You have beaten me at my own game."
"Don't flatter yourself. You were never even a player.
—Grand Moff Tarkin and Jax Martel
Jax Martel was a Human male who served as a captain in the military intelligence of the Galactic Empire, before being involved in coup attempt and defecting to the Rebel Alliance. Raised on Naboo by a former officer of the Naboo Royal Security Force, Martel was lectured on politics since his youth and grew up believing that the Empire was the best government for the galaxy. He initially joined the Imperial Army before being transferred to Military Intelligence in 2 BBY for successfully performing espionage. Martel met Grand Moff Vylor Sarkan, the future director of Military Intelligence, and eventually became his personal adjutant. He was eventually promoted to captain.
However, Martel was becoming disillusioned with the Empire, and took part in Sarkan's coup attempt against Emperor Palpatine. It failed, and Martel was forced to defect to the Rebellion.
Biography[]
Early life and service[]
Nothing important.
—Martel describing his childhood
Born on Naboo around 22 BBY, Martel spent his first years living during the Clone Wars and spent his childhood under the Galactic Empire. His mother was a strong loyalist of the Galactic Republic, however, while his father actually was a hardcore supporter of the New Order. So from his early years, Martel was heavily lectured in politics from both those against and for the Empire. He personally preferred the Empire, because it was—in his view at the time—the best government for the unstable galaxy.
So when he turned eighteen, in 4 BBY, Martel enlisted in the Imperial Army, much to the dismay of his mother and to the approval of his father. He loved them both, but his actions were not driven by what they wanted. Martel instead simply did as he pleased, and that was at the time what he honestly wanted to do. Not much notable occurred during his teenage years, though his father did start teaching him to use blasters and knives, as well as other skills (since he was a former member of the Naboo Royal Security Force). A naive, idealistic young man, he trained as an Imperial Army trooper and finished training in 3 BBY.
Martel as a young officer.
He took part in a campaign in the Outer Rim Territories that year to pacify a planet with a rebellious local species, which gave the Imperial Army forces there heavy casualties. Martel performed well, and was involved in intelligence gathering for the troops. For this reason, he was transferred to the Imperial Military Intelligence. Martel was personally very glad of the transfer and worked as an agent on different Core Worlds, mainly infiltrating resistance cells and finding out information on them.
His successes drew the attention of Grand Moff Vylor Sarkan, who was the deputy director of Military Intelligence at the time. Martel was promoted by him to lieutenant in 1 BBY, and he was given an administrative position as Sarkan's adjutant. Martel and Sarkan talked about galactic events and politics frequently, finding that they had some similar beliefs. Martel was promoted to captain in 0 ABY, when Sarkan became the director of Military Intelligence as a result of the previous director's death aboard the Death Star.
Disillusionment and the coup[]
Have you ever thought about what the Empire would be like without Palpatine?
—Sarkan to Martel and Riza
Martel with Riza Xi.
During that time, as the director's adjutant, Martel was given access to normally restricted information, most importantly information on different atrocities and crimes that needed to be covered up. These events disturbed him greatly, and made him begin doubting the Empire. However, he was not as affected by this as his superior, Grand Moff Sarkan. Slaughter of innocents was what concerned him, but things like executions of political enemies did not. Martel gained a reputation for being a cold, calculating individual, which many in Military Intelligence attributed to his fairly quick rise up the chain of command. But in reality, his rise was more due to chance and luck than his actual doing.
During those days, Martel met and befriended a woman working in Military Intelligence, Lieutenant Riza Xi. The two worked on assignments together and formed a close friendship over several months. Martel and Riza both agreed that much of what Emperor Palpatine was doing was wrong.
Defection to the Alliance[]
Lead up to Endor[]
Personality and traits[]
Skills and abilities[]
Behind the scenes[]
Images that portray the character are pictures of Roy Mustang from the anime series Fullmetal Alchemist.