Kesanion

Kesanion was an Iscali pilot and ace who fought in the Great Liberation.

Born on the Iscali colony world of Tershin, Kesanion spent his early career piloting shipping freighters to and from the Iscali homeworld, Iscandar. His reputation for daredevil maneuvers, setting flight records and performing moves other pilots swore were impossible for freighters, brought him to the attention of the Iscali Security Fleet, which trained him as a starfighter pilot. Accepting an officer's commission, Kesanion continued to fly for the ISF until 95 ABY.

In that year, the Golden Empire arrived at Iscandar and convinced the Iscali to join as a member world. All capital ships became the property of the Royal Navy, but though Rin left Iscandar a substantial fighter complement for self-defense, Kesanion applied for and received a commission in the nascent Royal Starfighter Corps. As such, he became a close associate of Tariun Sakaros, who was himself working to build up the Corps. The two men oversaw a substantial influx of Iscali from Iscandar and Tershin, organizing many of the spacefaring race into fighter squadrons and training them in Sith craft. Like Sakaros himself, Kesanion preferred the Hadrago fighter, with its strong shields and decent payload, to faster, more lightly-armed craft. By 100 ABY, given his experience and leadership abilities, Kesanion was already a full Commander in the RSC.

When war erupted with the Tetrarchy of Mezlagob, Kesanion took to the "field" often, leading squadrons or even entire wings into action. When Tariun created an elite Hadrago squadron, he took command personally and installed Kesanion as his second-in-command. At battles of major importance, however, Sakaros would usually opt to commander the entire engagement and leave Kesanion as squadron leader. Kesanion served as senior tactical advisor on behalf of the RSC, and was part of the group that planned the Battle of Tizgo V. After the war, Kesanion oversaw the unit's formal designation as "Redblade Squadron" and, with Tariun promotion to Prime Legate, became its permanent commander.

It is unknown how long Kesanion retained command of the unit, though he later transferred out of it with his promotion to Colonel. His final fate is also unknown, though he died before the Conquest of the Chiss Ascendancy in 137 ABY.

Appearances

 * The Fall of Keltrayu