Dut Kol (Cail's Empire)

"We reject the New Order. We reject ill-tempered democracy. We reject poverty, disease, conflict, and death. We choose life. We choose prosperity. Leave us alone."

- Dut Kol speaking to Imperial and Galactic Federation emissaries at the Duros Summit, 9 ABY

Dut Kol (38 BBY – ) was a Quara Aqualish male from Corellia who was, at various points in his life, a smuggler, bounty hunter, mercenary, pirate, admiral, and politician, who achieved galactic notoriety as the first and paramount leader of the Independent League of Free Systems. Through force of personality, cunning, and general political skill, he maintained his position as President, "elected" Chief of the Free Council (the upper chamber of the League's legislature), and Supreme Commander of the League Defense Armada. At the peak of his power, around 9 ABY, Kol was the undisputed master of a federation which spanned almost one-thousand star systems and commanded a vast amount of wealth and resources. As the Galactic Civil War wore on and the Imperial Civil War broke out in the wake of Palpatine's death, Kol consolidated his position through shrewd diplomacy to construct a strong and stable interstellar government which prospered as much of the galaxy burned. He later played a critical role in the galaxy's resistance to the Infinite Sith Empire's invasion of the known galaxy.

Personality and traits
Unlike most members of his species, Kol was recognized for his emotional and psychological complexity, his charisma, and his strong grasp of "higher" disciplines, including economics, politics, and military science.

By the earliest days of the Independent League, he became fascinated with galactic high culture, often keeping up-to-date with the latest trends in fashion and music in the Core Worlds, primarily Coruscant.

He was noted for his strong command of military science and politics, without which he would not have been able to establish and strengthen the League. His diplomatic ability helped to coalesce various competing factions – Black Sun vigos, Confederate successionists, pirate captains, and isolationist racialists – into a single interstellar government. With a strong administrative acumen, he oversaw the gradual buildup of the League's economy and military, and his ability to mold popular sentiment through his unusual charisma held to shape the formation and development of the League's unique polity and sense of independence.

Throughout his life he piloted and maintained a great number of vessels for personal use. While a smuggler, he owned and operated a used YT-1000 light freighter, given the unassuming and unappealing name Mynock. As he grew in wealth and became a noted smuggler in the Southern Outer Rim, he used his new-found wealth to purchase a larger YZ-775 medium transport, called Sword of Ando, which he then heavily modified to add to its cargo capacity. Staffed with loyal fellow smugglers, Kol grew rich off his endeavors.

By the time he had turned to pirating, he had purchased two ships for the purpose: a Rihkxyrk assault fighter called Circassia and an extensively-modified Praetorian-class frigate, the Wrathful. Alongside a smaller fleet of subordinates, Kol raided Hutt trade lanes and even eventually attacked Imperial hyperlanes on several occasions, successfully blaming rogue Black Sun vigos and warlords for his actions.

Upon his ascension to the position of leader of the Independent League, Kol acquired for himself an outdated Victory I-class Star Destroyer. He called it Independent and poured millions of credits into an extensive upgrade suite which made it capable of going toe-to-toe with an Imperial Star Destroyer. Later, after Sluis Van Shipyards began to see real financial success, he commissioned a Starcatcher-class destroyer named Prosperity, making it the flagship of the League Defense Armada. He also ordered a 12 million-credit (15 million League ban) top-of-the-line pleasure ship, which he named dubbed Luminous and christened as the official presidential yacht.