Carth Onasi

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Carth Onasi was a loyal soldier and an expert pilot in the Republic Naval Starfighter Corps. He served in the Mandalorian Wars, and after the war's end, planned to leave the service and return to his wife and son on Telos IV. However, tragedy struck and put an end to those plans when Revan and Malak turned on the Republic. During the war that followed, his wife was killed and his son abducted by the Sith in an attack commanded by his former mentor, Admiral Saul Karath.

During the Jedi Civil War, he played a crucial role in the search for the Star Forge, helping the reprogrammed Revan save Bastila Shan on Taris and piloting Revan and Shan across the galaxy in the Ebon Hawk. After the Battle of Rakata Prime, Carth was made an admiral in the Republic Navy and took a leading role in the Republic recovery effort, following Revan's orders to protect the Republic.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Mandalorian Wars 1.2 Jedi Civil War 1.2.1 Revenge 1.2.2 The Star Forge 1.3 The recovering Republic 2 Personality and traits 2.1 Abilities 2.2 Carth's Blaster 3 Behind the scenes 3.1 Video games 3.2 Alternate choices 3.3 Force sensitivity 3.4 Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords 3.5 Comics 4 Appearances 5 Sources 6 Notes and references

Biography

Mandalorian Wars

Carth lived on his homeworld of Telos IV, a planet in the Outer Rim, with his wife, Morgana, and son, Dustil.^[2] He served in the planetary militia and later in the Republic Navy, where one of his first posts was in an orbital watchstation over Serroco.^[3]

In 3,964 BBY, he served aboard the Courageous as a helmsman^[4] and was promoted to Lieutenant. At this point he was widely referred to by a pilot nickname, Fleet.^[3] He participated in several battles, including the Battles of Vanquo and Serroco, where he met the fugitive Padawan Zayne Carrick, disguised as a janitor named Shad Camper.^[3]

The pair would later meet up again when "Shad Camper" stowed aboard Carth's cargo ship. Carrick asked Carth to bring him to Admiral Karath due to a vision he had had of the Mandalorians attacking Serroco. At first, Carth believed him to be a lunatic. But after Zayne demonstrated that he was in fact a Jedi, Carth agreed to take him to Karath, though admitted they might get themselves killed for interrupting the admiral during battle preparations.^[5]

Carth brought him to Admiral Karath on the bridge of the Courageous. Karath was impressed with Carth, not for returning Shad Camper, but for bringing him the fugitive Zayne Carrick. As Zayne protested his innocence of the Padawan Massacre of Taris, Karath ordered Carth to inform the Jedi Crusaders of Zayne's capture. Instead, Carth attempted to contact a Jedi named Squint, whom Zayne said could prove his innocence. Despite being unable to make contact with Squint who was on a mission elsewhere, and so with his doubts as to Zayne's innocence, Carth nevertheless believed his story of the vision of the destruction of the Stereb cities. As such, Carth contacted seventeen cities on the planets surface to set off tornado alarms—hoping to drive anyone into underground shelters. Sure enough, Zayne's vision came true when the Mandalorians launched nuclear missiles and killed thousands on Serroco.^[5]

When Zayne was sealed in cell, Carth paid him a visit and informed him of the possibility of survival on the surface.^[5] However, the Courageous came under attack by the Mandalorians. While the rest of the crew was ordered to evacuate, Carth, Admiral Saul Karath and other Republic forces made their stand on the vessel as Mandalorian shock troopers boarded it. Backed into the brig, Karath ordered for Zayne Carrick's cell to opened to acquire his lightsaber, to cut into the cargo bays. However, his lightsaber was kept on board Carth's ship, the Deadweight. Fortunately, for days, Zayne had been prying out the bolts on the walls with the Force. Karath reluctantly took Zayne with them as they fled the Courageous on the Deadweight.^[6]

Shortly after escaping from the Mandalorians, the Deadweight received a transmission from Eejee, Arkoh Adasca's servant, requesting Karath's presence at a meeting onboard the Arkanian Legacy. After being informed about the Exogorths Karath quickly redirected the ship to the Legacy. Carth accompanied Karath, Morris, and Zayne onto Adasca's ship, and was just as shocked as his superiors at the arrival of the Mandalore.^[7]

Disgusted at what he witnessed, as the exogorths were tested before Saul Karath and Mandalore the Ultimate, Carth Onasi excused himself to the Deadweight.^[8] However, Carth only visited it to grab Zayne Carrick's gear and lightsaber. Carth returned his gear to Zayne when he discovered Zayne, Lucien Draay and piles of broken HK-24 units. Zayne came up with a plan stop Adasca. The plan would trick Mandalore the Ultimate into thinking Adasca had lured him into a trap. Zayne, disguised as a Mandalorian, shoved Carth upon their return to the observatory, creating a distraction for Zayne to get close enough to Mandalore and Adasca. Lucien revealed himself and with the thought that Adasca betrayed him, Mandalore and his warriors opened fire on the Jedi and Adasca's HK-24 units. During the brawl, the elderly scientist, Gorman Vandrayk, seized control of the exogorths and plunged them into the Arkanian Legacy observatory, killing Arkoh Adasca. Carth, Zayne and the Jedi managed to escape although Mandalore had also escaped to his shuttle. During the fight, Saul Karath was injured and needed to be carried back to the Deadweight, Morvis commanded Onasi to take Zayne. However, Carth did not view Zayne as an enemy and allowed him to go free, bidding him farewell. Karath, Onasi, and Morvis successfully escaped the crumbling ship in the Deadweight and later reported to the Republic on the events on the Legacy.^[9]

Despite the successful escape Carth was removed from his bridge post for "losing" Zayne Carrick on the Arkanian Legacy. He was reassigned to the Lance Squadron, whose Aurek fighters were preventing Zayne Carrick from reaching Coruscant several months later. When Moomo Williwaw entered the Coruscant space, the squadron moved to intercept. Carth demanded the ship to identify itself only to find that "Shad Camper" was indeed on board. Not being able to let Zayne escape again, he commanded the squadron to intercept the intruder. ^[10]

Jedi Civil War

Shortly after the conclusion of the Mandalorian Wars, the former Republic hero Revan returned with a Sith armada to battle the Republic.^[11] Soon the legions of Sith forces were joined by traitorous Republic servicemen; among these defectors one name stood out to Carth from the rest: Admiral Saul Karath.^[12]

Carth viewed Saul as a mentor and hero and so he was devastated when, in a test of his Sith allegiance, Revan's apprentice Darth Malak ordered Saul to bomb Telos, due to its strategic significance to the Republic. Upon hearing the news, Carth rushed back to his home planet but was too late to save his wife, who died in his arms. To add to his emotional pain, his son had disappeared, and though Carth searched for him, he eventually came to the conclusion that Dustil was dead. These events deeply affected Carth, who from that point onwards, resolved never to trust anybody, lest he suffer betrayal again. He swore that if he ever had the opportunity, he would kill Saul Karath for what he had done.^[13]

Carth eventually found himself on board the Endar Spire as mostly an advisor, carrying Bastila Shan, a Jedi whose abilities were vital to the success of the war effort. However, the ship was attacked and boarded by Sith forces over the Outer Rim world of Taris. When Bastila and the remainder of the crew abandoned ship, Carth remained behind to wait for and help survivors; however, there remained only one lone Republic soldier. The pair then took the last escape pod and crash-landed onto the planet below.^[11]

The other soldier was in fact Revan, though mentally reprogrammed by the Jedi Council and using a different name.^[14] Revan was knocked out in the escape pod's rough landing, and Carth had to care for him for some time before he recovered consciousness.^[15] When Revan came around, they began exploring Taris, searching for information concerning Bastila's whereabouts. They learned of other escape pods that had crashed in the Undercity, and struck a bargain with Gadon Thek, the leader of the Hidden Beks swoop gang.^[16] Successfully rescuing Bastila, as well as picking up a street urchin known as Mission Vao and a Wookiee named Zaalbar, the group worked to find a way off-planet, which came in the form of the starship known as the Ebon Hawk. The Ebon Hawk was held by local crime lord Davik Kang, and the group recruited the aid of the Mandalorian Canderous Ordo to steal it. They also required clearance codes to escape from Taris, and so three of the group broke into the local Sith base and obtained the codes. Retrieving the remaining members, they made it past the Sith blockade and escaped Taris.^[17]

Upon their escape from the Sith bombardment of Taris, Carth became pilot of the newly-acquired Ebon Hawk, which the group then used to reach the Jedi Enclave on Dantooine.^[18] As Bastila discussed the matter of their Force-sensitive companion with the Dantooine Council, Carth expressed his disgruntlement with being "left out of the loop". Eventually it was decided to train Revan, who had no knowledge of his former identity, as a Jedi. Shortly afterward, the Council gave Bastila and the new Jedi Padawan an assignment to discover the location of the Star Forge—an assignment Carth begrudgingly assisted them with, despite feeling he could be doing more good on the front lines.^[19]

The journey for the Star Forge took the crew of the Ebon Hawk to the planets Tatooine, Kashyyyk, Manaan and Korriban. On these four planets, the group searched for ancient artifacts known as Star Maps. Carth grew suspicious of Revan's presence with them, wondering why the Jedi Council would send a neophyte Padawan along with them on their quest. Carth eventually demanded that Revan tell him what the Jedi Council had told him—something Bastila refused herself to do. Revan did inform Carth of the Force bond he and Bastila shared. However Carth did not believe that was the only reason why Revan was with them—still unaware of Revan's true identity as the former Dark Lord, the true reason behind Revan's presence.^[20]

Revenge

Eventually the ever-growing group was seized by the Leviathan, Saul Karath's vessel. At last Carth found himself face to face with the admiral, yet a force-cage barred his path to revenge. Karath interrogated the group, and tortured all of them when Revan refused to divulge any information. Faced with unfaltering resistance, Karath eventually gave up and left them in their cages–but not before giving them all a strong dose of "Sith mercy".^[21]

The resourceful team soon escaped imprisonment with the assistance of a decoy member of the party, and Carth, Revan, and Bastila set out to free the Ebon Hawk from the docking bay. On the bridge, they faced Saul Karath, allowing Carth to finally exact his revenge, though Revan counseled him to avoid giving in to his hatred. Regardless, Karath was mortally wounded, and in his final moments, revealed a horrible truth to Carth: that his mysterious companion was none other than the amnesiac Revan, former Dark Lord of the Sith.^[22] Devastated, Carth reluctantly accepted the judgment of the other party members to continue the quest, but still watched Revan, whom he had so recently began to actually trust, for any sign of a fall.^[23] Eventually, he admitted that while he wanted to blame Revan for his losses, he could not bring himself to hate him. Carth confessed that he had exacted his revenge when Saul Karath was killed, but it did not bring him peace. He then offered Revan his loyalty, along with a promise that, if necessary, he would save Revan from himself.^[24]

During their travels, Carth also encountered his lost son, Dustil, on the Sith planet of Korriban.^[25] He was again forced to confront his hatred of the Sith when it was revealed that his son had joined them, blaming his father for failing to protect the family. After finding proof that the Sith had lied to Dustil about the death of a classmate, Revan and Carth were finally able to convince the boy of the evils of the Sith, and Carth was relieved when his son abandoned the dark side. Dustil told his father that he would meet him on Telos later, and there they could begin to repair their relationship.^[26]

The Star Forge

After finding Star Maps on Tatooine, Manaan, Dantooine, Kashyyyk, and Korriban, Revan's crew followed the combined coordinates to the location of the Star Forge. Carth sent word to the Republic fleet, but before they could prepare a plan of attack, a disruptor field around the planet that the Star Forge was orbiting brought the Ebon Hawk crashing down toward the planet's surface.^[27]

Carth managed to land the ship on a beach, but its stabilizers were badly damaged. While Revan, Juhani, and Jolee Bindo set off to disable the disruptor field, Carth made repairs to the Ebon Hawk. When Revan returned, Carth was thrilled to hear that he had rejected the dark side once and for all. With renewed determination, the crew set off for the Star Forge.^[28]

Carth played a role in the battle that erupted next, as the Republic fleet arrived to attack the Star Forge. Amidst the chaos, Carth docked the Ebon Hawk on the Sith factory, allowing Revan to defeat Darth Malak and turn the battle in the Republic's favor. He then piloted the ship and all its crew off the factory, just before the Republic fleet sent it crashing into the sun below.^[29]

For his part in the defeat of the Sith forces, Carth (along with Revan and the rest of his companions) was awarded the Cross of Glory.^[30]

The recovering Republic

Some time after playing a part in the Battle of Rakata Prime, Carth was made an admiral in the Republic fleet.^[31] As Revan departed for the Unknown Regions to defeat the True Sith, he tasked Carth with keeping the Republic strong.^[32] Carth would later be involved in bringing the Jedi Exile back into known space onboard the Harbinger, and having her transported to Telos with the greatest urgency.^[33] When the Exile was "detained" at Citadel Station until the Sojourn arrived but left for the planet surface, Carth told Grenn that the Republic only wants to observe the Exile, not detain her.

Carth was later forced to carry out his orders, and also to face up to his past, as the Sith attacked Telos for a second time; this time under the command of Darth Nihilus. Carth swore that he would not see Telos devastated again as he led the Republic fleet into combat and successfully fended off the fleet.^[34] Soon after the battle, Carth requested an audience with the hero of the battle, the Jedi Exile, who had sabotaged the Sith flagship Ravager and killed Nihilus. Wishing the Exile a safe journey, he asked her to look for Revan in the Unknown Regions, and, should she find Revan, to pass along a short message: "Simply tell him that Admiral Onasi is following his orders."^[32]

Personality and traits

Carth's foremost trait was his loyalty, a loyalty that dedicated him to the Republic and its ideals above everything else. A very close second was his family, who were "everything" to him. Even four years after being widowed by the Telos bombing, he was still unable to let go of his wife's memory, something he continued to cherish.^[2] Years later, he faithfully followed Revan's orders to serve the Republic, even though he had not heard anything from Revan since their adventure years before.^[32]

Because his loyalty towards Saul Karath was answered by such devastating betrayal, he had begun to expect the worst from everyone.^[12] It was only with great patience on Revan's part that he was able to gain Carth's trust. In the end, Revan proved to be Carth's ultimate test. He had little choice but to trust the very person he blamed above even Saul for the destruction of Telos and the troubles of his beloved Republic. When Revan made the final choice to turn away from the dark side, no one was happier to hear it than Carth.^[2]

After the destruction of Telos, Carth believed he had nothing left and devoted himself to the fleet, claiming that "Hunting Saul was my only purpose." However, after killing his nemesis, Carth found that he was still not at peace with himself and his past.^[22] Even when he discovered his companion's true identity as Revan, he found himself unable to hate him, taking it upon himself to act as Revan's conscience and as the voice of the Republic. This forgiveness was, in the end, that which brought him peace.^[24]

Abilities

Carth was a dedicated soldier and a cunning tactician, able to efficiently and expertly handle a variety of weapons, but blaster pistols were his specialty. He was a quick draw, and also skilled in dual weapon fighting.^[2]

Trask Ulgo described Carth as "one of the Republic's best pilots."^[13] During his travels with Revan, Carth proved his skill in flying when he flew the Ebon Hawk across the galaxy.^[2] Close encounters that demonstrated his skill included piloting the Ebon Hawk out of the Sith orbital bombardment of Taris, landing the Hawk safely on the surface of Lehon when its stabilizers were fried, and penetrating the Sith fleet surrounding the Star Forge with only a light starfighter escort. Carth also demonstrated some mechanical aptitude, as when he pinpointed the problems with the Hawk after the Lehon landing and later repaired the ship.^[35]

Carth's Blaster

Carth carried a modified blaster pistol based on an Arkanian design, upgraded with more modern Republic technology. It bore his family symbol, making it immediately recognizable. He also carried a second blaster pistol, but unlike his primary weapon, it was simply a standard Republic model.^[2]

In her journeys, the Jedi Exile came in possession of a blaster pistol that bore the Onasi family symbol. It is likely that Carth lost the pistol sometime after his adventures with Revan, although it is possible that this was simply a replica, or a weapon belonging to some other member of the Onasi family.^[36]

Behind the scenes

Video games

Carth was voiced by Raphael Sbarge in both Knights of the Old Republic games. Occasionally his name was misspelled as "Carth Onassi" in the player-character's dialogue texts.^[2][36]

While a name for Carth's deceased wife is not in the game files, David Gaider, BioWare's writer for the character, gave her name as "Morgana."^[37]

Alternate choices

If the player decides to reassume the title of Dark Lord of the Sith via the non-canonical ending of the game, Carth flees away in terror when he is told of the change on Lehon. Consequently, he does not appear in the sequel if the player says that Revan followed the dark side, being replaced by Admiral Cede. With the Ebon Hawk gone, Carth's only conceivable means of escape would be Bastila's shuttle as it is not used in this ending.^[2]

Just as the male Revan can engage in a romantic sub-plot with Bastila, the female Revan can with Carth, and if the player sets Revan as a light-sided female in Knights of the Old Republic II, then Carth will express his feelings for Revan to the Exile. Also, Darth Traya will comment that "it would have helped had she made him understand, but a hero of the Republic, no matter how brave, cannot understand war as Revan did".^[2] Also, Carth originally had alternate lines for his devastation in finding out who Revan is if the player is female and has romanced Carth up to that point.^[38] If the player has both romanced Carth and turned to the dark side, then the player will have the option of killing Carth herself or have Bastila finish it. In a cut-scene that did not make it to the final game, Revan had a third option to kill Bastila and die aboard the Star Forge with Carth. It was not placed in the final version because the developers did not have enough time for finishing the game.^[38]

Force sensitivity

On several occasions in the game, Carth has demonstrated an uncanny intuition. He tells Revan that "Someday, you'll have to make a choice… and there won't be any going back." He also voices his suspicion that the Jedi Council was hiding a secret (if Revan is female). "I don't know why, but I think some terrible fate is waiting for you. I think the Jedi Council knows it, too… Something isn't right. I blamed it on you, before, but I… I think the Jedi didn't tell us everything." Likewise, he also insists to the Exile that he "would know" if Revan were dead. He is also able to not only see, but understand the ghost of Ajunta Pall. Added to the fact the only other two survivors of the Endar Spire were Jedi, and the fact his son became a Sith Acolyte.^[2]

Surprisingly, Carth and Mission Vao, not the Jedi party members, are set at the highest alignment score (75).^[2]

Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

If the Exile has enough influence with HK-47, then the droid will make a verbal mockery of Carth, based on Carth's distrust of people in the original game:^[36]

If Revan is set as light side, and a male Exile is played, then Mical is established as reporting directly to Carth. In cut content of the game however, if the Exile is a female, then later in the game, Mical would report to Carth Onasi again revealing that he has found that which hunts the Jedi and informs Carth on the impending attack on Telos.^[36]

Comics

According to John Jackson Miller, the bearded man in a helmet depicted on the bridge of the Courageous in issue 8 was not actually meant to be Carth; Dustin Weaver was not told to draw anyone specific, so he based the man's appearance on Miller himself. However, the writer now considers it the first appearance of Carth in the comic series.^[39]

Appearances

• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 8: Flashpoint, Part 2 (Retcon)
• The Admiral's List: Jimas Veltraa Memorial Edition (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 14: Days of Fear, Part 2
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 15: Days of Fear, Part 3
• The Admiral's List: Remember Serroco! Edition (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 17: Nights of Anger, Part 2
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 18: Nights of Anger, Part 3
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic: Daze of Hate
• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 31: Turnabout
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (First appearance)
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Sources

•  Carth Onasi in the Databank
• Knights of the Old Republic: Prima's Official Strategy Guide
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Handbook

Notes and references

The companions of Revan

Bastila Shan Canderous Ordo Carth Onasi HK-47 Jolee Bindo Juhani Mission Vao T3-M4 Zaalbar