Ves Lahtel

"I'm more confortable with a weapon on my side."

- Ves Lahtel

Ves Lahtel was a male Human Jedi Master and Jedi Council member. Lahtel served as a High Jedi General in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. He was a renowned Jedi ace.

Biography
At an early age, Lahtel's family realized that he had more than normal awareness and that he must have Force abilities. Before he was sent to Coruscant to be tested by the Jedi, however, Ves Lahtel had already become a pilot of higher-than-average ability. Piloting craft through the atmosphere of Tatooine, Lahtel learned how to react to every twist and turn of the winds, to keep his craft stable. Lahtel's flying practice also helped to hone his Force abilities.

By the time he arrived at the Jedi Temple, he was already adept at channeling his Force connection. As he progressed in the Order, he was acknowledged as having one of the strongest Force abilities of all the Jedi. It is not documented who his master was.

Despite the importance of Lahtel's master in his development, the human Jedi accepted no Padawan of his own, making him one of the few Jedi promoted to master without having done so.

Over the course of his distinguished career, Lahtel fought in many battles and proved his worth both in the field and as an advisor within the Jedi Council. As early as 44 BBY, Lahtel had joined the Jedi Council as a long-term member. It seemed the death of his master, who would later visit him as a Force ghost, had deeply affected Lahtel. Ves took part in the Stark Hyperspace War&mdash;a dangerous conflict in the Outer Rim Territories. A Jedi team had been sent to settle the dispute, but had been caught up in the fighting.



On numerous occasions, Master Lahtel's flying skills saved the lives of his fellow Jedi. Lahtel also demonstrated his skill and bravery in ground combat. In the middle of battle with the CIS, Lahtel single-handedly defeated a few battle tanks with just a lightsaber.

Of all of Lahtel's epic acts of bravery and skill, none surpassed those he achieved in his own specialized starfighter, Lethal Reflex. Lahtel had been awarded the SoroSuub Cutlass-9 patrol fighter by a group of grateful citicens after the Jedi had saved them from space pirates. Due to his skills as a pilot, Lahtel was permitted to keep the gift and immediately set about modifying it. The already superb performance of the ship was improved to levels that matched Lahtel's skills. He saw about the removal of electronic sensor systems and map systems, since these have little use to one attuned to the Force. With the removal of these systems, it made the SoroSuub even more nimble than it was, making it a very formidable dogfighting starship.

Although he was often very silent, the advice he did offer was valued for its directness and foresight.

Lahtel took interest in the young Anakin Skywalker's abilities as a mechanic. Lahtel, had the ability to astrogate hyperspace without the need of a navigation computer.

Prior to the Battle of Geonosis, Lahtel helped flight-test a Delta-7 Aethersprite prototype over Coruscant. Thanks to this trial, Ves Lahtel made several modifications to the starfighters for increased performance. He participated in the Battle of Geonosis in 22 BBY, where he took part in the rescue attempt of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Senator Padmé Amidala in the execution arena, and was one of the few survivors of the task force. When Yoda arrived with the Grand Army of the Republic, Ves Lahtel followed Saesee Tiin onto a Republic gunship with other fellow Jedi. After being dropped off, he took off in his starfighter, Lethal Reflex, to aid Saesee Tiin in the battle above Geonosis. He (like Saesee Tiin) was mistakenly reported killed in the conflict&mdash;this error was later attributed to the confusion of wartime journalism.

Clone Wars
"I'll fly anything..."

- Ves Lahtel

As the Clone Wars spread, Lahtel took the mantle of a Jedi Knight commanding both ground and air/space forces.

During the Battle of Coruscant, Lahtel took to his starfinghter and led a squadron of ARC-170 starfighters into the orbital battle between the Republic's Open Circle Fleet and the Confederacy's navy, led by the feared droid leader General Grievous.

His status after the Jedi Purge is currently unknown

Talents
Ves Lahtel was a particularly talented Jedi, and he had always performed well in all of his previous conflicts. Lahtel was the greatest star pilot in the Jedi Order before Anakin Skywalker. Lahtel was a masterful Form V practitioner, making him a very skilled swordsman that few Jedi could rival.

Appearances

 * The Complete Star Wars Guide
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars- Unleashed