Ben Skywalker (Jasca Ducato)

"I was afraid of placing extra weight upon his shoulders; I didn't want him to think I had pre-ordained him to live up to Obi-Wan's reputation. The way things are going for him, I wouldn't blame him if he sought to follow my father's path."

- Luke Skywalker on his son, 65 ABY Ben Skywalker was a Jedi Knight and son of the famed Jedi Masters Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker. For most of his early life, Ben was sequestered in safe-worlds so that his parents could fight the Yuuzhan Vong and keep him safe; however, the pain and suffering caused by the Yuuzhan Vong War caused Ben to withdraw from the Force. Later on, Ben began to open himself up to the Force due to the guidance of his cousin and informal teacher Jacen Solo.

With Jacen's guidance Ben grew confident in his use of the Force and became a powerful Jedi. During the starwars:Second Galactic Civil War, Ben joined the Galactic Alliance Guard against the Council's wishes, partly because of his desire to make a name for himself and escape his father's fame. Eventually however, Ben discovered the source behind his cousins power and was successful in bringing him back to the light side of the Force; receiving a promotion to the rank of Jedi Knight as reward from his father. Ben continued to serve the Jedi dutifully, acting as watchman for the Trapani sector in 56 ABY and following the outbreak of the Sith Crusade in 61 ABY, was thrust into the frontline alongside his cousins and father. Suffering a series of debilitating losses early on; including the death of his cousin Jaina Solo Kenobi, Ben came to hold the Sith Knight Darth Micail personally responsible for her death; and became determined to bring the Sith warrior to justice.

Biography
For Ben Skywalker's biography up to the Sith Crusade see here.

Sith Crusade
For the first few weeks of war, Skywalker was ordered to remain on Ossus by his father, who still sought to keep his son away from harm. It was not until the death of Luke's niece, Jaina Solo Kenobi that the aged Jedi Master realised that harm was going to come to his soon whether he wished it or not, and that it was best that Ben confront it prepared, than not. Within days of the massacre at Dathomir word had spread throughout the Galactic Alliance of the losses suffered by the Jedi, and that the crime had been perpetrated by one of their own – the Jedi Micail.

Skywalker knew that the galaxy had yet to learn that their attackers were led by the former Jedi Darth Abeonis, and as such decided that he could rely on popular support for a mission to apprehend Micail. Ben brought his proposal before his father who refused the mission point blank; however after seeing how Jaina's death had affected Ben, relented. Skywalker and a small group of Jedi Knights made their way to Yavin IV to support the Alliance garrison on the moon, and begun planning their ambush of the Sith Lord in earnest. After a day of preparation word reached Skywalker that the Sith invasion of the moon had begun, and that Micail was indeed leading it. Deferring command of the moon's defense to the garrison commander, Skywalker took his Jedi Knights and a contingent of Alliance troopers out into the forest and set their trap. Unfortunately for Skywalker however, Micail predicted the ambush and sprung his own trap.

Allowing Skywalker to ambush one of his subordinates, Micail had his Sith troopers open fire upon the Jedi he had surrounded, cutting many of them and their garrison support down instantly. Ben and the survivors, realizing the trap, attempted an escape but were cut off. Overwhelmed by their Sith counterparts Skywalker conceded defeat, but was determined to take down as many of his enemies that he could. Micail, in an attempt to atone for the death of Jaina, ordered his troops to pull back, allowing Skywalker to escape. Skywalker returned to Ossus in shame, but was greeted warmly by his father and cousin; the latter of whom expressed his thanks for Skywalker's attempt to bring justice to his sister's name. Skywalker remained on Ossus for some months, until they received word that the Sith Lord Darth Dimicatio was conducting military experiments on Yavin IV; Ben prepared an expedition in earnest, with the aim of uncovering the Sith interest in the moon.

Skywalker's arrival on Yavin IV went unnoticed, and before long the six-strong team of Jedi had infiltrated the Tomb of Exar Kun, the headquarters of the Sith Lord Dimicatio. At first their mission went well, and they had completed their mission to download the contents of the computer terminals brought by the Sith to the planet; however the entire team could sense that there was more to the Sith presence on the moon then a mere command base, and so, heading further into the facility, the Jedi uncovered a sizeable housing facility for a new breed of Sith trooper. Worried by this new development, Skywalker ordered a silent retreat; unfortunately for the Jedi however, they were spotted and forced into a rout.

The Jedi cut down many a Sith Knight as the fled the facility, although one of the team was cut down before they had escaped the temple. As the Jedi continued their escape through the jungle the new Sith troopers showed their skill, taking down two Jedi in open combat and ambushing a third; leaving only Skywalker and one other to make it to their vessel.

Battle of Ossus
Arriving back on Ossus, Ben informed the Jedi Council that they had loss much of the Sith computers' contents in their escape, and that they had been pursued and cut to shreads by a new type of Sith trooper; one more efficiently trained and heavily armed than the standard Sith soldier. Upon hearing this Jedi Master Kyp Durron offered to go direct to Coruscant and inform the Galactic Senate of this new threat, however he was overruled by Skywalker after a transmission from the Alliance admiral Ema informed the Jedi that the Dark Lord had defeated his forces at Cron Drift and forced a retreat; leaving Ossus wide open to attack.

The Grand Master issued an order for general quarters, assigning both his son and his nephew – Jacen Solo – to coordinate the evacuation of the planet's capital city. They both reacted immediately, each going to their respective parts of the city to fulfill their duty. As they left the Jedi Academy, Luke Skywalker sent out a transmission on all Alliance frequencies asking for any assistance that could be afforded them; although he recieved no reply by the time the Sith arrived. In the meantime however, both Ben and Jacen were receiving staunch defiance in their attempts to evacuate the city; many citizens wanted to stay and defend their homesteads, many more didn't even believe the Sith would risk attacking the Jedi homeworld. Yet, after only a few hours the city received a signal from the Ossus sensor array that a known Sith vessel was approaching the planet, with a massive fleet in its wake. After this, the evacuation went much more to plan, and within two hours the city had emptied.

Returning to the Academy, Skywalker was met by a shocked Jacen Solo, who informed Skywalker that the Sith vessel was the Hidden Side, the personal starship of Darth Abeonis. Skywalker charged into the Academy, but was prevented from entering the Jedi Council chamber by Katae-muri as per his father's wishes. Skywalker then inquired of Katae, quite rudely, as to why she was letting her former husband talk to Luke alone; to which Katae tearfully replied that she was not yet ready to confront the one she still loved. Speechless, Ben slowly walked back towards the Academy's courtyard and awaited his father, and just minutes later he was followed by both his father and Katae-muri. Glumly, Luke ordered the Jedi to prepare for the attack. Shortly after, the Jedi stopped receiving transmissions from the sensor array, suggesting that the Sith had arrived in orbit of the planet. Despite this, the Sith fleet did not launch a bombardment and instead begun sending Galactica-class troop transports down towards the city. At Ben's inclination, his father ordered a contingent of Alliance soldiers out of the Jedi Temple so as to protect the few city blocks outside the entrance, though they were instantly cut down by the rapidly approaching Sith Knights. Ben himself lead the defense of the Temple's entrance, racking up many kills before being slowly forced back into the central courtyard. Giving command over to Kyle Katarn, both Ben and his cousin fell back to nurse their wounds and remained out of action for the remainder of the days fighting. When they finally returned, they were ordered by the Katarn to help fortify their positions in preperation of the next wave of attack. As night fell, Ben, Jacen and Kyle took turns on picket duty throughout the night.

As night turnt to day the Jedi soon found themselves being suddenly overrun by a renewed Sith assault, this time lead by the Sith Knight Darth Micail. Upon learning this, Skywalker carged towards him but was cut off by the mass of people fighting one another before him. Ben slowly worked his way through the combatents, conserving his energy for his assault upon Micail, and before long he had made his way behind the Sith warrior. Skywalker watched as the Sith stopped dead, searching for Ben's presence and norrowly avoiding the Jedi Knight's lightsaber as it swung through what would have been his skull. As Micail rose to his feet Skywalker renewed his assault; Micail was able to hold the assault nevertheless, only serving to further enrage Skywalker who drew more and more upon the dark side to strike Micail down. It was only when Micail was distracted temporarily by a recall transmission that Skywalker gained the upper hand, wounding Micail in the side. Unwilling to let Skywalker strike him down in anger, Micail used the Force to launch a large stone into Skywalker's side; this through of the young Jedi long enough for Micail to strike him hard with his elbow and knock him unconscious.

Time behind the lines
"I don't care how long it takes, but we have to take this chance to strike at the Sith!"

- Ben Skywalker to his father, 64 ABY

Ben awoke to find himself surrounded by his family – Luke, Jacen, Han and Leia – wo all breathed a deep sigh of relief upon his regaining consciousness. A few moments later Ben was fit enough to walk and joined his family in the Council chamber to hear his father speak. Ben listened intently as his father repeated what Abeonis had told him about his plan to unite the galaxy against him; but under a Jedi banner, not a Galactic Alliance one. Although not as dismissive as Han, Ben was doubtful all the same; suspecting the Dark Lord merely wanted Cal Omas removed from power from within, rather than using up the resources necessary to do it himself. Regardless though, Ben sided with his father and set about clearing up the damage caused by the Sith assault on the Academy. A few hours later, the Jedi heard of the capture of the fourth fleet at Dac, and the presumed re-creation of the feared Death Squadron; the realization that Luke's refusal to betray Omas would cost the lives of possibly millions more weighed heavy upon both Skywalkers, although they held firm.

Over the next few years Ben continued to track Micail's progress, the wonder as to why Micail let him live after their duel constantly nagging him. Ben was on till on Ossus when word reached the Jedi that Cal Omas had been assassinated by a Sith Hand Darth Wyyrlok, and that the Galactic Alliance had subsequently launched an ill-planned counter attack against the wishes of the Jedi Council. Skywalker participated in this full scale assault, and was subsequently present during the destruction of the flagship of Sataris Strasbourg, one of the Sith Empire's most feared, yet respected admirals. Eighteen days after Sataris' death, word reached Skywalker that his cousin Jacen had been captured by the Sith at Toong'l, although it was believed he was still alive. Just days later, to add insult to injury, Ben was stunned when he was told that his father had left for the planet Gand so that he could confront Abeonis alone; he had not asked for any assistance either. Despite this, Skywalker led the calls for a support mission to be organized and one was soon sent – under the command of Katae-muri, although it was sooned learned that this fllet had been intercepted at Tund by the Dark Lord's apprentice – Darth Adsec.

Following the fortnight-long battle of Tund, Skywalker received yet another chance to confront Micail; this time at Kubindi. Here he confronted a full cohort of SpecOps, although he arrived to late to confront Micail, who had left for Korriban just hours before; yet despite this disappointment, Skywalker's assault was a success, and Kubindi was reclaimed by the Jedi under Skywalker. This victory was in turn followed by more gracious news when word reached the Jedi that Abeonis' failure to skill Luke Skywalker on Gand had been the last straw for many Sith under Abeonis' command, and that the Sith had erupted into civil war. Skywalker rushed back to Ossus to meet with the Jedi Council to deliver news of the Sith rebels claiming Thyferra, and was also given the honor of delivering yet another piece of news:

"I have good news, the Senate has chosen the next Chief-of-State for the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances. You, father."

- Ben to his father, having been told by Katarn

Mission to Kashyyyk
With the Galactic Senate, and by extension the entire Galactic Alliance, now under the control of the Luke Skywalker the tide seemed to turn for the GFFA. Ben, along with Katae-muri, was assigned by his father to find the Jedi Lowbacca on the planet Kashyyyk, which had only just been conquered by the Sith. Arriving at the planet the two were attacked by a Privateer-class corvette and overpowered, ordering Katae-muri to go on ahead Skywalker turned his StealthX figher around and plunged head on into the corvette, causing significant damage and apparently his own death. Two hours later however, Ben returned to a greatly surprised if irritated Katae-muri, who had by this point met with the Wookiee Lowbacca. Together, the three managed to sneak into and abandoned warehouse in Rwookrrorro city, and narrowly avoided a confrontation with the Sith Knights Darth Alectasa and Darth Validus. Soon after they continued on, making their way to Rwookrrorro city's main computer terminal; arriving at the terminal the three Jedi were intercepted by the two Sith Knights and engaged in a duel.

The three Jedi attacked the Sith Knights with all their strength, but were easily repelled by the seasoned warriors. As the duel raged through the city the Wookiee populous came out to watch, preventing the Sith garrison in the city from intervening and supporting the Jedi from a distance. Eventually, a low strike from Katae-muri struck Alectasa's thigh, giving Lowbacca and herself a chance to fall back. In the meantime Skywalker was devoted completely to his duel with Validus, although the combined assault of both the Sith Knights was enough to force his retreat.

Fleeing for their lives, the Jedi were given passage by the Wookiees in the city, who blocked Alectasa and Validus from pursuing them. The Sith troopers who did engage the Jedi stood little chance against them and before long the trio had made it back to the safety point. Katae-muri boarded her StealthX at Skywalker's behest, and left for Ossus whilst Ben and Lowbacca headed to a small Wookiee village several kilometers from the safety point. Arriving at the village the Jedi asily overpowered the Sith garrison and confiscated their transport, using it to sneak off the planet.

Final campaigns
Over a year after the mission to Kashyyyk, Skywalker was once again on the frontlines in the war against the Sith, now serving as a fully fledged Jedi Master. Despite the Jedis' greatest efforts, including many made by Skywalker personally, the Sith rebels had failed to achieve any serious victories against their loyalists counterparts, and by 65 ABY were practically wiped out. On top of this, the surge of vessels and manpower being redirected away from combatting the rebels was adding more pressure upon the Jedi forces, whose brief stint of good favour over the last two years seemed ancient history. Ben's father knew that if the Sith advance on the GFFA's remaining Outer rim territories wasn't stopped soon, the Alliance's holdings there would be conquered, and the entire fleet thrown into disarray.

As the Jedi Council discussed what to do, Ben suggested Praesitlyn as the focus of the defense; this was quickly regected by many in the Council however as being to open to assault from the Sith, yet as the discussions continued it became increasingly obvious that Praesitlyn was the only planet from which the Jedi could hope to hold back the Sith, without risking the more heavily populated planets in the region. Something everyone present knew the Sith were fully aware of as well. Nevertheless, the Council set about organizing the planets defense; gathering a fleet no less than two-thousand warships strong, who in turn were supported by one-thousand Jedi StealthXs and three million troops. As soon as the fleet had been organized they made their way to Praesitlyn, coming out of hyperspace just beyond Praesitlyn's moon; met by the Sith fleet of Darth Abeonis.

Darth Abeonis' Death Squadron was the single largest fleet within the Empire, numbering roughly two-thousand vessels and supported by over two-and-a-half million NX-03 Space/Terrain Mark Is; the planet itself was already under Sith control. Taking advantage of the Dark Lord's shock, the two Skywalkers ordered their fighters to swarm the Sith fleet, and instantly the battle was begun. Death Squadron blasted through the Galactic Alliance fighers and begun mixing with their counterpart warships. Before long Luke's flagship, Alliance had been bogged down under enemy fire and an evacuation ordered. Luke made his way to Ben's flagship and arrived on the bridge just in time to watch as volleys from the Decreto-class Super Star Destroyers The Soiyo and The Conquerer ripped through Alliance ' s hull, and the ship blew a part. Assuming control of his son's flagship, Luke ordered an assault on Praesitlyn itself, with Ben taking command of the assault. The battle on Praesiltyn's surface was hard fought, with command shared between Ben and Katae-muri. Katae led the amphibious assault ont Praesitlyn's mainland, but was met with heavy resistance; the defense was led by Darth Micail, who having been called away in turn left the Sith duo Alectasa and Validus in charge. This change in command did little to blunt the effectiveness of the Sith counter-attack however, which was now being led by the Sith SpecOps commanders First and 039. Skywalker engaged the SpecOps along side his soldiers, and dealt heavy casualites before being forced back; the carnage of the battle preventing him from sensing the death of his fellow Jedi Katae-muri.

The battle raged on, and eventually Skywalker realized that it was a lost cause. Ordering a retreat, Skywaklker and his cohorts returned to their landing vessels, however the presence of Darth Alectasa complicated things. Alectasa, raising his blade and burying his feet, gestured for Ben to attack, but was met with a blunt refusal from Ben. Ben simply lowered his weapon, pointing it at Alectasa. Darth Alectasa, realizing that he would have to make the first moved swung his weapon high above his head and brought it down upon Ben with shattering strength. As the various drags of Alliance forces came fleeing too their landing craft, Ben and Alectasa continued to exchange blows. Alectasa used his natural height to great advantage and hammered down upon Ben Skywalker, but he was easily repelled by the fledgling Jedi Master. Ben, in the prime of his life, took every chance he could to undermine the Sith Lord, but he often failed. Growing tired, Ben decided that the time had come to escape. And so, after using the Force to push Alectasa into the hull of a nearby landing craft, Ben ran into his landing craft and got it into the air. By the time Alectasa had regained consciousness Ben and his forces were far beyond his reach. Alectasa simply picked up his weapon and walked away, holding his side in agony.

Ben managed to return to his flagship in time for the retreat, learning of Katae-muri's death and the subsequent death of Darth Adsec during the battle. Shocked at the carnage of the battle below and the deaths it entailed, Ben secluded himself from outside contact. He felt that the cost of so many lives for such an inconclusive and unproductive victory had not been worth the risk taken to defend the Outer rim territories.

Personality and traits
"&hellip;What's one of the first things you learned in training to be a Jedi?" "Don't cut off your own head with your lightsaber." "After that." "Your eyes can deceive you. Be mindful of your feelings. Girls are fun but dangerous. Lando has extra cards up his sleeve."

- Luke Skywalker and his son, who shows his immature side, 65 ABY

Ben Skywalker was kind, mature, and brave and, like his father, was headstrong, fearless, and curious. He had also inherited his mother's quick wit, sharp tongue, and irreverent sense of humor, although following her death this side of him became alomst non-existent. For the earlier part of his life, Ben was unable to understand his parents; instead, his cousin Jacen served as both a mentor and role model for Ben. This also changed after Jacen's first fall to the dark side during the Second Galactic Civil War, and Ben grew closer to his father; predictably having great difficulty in learning to trust his cousin following the latters redemption after the civil war.

Despite being a veteran of the Second Galactic Civil War, his father still held a tight leash on his son, for fear of losing him as he had his wife, however it was not long into the war that Luke knew that Ben had to experience the war before he could confront the internal conflict within himself, the conflict caused by his cousins death. As a result of this, Ben developed a deep and personal hatred for the Sith Knight Darth Micail, who had lead the assault on Dathomir, and caused Jaina's death. Ben spent much of his time throughout the war in furtherance of his mission to bring Micail to justice, and the two fought each other multiple times throughout the conflict.