Alek Hardyn

"The Republic will not fall today, Gentlemen. Not on our watch!"

- Alek Hardyn

Alek Hardyn was a Jedi Master in the days of the Old Republic. Born on Alderaan in 3678 BBY, Hardyn was trained by Saran Donoc in the ways of the Jedi Guardian, and eventually received the title of Battlemaster. Raised in the midst of the Great Galactic War, he had experience on the battlefield from an early age. Like many other Jedi raised during the War, Hardyn understood the value of honor in battle, and quickly formed a code of honor himself, which he carved into a small slab of iron and displayed on his desk at the Jedi Temple. He was an expert at the Shien form of lightsaber combat, and fought with heavy, sundering strikes

In 3653, the Treaty of Coruscant was signed, and the Great Galactic War was brought to an end. By this time, the 25 year-old Hardyn had become a very decorated Jedi Knight, and had received commendations from the new Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Satele Shan. He continued to serve the Republic after the War, upholding the fragile peace between the Jedi and the Sith. Eventually, he was made a Jedi Master for his services. Not long after, Hardyn took on Nyrea Hereth as his apprentice, training her in mastery of the Force and swordsmanship. The two formed a close bond, with Hardyn not only serving as her mentor, but a strong father figure as well.

Hardyn was famous for his bitter rivalry with the Sith Lord Darth Macabrus. The two had met on the battlefield many times before, with each thwarting the others' efforts. This rivalry eventually reached its peak when Darth Macabrus sent his apprentice, Darth Vulcanus to retrieve a holocron from the Great Temple of Naga Sadow on Yavin IV. The temple was under Republic guard due to the active Sith relics inside, with Hardyn and Nyrea in command of the network of outposts defending the temple. Vulcanus and his men slaughtered most of the Republic defenders, including several Jedi, and reached the main atrium of the temple. Hardyn and Nyrea followed him, and the three engaged in a duel inside the temple. During the fight, Nyrea was grievously injured by Vulcanus, however the latter was killed by Hardyn. In the aftermath of the duel, Nyrea died in her mentor's arms, and Hardyn resolved to end his rivalry with Macabrus.

Hardyn contacted Macabrus and issued a challenge to a final duel. Hardyn met with the Sith on his flagship ''Balor. ''The two engaged in a fierce duel in Macabrus's command room, but were interrupted by Republic destroyers that had happened across the lone dreadnought by chance. Believing the ships to have been the work of Hardyn, Macabrus commanded his Sith acolytes to attack, however they were defeated and Macabrus was wounded. Hardyn dealt the death blow to Macabrus, and made his way back to his ship, boarding one of the Republic cruisers.