray the Wraiths, unaware that Notsil had experienced a change of heart and ideology after joining the Wraiths. During the battle, Loran stayed away from the main conflict, with his wingman Lara remaining by his side. As the Rogues and Wraiths prepared to jump to hyperspace, Loran explained the situation to Wedge Antilles, but neglected to switch to a private channel, so the entire squadron overheard him. Myn Donos, whose squadron Gara Petothel had helped destroy, became enraged and attempted to attack Lara, towards whom he had developed feelings before learning her true identity. Loran positioned his fighter between Donos and Notsil, nearly being destroyed by a proton torpedo fired by the enraged Corellian. In response, Lara told the Wraiths that she was and always would be loyal to them and jumped to hyperspace. Wedge Antilles was displeased, both with Donos and with Loran.

The Final Confrontation

Nevertheless, their campaign continued, with the Wraiths carrying out numerous ground and air strike missions against Zsinj-affiliated businesses and Zsinj's military forces. On one mission to Comkin V, Loran assisted in escorting the Millennium Falsehood, but they were attacked by the Dreadnaught Reprisal and Zsinj's TIE pilots, including Lara Notsil, who had been recruited by the warlord once more. Employing a bomb attached to their freighter, the Wraiths brought down the Reprisal's shields and amplified the damage with a proton torpedo barrage, which tore the ship apart. They then fled into hyperspace, after receiving a communications burst that Lara had rigged her TIE's lasers to fire. Loran later assisted in analyzing her transmission, in which she stated she was trying to sabotage Zsinj, and concluded that she was sincere in her intention to harm Zsinj.

Loran was subsequently dispatched to liaise with Admiral Rogriss to borrow an Interdictor cruiser for an attack on Zsinj at Vahaba, based on the information Lara had provided. Rogriss reluctantly agreed to provide the Interdictor, personally transferring his flag to the vessel. Loran and Ekwesh were assigned to reconnaissance duty in the Vahaba system, and they quickly located Iron Fist, leading to a full fleet engagement between the two forces. Despite Rogriss's assistance, Iron Fist escaped the Battle of Vahaba, although damaged. However, Lara Notsil sabotaged the Star Dreadnaught, stranding it nearby with minimal support. Upon learning of this, Solo brought his entire fleet in pursuit of the suddenly vulnerable Iron Fist. This resulted in the Battle of Selaggis.

Loran flew against Iron Fist in the battle, engaging both the ship with his proton torpedoes and its complement of TIE fighters. When the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing (actually an impersonating unit organized by Zsinj rather than the loyal Imperial fighter wing) began strafing the colony ruins on Selaggis, the Rogues and Wraiths followed to engage them. The two squadrons easily defeated the 181st pilots after realizing that half of them were explosive-packed droids. In orbit, Zsinj faked the destruction of Iron Fist and made his escape after suffering significant ship and starfighter losses.

Transition to Intelligence

Following the battle, Loran learned that his promotion to captain was permanent, but that New Republic Intelligence had taken control of the Wraiths, offering them the option to transfer out of Starfighter Command. Loran moved to Intelligence, remaining as leader, and many of his comrades joined him. At some point, Loran shaved his head and added a false scar to prevent enemies from identifying him. He also acquired the nickname, or call sign, of "Poster Boy" within Wraith Squadron.

In 13 ABY, Loran participated in a Wraith Squadron mission on Ryvester. There, he posed as a smuggler named "Captain Hachat," offering to share a priceless treasure, The Palace of Piethet Brighteyes, with Imperial admiral Kosh Teradoc. In his Hachat persona, Loran met with Teradoc at a club outside Teradoc's base. Teradoc was accompanied by a gemologist named Mulus Cheems, who had previously worked with Teradoc but had been subverted by the Wraiths. When Loran presented Teradoc with a jewel-encrusted artifact, Cheems authenticated it. Teradoc attempted to betray Loran, but the Wraiths were well-prepared for this eventuality. Loran signaled his teammates stationed around the club, and they immediately initiated a diversion in the form of a fake Imperial Navy raid. Teradoc attempted to shoot Loran, but he created cover to escape with a noxious smoke blast concealed in his beverage. He then exited the club along with the rest of the Wraiths and Cheems. Escaping in a speeder, they made their way to a nearby marina, where they stole Teradoc's yacht and departed. Teradoc had taken the ostensibly priceless artifact back to his base and private vault, unaware that it was actually a sophisticated explosive device. When its pressure sensors detected it was sufficiently underground, the bomb detonated, destroying Teradoc and his research labs containing plague viruses, toxins, and a sonic project designed to destroy lightsaber crystals. Their mission accomplished, Loran and the Wraiths treated themselves to the provisions on Teradoc's yacht as they departed Ryvester.

Yuuzhan Vong War

In the year 25 ABY, the galaxy faced an invasion by the Yuuzhan Vong, who swiftly conquered numerous planets. During the initial years of this Yuuzhan Vong War, Loran spearheaded his squadron's endeavors to penetrate the Yuuzhan Vong's grip on territory. This frontier stretched from Vortex all the way to Bimmisaari. Furthermore, Loran was involved in the search for the vessel responsible for capturing and transporting the Myrkr strike team into enemy territory. Unaware of the strategy behind deliberately allowing the team's capture, he was ordered to cease his search when he neared the truth, a decision he strongly opposed.

Loran took charge of the Wraiths during the evacuation of Iella, Wedge Antilles' wife, along with their daughters, Syal and Myri. They were rescued from Coruscant before the Yuuzhan Vong could capture them during their takeover of the world. After their escape from Coruscant, the squadron journeyed to Borleias, where Loran reunited Antilles' family with Antilles himself, who had successfully reclaimed the planet. Subsequently, the Wraiths lent their support to Antilles' endeavors to drive the Yuuzhan Vong out of the jungle-covered world. Soon after, Loran and the Wraiths received orders to assist Jedi Master Luke Skywalker in devising a plan to investigate visions experienced by the Jedi on the surface of Coruscant. Throughout the mission briefing, Loran and the other Wraiths amused themselves by teasing the Jedi Master. They also supplied the necessary equipment for infiltration and insertion, including orbital insertion pods, disguised Yuuzhan Vong armor, and camouflaged probe droids. The infiltration team, which included two additional Jedi, Mara Jade Skywalker and Tahiri Veila, as well as scientist Danni Quee, was transported to Coruscant aboard the transport vessel Record Time. To avoid detection, they ejected from the cargo bay and descended to the surface in their insertion pods, blending in with other debris.

Once on Coruscant, Loran and his companions assessed the extent of the Vongforming that had been inflicted upon the planet, while Skywalker and the other Jedi investigated the dark side emanations they had sensed in the fallen capital. Their findings revealed that the planet's orbit, flora, and atmosphere had undergone significant alterations, including the creation of a foul-smelling atmosphere resulting from the decomposition of countless corpses. Loran assisted the team by providing perfume-soaked cloths, but the sights and sounds of the devastated capital remained inescapable, leading the team to the realization that the world had been irrevocably transformed.

During their initial close encounter with Yuuzhan Vong warriors, Loran was scouting a bridge connecting two buildings when a group of Yuuzhan Vong materialized. Leveraging his knowledge of Yuuzhan Vong culture and language, he attempted to bluff his way past them. However, the Yuuzhan Vong warriors grew hostile, despite being unaware of the infiltrators' true identities and intentions. Thanks to the Jedi's combat prowess and an explosive device provided by Kell Tainer, the infiltrators eliminated all the warriors before they could raise an alarm. Later, they established contact with a group of Coruscant survivors known as the Walkway Collective. Loran was among the two Wraiths tasked with accompanying the two Skywalkers to meet with the collective. From these survivors, the Wraiths and Jedi learned about Lord Nyax, a mentally unstable, cybernetically enhanced Dark Jedi who roamed the undercity of Coruscant.

During one of numerous scouting missions, Loran and Veila discovered an air-purifying station. Upon further investigation, Skywalker revealed that the devourer tank within the purifying station concealed an entrance to a secret laboratory. After exploring the laboratory and examining the droids within, they discovered that it had originally been used to modify Nyax beyond human limitations, and that he had initiated his killing spree there. While Quee, Wraith operative Bhindi Drayson, and the Skywalkers investigated the laboratory, Loran marked the exits and assigned Tainer to guard them. Given that the laboratory was abandoned and provided access to fresh air, the team utilized it as a temporary base. Loran and Tainer also deployed numerous holocams on the surface to gather astronomical observations. Loran and Skywalker also embarked on several expeditions to locate functional vehicles. During this time, Tainer and Loran engaged in a contest of endurance to determine who would first admit discomfort while wearing their Yuuzhan Vong disguises, while the rest of the team had largely abandoned wearing them. On one such excursion, Loran and Drayson were examining a computer in a building that had served as a Starfighter Command recruiting office when Skywalker spotted Lord Nyax from a distance. They hastily evacuated the building, which was then overrun by a group of disheveled Coruscant survivors who looted the premises. Loran suggested using snipers to eliminate Nyax, but Luke disagreed and overruled him.

During their second confrontation with the Dark Jedi, the Skywalkers, Veila, Tainer, and Loran encountered workers under Nyax's mental control attacking Yuuzhan Vong warriors and repairing a construction droid. While the Jedi engaged Nyax, Loran and Tainer captured Viqi Shesh, a treacherous senator who was accompanying the Yuuzhan Vong, and confiscated a vehicle locator from her. However, she managed to escape when the construction droid activated and began tearing through the cityscape towards the remnants of the old Jedi Temple. Following Skywalker's orders, Loran pursued the droid, resisting Nyax's mental commands and evading the low-flying coralskippers. His persistence played a crucial role in guiding the Jedi to the droid's location in their hunt for Nyax. After the three Jedi confronted Nyax for a final showdown at the site of the ruined temple, Loran returned to the Ugly Truth, a functional transport that Tainer had discovered by tracking Shesh's vehicle locator. The two blasted the ship free from its hiding place and picked up the others, escaping back to Borleias just in time for the conclusion of the siege that had been ongoing there.

In 29 ABY, a mission to Chashima aimed at investigating a new Yuuzhan Vong creature known as comm-buzzers, which could trace comlink signals, resulted in the deaths of longtime Wraith Squadron member Hohass Ekwesh and Estoric Sandskimmer. Loran attempted to console the mission's survivor, Voort saBinring, who had been close friends with Ekwesh. However, despite Loran's efforts to assure him that Ekwesh's death had not been in vain, saBinring's grief led him to resign from the unit.

Later, the Wraiths, including Loran, participated in the Battle of Obroa-skai in an attempt to assassinate Yuuzhan Vong Supreme Overlord Shimrra Jamaane. The Wraiths' cloaked ships played a vital role in jamming yammosk war coordinators, leading to the destruction of the Yuuzhan Vong fleet, although Shimrra was not present. Loran also took part in the Battle of Yuuzhan'tar, the concluding battle of the war, joining forces with Shamed Ones and resistance units on the planet's surface. Ultimately, the newly established Galactic Alliance triumphed over the Yuuzhan Vong, bringing the conflict to an end.

Retirement and reformation

Loran remained in service to Galactic Alliance Intelligence for several years following the war, eventually achieving the rank of general. He also married Dia Passik and adopted her daughter Adra Passik. However, in the aftermath of the Second Galactic Civil War in 40 ABY, Loran was caught up in a purge of the intelligence services initiated by the new Chief of State Natasi Daala. The Wraiths were disbanded, and Loran was forced into an early retirement, which he greatly resented.

In 44 ABY, following the replacement of the Daala administration, Loran was approached by the head of Galactic Alliance Security, General Borath Maddeus, and tasked with investigating the chief of the Galactic Alliance Army, General Stavin Thaal. Thaal was suspected of involvement in the Lecersen Conspiracy, which had nearly destabilized the Galactic Alliance during the recent Lost Tribe of Sith emergence. Maddeus requested that Loran assemble a new Wraith team discreetly and unofficially to investigate Thaal, and Loran agreed. Maddeus provided him with a hyperdrive-equipped space yacht, the Quarren Eye, and Loran commenced his efforts.

In line with his extensive and distinguished career as an intelligence officer, Loran implemented extra precautions when forming his new Wraiths. Suspecting the Quarren Eye, he never disclosed his true plans or the identities of his new Wraiths over its communication systems, instead transmitting only the details of a fictitious unit. He also created two separate Wraith Squadron teams, keeping them isolated and unaware of each other's existence while assigning them to investigate Thaal from different perspectives. Both teams were led by veteran Wraiths, with Loran recruiting his former colleagues from the Yuuzhan Vong War, Sharr Latt, to lead one team and Bhindi Drayson to lead the other. Loran also personally traveled to Ayceezee to persuade one of the original Wraith Squadron members, the now-retired Voort saBinring, to join Drayson's team. saBinring was hesitant to rejoin the unit after his experience on Chashima, but Loran convinced him of his necessity.

The two returned to Coruscant in disguise, where Loran connected saBinring with one of Drayson's Wraiths, Myri Antilles, the daughter of his former unit commander, Wedge Antilles. Loran assisted in orchestrating a heist that Drayson's team was planning as part of their investigation, placing a thoroughly unprepared saBinring into the situation before departing to attend to his own affairs. He remained on Coruscant and met with Thaal's ex-wife, Zehrinne Thaal. She revealed that she and Thaal were virtually divorced after an unsuccessful marriage. The estranged ex-wife informed him that Thaal was unfaithful and had had multiple mistresses, all younger women. Loran obtained their names from Zehrinne Thaal and learned that the latest mistress, Keura Fallatte, had recently disappeared. He returned home and covertly forwarded the information to the Wraiths, while sending a false report through the Quarren Eye. With his work temporarily completed, he spent time with his wife and daughter, opting to order takeout for dinner instead of cooking.

Later, Loran visited one of his assets, a Bothan lieutenant named Davian who worked in the Galactic Alliance Navy. The officer provided him with the cargo manifests of several naval cargo vessels that had vanished over the years. Loran discovered that all the missing vessels had a HyperTech Industries communications device, typically a hypercomm, on board. Considering that one of the new Wraiths under Drayson, Jesmin Tainer, had previously investigated the missing vessels, Loran found this intriguing. However, he also seized the opportunity to swipe Davian's datapad while persuading him to keep his findings confidential until the Wraiths could uncover the truth. Loran used this datapad to plant credentials for a fictitious Imperial identity that Drayson's Wraiths were using to try and lure out Thaal's conspirators.

Not long after, while flying in his airspeeder, Loran noticed that he was being followed by another vehicle. He landed in an open-air market to shake off his pursuer, who quickly landed and followed him, revealing themselves to be a Sullustan and an Aqualish. Loran pretended to be shopping, acquiring the necessary items to create an impromptu decoy to distract the Aqualish, who revealed his murderous intent by knifing the decoy. Recognizing the danger, Loran killed the Sullustan and broke contact even as the Aqualish revealed himself. Throwing a recently acquired toy lightsaber as a diversion, Loran lunged forward and fatally stabbed his opponent. Retreating to his speeder, Loran inquired of the droid brain he had installed whether the vehicle had been tampered with. It had been, so Loran cut himself to leave genetic evidence of his presumed death, and then abandoned the vehicle, instructing the droid brain to fly it off, where it exploded shortly after due to the sabotage. Loran went into hiding, informing his wife and daughter and some other associates to warn them. His wife shot the man who had sabotaged his speeder and then Loran and his family went into hiding after disposing of the body.

Loran discovered that search-and-kill orders had been issued for the fake Wraiths he had established through the Quarren Eye, most of whom were fictitious or deceased. Realizing that this implicated Maddeus, who had initially contacted him, Loran investigated the head of security. After the two Wraith teams under Latt and Drayson joined forces and then exposed and captured Thaal, Loran knew that the endgame had arrived. Aware that Thaal had escaped detention with the assistance of his co-conspirator Maddeus, Loran confronted Maddeus in his office, but did not immediately reveal his knowledge of Maddeus' involvement. Loran disclosed that he knew Thaal and Maddeus were comrades from the Yuuzhan Vong War. Although Maddeus initially denied the allegations, he soon confessed. Maddeus remained defiant and, when "General Thaal" appeared armed, was prepared to eliminate Loran. Maddeus revealed that he had concealed Thaal one level below his office, at which point "Thaal" was revealed to be a Wraith in disguise, who then aimed his weapon at Maddeus instead. Maddeus and Thaal were taken into custody, their conspiracy to establish their private empire dismantled by Wraith Squadron.

He then met at length with the new Chief of State, Wynn Dorvan, and detailed his recent activities, omitting the names of the new Wraiths. In recognition of his efforts, he was offered Maddeus' former position, which he accepted. His wife made him promise that he would cease his spying and shooting and adhere to his new desk job. Loran also suggested that the new Wraiths could continue as an unofficial asset of the intelligence service, which was accepted, with saBinring appointed as the new unit leader.

Personality and traits

Loran carried significant guilt for his time serving the Empire as a child actor, blaming himself for his past, which manifested in his career through insubordination and insolence. The stigma associated with his past affected him until his friend and wingman, Ton Phanan, convinced him to release the guilt, as his "debt" existed only in his mind.

However, Loran typically concealed this guilt, maintaining an actor's calm and composed demeanor even during missions or delivering eulogies. This composure enabled him to remain cool and collected in challenging situations, and he was rapidly promoted to captain from flight officer due to his leadership capabilities. He was also known for his humor and was considered one of the two "smart mouths" in the Wraiths by his fellow pilots, deriving great pleasure from numerous jibes and jests. Loran particularly enjoyed joking with Luke Skywalker during the Yuuzhan Vong War, and continued to do so throughout their mission to Coruscant.

As a seasoned intelligence officer following the Second Galactic Civil War, Loran continued to employ his actor's ability to convincingly portray emotions when interviewing potential assets. Loran was also a skilled operative, capable of faking his death, orchestrating multiple ruses, and engaging in intricate plots of subterfuge. He was known to both challenge authority and suspect almost everyone, including his superiors at times. Loran did not react favorably to forced retirement, viewing it with displeasure. He was a devoted husband and father, demonstrating great concern for his wife and daughter. He promised the former that he would never make her extremely angry, and anticipated that his hair, had he any left, would have turned gray as his daughter began dating.

Relationships

Loran was considered one of the most attractive human males in his youth, and rumors of his death allegedly broke the hearts of young women across the galaxy. He would continue to leverage his recognition and childhood fame throughout his career.

Dia Passik

Dia Passik joined the Wraiths after the destruction of the Implacable. Initially, she was resistant to Loran's attempts to charm her, but eventually fell for the Lorrdian pilot. The two developed a relationship, particularly after he prevented her from committing suicide. The relationship proved beneficial to both, helping Passik adjust to her new unit and enabling Loran to become more open towards his fellow pilots while recovering from Phanan's death. By 44 ABY, Loran and Passik had married. Loran adopted Passik's daughter Adra and was devoted to his new family, displaying great concern when they were in danger.

Behind the scenes

Garik Loran was created by Aaron Allston for his four Wraith Squadron books. Allston has stated on his website that the Face Loran/Ton Phanan pairing is one of his favorites for its humorous potential. According to Allston, Loran was inspired by the renowned silent-film actor John Barrymore, known as "The Great Profile." Although not official, Allston estimates Loran to be 24 years old in 7.5 ABY at the inception of Wraith Squadron. Allston also attributes Loran's relative lack of advancement in rank by the time of the Yuuzhan Vong War to his largely unofficial status as a secret intelligence asset. Allston has also mentioned that he believes the relationship between Loran and Passik would not last, resulting in an amicable separation. However, by X-Wing: Mercy Kill, Passik and Loran are married, but the fact that Passik's daughter Adra is Loran's adoptive daughter suggests they split for a time.