Garik Loran

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Garik "Face" Loran was an Imperial holovid child star. Later in life, Loran escaped the Empire and had a change of heart, joining the Rebel Alliance and serving as a starfighter pilot. After a rather unimpressive career, Loran was recruited into Wraith Squadron by Wedge Antilles. Face flourished in the Wraiths, using his skills and talents at acting to help destroy the Implacable and the Razor's Kiss through unorthodox schemes such as posing as General Kargin, the leader of the Hawk-bat Independent Space Force. He eventually was promoted to captain and became the commander of the Wraiths after Wedge transferred back to Rogue Squadron.

When the New Republic Intelligence Service took over Wraith Squadron, Loran followed the unit over to Intelligence. Loran served as commander of the Wraiths for many years, including through the entire Yuuzhan Vong War. He helped defend Borleias and infiltrate occupied Coruscant, along with Luke Skywalker, Mara Jade Skywalker, Tahiri Veila, and Danni Quee, the latter mission resulting in the successful elimination of the dangerous Dark Jedi Lord Nyax before the Dark Jedi could escape from the planet.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Childhood and early career 1.2 Wraith Squadron 1.2.1 Charade 1.2.2 Trapping the Implacable 1.2.3 Return to action 1.2.4 Pirate Captain 1.2.5 Meeting with Zsinj 1.2.6 Hunting a warlord 1.2.7 Showdown 1.3 Yuuzhan Vong Invasion 2 Personality and traits 3 Relationships 3.1 Dia Passik 4 Behind the scenes 5 Appearances 6 Sources 7 Notes and references 8 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Childhood and early career

A Pantolomin native of Lorrdian heritage, as a child Loran made thinly-veiled Imperial propaganda holodramas such as The Black Bantha, Jungle Flutes, and Win or Die—becoming in many ways the galaxywide poster child for Imperial recruitment. Sometime in his childhood acting career, Loran acquired the moniker "Face" for his comely appearance and it stuck with him the rest of his life. Kidnapped by an extremist cell that had been kicked out of the Rebel Alliance, his face was scarred when Imperial stormtroopers massacred his kidnappers in a rescue attempt. However, before his captors were killed, they gave him a thorough briefing in the atrocities committed by the Empire and Imperial Intelligence as a precursor to his planned execution. Loran used this occasion to disappear, leaving his fans to believe that he had died in the fight. His supposed death was used by the Empire to sully the image of the New Republic by blaming them for his death. Face did decide to leave the scar, though, seeing it as a reminder of how much he had helped the Imperial cause.^[2] After the encounter, Face quietly returned to his home on Pantolomin, where his parents later sent him to Lorrd, their homeworld, while publicly maintaining the death of the famous holostar.^[1]

As a youth on Lorrd, he took the alias of Kal zet Berri and was taken in by the governor of Lorrd, Zenobia le Ingiana, as a favor to Loran's parents. He attended the Sebs Jemas Flight School in Lorrd City and was already considering joining the Rebel Alliance. During his stay on Lorrd, he occasionally visited a starship dealership in the city of Qatamer, Hart and Parn Starships, as he was interested in starfighters. On one such visit, Loran climbed into an R-22 Spearhead starfighter and played a trick on a pair of nearby children about his age, Zak and Tash Arranda, by activating the starfighter's targeting system, scaring them. He then climbed out of the starfighter and introduced himself to them, though shortly thereafter, the three were escorted from the premises due to Loran's shenanigans. As it turned out, the Arrandas were staying with the governor as well, so the three youths were able to spend time together. Later, Loran showed the two Arrandas around Qatamer, pointing out sights and locations of interest. He also helped them play a joke on their uncle by imitating Tash's voice.^[5]

Not long thereafter, the Arrandas uncovered an Imperial plot to unleash buried ancient weapons on Lorrd. After being captured, they were able to escape and foil the Imperial plot, but the last Imperial agent, Raygar, attempted to destroy them with a thermal detonator. "Borrowing" the R-22 from Hart and Parn's lot, Loran flew to the rescue and saved both the Arrandas, but damaged the starship in the process. He was unconcerned by the damage, though, and wondered if the proprietor, Hart-and-Parn Gorra-Fiolla, would let him buy the ship instead. He also revealed his true identity to the Arrandas before they departed with their uncle, Mammon Hoole.^[5]

Upon reaching maturity, Loran used his own money to purchase his own 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 bought an X-wing "for variety" but ended up at the same base Crespin commanded. He had a brief relationship with a female lieutenant at the Academy which included him being locked out of his quarters naked as a practical joke. Though Loran played off the joke, he was still written up and had to clean everyone's boots for graduation. The actor was a poor fit in the disciplined life of military command and charges of insubordination dogged his career. In truth, Loran despised himself for furthering the Imperial cause and projected his own self-loathing towards authority of any kind.^[2]

[edit] Wraith Squadron

In 7 ABY Loran found a last chance as New Republic starfighter heroes Wedge Antilles and Wes Janson began building the starfighter-commando hybrid squad for misfits and washouts that would become known as Wraith Squadron at Folor Base. After the squad was assembled, Flight Officer Loran earned the designation Wraith Eight. He quickly became friends with his wingman Ton Phanan, a medical doctor who was almost as bitter as Loran was.^[2]

[edit] Charade

When Apwar Trigit arrived over Folor, Loran helped sound the alarm, and participated in the subsequent ambush against Trigit's TIE Fighters that he sent against the base. Loran, who already had four kills to his name, scored two more, becoming an ace in his first engagement with the Wraiths. The Wraiths, who had avoided any 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 the midst of an asteroid field. With one X-wing permanently disabled and hostiles likely to show up soon, Face suggested leaving the craft behind with a pilot in a jury-rigged pilot's chair with a laser rifle. When their attackers pulled in the debris from the attack, the pilot could protect himself. The idea evolved until they had left Voort saBinring in a shielded compartment pulled from their shuttle with a small repulsorlift and a stripped-down laser cannon. When the corvette Night Caller arrived, Voort (also known as Piggy) 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 Wedge 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.^[2]

Face, with his talents in acting and disguise, posed as both Lieutenant Narol (with the aid of some impromptu prosthetics for a disguise) and Captain Zurel Darillian. The Wraiths visited Viamarr 4, where Face had his first performance and was able to learn that Zsinj was setting up businesses under fake names on signatory worlds to generate resources and income. The deception became more complex when Jesmin Ackbar and Grinder used Darillian's holo-recorded diary to generate an overlay of Darillian over Face, generating a life-like holograph of the captain over Face's words and movements. The Night Caller's next visit was to Xartun, where Face revealed the location of a transparisteel manufacturing plant, which the other Wraiths later blew up after the disguised Face left. Face also helped fight against a group of pirates on M2398 after negotiations soured, delivering the eulogy of Jesmin Ackbar after she was slain in combat.^[2]

Shortly afterwards, Face 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 snap out of the catatonia brought upon him by the destruction of Talon Squadron in an Imperial trap. The next day, Face had his first conversation as Darillian with Zsinj via holocomm. The warlord instructed him to aid Apwar Trigit in finishing off the survivors of Folor Base—ironically, Face was one of those survivors. Zsinj also instructed them to rendezvous with a supply ship. To avert having to let the crewmen onto their ship, Face and the other Wraiths conducted a mission to Storinal to steal biological agents and TIE fighters, where Face 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.^[2]

[edit] Trapping the Implacable

After a quick raid on Todirium in the Night Caller, Trigit instructed "Darillian" to meet him to attack Talasea, where Rebel forces were believed to be congregating. Arriving in-system, the Wraiths realized that Trigit had figured out 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, Face invented a tactic that came to be 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. Face was heading towards his fighter when Night Caller took a hit that destroyed the bridge, leaving Face to take over the ship from the auxiliary bridge. The Wraiths defeated the two other ships in the following engagement, and Face was promoted to lieutenant for his actions.^[2]

Following a hasty refit, the Night Caller headed out to again try and trap the Implacable. Face convinced both Zsinj and Trigit that they had barely escaped an ambush and that they should attack the Rebels at Ession. Upon their arrival in that system, Face had to give another improvised performance, almost blowing his assumed identity when Admiral Trigit discovered he was unfamiliar with the Imperial Intelligence term "follow best". However, Face recovered and managed to continue to successfully use to Darillian disguise long enough for the battle to begin.^[2]

In the Battle of Ession, Face flew in his X-wing with the Wraiths and the Night Caller against Zsinj, with the aid of 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 Wedge put the ship into a dust cloud on Ession's moon, hiding it from the Star Destroyer. After a long engagement, the Wraiths destroyed the Implacable, though they lost Grinder and Falynn Sandskimmer and several pilots were forced to eject. For his part, Face scored kills on the Implacable's TIEs and also helped torpedo the Destroyer. After the battle, the Wraiths received leave on Borleias.^[2]

[edit] Return to action

The squadron then returned 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 Face noticed that their captain's walking mannerisms and story didn't add up, and he signaled Wedge of the trap, who gave Face the lead. Face struck the first blow, and the Wraiths quickly put down the ersatz policemen, who were later discovered to be infiltrators. Face 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.^[6]

The incident resulted in cancellation of their leave time and Wedge put them to work trying to "get inside" Zsinj's mind to figure out what his modus operandi and motives were. Face 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. Face also somewhat facetiously surmised Ysanne Isard was alive, which the New Republic would learn years later was true.^[6]

Face 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. Face and Ton Phanan recruited Lara Notsil, an attractive, intelligent prisoner from the Implacable and 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 Face or Phanan know that Notsil was actually Gara Petothel, one of Trigit's intelligence operatives, and well-trained enough to fool Face by masking her Coruscanti heritage with a barely noticeable Aldivian accent. Notsil did better than expected, and eventually lured Repness out and betrayed him.^[6]

[edit] Pirate Captain

Acting on reports of Zsinj's recruitment of pirates, Face and some of the other Wraiths were order to pose as the Hawk-bat Independent Space Force, with Face 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 Face picked up their navigational data from a drunk crew member planetside, and continued from there. Face 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 Face's relief, as his plan had stood a high chance of failure or angering Intelligence Director Airen Cracken.^[6]

To maintain the deception that they were stationed on Mon Remonda, Face 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, Face 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.^[6]

Returning to Hawk-bat Base, where they had left Kell, Phanan, Runt, and Castin Donn, Face resumed his sham role as Kargin, planning a strike on Halmad's two starfighter bases. However, he also grew concerned about his wingman and friend Ton Phanan, who had grown even more despondent and apathetic than ever. Before he could talk further with Phanan, they launched their assault on Halmad, except the planet had placed itself under Zsinj's protection.^[6]

The Iron Fist arrived and the Wraiths encountered reinforced planetary defenses after they seized the Bastion, an ancient refueling tanker in orbit. They aborted their mission, destroying numerous starfighters in their egress and slammed their captured tanker into Iron Fist to delay its pursuit, but Phanan was shot down and severely injured. Face landed his ship to rescue him and, evading Zsinj's troops searching the countryside, found Phanan. He attempted to get the other pilot to safety, but Phanan refused to let Face surrender in order to save him. Ton, realizing that he was dying and that he had made the mistake of letting his past consume him, confronted Loran for doing the same thing. Phanan died shortly afterwards, and left Face as the sole beneficiary of his will. Face, deeply grieved, destroyed the body of his wingman and returned to Hawk-bat Base. Reading Phanan's will, he discovered that Phanan's will specified that he use his newly acquired funds to remove the facial scar he had borne as a badge of remembrance and shame for many years, or lose all the money to hated holodrama rival Tetran Cowall.^[6]

[edit] Meeting with Zsinj

Face had little time to grieve though, as Zsinj, impressed by their fighting skills over Halmad, had contacted the Hawk-bats and requested a meeting with them to discuss employment. As the head of the pirates and the squadron's lead actor, he was assigned to the mission, along with Dia Passik and Kell. Their meeting with Zsinj was quite profitable at first, with the warlord readily agreeing to hire them for a dangerous mission at a high price. Face also got a chance to use Piggy's biologically altered background as a cover story for Lieutenant Kettch, who Zsinj believed to be a member of the Hawk-bats based on comm modifications that had disguised Wedge's voice as that of an Ewok over Halmad. The reaction Face received from Zsinj convinced him that the warlord knew more than he was letting on.^[6]

The mission took a potentially lethal turn when Zsinj presented them with Wraith Castin Donn, who had infiltrated Iron Fist against orders to slice a malicious program into the vessel. He had failed and been captured, and now Zsinj requested that Loran execute the prisoner as a test of loyalty. Face attempted to evade the request, but Zsinj insisted. Dia Passik, on the other hand, did not evade, and shot Castin right in the throat, having picked up that he had already been killed, and the appearance of him breathing was a façade.^[6]

Once they left the Iron Fist, Face had Dia explain her actions. As she did so, she lost emotional control and nearly committed suicide over the horror of what she had done. Face stopped her from doing so, and thanked for her keeping them from being killed.^[6]

Face tried to take blame for Castin's death, but Wedge explained to him that it was Castin's fault for disobeying orders, as they had checked to see if he had stowed away prior to leaving. The unit's morale plummeted, even though they learned that their mission from Zsinj was actually a raid on Kuat to abscond with the latest Super Star Destroyer. Their spirits were somewhat lifted by a unit dance organized and held by Runt to celebrate life, and Face was set up to dance with Dia by Lara Notsil—his new wingman—and Janson, where Dia confessed her attraction to him and they shared a kiss.^[6]

Face then led the Hawk-bats into combat at Kuat with Zsinj's fleet against the Imperial defenders, with some of the Wraiths settling into advantageous positions to sabotage both the Super Star Destroyers later. Zsinj's forces got away with the new Destroyer, Razor's Kiss, but a program implanted in it by a Wraith gave the ship's location away. The Wraiths, excepting those closeted in ambush positions on the Star Dreadnaughts, met up with the anti-Zsinj New Republic fleet commanded by Han Solo and engaged Zsinj's forces. Face flew in an X-wing this time, making runs against Razor's Kiss and defending the B-wing starfighters of Nova Squadron while they attacked Iron Fist. During the battle, Face was hit severely, and considered making a suicide run into Iron Fist's shield generators. However, Face recalled Phanan's final words and aborted his terminal run, allowing himself to be escorted back to a landing bay. While receiving medical treatment for his injuries, additionally, he had his scar removed. The rest of the Wraiths, all having survived the two engagements, reunited happily on the battered Mon Remonda to celebrate their victory.^[6]

[edit] Hunting a warlord

After the destruction of Razor's Kiss, Face and the Wraiths returned to Coruscant on Mon Remonda for refit and repairs for their craft and some down-time for the pilots. While there, Face and Lara created an innovative tactic using a paired TIE Interceptor and X-wing combination that used the X-wing's shields to cover the TIE, while the TIE covered the X-wing's tail. Also, Face received a promotion to brevet captain, becoming the interim leader of Wraith Squadron, as Wedge was taking command of all of Mon Remonda's fighters and returning to Rogue Squadron.^[7]

On their first mission after the refit, Zsinj's forces ambushed Mon Remonda and Face and the Wraiths were again assigned to cover Nova Squadron, but later helped bring down a Carrack-class light cruiser to alleviate the pressure being brought to bear on Mon Remonda. The starfighter assault was successful in diverting enough enemy attention away from Mon Remonda, and Solo's fleet escaped into hyperspace. After the battle, the New Republic pilots realized that since the destruction of Razor's Kiss, they had obtained little information on Zsinj's activities. Face proposed faking up a Millennium Falcon to lure out the warlord, and the Wraiths procured another YT-1300 light freighter, dubbing it the Millennium Falsehood, to pose as the Falcon in a variety of decoy raids.^[7]

First, though, the Wraiths planned to hit the Binring Biomedical Product facility on Saffalore that Zsinj had been using to alter various nonhuman species, a project that had produced Voort "Piggy" saBinring, a Gamorrean Wraith. Face led the intrusion team, pushing deeper into the facility under the cover of night, but the entire place was a trap rigged to kill them. The trap was sprung when the intrusion team triggered a trap door that dropped them into an incinerator. They escaped after blasting the wall, but several pilots, including Face, sustained burns and other injuries. He and the others blasted their way out of the complex in a daring, if foolhardy, assault, capturing Dr. Edda Gast, one of Zsinj's scientists, on the way out. Face called in their air support, the Rogues, to cover their extraction. With Rogue Squadron flying cover, Face and the others returned to Mon Remonda. Despite the injuries they suffered, he felt good about the mission, recognizing that his squadron had survived and succeeded in an environment rigged specifically to kill them.^[7]

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. Afterwards, Imperial Admiral Teren Rogriss requested a meeting with one of Solo's officers. Face was sent to meet the Imperial admiral and learned that Rogriss was Solo's Imperial counterpart: the head of an anti-Zsinj task force. The two agreed to tacitly work together against their common warlord enemy, though in a completely unofficial manner.^[7]

Throughout her time in Wraith Squadron, Face began to suspect that Lara Notsil was not who she seemed to be; when she was anxious, unguarded, or disturbed, her body language indicated to him that she was Coruscanti, not Aldivian. Face decided to put in a request to New Republic Intelligence for more information about her past. On their next mission to Kidriff Five, he received a data transmission that confirmed that Lara Notsil was really Gara Petothel, an Imperial Intelligence agent. Face suspected she would try and betray the Wraiths, though he didn't know that Notsil had undergone a change of heart and ideology after joining the Wraiths. In the battle, Face stayed away from the main fight, with his wingman Lara staying alongside him. As the Rogues and Wraiths were preparing to jump to hyperspace, Face explained the situation to Wedge Antilles, but forgot to switch over to a private channel, so the entire squadron heard him. Myn Donos, whose squadron Gara Petothel had helped obliterate, went insane and tried to attack Lara, who he had become attracted to prior to learning her identity. Face placed his fighter in between Donos and Lara, nearly being blown away by a proton torpedo from the enraged Corellian. Lara, in response, told the Wraiths she was and always would be loyal to them and jumped to hyperspace. Needless to say, Wedge Antilles was not pleased, with Donos, or with Face.^[7]

[edit] Showdown

However, their campaign continued, with the Wraiths executing a number of ground and air strike missions against Zsinj-allied business and Zsinj's military. On one mission to Comkin V, Face helped escort 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 again. Using a bomb attached to their freighter, the Wraiths brought the Reprisal's shields down and exacerbated the damage with a proton torpedo salvo, which tore the ship apart. Then they fled into hyperspace, after receiving a communications burst that Lara had rigged her TIE's lasers to fire. Face later helped analyze her transmission, in which she said she was trying to sabotage Zsinj, and concluded she was sincere in her intention to hurt Zsinj.^[7]

Face was then dispatched to liaise with Admiral Rogriss to borrow an Interdictor cruiser in an attack on Zsinj at Vahaba, based on what information Lara had passed on. Rogriss reluctantly agreed to bring the Interdictor, personally transferring his flag to the vessel. Face and Runt were assigned to reconnaissance duty in the Vahaba system, and they soon spotted Iron Fist, leading to a full fleet engagement between the two fleets. Despite the aid of Rogriss, Iron Fist escaped the Battle of Vahaba, though damaged. However, Lara Notsil sabotaged the Star Dreadnaught, stranding it nearby, with only little support. When Solo learned of this, he brought his entire fleet in pursuit of the suddenly vulnerable Iron Fist. The result was the Battle of Selaggis.^[7]

Face 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 Group (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, and the two squadrons defeated the 181st pilots easily 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 heavy ship and starfighter losses.^[7]

After the battle, Face learned that his promotion to captain was permanent, but that New Republic Intelligence had appropriated the Wraiths, giving them the option to transfer out of Starfighter Command. Face moved to Intelligence, staying as leader, and many of his comrades joined him.^[7]

At some point, Loran shaved his head, and added a false scar to prevent enemies from identifying him. He also came to have the nickname, or call sign, of "Poster Boy" within Wraith Squadron.^[3]

[edit] Yuuzhan Vong Invasion

During the first few years of the Yuuzhan Vong war, Loran led the squadron in efforts to break through Vong-held territory along a frontier stretching from Vortex to Bimmisaari. Loran also participated in a search for the vessel that had captured and carried the Myrkr strike team into Vong space. Not privy to the plan behind the team, he was called off the search after getting too close to the truth, much to his displeasure.^[8]

Face led the Wraiths' evacuation of Antilles's wife and two daughters from Coruscant before they could be captured by Vong invaders. After the fall of that planet, the squad traveled to Borleias and assisted Antilles's efforts to repel the Vong from the jungle world. Assigned by Iella Wessiri, he also joined Luke Skywalker on his mission to Coruscant's surface, having a good time of pulling the Jedi Master's leg throughout the mission. Face and the Wraiths also provided the infiltration and insertion equipment needed for the mission, including orbital insertion pods, fake Yuuzhan Vong armor, and camouflaged probe droids.^[3]

On Coruscant, Face and the others examined the extent of the Vongforming done to the planet while Luke and the other Jedi investigated the emanations of the dark side they had sensed on the fallen capital. They found that the planet's orbit, flora, and atmosphere had all been altered, including the creation of foul smelling air created by the decomposition of millions of dead bodies. Face aided the team by providing perfume-soaked rags, but the sights and sounds of the devastated capital were still evident, and the team realized that the world was permanently changed.^[9]

When they first encountered Yuuzhan Vong warriors up close, Face attempted to bluff his way past them, but the Vong warriors grew hostile, although unaware of their true nature and identity. Fortunately, they were able to kill all of them with a bomb before the warriors could raise an alarm. Later, they were able to make contact with survivors on Coruscant, leaving behind Wraith Baljos Arnjak to help set up resistance cells and help the people survive. From these survivors, the Wraiths and Jedi learned of Lord Nyax, a deranged, cybernetically-altered Dark Jedi roaming through the Coruscanti undercity. Face and Danni Quee located an entrance to a hidden laboratory that had originally altered Nyax to beyond human norms, and where he had begun his killing spree. Face suggested using snipers to take out Nyax, but Luke disagreed and overruled him.^[9]

While Danni and Bhindi Drayson, the scientists in the group, studied the planet and the laboratory they had found, Face and the Jedi scouted for vehicles to get them off the planet when their mission was finished. On one such trip, they encountered Lord Nyax, but thankfully from a distance. The second time they confronted the Dark Jedi, they found workers under Nyax's mental control attacking Yuuzhan Vong warriors and repairing a construction droid. While the Jedi engaged Nyax, Face and Kell captured Viqi Shesh, who was accompanying the Yuuzhan Vong. However, she escaped when the construction droid activated and began plowing its way through the cityscape to the remains of the old Jedi Temple. Face followed the droid, resisting Nyax's mental commands, and avoiding the low-flying coralskippers. After Luke, Mara Jade, and Tahiri Veila approached Nyax for a final encounter at the site of the ruined temple, Face returned to the Ugly Truth, a workable transport that Kell had found. The two blasted the ship free from its hiding place and picked up the others, escaping back to Borleias in time for the conclusion of the siege that had been taking place there.^[9]

Later, the Wraiths, including Face, took part in the Battle of Obroa-skai in an attempt to kill Supreme Overlord Shimrra Jamaane, where the Wraiths' stealthed ships helped jam yammosk war coordinators, leading to the destruction of the Yuuzhan Vong fleet, though Shimrra wasn't there.^[10]

Loran also participated in the Battle of Yuuzhan'tar, joining up with Shamed Ones and resistance units on the planet's surface.^[4]

[edit] Personality and traits

Face bore a lot of guilt for his time serving the Empire as a child actor, blaming and burdening himself with his past, and this reflected in his career in the form of insubordination and insolence.^[2] The stigma from his past affected him until his friend and wingman Ton Phanan was able to convince him to let go of the guilt, as his "debt" existed only in his mind.^[6]

However, Loran did not usually let this guilt show through, maintaining an actor's calm and laid-back countenance even while flying missions or delivering a eulogy.^[2] This demeanor helped him remain cool and collected in harrowing situations, and he was quickly promoted to captain from flight officer for his leadership ability.^[7] He was also a joker, and considered one of the two smart mouths in the Wraiths by his fellow pilots, taking great delight in numerous jibes and jests.^[6] Face took especial delight in joking around with Luke Skywalker during the Yuuzhan Vong War, and did so throughout their mission to Coruscant.^[9]

[edit] Relationships

Face was considered one of the most attractive human males in his youth and young female hearts across the galaxy were allegedly broken by rumors of his death. He would continue to use his recognition and childhood fame throughout his career.^[2]

[edit] Dia Passik

Dia Passik was a member of the Wraiths recruited after the destruction of Implacable. She was initially hostile to Face, resisting his attempts to charm her, but eventually fell for the Lorrdian pilot. The two developed a relationship, especially after Face saved Dia from committing suicide. The relationship was beneficial to both of them, helping Dia relax with her new unit and enabling Face to become more open towards his fellow pilots while recovering from the death of Phanan.^[6]

[edit] Behind the scenes

Face Loran was created by Aaron Allston for his three Wraith Squadron books. Allston has said on his website that Face Loran/Ton Phanan pairing is one of his favorite for humorous potential.^[11] According to Allston, Face Loran was inspired by the famous silent film actor John Barrymore, who was known as "The Great Profile."^[11] Allston has also said that he considers the relationship between Face and Dia to not endure and they would amicably part ways.^[11] This statement is not canon, though, until expressed in a canonical work.

[edit] Appearances

• Death in the Slave Pits of Lorrd
• X-wing: Wraith Squadron (First appearance)
• X-wing: Iron Fist
• X-wing: Solo Command
• Star by Star (Mentioned only)
• Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream
• Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand
• Destiny's Way
• The Unifying Force

[edit] Sources

• "Who's Who in Rogue Squadron" - Star Wars Insider 59
•  "Wraith Squadron" - Star Wars Gamer 9
• The New Essential Guide to Characters
• The Official Star Wars Fact File 79 (German Edition - LOR1-2, Garik Loran)
• Galaxy at War

Wraith Eight[2]
N/A ← 7 ABY[2] - 7.5 ABY[6] Voort saBinring[7] →
Commander of Wraith Squadron[7]
Wedge Antilles[2] ← 7.5 ABY[7] - Unknown Unknown →

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links

•  Garik Loran in the Completely Unofficial Star Wars Encyclopedia