The Essential Guide to Force Exile/Anja Gallandro

Anja Gallandro was a human female born and raised under troubled circumstances. Her father was killed at a young age in a duel with Han Solo and she grew up to become a spice addict in her teenage years, doing the bidding of a Black Sun crime lord. Her andris addiction helped her fight like a Jedi. However, she was saved from that lifestyle by the Solo twins, who helped her break her addiction and befriended her. She arrived at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4, but did not remain, as she was not truly Force-sensitive and could not become a Jedi.

She found employment with one of the Solos' family friends, Lando Calrissian. However, her tenure with him was cut short during the Yuuzhan Vong War. Anja refused to remain idle while the alien invaders conquered world after world. Instead, she joined up with a volunteer unit headed by retired Rogue Squadron fighter pilot Derek "Hobbie" Klivian. Klivian's unit launched a daring raid on the occupied world of Chalacta in 28 ABY, freeing thousands of Chalactans from Yuuzhan Vong slavery. Their escape was not clean, though, and they were pursued, tracking through the maze of Hutt Space in search of refuge before finally finding shelter on the world of Rishi.

When the Yuuzhan Vong followed them to Rishi, Anja helped defend the world from their attacks. The Yanibar Guard, a military force created to defend a distant world of Force exiles, also sent help to Rishi in the form of military aid. During the battle, she was wounded in action, and was taken to a Yanibar Guard field medcenter, where her injuries were treated. While convalescing, she tried to strike up conversation with a civilian volunteer doctor from Yanibar who had come to serve named Akleyn Kraen, but the surly doctor barely acknowledged her and was quite rude. Anja persisted, telling him that his bitterness was unnecessary and self-destructive, but it wasn't until she called him to stop the suicide of another Yanibar Guard member, Qedai Sherum, that Akleyn finally responded. Anja and Akleyn were able to save Qedai's life, and promised to look after the distraught woman. It was then that Anja was able to get through to Akleyn and encourage him to release his bitterness.

After the Yanibar Guard negotiated a mutual withdrawal from Rishi, Anja departed with Klivian's volunteers, continuing to fight against the Yuuzhan Vong until the war was ended. After its conclusion, she returned to work with Klivian, serving as a freighter pilot. Eight years after the war ended, she helped evacuate Yanibar, as the world's condition had deteriorated significantly following a Yuuzhan Vong attack years earlier. As the Yanibar refuge was preparing to depart for their new, she was contracted by a Force exile Ryion Kraen to go to the distant world of Tenupe and recover a downed pilot named Jagged Fel. Fel was an old flame of the Jedi Knight Jaina Solo, whom Ryion had worked closely with, and he had disappeared there during a battle which had placed him and Solo on opposite sides. After she was assured of ample compensation, Anja agreed to take the contract and was successful.

Behind the scenes
Anja Gallandro was a canonical character that Atarumaster88 decided to bring in for Force Exile V: Warrior. She served primarily as an aide to Colonel Klivian, giving him someone to interact with who was also a part of his command. Her other major role was in helping Akleyn Kraen recover from his depression and bitterness. Anja was characterized as tough and feisty in keeping with her canonical appearances, yet had a measure of empathy that helped influence Akleyn and save Qedai. She made a cameo appearance in Force Exile VI: Prodigal, aiding the Force exiles in their evacuation. Atarumaster88 also conceived the idea that Anja retrieved Jagged Fel from Tenupe at Ryion's behest prior to his canonical reappearance in the Legacy of the Force series.

Appearances

 * Force Exile V: Warrior
 * Force Exile VI: Prodigal