Captain Sankaran, a member of the Imperial forces, was a gaunt figure. His once dark hair was now gray and closely cropped, contrasting with the dark mustache that extended down past the corners of his mouth, reaching his jawline.
Eight months following the Battle of Yavin, he was stationed on the Star Destroyer named Reprisal, occupying a significant position under the command of Commander Demmings.
During this period, Sankaran seemed perplexed by a string of failures related to the Reprisal's gunnery while the vessel operated under the direct orders of Lord Darth Vader. It was later discovered that Lieutenant Garil Dox was responsible for this sabotage. It's possible that Sankaran, along with Vader and Demmings, was aware of his subordinate's betrayal from the beginning.
Sankaran's rank was that of captain, but his specific role remains uncertain. It's unclear if he held a senior command position within the Imperial Navy, which would make him Demmings' second-in-command, or if his rank was the lower designation used by branches such as the Imperial Army and the Stormtrooper Corps.
The treachery of Garil Dox, a native of Alderaan working in Reprisal's gunnery division, is the central plot point of A Model Officer. Sankaran is clearly Dox's direct supervisor, and his main function in the story is to act as a liaison between the crew pit and Commander Demmings, who serves as the Star Destroyer's captain. However, Demmings' rank most likely exceeds that of Captain of the Line, and it's not unheard of for high-ranking personnel to position themselves within the crew pits, as Sankaran does here. Therefore, without definitive proof, it's impossible to determine his exact rank and responsibilities.