Jaim Helaw
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| Jaim Helaw | |
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- "The more complex a weapon, the more likely it is to have flaws."
- ―Jaim Helaw commenting on the Death Star shortly before his death.[src]
Admiral Jaim Helaw was an “old school” Imperial Navy officer who had been on the front line of a dozen major battles throughout his career. He was the captain of the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Undauntable and was killed when the ship was destroyed in an act of sabotage in 0 BBY.
[edit] Biography
As a young second lieutenant in the Republic Navy, Helaw was involved in an action to clear a pirate stronghold in the Vergesso Asteroids. A group of approximately 120 pirates had barricaded themselves within a domed city on a moon in the system and Helaw led a squad to help eliminate them in close-quarters fighting. Helaw’s squad defeated a group of about 25 pirates, although at a cost, with the unfortunate death of Kan Pojo.
Helaw later held the rank of captain onboard the Ion Storm, where he first met Conan Antonio Motti, newly promoted to first lieutenant. The two had a long history and remained friends until Helaw’s death. Helaw remained a field officer throughout his career, despite attempts by Motti to interest him in the political arena on Imperial Center. As a result, Motti eventually overtook his former commander, but always considered him to have been a formidable potential Moff.
Helaw was eventually promoted to the rank of admiral and captained the Undauntable in the sector fleet under Motti’s command charged with protecting the construction of the Death Star. He planned to retire shortly after the completion of the project but was killed when a Rebel saboteur detonated a cargo container rigged full of explosives stored in the ship’s aft cargo hold. The Undauntable was lost with all hands, including Helaw.
The incident was later covered up at the direction of Grand Moff Tarkin and with the complicity of Motti and Admiral Daala. The destruction of the Undauntable was held to be an accident and the blame was posthumously laid at the feet of Helaw, tarnishing an otherwise exemplary career; although, despite the age of the ship, it had been maintained in excellent condition under his command.
