A co-pilot, identified as a male human, served the Galactic Empire. He was stationed on the DS-1 Death Star Mobile Battle Station during the destruction of the planet Alderaan in 0 BBY. Following the Empire's fragmentation, he became part of a remnant under the command of Moff Gideon. Around 9 ABY, while transporting Doctor Penn Pershing aboard the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle designated Shuttle 2743, he and the primary pilot were pursued by the Firespray-31-class patrol and attack craft Slave I.
Slave I successfully disabled the shuttle, attaching itself via clamps. Din Djarin, the Mandalorian, boarded the vessel. The co-pilot threatened Pershing with a blaster, and fatally shot the other pilot when he tried to de-escalate the situation. Subsequently, he provoked Cara Dune, the marshal and survivor of Alderaan, leading her to shoot and kill him.
During the time of the [Galactic Empire](/article/galactic_empire], this Imperial pilot was a member of the crew aboard the DS-1 Death Star Mobile Battle Station. He was present when the Death Star carried out the destruction of the planet Alderaan in 0 BBY. Later that year, the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star, and its successor, the DS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station, suffered a similar fate in 4 ABY. Following the Empire's collapse into various factions, the co-pilot joined a group led by Imperial Moff Gideon by 9 ABY, during the reign of the New Republic, which was formed by the Alliance.
In that year, the Imperial served as the co-pilot of the Lambda-class T-4a shuttle designated Shuttle 2743. He worked alongside another pilot on a mission to ferrying Doctor Penn Pershing, an Imperial scientist and clone engineer, to Gideon's light cruiser. However, the Firespray-31-class patrol and attack craft Slave I pursued them, chasing the shuttle through space. Despite the pilots' attempts to evade, the Firespray continued to close in. Pershing inquired about the situation, but the co-pilot instructed him to remain silent. As the pilots maneuvered to avoid the Slave I, the attack craft disabled Shuttle 2743 using an Ion cannon. The pilots quickly removed their hands from the controls to avoid electrocution from the resulting power surge. The other pilot began assessing the damage to the shuttle's systems, and Boba Fett, the pilot of the Slave I, ordered the disabling of Shuttle 2743's shields and transponders, warning of an imminent boarding party.
Pershing, assuming they were being attacked by pirates, asked if they should fight back, a request the co-pilot dismissed as he complied with Fett's demands, retracting the shuttle's wings to allow the Slave I to dock. The Firespray then moved above Shuttle 2743's cockpit and attached itself. Shortly after, Din Djarin, the Mandalorian, entered the cockpit with his blaster drawn. The co-pilot and his comrades rose from their seats, the other two raising their hands in surrender. The shuttle co-pilot introduced Pershing to Djarin, who was already acquainted with the doctor. As the Mandalorian spoke with Pershing, the co-pilot held his SE-14r light repeating blaster to Pershing's head. Cara Dune, the New Republic marshal, joined Djarin, and the co-pilot ordered her to stay back, glaring at her.
The other pilot attempted to resolve the situation, stating that he did not support his comrade's actions, but the shuttle co-pilot immediately shot him, killing him and scanning the room. Dune demanded that the co-pilot drop his weapon, but the Imperial refused and explained the importance of keeping Pershing alive. He then noticed a tear tattoo on the marshal, recognizing her as an Alderaanian and taunting her about the destruction of her homeworld. When he dismissed the deaths of millions on both Death Stars, Dune reiterated her demand to drop his blaster, but he continued, calling the destruction of Alderaan a necessary sacrifice against "terrorism." The marshal then shot him in the face, and she and her companions used the shuttle to infiltrate Gideon's cruiser.
The Imperial shuttle co-pilot was a human male with fair skin and brown eyes. He was a staunch loyalist to the Empire, believing the destruction of Alderaan and its population was justified to eliminate "terrorism," but considered the destruction of both Death Stars unforgivable war crimes. The co-pilot silenced Pershing when the doctor questioned the situation during Shuttle 2743's pursuit. When the doctor suggested fighting back against the attackers, the co-pilot replied that he did not wish to die.
Upon Djarin's arrival, the co-pilot was the only Imperial on the shuttle who did not surrender, instead using Pershing as leverage, emphasizing the doctor's value. His refusal to comply with the boarding party led him to murder his fellow pilot when the man attempted to negotiate with the intruders. The co-pilot identified Cara Dune as a rebel dropper and an Alderaanian from her tear drop tattoo, smiling as he pointed it out. He taunted her about the destruction of her homeworld despite her warnings, laughing mockingly when she asked which Death Star he served on. The Imperial's persistence ultimately resulted in his demise.
The co-pilot donned a black flight suit adorned with the Imperial crest on the shoulders. He also wore an aviator hat equipped with a built-in comlink and black gloves. The co-pilot carried an SE-14r light repeating blaster, which he used to threaten Pershing.
The Imperial shuttle co-pilot made an appearance in "Chapter 16: The Rescue" of The Mandalorian, a Disney+ television series from 2019 created by Jon Favreau. The episode was directed by Peyton Reed and released on December 18, 2020. Thomas E. Sullivan played the character, credited as "Co-Pilot."