Quarsh Panaka

Quarsh Panaka
Biographical information
Homeworld	Naboo
Born	c.71-62 BBY
Died	5 ABY, the Torment
Physical description
Species	Human (Naboo)
Gender	Male
Height	1.83 meters
Hair color	Black, later gray
Eye color	Brown
Skin color	Dark
Chronological and political information
Affiliation(s)	Galactic Republic Royal House of Naboo Royal Naboo Security Forces Galactic Empire

Quarsh Panaka was a Human male from Naboo who served as the head of the Royal Naboo Security Forces during the Invasion of Naboo before becoming the Moff of the Chommell sector during the reign of the Galactic Empire.

Biography

Serving Naboo

Quarsh Panaka was born on Naboo and studied offworld in several guilds, specializing in threat analysis and personal combat. During his studies, he trained under a Zabrak from the Tracker's Guild on Tolan. After serving in a Republic Special Task Force, he enlisted in the Royal Naboo Security Forces. Upon returning to Naboo, he learned that his sister had been killed in a training exercise; as a result, he became dedicated to his job as he served King Veruna under Captain Maris Magneta.

After Captain Magneta resigned following King Veruna's mysterious death, Panaka succeeded her as Head of Security, serving under Queen Amidala. Feeling responsible for Veruna's death, Panaka suggested the implementation of an elaborate security setup in which the Queen's handmaidens would double as her decoys.

In 32 BBY, during the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo, Captain Panaka escaped with the rest of Queen Amidala's entourage with the help of the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Following a detour to Tatooine, they made it to Coruscant where they solicited support from the Galactic Republic, culminating in Chancellor Valorum being removed from office. They then returned to Naboo, where Panaka protected Queen Amidala while retaking control of Theed from the Trade Federation.

Panaka continued to serve as head of security under Amidala's successor Queen Jamillia, while also assigning his nephew Gregar Typho to protect Amidala as she served as senator of Naboo. At some point during the Clone Wars, he informed Chancellor Palpatine of Amidala's secret marriage to Anakin Skywalker, which Palpatine used to his advantage.

Imperial service

During the Imperial Period, Panaka attained the rank of commander and led an expedition to an uncharted planet in the Salfrem system, where he met a hybrid named Bertroff Hissa. Panaka joined Hissa in driving off an invasion of the interdimensional Rozzums and the two were the only survivors of the conflict. Afterwards, Panaka helped Hissa get recruited into the Imperial military and helped him deal with prejudice from human supremacists. Following the dissolution of the Imperial Senate, Panaka was promoted to the rank of Moff, overseeing the Chommell sector.

In 3 BBY, Panaka met Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan during her time with the Apprentice Legislature. She reminded him of Amidala and he planned to investigate her background to see if there was a biological connection. However, he was distracted from this objective when Saw Gerrera and his Partisans attempted to assassinate Panaka, although the Moff ended up surviving the ordeal.

In 5 ABY, a year after Emperor Palpatine's demise at the Battle of Endor, Moff Panaka met with Princess Leia Organa aboard Hosk Station. Organa sought to appeal to Panaka's servitude to Queen Amidala to hopefully avoid conflict on Naboo, which the New Republic was thinking of seizing, although the Moff was not moved by her words. Departing aboard the Torment, Panaka received a post-mortem message from Emperor Palpatine from a Messenger droid, which ordered him to go to Chommell Minor in order to carry out the destruction of Naboo.

Appearances

• "The Monster" - Star Wars Gamer 2
• Cloak of Deception
• Darth Plagueis
• Episode I The Phantom Menace
• Episode II Attack of the Clones novelization
• "War Portrait: Captain Panaka" - Essential Guide to Warfare Author's Cut
• From the Ashes