Haplif

Under the direction of Jixtus, Haplif orchestrated a civil war on the planet Sunrise in less than half a year, or six months. During this conflict, which occurred around 19 BBY, Haplif encouraged both factions to deploy devastating flat-blast artillery shells, an action that would deeply traumatize an Agbui girl named Frosif. Haplif's war resulted in widespread death among the native population and left the planet's atmosphere and surface in ruins. Subsequently, the Agbui and the Grysk Hegemony seized control of Sunrise, commencing mining operations for nyix. However, a group of two hundred refugees, led by the Magys, managed to escape the ravaged planet, setting course for the Paccosh homeworld of Rapacc. Unlike many sentient-inhabited worlds in the Chaos, Sunrise lacked a long-range communications triad. Jixtus had instructed Haplif to eliminate all witnesses, but lacking military resources and a comms triad on Sunrise, Haplif was unable to kill the refugees or contact Jixtus for assistance. Instead, he contacted the forces of the Nikardun Destiny, providing them with the refugees' trajectory and falsely claiming they were building an army against the Nikardun. Consequently, the Nikardun military attempted to invade and subjugate the Rapacc system, but failed to locate the refugee ship. The refugees did arrive, but the Paccian Governance concealed their presence and misled the Nikardun.

Haplif later briefed Jixtus on the refugee ship situation. Pleased with Haplif's performance on Sunrise, Jixtus assigned him the task of infiltrating and instigating a civil war within the Chiss Ascendancy. Jixtus also informed him that Nikardun General Yiv the Benevolent's campaign against the Chiss would divert the Ascendancy's attention outwards, thus improving Haplif's chances of infiltration.

For the next three months, Haplif, along with other Agbui including Frosif and her mother, Shimkif, disguised themselves as cultural nomads traveling through the Chaos, studying the Ascendancy. He dedicated himself to learning as much of the Chiss language, Cheunh, as possible. After visiting eleven regions across five Chiss worlds without success, Haplif began to question his next destination. At a festival, Haplif overheard a conversation between a young Chiss couple, also discussing their travel plans. Recognizing an opportunity, Haplif addressed the couple in Minnisiat, and the young man, Yoponek (Coduyo'po'nekri), introduced himself and his betrothed, Yomie. Haplif proposed that the Chiss travel with the Agbui, offering to save them money in exchange for their services as cultural guides. To persuade Yomie, Haplif gifted her a brooch made partially of nyix metal. The Chiss couple accepted the offer. Haplif hoped this arrangement would aid him in his mission to manipulate the Chiss Ascendancy into a civil war.

After five weeks, Haplif had learned a great deal about Chiss society but made little progress toward his goal of fomenting civil unrest. Shimkif also pressured him about the approaching deadlines set by Jixtus. However, Yoponek informed Haplif of an ambitious Xodlak Councilor on the planet Celwis, Xodlak'uvi'vil (Lakuviv). Haplif saw this as his chance to infiltrate the Chiss Great Families and encouraged Yoponek to visit Celwis to meet with Lakuviv, suggesting that he would be meeting a future historical figure. Yoponek was intrigued, but Haplif urged him to visit Celwis immediately. This would disrupt Yomie's plans to attend the month-long Grand Migration on the planet Shihon, and Yoponek was reluctant to disregard his betrothed's wishes. He tried to reason with her, arguing that it was unreasonable to expect the Agbui to wait on Shihon for a whole month. Refusing to continue the discussion, Yoponek and Yomie retired for the night. After the Chiss left, Haplif and Shimkif agreed that they needed to address the issue with Yomie. They decided to stage a fake marriage ceremony to soften Yomie's heart and convince her to agree to visit Celwis. However, the elaborate ceremony failed to change Yomie's mind, and she remained determined to attend the Grand Migration. On the way to Shihon, the Agbui's hyperdrive malfunctioned. Haplif went to Yomie's room to apologize for the delay and to inform her that she would only miss a day of the migration at most. He also found her cloud diaries there, believing they could be used to gain insight into her thoughts and feelings. Shimkif also informed Haplif that Jixtus wanted to meet on Shihon to assess their progress and learn about the Chiss.

On Shihon, Haplif met with Jixtus. The Grysk asked Haplif about his impressions of the Grand Migration, and Haplif admitted that he was only there because of their Chiss guests. Jixtus explained that he found the migration fascinating because of the birds' behavior: carnivorous birds surrounded seed-eating birds to protect them from predators. Jixtus likened this to the Chiss Ascendancy and Haplif's mission: the Chiss military protected the Ascendancy from external threats, while the citizens were vulnerable to internal attacks. Haplif provided Jixtus with a datastick containing all the information he had gathered about the Chiss, and Jixtus gave him three weeks to initiate contact with Lakuviv. After considering how to convince Yomie to go to Celwis, Haplif accepted the new timeframe. Jixtus also told Haplif that he needed a navigator for his dealings with Lakuviv, as he did not want the Agbui's current navigator, an Attendant, to be seen by the Chiss. While Jixtus suggested using a Farseeker or a Void Guide, Haplif recommended the Pathfinders. Jixtus agreed, stating that he had a candidate in mind. When Haplif returned to his ship, he discovered that Shimkif had left to "fix their problem."

Three days later, Haplif saw Yomie and Yoponek return to the ship just two hours after leaving for the Migration. Yomie stormed off to her quarters, while Yoponek explained that the Migration had somehow ended early. Haplif, while expressing sympathy, touched Yoponek's temple, sensing concern, frustration, confusion, and relief. Haplif inquired about the possibility of going to Celwis, and Yoponek expressed his support. However, Yomie emerged and suggested attending another, smaller migration on Shihon. Yoponek, Yomie, and Haplif discussed this, with Yoponek trying to persuade his betrothed to be reasonable. Yomie remained firm, but they eventually agreed to spend a few more days on Shihon before heading to Celwis. After the Chiss couple left to eat, Shimkif returned and explained that she had poisoned the ground and disrupted the balance of the Grand Migration beyond repair. Haplif reluctantly told Shimkif that they were going to another migration for the time being, and Shimkif, frustrated, explained that she could not replicate her disruptions on another migration without preparation. However, they decided to find another way to sabotage Yomie's plans. Arriving at the Panopyl Mountains, Shimkif again left the Agbui ship to try to subvert the migration.

Four days into the Panopyl Mountain migration, Haplif grew anxious about failing to meet Jixtus's new deadline. He further encouraged Yoponek to convince Yomie to allow him to go to Celwis and meet with Councilor Lakuviv. When Yoponek mentioned that he could meet with any Xodlak Councilor on various Chiss worlds, Haplif argued that Lakuviv was the only one who oversaw land suitable for Agbui spice cultivation. Yoponek conceded the point. The next day, Haplif again saw Yoponek and Yomie return to the ship just two hours after departing. Yomie was very ill, and Yoponek explained that she wasn't feeling well. As they walked back to the Agbui ship, Yomie lost the ability to walk on her own. Chiss medics arrived and determined that she had been poisoned by the venom of a greenstripe. Defeated, Yomie asked Yoponek and Haplif if they were still planning to leave for Celwis. However, not wanting to pressure her, Haplif postponed the conversation until the next morning. After Yoponek also retired for the night, Shimkif returned and explained that she had been unable to poison the migration but had managed to poison Yomie. The next morning, Haplif greeted Yomie in her room. During their conversation, Yomie leaned back to stretch her spine and neck, and Haplif seized the opportunity to touch her temple with his fingertips. However, he only felt pure anger and hatred. Yomie had successfully tricked Haplif into revealing his telepathic abilities, and despite his attempts to deny it, Yomie was convinced. When she threatened to tell Yoponek, Haplif was left with no choice but to kill Yomie. When Yoponek returned from the migration viewing grounds, Haplif informed him that Yomie had decided to leave until he and the Agbui returned from Celwis. After some convincing from Haplif, Yoponek believed the lie and became enthusiastic about going to Celwis. To reinforce Yoponek's resolve, Haplif gave him Yomie's brooch, claiming it was Yomie's promise that they would be reunited. Six hours after leaving Shihon for Celwis, and while Yoponek was asleep, the Agbui ship disposed of Yomie's body in interstellar space.

Before arriving at Celwis, the Agbui ship rendezvoused with Jixtus, and the two discussed Haplif's progress. A few hours later, Jixtus's recommended pathfinder, Qilori, arrived. Haplif and Jixtus instructed the Pathfinder to accompany a Chiss ship to a world that Haplif would later specify, where he would pretend to have been before and answer any questions asked by the Chiss. Haplif promised Qilori that he would prepare her on how to respond. After being dismissed by Jixtus, Haplif departed for Celwis with Qilori.

Yoponek and Haplif arrived on Celwis and met with Councilor Xodlak'uvi'vil (Lakuviv). During the meeting, Haplif requested a plot of land to cultivate his spices. He also presented Lakuviv with a pair of partially-nyix brooches, hoping that the Xodlak family would recognize the metal and inquire about its origin. Lakuviv and his Senior Aide, Xodlak'ji'iprip (Lakjiip), eventually found a plot of land for the Agbui spices: a small hill on the property of Xodlak yubal rancher, Xodlak'phr'ooa (Lakphro). They also sent the brooches to the Vlidan Labs to determine their composition.

On Sunrise, the Chiss ships Springhawk and Grayshrike, commanded by Senior Captains Mitth'raw'nuruodo (Thrawn) and Xodlak'in'daro (Lakinda), respectively, interrupted a nyix mining operation conducted by the Grysks and the Agbui. To protect the Agbui nyix transport freighter from the Chiss, the Grysk ship HopeBreaker engaged the Chiss ships, suffering significant damage.

At Lakphro's ranch, Haplif grew frustrated by his inability to telepathically touch the rancher. One day, Frosif became frightened by the sound of a brass sealer used by Lakphro's daughter, Lakris (it resembled the sound of the flat-blast artillery shells used in the Sunrise civil war). Haplif reprimanded Frosif for revealing her trauma to the Chiss, but Shimkif defended her daughter. Haplif saw this as an opportunity to manipulate Lakphro. He and Shimkif agreed to give Lakphro's wife, Lakansu, and Lakris a pair of their nyix brooches in an attempt to indirectly appease Lakphro.

Haplif, Shimkif, and Frosif gifted the brooches to Lakansu and Lakris. After the rancher and his family accepted the gifts, Lakphro was contacted by Lakjiip, who wanted to speak with Haplif. Lakjiip informed Haplif that another Agbui ship had entered Celwis space and asked about its purpose. Haplif claimed that they were likely searching for surplus spices and delivering extra metals for Agbui jewelry production. Lakjiip wanted Haplif to travel to Redhill to meet the new arrivals, and Lakphro offered to drive him. Upon arriving at Redhill, Haplif gave the Agbui some of his extra spices and pointed out the apparent battle damage on their ship. In a conversation with Lakuviv, Haplif attributed the damage to pirate attacks. In reality, the damage was intended to trick Lakuviv into offering to escort the Agbui to their next destination, which Haplif revealed to be the world where the blue spirea (nyix) used in the jewelry was mined. This world and its nyix mines were fake, but Haplif hoped that showing Lakuviv the location would inspire him to capture it for the Xodlak family. Lakuviv offered a Xodlak patrol ship to escort the Agbui to the mining world, and Haplif offered the services of his other ship's Pathfinder navigator, Qilori, to the Xodlak.

Qilori accompanied Lakjiip on the escort mission to the fake Agbui mining world of Hoxim, where she became convinced that the nyix mining facilities were genuine. Upon returning to Celwis, Lakjiip informed Lakuviv of the mine's authenticity, and the Councilor invited Haplif to Redhill for another meeting. Haplif took Yoponek to the meeting with Lakuviv, but asked him to wait in the lounge. During the meeting, Haplif answered more questions about the mine and the Agbui's operations on Hoxim. Haplif, seeking to manipulate Lakuviv into sending a Xodlak defense force to Hoxim, shifted the conversation to the topic of Agbui pirate attacks. Lakuviv agreed to defend the Agbui and expressed his belief that he could bypass the Xodlak Patriel on Celwis, Xodlak'oo'nifis (Lakooni), whom he distrusted, and go directly to the Xodlak Patriarch. Haplif waited in the lounge with Yoponek while Lakuviv made the necessary calls to the Xodlak Patriarch's office. He was denied by the Patriarch's third aide, however, forcing him to contact Patriel Lakooni. After persuading her to come to Redhill, Lakuviv informed Haplif and Yoponek of the situation, and the group discussed their next steps. Lakuviv explained that once he and Lakooni went to the Patriarch, Xodlak reservists would likely be called to staff the Xodlak warships. Yoponek, noting that this process would be slow, recommended using the Chiss family emergencies protocol. He explained that any family had the right to call upon any active-duty Defense Force or Expansionary Defense Fleet personnel to staff their family warships and that only a Patriel, not the Patriarch, was needed. Lakuviv, thanking Yoponek for the suggestion, sent him and Haplif back to Lakphro's ranch.

Concurrently, two other Chiss families, the Erighal and Pommrio, were manipulated into claiming the supposed mine.

As the Xodlak mission to capture Hoxim commenced, Haplif and the Agbui prepared to leave Celwis. However, before he could board the ship, Haplif was confronted by Lakphro, who revealed his knowledge of the Agbui's malicious intentions and manipulations of the Xodlak. Haplif decided to kill Lakphro, but the rancher defended himself with one of his growzers. Lakphro zipped his jacket's brass sealer, and the growzer clamped its teeth into Haplif's arm as he tried to strangle the rancher. When Haplif attempted to swing the growzer to hit one of Lakphro's electric-jolt luresticks, the growzer reflexively tightened its grip on his arm, causing him to fall to the ground in agony. As he slowly died, Haplif saw the Agbui ship departing without him, leading him to believe that Shimkif had decided to abandon him. He died confident that his manipulations of the Chiss had been successful. However, his plans to pit the Xodlak, Erighal, and Pommrio families against each other were foiled by Thrawn, Lakinda, and the Grayshrike's first commander, Mid Captain Csap'ro'strob (Apros). They prevented the families from fighting by staging a fake attack on the Springhawk. During this attack, the fake nyix mine on Hoxim was destroyed, preventing any of the families from claiming it.

Haplif possessed immense confidence, bordering on arrogance, in his capabilities. He abhorred leaving any task unfinished, even the "mop-up" work. While he reveled in large-scale destruction, he disliked personally killing others, as his telepathic sense of touch caused him intense unpleasant sensations.

Haplif often projected an image of humor and cheerfulness, while secretly considering many of those he interacted with to be foolish, dull, or privileged. Although he yearned to complete his mission and return to his unspecified home, he found satisfaction in dying, believing that his plot against the Chiss would succeed.

Haplif and other Agbui possessed a limited form of telepathy that relied on physical contact with other sentient beings. Haplif claimed to be particularly gifted with this ability, which he asserted allowed him to understand, manipulate, and even destroy entire species. He took pride in using his knowledge of others' desires and motivations to manipulate them, likening this knowledge to possessing a "handle" on an ax that he could wield for his own purposes.

Due to Haplif's exceptional interpersonal and manipulation skills, Jixtus entrusted him with interacting with the Chiss and studying their culture, placing him in charge of the fifty Agbui "cultural nomads" in his traveling group. While Shimkif also possessed touch-based telepathy, she was more skilled in administration but less adept at manipulating people. Consequently, she was responsible for maintaining the Agbui starship and crew, while Haplif was tasked with manipulating the Chiss.

Haplif of the Agbui made his debut in the 2021 novel Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good by Timothy Zahn, where he served as the primary antagonist and a significant point-of-view character.