Air Marshal Ralendor de Mirden was an ace TIE fighter pilot of the Imperial Navy and commander of the 90th Imperial Fighter Wing. Scoring a total of 207 kills during his career, he was the second highest-scoring Imperial ace of the Galactic Civil War.
Born on Kuat to a noble family, he joined the Imperial Navy in 12 BBY and was first assigned to the 712th Imperial Fighter Wing upon completing his training at the Corulag Academy. His career was mostly uneventful over the next decade, with the exception of the occasional anti-piracy operation. However, in the few years leading up to the Battle of Yavin he distinguished himself in battle against early Rebel Alliance pilots and was later transferred to the 90th Imperial Fighter Wing. The unit lost much of its staff aboard the Death Star and Lieutenant Colonel Mirden was appointed as the new wing commander in 0 ABY, at which point he reorganized the unit and personally oversaw its training.
Over the next few years, the 90th took part in many campaigns in which it distinguished itself under Mirden's leadership. He reached his first "century mark" (100th kill) in mid-3 ABY, and his 200th in early 5 ABY. After the signing of the Galactic Concordance, Mirden retired from the Imperial Military, refusing to serve any of the warlords.
Biography[]
Early life[]
A Human male, Ralendor de Mirden was born in 31 BBY to a noble family on Kuat that held the title of count. His father had been an official in a merchant shipping company and later worked as a starship designer at Kuat Drive Yards as a financial specialist. The young man took Ann interest in starships and space flight early on in his life. Mirden learned the basics of piloting from one of his father's friends at KDY and learned to fly spacecraft with proficiency. He applied to the Imperial Naval Academy on Corulag and was just barely able to get in because of the large number of applicants, admittedly with his father pulling a few strings. Despite the problematic beginnings, Mirden quickly proved to be a worthy cadet.
His instructors and fellow cadets described him as being a skilled pilot, performing well in the simulators and defeating a senior cadet that was regarded as the best in his class. While he received good marks and praise in piloting, Mirden's performance in mechanical engineering was below-average, and his scores in other subjects hovered just above failing. Due to his abilities as a starfighter pilot Mirden was transferred in his second year to the Skystrike Academy, an elite TIE fighter pilot school. There, he met several other cadets that would also go on to become aces in future. The Kuati aristocrat graduated in the top quarter of his class in 8 BBY and was commissioned as a lieutenant with the 712th Imperial Fighter Wing.