Quarsh Panaka was a Human male native to the planet Naboo who served as an officer in the Royal Naboo Security Forces. Following the election of Padmé Naberrie as queen, he was named the new Head of Security, the commander of the Security Forces. Learning from the mistakes of Maris Magneta, his predecessor, and the assassination of King Ars Veruna, he installed several security measures to ensure the safety of Queen Amidala, and her successors.
Biography[]
Early career[]
Quarsh Panaka was born in Dejack City, nearly a hundred kilometers south of Theed. At seventeen, he left Naboo and joined the Judicial Forces of the Galactic Republic, where he participated in campaigns against groups of pirates and other criminals, gaining experience in combat and leadership. However, although he had a promising career as a Judicial, he decided to leave the force and return to Naboo, joining the Royal Security Forces, where he was commissioned as a Junior Lieutenant.
In the year 34 BBY, the then Senior Lieutenant Panaka and his partner, Sergeant Rainier Dwyer, were tasked with arresting an unknown man who was causing trouble in the 15th Distrito, Wicamy County. He and Dwyer arrived at a cabin on the edge of Lake Tapalo and separated. Shortly afterwards Panaka heard blaster fire and ran towards the sound, finding the man and subduing him, although he received injuries. However, when Dwyer arrived, he noticed that the suspect did not have a blaster on his person, which raised the suspicion that the man had an accomplice.
While the three returned to base, the man regained consciousness and tried to escape, which resulted in his death. Upon returning to base, Panaka and Dwyer discovered that the dead man was Mors Magson, an agent from the Dankler Agency of Security and Investigation. However, when they contacted the agency, they stated that they did not know what Magson was doing on Naboo.
Dwyer and Panaka returned to the cabin hoping to find clues as to Magson and/or his accomplice's motives. As they approached, they saw a mysterious figure who fled as soon as he saw them, heading towards a thicket. The two called for reinforcements as they chased the individual to a cave in a nearby hill, where they found a secret cache full of illegal weapons. However, before they could do anything, they were defeated by two individuals, including Merven, the suspect they were chasing. Mervan claimed to work for the good of Naboo and explained that he had contacted Magson, an old friend of his, to help him find a cache of evidence against King Veruna and his government. However, before he could take them officers Kurlin and Dalcott arrived and killed Merven and his associate. Upon returning to base, Panaka spoke to his commander about the alleged evidence, but Captain Maris Magneta, then Naboo's Head of Security, ordered the bombing of the site, allegedly due to the weapons cache found there.
Two years later, King Veruna and his top advisors were implicated in a corruption scandal and were killed in the dead of night in the royal apartments at the Royal Winter Palace in Brneum. Soon after, the 13-year-old Princess of Theed, Padmé Naberrie, was elected the new Queen of Naboo and appointed Panaka as the new Head of Security. Due to the way Veruna died, in a locked room, Panaka established an elaborate security setup to protect the queen. He also took the opportunity to promote Dwyer to Command Sergeant Major.
Naboo crisis[]
This is a dangerous situation, Your Highness. Our security volunteers will be no match against a battle-hardened Federation army.
—Panaka to Amidala
Knowing that his world was vulnerable to attack, Panaka advocated an increase in the military budget and expanded security forces. However, the Royal Advisory Council advised the queen against this, appealing to Naboo's peaceful tradition.