War does not determine who is right, but who is left.
—Ash Vesden
Ash Vesden was a human male Imperial Army trooper in the Galactic Empire. Being a native of Raithal, he attended the Raithal Academy and graduated as a lieutenant in the army in 1 BBY. His father was an admiral in the Republic Navy, and served in the Imperial Navy following the Clone Wars. A hard line supporter of the New Order, he highly encouraged his son to join the Empire. Ash worked in COMPNOR, Emperor Palpatine's small private army, before joining the Imperial Army. Upon enlistment, due to his COMPNOR service and his father's connections, he was sent to the prestigious Raithal Academy. After his time there, Ash became a supporter of the New Order and was a very skilled soldier, eventually becoming an Imperial Special Missions Trooper. Ash was promoted to Grand General under Grand Admiral Thrawn, and was the Chief of Army Staff for Admiral Pelleon's Imperial Remnant. He later wrote a novel on tactics and strategy called The Art of War, which was studied at both Imperial and Galactic Alliance academies.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Ash was born to Odosk Vesden and an unknown woman in 19 BBY on Raithal, in the Colonies. His father fought in the Clone Wars as an admiral in the Republic Navy, and personally knew Palpatine. Ash later recalled that Palpatine may have given Odosk a fore warning of his New Order. Shortly after his birth, the Galactic Republic was reformed into the Galactic Empire. Ash lived in a large estate on Raithal, and his father was usually never around, as he worked in the Imperial Navy. He showed skill while trying marksmanship and martial arts from a young age, and also was intelligent.
In 5 BBY, at the insistence of his father, he join the COMPNOR sub adult group. He served the organization by going to rallies and other activities hosted by it. Ash also honed his combat skills, as it gave him more arms and melee training. He planned to join the Imperial Army, knowing his father would want him to join some part of the Imperial Armed Forces. His COMPNOR instructor told him he already was more skilled than the average Imperial Army trooper. Odosk wanted him to become an Imperial Army Pilot, elite soldiers trained driving vehicles such as AT-ATs and other walkers. Ash was intelligent enough, but as he put it, he preferred more "hands on" work that the infantry experienced.
After two years in COMPNOR, his father encouraged him to lie about his age and join the Army. Though he was 16, Ash was tall enough to pass off for being an 18 year old. Odosk, using his connections, and since the recruiters saw Ash demonstrate some of his skills, got him into the prestigious Raithal Academy upon enlistment.