When he was a boy he dreamt of running off to the Academy and joining the Imperial fleet. Had it not been for Tarkin’s terrible act on that day he might have done just that, and that possibility sickens him. It adds to the guilt he feels, that we all feel, for surviving when so many others didn’t. It haunts him. That’s why he fights the way he does. That’s why he pushes himself so hard. He’s flying with two billion ghosts in his cockpit.
—Tristan Calaan discussing his son, Tarvin Calaan
Tarvin Calaan was a human male starfighter pilot from Alderaan who served with the Alliance to Restore the Republic and its successor states in the years during and after the Galactic Civil War. The biological son of Karen Orvan and Antarian Ranger Gorlon Nikks, he was given up for adoption as an infant and raised by his adoptive father Tristan Calaan, a starship captain for the Alderaanian Diplomatic Corps and secret member of the Alderaanian Resistance. Tristan shared his love of flying and engineering with his son, and like his father Tarvin was a capable speeder pilot and mechanic at a young age. He often accompanied Tristan on diplomatic missions around the galaxy, and as a result was off-world when Alderaan was destroyed by the Death Star. Tarvin subsequently joined the Alliance Starfighter Corps at Yavin IV. He first saw combat as a member of a reconstituted Gold Squadron during the Yavin blockade, and quickly established himself as his unit’s leading ace.
After participating in the Rebel triumph at Endor in 4 ABY, Tarvin took command of Gold Squadron and led them through the Ssi Ruuk attack on Bakura, the Nagai and Tof invasions, and liberation of Naboo. He later helped foil an Imperial plot to recapture Naboo during the Naboo Succession Crisis, after which he adopted Naboo as his new homeworld. During this time he began a relationship with his childhood friend and New Republic Intelligence agent Larena Vaal, and the two married shortly after the New Republic’s liberation of Coruscant. Together, Tarvin and Larena would go on to have three children together; a Force-sensitive daughter named Brin born in 8 ABY and twin sons Dirrax and Nerric born in 12 ABY.
Tarvin and Gold Squadron would play a major role in the New Republic’s campaign against Imperial warlord Peri Tarsik in 8 ABY. After witnessing the heavy losses suffered by New Republic starfighter pilots in that campaign, Tarvin left Gold Squadron later that year to form a new unit dubbed Republic Squadron. He intended his new unit to serve as the blueprint for a new training doctrine for New Republic pilots. The new squadron suffered heavy losses in its first engagements during Operation Shadow Hand, and Tarvin’s training methods were initially dismissed by New Republic leadership. The setback would prove temporary, however, and by the end of the Galactic Civil War Tarvin had shaped Republic Squadron into one of the New Republic’s elite fighter units. Following the signing of the Pellaeon–Gavrisom Treaty and the end of the Galactic Civil War, Tarvin joined his wife in retiring from the military, returning to his home on Naboo. He took a lucrative civilian job as a test pilot and sales representative for Incom Corporation, where he helped develop the XJ series of the X-wing starfighter.
Tarvin returned to service 25 ABY at the request of his longtime friend and squadron mate Cody Vistal shortly after the start of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the galaxy. He rejoined Republic Squadron in time for the Battle of Garqi and went on to fight the invaders in numerous engagements as they advanced coreward, playing a key role in the successful evacuation of Bellassa in 26 ABY. He was present for the fall of Coruscant the following year, in which Vistal was killed. Resuming full command of Republic Squadron, Tarvin led his unit through the defense of Borleias and helped fend off a Yuuzhan Vong raid on his homeworld of Naboo. He later fought at the decisive Battle of Ebaq 9, where the New Republic managed to decimate a large portion of the Yuuzhan Vong fleet and kill Warmaster Tsavong Lah. Under Tarvin’s command Republic Squadron would go on to fight in the final battles of the war at Dac, Corulag, and Yuuzhan’tar. Though the squadron suffered heavy losses, Tarvin made it through these engagements unscathed, and was on hand to witness the final surrender of the Yuuzhan Vong.
Tarvin was promoted to general after the conclusion of hostilities, and briefly served as commandant of the Galactic Alliance Advanced Combat Maneuvering School before returning to retirement. He resumed his work for Incom Corporation, but struggled to adjust to civilian life. He became increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of galactic reconstruction, as well as corruption within the Galactic Alliance government. He opposed the Galactic Alliance’s involvement in the Swarm War, and the death of his son Nerric in the fighting turned him firmly against the Alliance’s government. Still, when tensions between Corellia and the Galactic Alliance began to increase in the years following the Swarm War he initially resisted Corellian offers of employment. That changed when the newly formed Galactic Alliance Guard attempted to arrest him, leading Tarvin to accept a general’s commission with the Five Worlds military. He subsequently saw action at the battles of Tralus and Hapes, during the latter of which he was forced to fight his own son Dirrax, who was then serving as a fighter pilot with the Galactic Alliance Guard.
The attempted coup on Hapes combined with other actions by Corellian leadership left Tarvin disillusioned with the Corellian cause, and he was imprisoned after a failed attempt to desert. He was later rescued by his daughter Brin, now a Jedi Knight, and a group of his former squadron mates. Now a fugitive of both major galactic powers, Tarvin threw his lot in with Luke Skywalker’s growing Jedi Coalition, fighting alongside that group in the final climactic battles of the war. After peace was concluded he returned home to Naboo. Along with his wife he became involved in the activities of Freedom Flight in the years after the end of the Second Galactic Civil War, and later helped organize aid convoys on behalf of the Alderaanian Council for the population of Coruscant after that planet’s devastation by the Force entity known as Abeloth. Tarvin lived his remaining years peacefully with his family on Naboo, helping to raise his grandson Ahren and working as a consultant for the Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps.
Biography[]
Early life[]
I spent so much of my childhood dreaming of being offworld somewhere on some great adventure… of being anywhere but home. There’s nothing I wouldn’t give now to be able to go back just for one day.
—Tarvin Calaan following the destruction of Alderaan
Tarvin had an idyllic childhood on Alderaan
Tarvin Calaan was born in Aldera on Alderaan in 18 BBY. He was the only child of Karen Orvan and Gorlon Nikks. Gorlon, an Antarian Ranger and fugitive of the Empire, was forced to go into hiding shortly after Tarvin’s birth, leaving Karen to care for the newborn alone. Before disappearing, Nikks instructed Orvan to seek out Alderaanian Viceroy Bail Organa, whom Nikks had worked with sheltering Jedi in the aftermath of Order 66. Karen, who had been left orphaned and impoverished following the Clone Wars, was just nineteen years old at the time. She was both shocked and heartbroken by Gorlon’s sudden departure and hoped to leave Alderaan in search of him. Though Bail offered her and Tarvin shelter and support, Karen felt that she was unfit to raise a child and feared for Tarvin’s safety if she brought him with her. Reluctantly, she asked Bail to find someone else to raise her son. Bail quickly settled on Tristan Calaan, a veteran of the Clone Wars and trusted ally. Karen was apprehensive of leaving Tarvin without a mother and in the hands of a soldier, but Bail assured her that Tarvin would be loved and protected with Tristan. Karen chose not to meet Tristan, and after watching from afar as Bail handed Tarvin over to his new father she left Alderaan in search of Gorlon.
Tristan was shocked when Bail first approached him with the offer to adopt Tarvin and was dismissive of the idea at first. Still only a young man himself, and busy with dangerous activities related to the Alderaanian Resistance, Tristan thought it was ludicrous that anyone would entrust him with the care of a child. After a significant amount of persuasion by Bail, emphasizing that Tristan needed a family as much as the boy did, the still very uncertain Tristan reluctantly agreed to take on the responsibility. As Bail expected, Tristan proved to be a loving father to Tarvin. Though he was told at a young age that he was adopted, Tarvin never attempted to seek out his birth parents. Tristan shared his love of flying with his son, and Tarvin was a capable speeder mechanic and pilot by the age of ten. Fixing and piloting speeders provided an outlet for Tarvin’s adventurous personality, which much to the chagrin of his father frequently got him into trouble at school and in the upper circles of Alderaanian society. Tarvin’s favorite activity was to travel the galaxy aboard Tristan’s starship the CR90 corvette Star Blade. Tristan kept his ties to the Alderaanian Resistance a secret from Tarvin, and would only allow his son to accompany him on legitimate diplomatic missions. He would manufacture excuses as to why Tarvin could not join him on missions which were connected to resistance activities.
During a trade mission to Bandomeer in 12 BBY the Star Blade received a distress call from Strix, a Jedi survivor of Order 66 who was in hiding on Vanquo. Diverting to Vanquo to assist, Tristan ordered the six year old Tarvin to remain in his cabin no matter what happened, and placed a guard at his door to make sure he did. Soon after landing however, Tarvin escaped through an air vent, slipped past the guard and snuck off the ship in search of his father who had left in search of the Jedi. While searching through the forest, Tarvin stumbled upon a squad of Imperial Customs troops. Tarvin turned to run, but was quickly hit by a stun bolt fired by one of the soldiers. Moments later, Tristan and the Jedi Knight Strix arrived on the scene and fought off the Imperial patrol. Tristan took Tarvin back to the Star Blade, while Strix held off the Imperial reinforcements. Tarvin escaped Vanquo unscathed with no memory of what had happened, but for years afterwards Tristan remained very hesitant to bring Tarvin along with him on his trips.
Tarvin Calaan in 6 BBY
Shortly after the incident on Vanquo, Tarvin met Larena Vaal and Dirrax Norsen while attending school. The three quickly became close friends. Dirrax in particular shared Tarvin’s love of mechanics and flying. Along with his father’s astromech droid R2-C37, which was affectionately known as Fixit, Tarvin spent many hours with Dirrax fixing and test flying speeders. When they turned sixteen, Tristan surprised the pair by giving them an old Rho-1 Limulus-class courier named the Twin Star. Unbeknownst to Tarvin, the ship had previously belonged to the Jedi Strix who had saved his life on Vanquo. Tarvin and Dirrax spent the next year painstakingly repairing the old courier. They modified the ship to make the rear seat removable. When removed, that space could accommodate an astromech droid. While piloting their new ship, Tarvin and Dirrax developed a violent corkscrew maneuver which they called the twister. As a play on the ship’s original name, they renamed the courier the Twinster shortly after returning it to flightworthiness.
Throughout his childhood on Alderaan Tarvin dreamt of attending the Imperial Naval Academy and becoming a fighter pilot with the Imperial Fleet. Though he had no particular love for the Empire, he was attracted to the idea of action and adventure fighting pirates and smugglers in the Outer Rim. Tristan tried, unsuccessfully, to persuade Tarvin to pursue a different career path, but ultimately agreed to let him leave for the academy when he turned eighteen. On his eighteenth birthday, Tarvin spent the night out celebrating with his friends. While walking Larena home at the end of the night Larena took him aside and expressed her sadness about his impending departure. She wished him luck and implored him to be careful, reminding him that if things didn’t work out he would always have a home on Alderaan.
Before leaving for the academy, his father asked him to join him for one last trip aboard the Star Blade. Tristan would be transporting a young Alderaanian diplomat named Cal Omas on a trade mission to the Mid Rim worlds of New Holstice and Centares. Unbeknownst to Tarvin, Tristan planned to reveal his ties to the Rebel Alliance when the journey was over so that Tarvin would know the truth before leaving for the academy. Tarvin happily agreed to join his father on the trip and after saying goodbye to Larena and Dirrax boarded the Star Blade. A few hours after the Star Blade departed the system, the Death Star arrived in orbit around Alderaan. Under the orders of Grand Moff Tarkin, the battle station fired its main weapon, destroying the planet.
The Galactic Civil War[]
Joining the Rebellion[]
I never told you about my time in the Clone Wars or the rest because I saw that glint in your eye every time you asked. It was the same one that Bail said I had when I was your age. All those war stories you wanted to hear… they’re all memories I wish I could forget. I knew I’d never be able to keep you out of this life forever, I just never imagined it would happen like this. I’m sorry, Tarvin. I never wanted this for you… any of it.
—Tristan Calaan speaking to Tarvin on board the Star Blade after the Destruction of Alderaan
Flight Officer Tarvin Calaan shortly after joining the Alliance Starfighter Corps on Yavin IV
The first leg of the Star Blade’s journey to New Holstice went smoothly. Shortly after departing that world, however, Tristan received an emergency message from Alliance headquarters on Yavin IV informing him that Alderaan had been destroyed. Still in shock himself, Tristan went to Tarvin’s quarters and privately informed his son of what had happened, before assembling the crew and telling them all as well. Tarvin was distraught by the news of Alderaan’s destruction and, to his knowledge, the death of all of his friends. Tristan took the opportunity to reveal to his son his role in the Rebel Alliance. Tarvin was frustrated about not being told earlier and, overcome with emotion, momentarily lashed out at his father. After regaining his composure, Tarvin stated his intent to join the Rebellion and the fight against the Empire which had destroyed their home. While Tristan had hoped Tarvin would not have to live the same life of warfare that he had, in light of Alderaan’s destruction he reluctantly accepted his son’s decision.
Upon arriving on Yavin IV, Tarvin was stunned and elated to learn that Larena Vaal had also survived the destruction of Alderaan. Tarvin and Dirrax had been teaching Larena how to pilot Twinster over the course of the preceding year, and on the day of Alderaan’s destruction she had been completing her first solo hyperspace flight. Larena, accompanied by the Calaans’ astromech Fixit, had made a short jump to Delaya further out in the Alderaan system and was preparing to return when her transmission to Dirrax abruptly cut out. She quickly jumped back to Alderaan only to find the shattered remains of the world, with the Death Star floating amongst the debris. Fortunately for her, Fixit took over control of the ship before it came within range of the Death Star’s tractor beams and immediately initiated a hyperspace jump to the Yavin system, the coordinates of which had been programmed into the droid’s memory by Tristan. Both Tarvin and his father did their best to comfort Larena, who had lost both her parents when Alderaan was destroyed.
Tarvin and Larena were relieved to learn that Princess Leia Organa, whom they had known growing up on Alderaan, had also survived their homeworld’s destruction. The two briefly greeted her shortly after she arrived on the moon aboard the Millennium Falcon. Leia, who was carrying the technical readouts on the Death Star, however, had no time to catch up with them. Tarvin and Larena watched on nervously as Alliance leaders planned and carried out their attack on the Death Star, in which Luke Skywalker managed to destroy the battlestation. The following day, Tarvin volunteered for service with the Alliance Starfighter Corps, where he was commissioned as a Flight Officer. Along with Cal Omas, who received a captain’s commission, Tarvin was assigned to a newly reformed Gold Squadron, flying the T-65B X-wing starfighter as Gold 6. Gold Squadron had been effectively wiped out in the attack on the Death Star, and was rebuilt from scratch as a mixed X-wing and Y-wing unit under the command of Commander Tyler Saft. After only a few rushed training flights, Tyler quickly recognized Tarvin’s potential and over the coming weeks would develop into a trusted mentor for Tarvin. Tarvin also established a strong rapport with his wingmate Rita Tabber, a recent recruit from Corellia who had been training on Yavin prior to the attack on the Death Star.
Tarvin was given little time to complete his training, as the Empire quickly moved to blockade the Yavin system. For the next six months Tarvin and the other members of Gold Squadron were faced with repeated raids by Imperial forces. In his first sortie, Tarvin impressed his superiors, downing two Imperial TIE fighters, one of which had been harassing the tail of the squadron commander. While his other squadron mates celebrated Tarvin’s success, Tyler warned Tarvin not to let it go to his head. Still, Tarvin’s flying impressed his commander, and Tyler often privately commented on Tarvin’s promise as a pilot to his fellow squadron leaders. Throughout his time on Yavin, Tarvin eagerly listened to the war stories and absorbed the knowledge of Tyler and other veteran pilots at the base. He also tried to spend as much time as he could with Larena, who was then in training to join Alliance Intelligence. Through Larena he met another prospective intelligence officer named Kora Vintar. Kora, who had lost her own family shortly before the Battle of Yavin, quickly became a close friend of both Tarvin and Larena. Larena and Kora would frequently join Tarvin in socializing with Rita and his other squadron mates in between missions.
Tarvin Calaan and Crix Madine disable the TIE interceptor of Lieutenant Kasan Moor during the Liberation of Gerrard V
Following the final evacuation of Yavin, Tarvin and the rest of Gold Squadron were sent to the Rebel base on Xyquine II while they awaited the final fitting out of their permanent home, the MC80a Star Cruiser Constellation, at Dac. Shortly before the ship’s launch in early 1 ABY, Gold Squadron was requisitioned for a special mission on Gerrard V. The local Imperial governor there had begun looting the planet’s cities in anticipation of an uprising. Crix Madine, who had recently defected to the Rebel Alliance, hastily organized a mission to assist the population of the planet. Gold Squadron would contribute three Y-wings to the operation which would disable the governor’s luxury yachts using their ion cannons while the elite Rogue Flight provided cover. Though he only had limited simulator time in the Y-wing, Tyler Saft hand picked Tarvin to join the mission. Tarvin piloted a two-seater BTL-S3 Y-wing during the battle, with Madine serving as his gunner while also coordinating the operation from the air. Despite the intervention of the elite Imperial 128th TIE Interceptor Squadron, Tarvin and the other two Y-wings of Gold Squadron succeeded in disabling all of the Imperial yachts, thwarting the governor’s plans. The remaining Imperial forces fled the planet, leaving it free of Imperial control. During the fighting, Tarvin managed to outmaneuver an Imperial TIE interceptor piloted by Lieutenant Kasan Moor, allowing Crix Madine to disable the enemy fighter with the Y-wing’s ion cannons. Moor surrendered and subsequently defected to the Alliance where she became a member of Rogue Flight. Tarvin’s actions prior to and during the mission on Gerrard V earned him a promotion to lieutenant a few weeks after the battle.
The Fei Hu campaign and intelligence work[]
Attack them? Are you crazy? I swear, Calaan, if we die today I’m gonna kill you."
"Relax! I've done it in the simulator..."
"After how many tries?"
"That's not important. Besides, I thought Corellians didn't care about the odds.
—Rita Tabber and Tarvin Calaan during the Ambush at Zolan
Tarvin in combat during the Fei Hu campaign
Following the Liberation of Gerrard V, Tarvin and the rest of Gold Squadron were sent to join the newly-launched Constellation in the Sevastol sector. The Constellation and its accompanying task force, led by Captain Gereen Sissar, was tasked with harassing Imperial forces in the neighboring Fei Hu and Noolian sectors. A lightning campaign by Imperial Admiral Peri Tarsik shortly after the Battle of Yavin had brought the Fei Hu sector under firm Imperial control following earlier Rebel successes in the area. Gold Squadron was assigned to escort supply and intelligence missions to the surviving resistance cells in the area. Because there were no major hyperlanes linking the Sevastol and Fei Hu sectors, Tarvin and his fellow Rebel pilots were forced to navigate a complex network of local hyperlanes, most of which were regularly patrolled by Imperial forces. The Rebel pilots of the Constellation task force referred to these missions as “running the Maze.” Over the next two years, Tarvin and Gold Squadron would endure frequent encounters with Imperial patrols. Tarvin established himself as the squadron’s leading ace during this time, surpassing even Commander Saft’s kill total in early 2 ABY. In between missions, Tarvin spent much of his free time with Kora Vintar, whom Alliance Intelligence had assigned to the Fei Hu sector. The two quickly developed a close friendship, and though neither acted on it, a strong mutual attraction as well.
In early 2 ABY Gold Squadron was requisitioned for a special mission to Zolan, where the Alliance was trying to smuggle arms and Clawdite volunteers off the world and into Alliance hands. The mission reunited Tarvin with his father Tristan, who was the operational commander for the mission. Tristan’s Star Blade would help Gold Squadron escort the Rebel transports that were being sent down to the planet’s surface. The transports were to collect the arms and volunteers that had been assembled by Alliance Intelligence agents and bring them safely out of the system. While the first part of the mission went smoothly, the whole operation had been betrayed to the Empire by the Imperial spy Hartho Rabb. As the Rebel convoy attempted to make the run to hyperspace, they were suddenly ambushed by the Imperial Star Destroyer Hunter under the command of Admiral Tarsik. Before the Rebels could react, the two leading GR-75’s in the convoy were vaporized by the Hunter’s turbolasers which then turned on the Star Blade. Tristan ordered Gold Squadron and the remaining transports to make a run for it while the Star Blade drew the Hunter’s fire.
Tarvin Calaan, Rita Tabber, and the transport Bluefish escape to hyperspace over Zolan
Knowing that the surviving transports would have little chance of escape on their own, and unwilling to leave his father to almost certain death, Tarvin made the decision to attempt a desperate maneuver which Rebel pilots had come to term the Trench Run Defense. While his wingmate Rita Tabber initially questioned the sanity of attempting to attack an Imperial Star Destroyer in a pair of X-wings, she conceded that under the circumstances there were few other options. Skimming across the hull of the star destroyer, Tarvin and Rita were able to fire a quartet of proton torpedoes at the ‘’Hunter’’’s bridge. While the attack failed to penetrate the ship’s deflector shield, the successful run at the bridge convinced Commander Saft to lead the rest of the squadron in a follow-up attack. Despite losing two fighters, Gold Squadron’s second attack succeeded in temporarily taking down the Hunter’s bridge deflector shield. Tarvin and Rita quickly came around for a second pass and managed to destroy the star destroyer’s bridge. Tarsik narrowly survived, but the loss of the command bridge was enough to temporarily impact the ship’s maneuvering and the accuracy of its guns. Wasting no time, Tristan ordered the remains of the convoy to make full speed for the jump point and Tarvin and the remaining Rebels managed to escape to hyperspace. After the battle, Tyler approached Tristan and shared his praise for Tarvin’s quick actions and piloting ability, crediting Tristan with raising a fine officer. Tarvin was able to enjoy a brief reunion with his father before returning to the Sevastol sector with his squadron.
Four months after the mission to Zolan, Tarvin was selected to participate in a special mission to the planet Nubia in the Corellian sector. Alliance Intelligence, in cooperation with the Alliance Starfighter Corps, was attempting to steal three new TIE Hunter starfighters from an Imperial installation on the planet.Tyler Saft, as a native of Nubia, was selected to join the operation. He in turn handpicked Tarvin, whom he considered the squadron’s most talented pilot, and Rita, who’s Corellian background and accent fit their cover as Corellian traders. Along with Kora Vintar, who was in charge of the operation, the three Gold Squadron pilots traveled to Nubia aboard the Xiytiar-class transport Lightfoot. While en route, Kora spent time helping Tarvin hone his skills with a blaster pistol and practice his unarmed combat. While he proved himself to be capable with a blaster, he endured regular teasing from Tyler, Rita, and especially Kora over his inability to beat Kora in a hand-to-hand fight.
Under the guise of being a simple civilian freighter, the Lightfoot was able to pass the Imperial patrols in the Nubus system and approach Nubia’s capital Nuba City. Before reaching the spaceport, Tarvin and Kora left the Lightfoot in the team’s LAAT/i gunship, which had been concealed in the ship’s cargo bay. While Tyler and Rita continued on to Nuba City to meet with Alliance Intelligence’s contact there, Kora and Tarvin flew the gunship into the hills outside the city. They were tasked with scouting the Imperial installation, located on the city’s outskirts, and confirming the target fighters were in fact there and accessible. For the next four days, Tarvin and Kora surveilled the Imperial installation, gathering detailed information about the installation's defenses and schedules. During their down time, the two spoke at length about their backgrounds and reasons for fighting the Empire. The two quickly bonded over their shared sense of loss and desire for justice, and Tarvin assured Kora that despite the loss of her family she wasn’t alone.
Tarvin was partnered with Alliance Intelligence agent Kora Vintar for much of the Mission to Nubia in 2 ABY
Tarvin and Kora’s surveillance mission confirmed that the TIE Hunters were at the installation but that they were being kept in hardened bunkers. The plan had been to sneak on to the base disguised as techs using forged identifications. That disguise, however, would not grant them access to the bunkers where the fighters were held. Tarvin and Kora joined Tyler and Rita in Nuba City, hiding the gunship in an abandoned warehouse near the spaceport which the team was using as a hideout, and quickly formulated a new plan. Tyler theorized that if the Imperial installation was placed on alert in response to some threat then the fighters would likely be armed, fueled, and moved out to the flight line where they could be launched quickly if needed. This would make them accessible to low-level techs working on the flight line. To accomplish this, the team decided to attack an unmanned civilian power station located near the installation the following day. While Kora and Tyler placed the explosives, Tarvin graffitied the walls around the station with anti-Imperial slogans, making it appear as if the attack had been carried out by Nubian Rebel-sympathizers. While he was doing so, he was spotted by two passing Imperial scout troopers. Hoping to draw the scouts away from Tyler and Kora, Tarvin ran into an alley and deeper into the city. Rounding a corner, he discovered the scouts’ parked speeder bikes. He quickly stole one and took off down the street. One of the troopers followed in pursuit while the other called for reinforcements. Racing through the streets of Nuba City, Tarvin was able to maneuver his pursuer into colliding with a cargo hauler, however, Imperial reinforcements in the form of five more speeders arrived on the scene moments later and took up the pursuit, firing on Tarvin as they did.
Tarvin did his best to use the surrounding buildings to shield him from his pursuers, but as the chase went on he knew it was only a matter of time before he or an innocent civilian got caught in the Imperials’ crossfire. At that moment, the Rebel team’s LAAT/i gunship, piloted by Rita, arrived. Flying above Tarvin, it lowered its rear access ramp to reveal Tyler, Kora, and a third Rebel agent all of whom immediately opened fire on Tarvin’s pursuers. Though they managed to take out two of the Imperial speeders, they couldn’t get low enough to pick up Tarvin from the tight Nuba City streets. Rita reminded them that they would only have a matter of minutes before Imperial TIE fighters arrived on the scene. From his speeder bike on the ground, Tarvin spotted a nearby construction site which included a large service ramp for supply haulers. Using the ramp as a jump, and pushing the speeder’s repulsors to their limits, Tarvin managed to launch himself in the air towards the gunship. Just as his repulsors began to fail, he leapt from the speeder, hoping to make it the final few feet to the gunship’s rear ramp. He barely managed to grab the outstretched arm of the third Rebel agent, who pulled him into the LAAT/i as it sped back to the teams hideout near the spaceport. Tarvin collapsed onto his rescuer as he was pulled inside, who Tarvin was shocked to discover was Larena Vaal. Larena had been the Alliance Intelligence contact in Nuba City, and had joined Rita’s rescue mission when Tyler and Kora had informed them that Tarvin was in danger.
After returning to the hideout, Tarvin and Larena had little time to catch up. The attack on the power station had accomplished the team’s goal. The Imperial installation was on full alert, and its complement of TIE Hunters had been moved out of their bunkers to a standby position on the bases’s landing field. However, Larena informed the others that the attack had caused a new complication. In response to the threat of Rebel activity the Imperials had placed the planet under lockdown. No ship could leave the system without a military authorization code. Even if the Rebels could get to the Imperial fighters, they would be shot down by Imperial forces in orbit before they could make the jump to hyperspace. The team quickly formulated a plan to steal the codes from an Imperial officer or official, many of whom frequented the Endless Starfield, a nightclub that Larena had been working undercover at as a bartender over the previous few months. Disguised as patrons, Tarvin, Kora, Tyler, and Rita went to the club that evening. Larena, working behind the bar, tipped the others off that she had spiked the drink of a high ranking member of the Imperial Science Bureau named Tage Kallag who was frequenting the club that evening. Kallag, Larena had learned over the previous weeks, was leading the development of the TIE Hunter, and Larena hoped he would have all the clearance the team needed. As the drugs began to take effect Tyler and Rita escorted Kallag from the room pretending to be friends walking him home. Tyler and Rita took Kallag into a storage closet in a hallway to search him for code cylinders while Tarvin and Kora kept watch. The commotion attracted the intention of a passing Imperial officer, who rounded the corner to investigate. Thinking quickly, Kora kissed Tarvin. When the officer rounded the corner and saw them he laughed and begged their pardon before turning around and returning to the bar. With the coast clear, Tarvin remarked to Kora that he enjoyed intelligence work. Kora smiled and told him not to get any ideas.
With Kallag’s code cylinders secured, the team returned to their hideout where Kora and Larena quickly retrieved the codes they needed. Tarvin, Tyler, and Rita donned their tech disguises and gathered the false identification cards which had been acquired by Larena. After saying their goodbyes to the two intelligence agents, the three pilots proceeded to the Imperial installation. Their false identification got them past the guards and they were able to make their way into the barracks, don TIE pilot flight suits and enter the TIE Hunters on the flight line. They were questioned by the base’s control tower, and again by the controllers on the Imperial Star Destroyer which was sitting in orbit, but both times Tyler was able to transmit Kallag’s clearance codes and the trio were able to proceed without incident and make the jump to hyperspace. The three fighters were delivered to the Rebel base on Xyquine II, and would later be used by Rogue Squadron in the Alliance’s successful raid on the Fondor Shipyards just over a year later. After delivering the TIEs to Xyquine II, Tarvin, Tyler, and Rita returned to the Constellation and Gold Squadron. Upon his return to the squadron, Tarvin met Kael Sykes and Hally Serrie, two new recruits from Naboo who had been assigned to Gold Squadron to replace the unit’s losses suffered at Zolan. Tarvin quickly took a strong liking to both pilots. Along with Rita, Kael and Hally quickly became his closest friends in the squadron. A few weeks after Kael and Hally joined the squadron, Cal Omas departed to take a position on Admiral Ackbar’s staff. Tyler appointed Tarvin to succeed Cal as the squadron’s executive officer. Tarvin was given command of the squadron’s Two Flight, with Kael now serving as his wingmate.
From Hoth to Endor[]
There’s not much else I can teach you about flying, kid. I think we both know that. You’re going to have your own squadron some day. I’m sure of it. But before you do you’re going to have to learn to accept that sometimes not everyone comes home."
"How did you learn to accept it?"
"I’ll let you know when I do.
—Tyler Saft and Tarvin Calaan follwing the Battle of Hoth
Tarvin Calaan and Tyler Saft lead the Quantum Storm past the Imperial blockade above Hoth
In early 3 ABY, Gold Squadron was rotated to the Alliance’s Echo Base on the Outer Rim world of Hoth. Despite the harsh conditions on the ice planet, Tarvin welcomed the break from months of grueling combat in the Fei Hu sector. He was happy to learn that both Kora and Larena had also been reassigned to Echo Base. As they had at Yavin, the two spent much of their free time socializing with Tarvin and his squadron mates. Tarvin grew particularly close to Kora during their time together on Hoth. When the Empire discovered the location of Echo Base, Gold Squadron was tasked with escorting the first Rebel transports past the Imperial blockade while Rogue Group defended the base. Commander Saft handpicked Tarvin to join him in escorting the first transport, Quantum Storm, out of the system. Before manning his fighter, Tarvin took Kora aside and admitted his romantic feelings for her. Kora kissed him, and told him to be careful, promising she would see him at the Alliance’s rendezvous point. After manning their fighters, Tarvin and Tyler guided the Quantum Storm into orbit where the Imperial Star Destroyer Tyrant was waiting to intercept them. As they approached the star destroyer, Echo Base fired its ion cannon, disabling the Tyrant and allowing Tarvin, Tyler, and the Rebel transport to escape to hyperspace.
After regrouping with the Alliance Fleet at their deep space rendezvous, Tarvin learned from Larena that Kora had been killed during the evacuation of Echo Base. Kora had stayed behind with members of Renegade Squadron to ensure the destruction of the base’s databanks which contained sensitive information on Alliance operations. She had been cut off from the rest of Renegade Squadron during their withdrawal and subsequently killed. Tarvin learned that the task had actually been assigned to Larena. Without telling Larena about the assignment, however, Kora had taken it upon herself to stay behind and complete it while Larena made it to safety on one of the evacuating transports. Tarvin was heartbroken by Kora’s death. Tyler attempted to console him, but warned him that if he was going to become a leader someday, he would need to learn to accept that in war he would never be able to protect everyone. Though Tarvin didn’t blame Larena for Kora’s death, her presence reminded him of what had happened. As a result he distanced himself from Larena, and the two would hardly speak for most of the following year.
Following the evacuation of Hoth, Tarvin and Gold Squadron were reassigned to the Constellation task force once again. In 3.5 ABY, the task force was tasked with rescuing a group of Imperial scientists who were attempting to defect from a research station in the Telos system. The actual rescue effort would be led by Tarvin’s father Tristan, who had recently been assigned to the task force, while Gold Squadron and the rest of the task force carried out a diversionary raid on the Doniphon system. Doniphon was defended by a pair of Golan I defense platforms. When the task force emerged from hyperspace Tarvin and the rest of Gold Squadron engaged the TIE fighters defending the platforms. After chasing off or eliminating the TIEs, Tarvin led Two Flight in providing cover for Gold Squadron’s B-wings and Y-wings while they knocked out the nearest defense platform’s turbolaser batteries. This allowed the Constellation to approach the platform and bombard it from close range, while being careful to avoid hitting the platform’s communication arrays. After confirming via intercepted comm traffic that the Imperials on the defense platforms had called for reinforcements, Captain Sissar ordered Tarvin and the rest of the task force to withdraw, having accomplished their mission.
Tarvin defending the tibanna gas platforms during the raid on Taloraan
Later that year, the Constellation task force was sent to Taloraan to raid the Imperial-controlled tibanna gas mining facilities there. The Alliance had learned that the Emperor was constructing a second Death Star, and needed all the tibanna gas it could get its hands on to fuel the Alliance fleet that was being assembled to attack it. While the capital ships of the task force dispatched the small Imperial flotilla defending the world, Gold Squadron and the group's other fighters escorted the Rebel tankers down to the tibanna platforms in the atmosphere. Desperate to keep the tibanna resources out of Rebel hands, the Imperials began firing on the gas platforms. Tarvin and his squadron mates put up a desperate defense of the platforms. During the fighting, a lone TIE/sa bomber managed to slip past the Rebel fighters. Tarvin quickly chased the bomber down and destroyed it, but not before it managed to fire a concussion missile at one of the gas platforms and the Rebel tanker that was docked with it. At the last moment, Tyler steered his X-wing into the path of the missile. Tarvin watched in horror as the missile obliterated Tyler’s X-wing, killing the commander instantly. Taking command of Gold Squadron, Tarvin led his unit in eliminating the remaining bombers, and escorting the tankers safely out of the atmosphere and back into hyperspace.
Tarvin had little time to grieve the death of his mentor. Shortly after leaving Taloraan the Constellation and her task force were ordered to join the Rebel fleet which was massing near Sullust for the attack on the second Death Star. Gold Squadron was temporarily broken up and its members disbursed amongst the fleet’s various fighter groups, with Tarvin, Rita, Kael, and Hally being assigned to Gold Group. Shortly before boarding his fighter for the journey to Endor, where the Death Star was located, Tarvin was approached by Larena who offered her condolences for the death of Tyler and wished Tarvin luck for the upcoming battle. Tarvin thanked her, and apologized for pushing her away over the preceding year. He acknowledged that Kora’s death had been as hard on Larena as it had been on him and that closing himself off from her had only made things worse. Tarvin admitted that while he still missed Kora, he also missed Larena. Larena told him he didn’t need to apologize, and reminded him that since the destruction of their homeworld Tarvin and his father were the only family she had left. Before he boarded his X-wing, she told Tarvin to be careful, and the two promised to see each other when the fighting was over.
Battle of Endor and aftermath[]
Well how could they be jamming us if…"
"Don't you say it.
—Tarvin Calaan and Kael Sykes during the Battle of Naboo
Tarvin Calaan and Gold Group engage Imperial fighters during the Battle of Endor
Tarvin and the rest of the Rebel fleet jumped to Endor believing that the Death Star’s shields had already been deactivated by a strike team led by General Han Solo, which had been sent to the Sanctuary Moon earlier. As they approached the space station, however, General Lando Calrissian and his co-pilot Nien Nunb, both aboard the Millennium Falcon, realized that the Rebels were being jammed and the space station's shields were still up. Tarvin took evasive action on General Calrissian's orders and turned to engage the Imperial force, led by the Super Star Destroyer Executor, which had emerged from the other side of the Sanctuary Moon of Endor. When a wave of TIEs engaged, Tarvin joined with other Rebel pilots in attempting to pull them away from the Rebel capital ships. Not long after the battle began, the Death Star itself began firing on the Rebel fleet with its main weapon, prompting General Calrissian to order the fleet to engage the Imperial capital ships at point blank range. In the ensuing melee Tarvin became separated from his wingmate Kael Sykes, and eventually linked up with a member of Red Group named Grizz Frix. Together, Tarvin and Grizz made a daring attack run on an Imperial Star Destroyer, succeeding in destroying one of its shield generator domes. Grizz, however, was flying too close to the subsequent explosion and was killed, with Tarvin narrowly escaping in his own X-wing.
Shortly after his attack on the star destroyer, Tarvin was able to relocate Kael, who was busy defending the Constellation and Star Blade from Imperial fighters. Tarvin quickly flew in to help fend off the attackers, and was still doing so when General Solo succeeded in destroying the Death Star’s shield generator. Tarvin and Kael were initially unable to comply with General Calrissian’s order to Red and Gold Groups to follow him towards the battle station, but after chasing off the remaining TIEs around the Constellation and Star Blade they were able to join in the attack. Tarvin and Kael skimmed the surface of the Death Star, staying close to the opening where Millennium Falcon and other Rebel fighters had entered the superstructure, and ensuring that no other Imperial fighters followed them in. The Millennium Falcon and an X-wing flown by Red Leader Wedge Antilles subsequently managed to destroy the Death Star’s main reactor, causing a chain reaction which destroyed the station. Tarvin and Kael were both able to get clear of the explosion, and rejoined the fleet engagement until the surviving Imperials finally withdrew. Following the battle, Tarvin and Kael were tasked with flying over the celebrations being held on the Sanctuary Moon’s surface, launching fireworks which had been retrofitted to their fighters. After completing their task, the two were able to land and join the festivities. Upon landing Tarvin was greeted by Larena whom he immediately embraced. The two shared their first kiss, before rejoining their fellow Rebels in celebrating their victory.
Tarvin’s celebration did not last long, as just one day later he and what was left of Gold Squadron were assigned to a small task force being sent to the Outer Rim world of Bakura. The Alliance had captured a message drone containing a distress call from that world’s Imperial governor, stating that the planet and its Imperial garrison were under attack by a mysterious alien species. Seeing the opportunity for a diplomatic coup by aiding the Bakurans, Alliance leaders quickly assembled a task force under the leadership of Commander Luke Skywalker to assist. After saying goodbye to Larena, Tarvin joined his squadron aboard the task force’s flagship, the bulk cruiser Flurry. Upon joining the task force, Tarvin was given a brevet promotion to captain and officially named Gold Squadron’s commanding officer. When the task force arrived in the Bakura system, they found the alien attackers, the Ssi-ruuk, preparing to launch their final assault on Bakura’s Imperial garrison. Tarvin joined the rest of the Alliance task force in attacking an isolated Wurrif-class light cruiser, destroying it and forcing the Ssi-ruuk to temporarily withdraw. During the engagement, Tarvin managed to destroy a string of Ssi-ruuk Swarm-class battle droids. Commander Skywalker felt this occur through the force, recognizing the human essences of the dying droids.
The view from the cockpit of Tarvin's X-wing during the Battle of Bakura in 4 ABY
When the Ssi-ruuk renewed their assault two days later, Tarvin led his squadron in fending off both the invaders and the Alliance’s treacherous Imperial allies. After Bakura’s safety and freedom from Imperial control were secured, Tarvin and his squadron returned to the Alliance fleet at Endor. Within days, however, Endor also came under attack by invaders from beyond the edge of the Outer Rim, this time in the form of the Nagai. Tarvin and Gold Squadron, once again flying under the leadership of General Lando Calrissian, helped cover the Alliance's evacuation of the Sanctuary Moon. After departing the Endor system, Tarvin and Larena were briefly reunited aboard the Constellation. The two recounted their adventures of the previous few days and spent the night together before returning to their duties. After the Alliance and Nagai joined forces against a bigger threat, the Tof species, Tarvin and his squadron fought under General Calrissian’s command in the conflict’s final battle over Saijo. Launching from the recently captured star destroyer Emancipator, Tarvin, Lando, and the rest of Gold Squadron eliminated the Tof starfighters which had been launched by the Tof’s flagship Merriweather, leaving the Tof ship defenseless and forcing it to surrender.
In early 5 ABY, Gold Squadron was assigned to the First Fleet which was operating out of the Hevvrol sector in the Mid Rim. Not long after Gold Squadron joined them, the First Fleet received a distress call from the nearby world of Naboo in the Chommell sector. Dissident Royal Naboo Security Force officers and their Gungan allies had risen up against the Imperial garrison there. With New Republic forces stretched thin, a small flotilla led by Tarvin’s father Tristan was dispatched to assist. Tarvin and his understrength squadron were assigned to the flotilla to provide fighter support. When the small force arrived in the Naboo system, Tarvin and Kael quickly recognized that the New Republic force’s sensors were being jammed. Tarvin, realizing that the Imperials were prepared for them, sardonically began repeating the words that had been uttered by Lando Calrissian just before the Empire had sprung its trap at Endor, only to be cut off by Kael, who feared speaking an Imperial ambush into existence. Kael’s fears were quickly realized when an Imperial cruiser emerged from behind one of Naboo’s moons. Moff Quarsh Panaka, the commander of Imperial forces in the Chommell sector, had called for his own reinforcements in the form of the Vindicator-class heavy cruiser Beacon. The Imperials immediately opened fire on the New Republic forces once they were in range.
Reluctant to abandon the Naboo rebels fighting on the surface, Tristan ordered his outgunned ships to spread out and probe for a weakness on the enemy ship, harassing the Imperials with fire from multiple directions. Tarvin led Gold Squadron, which entered the battle with just seven fighters, in attempting to keep the Imperial TIEs away from Tristan’s capital ships. The battle did not go well for the New Republic forces at first. Despite Gold Squadron’s best efforts, Tristan’s ships began to suffer serious damage and Tarvin was forced to watch helplessly as Gold Squadron lost two fighters and their pilots to enemy fire, the second of which was the X-wing of his close friend Rita Tabber. Moments after Rita’s fighter was destroyed, Tarvin was hit by laser fire from the Beacon, disabling his stabilizer and causing his damaged X-wing to be sent plummeting out of control toward the planet’s surface. Tarvin desperately attempted to regain control but was unable to. Just meters above the ground, however, Fixit was able to repair the damaged stabilizer, allowing Tarvin to level out. Pushing his fighter’s repulsors to maximum, Tarvin was barely able to avoid impact with the ground and regain control.
As Tarvin prepared to return to the battle in orbit, Fixit, who had started life as a member of the Royal Naboo Security Forces, suddenly began patching comm traffic from an RNSF frequency through to Tarvin’s X-wing. The rebellious Naboo security officers on the comm frequency were trying to fight their way into the Theed Hangar which was defended by Imperial walkers. Tarvin listened as the Naboo desperately called for reinforcements. Though he was reluctant to leave his friends in orbit alone for any longer than was necessary, acting on instinct Tarvin turned his fighter towards Theed and went to the aid of the Naboo rebels. Flying at rooftop level, Tarvin destroyed the two AT-ST walkers which were defending the Theed Hangar, forcing the Imperials to withdraw. Tarvin was able to contact the Naboo commander on the ground using the frequency provided by Fixit and explained the situation in orbit. The commander, who turned out to be Kael’s father Gavyn Sykes, assured Tarvin that with their hangar secured it would only take Naboo’s Bravo Squadron moments to take to their fighters and join the battle. As soon as Bravo Squadron’s N-1 starfighters launched, Tarvin led them into orbit to join the battle there.
Tarvin participated in the victory celebrations held on Naboo following the planet's liberation from Imperial rule in 5 ABY
Upon reaching orbit, Tarvin led the new arrivals in an attack on the Beacon, ordering them to all launch their proton torpedoes at the same time. During their first pass, Bravo Leader Kyrie Stavi was hit by fire from the Beacon and killed. A shaken Bravo Squadron pilot named Cody Vistal asked Tarvin what to do next. Tarvin told the young pilot to stick close to him, and confidently assured him that the next pass would be successful. Their second pass did succeed in temporarily bringing down the cruiser’s shields and severely damaging its engines, hampering its ability to maneuver. Tristan quickly ordered the frigate Rebel Spear under Captain Areta Bell to maneuver behind the damaged warship and fire into the Beacon’s now critically damaged engines while the New Republic flotilla’s corvettes continued to harass the larger ship. Within minutes the Rebel Spear’s fire had taken effect and the overloaded reactor of the Beacon detonated, destroying the cruiser and ending the battle. Following the battle, Tarvin joined the rest of Gold Squadron for the victory parade and celebration that the Naboo held in the streets of Theed.
Fighting for the New Republic[]
Tarvin and Cody Vistal flew a two seat variant of the X-wing during the Ohma-D'un Crisis.
After the new recruits had been trained, about a year later, Gold Squadron was assigned to patrol the area around the Naboo system. On one of these patrols, Tarvin and fellow pilots Kato and Trav Otov were performing a security check on an a suspicious Action VI transport. When Tarvin ordered it to halt and prepare to be boarded, it opened fire on him and his wingmates as well as proceeded to launch three TIE Hunters from a hidden hangar bay. Despite the surprise attack, Tarvin and his wingmen were able to destroy both the fighters and the freighter. The investigation into the origins and intent of the freighter would lead to what would become known as the Ohma-D'un Crisis. During these events, Tarvin would score his highest profile kill yet when he destroyed Imperial Moff Tage Kallag. Also, it was during this time that he first met Brek Onar, although neither knew at the time because Brek was still fighting for the Empire and they had met in a dogfight over Talravin. For the bravery they showed in bringing the crisis to an end, both Tarvin and Cody Vistal were awarded the Medal of Bravery. Tarvin was also able to make good on his promise to Cody as the young Naboo pilot was finally allowed to join the squadron. Tarvin also chose to make a permanent home on Naboo and asked Larena to live with him, which she did.
About a year later, when the New Republic began its push toward the Core, Tarvin and Gold Squadron were tasked with spearheading a diversionary assault on the Talravin system. During the ensuing battle, Tarvin once again tangled with Brek Onar and Black Knight Squadron. After New Republic forces had secured the planet, Brek secretly approached Tarvin and informed him of his and his squadron's intentions to defect. After the Knight's defection, Onar and Calaan would, along with their respective squadrons, go on to fight in the Liberation of Coruscant. The two would also go on to become close friends. During the celebrations on Coruscant, Tarvin asked Larena to marry him, to which she happily answered yes. They were married a few weeks later in a small ceremony on Naboo. Kael Sykes served as Tarvin's best man.
Soon afterwards, much to Tarvin's dismay, New Republic High Command chose to turn Gold Squadron from a multi-fighter unit into an all A-wing unit, forcing Tarvin to leave the cockpit of his beloved X-wing. Tarvin's protesting of the change caused him to be passed over for a promotion to Major. It would be another seven years before Calaan would be offered another promotion. Despite his objections however, the squadron was retrained to fly A-wings and was subsequently stationed at Folor, as it awaited an assignment. When Admiral Trigit attacked the base under the orders of Warlord Zsinj in 7 ABY, Tarvin led the squadron in escorting the evacuation transports. Much like at Hoth however, he was upset that he would not get the chance to stay and fight. After the battle Tarvin was finally able to convince Starfighter Command to turn his squadron back into a multi-fighter unit.
The Tarsik Campaign[]
In 8 ABY, while the rest of the New Republic military was off fighting over the remains of the recently defeated Warlord Zsinj's empire, ex-Imperial Admiral Peri Tarsik, now a warlord hmself, revealed himself and his new Deep Core-based fiefdom, which he referred to as the Third Tetan Empire, to the New Republic. Despite the ongoing campaign against the Empire in the Mid Rim, the Republic could not ignore the threat posed by Tarsik's empire and its proximity to Coruscant, and quickly organized a force to dissuade Tarsik and his minions. Included in this force were Gold, Black Knight and Lancer Squadrons, as well as General Horton Salm's Defender Wing, all under the command of Admiral Kir Vantai. The members of the New Republic task force would not have to wait long to see action. After setting up an advanced base on the Deep Core world of Tython, the task force quickly gained Tarsik's attention, who immediately sent a scouting force to investigate. Tarvin and his squadron with the help of Defender Wing easily dispatched the scouting force. Tarsik, realizing that the New Republic meant business, sped up construction on his flagship which was being built at Foerost. When the New Republic learned of this, they immediately ordered Tarvin and the rest of the task force to assault the Foerost Shipyards and destroy Tarsik's new warship.
During the assault on Tarsik's shipyards at Foerost, Tarvin and his Squadron was, ordered to provide fighter cover for the Fleet, while the less experienced B-wing pilots of Lancer Squadron were sent in to destroy the dry docks where Tarsik's flagship, Revanchist, was being built. Tarvin compared the task to the Death Star trench run and protested that sending in a lone squadron was suicide. Soon after beginning their attack run, the Lancers found themselves overwhelmed by both ground and fighter defenses. The Black Knights, who were providing top cover for the Lancers, requested immediate assistance and Calaan quickly prepared to move in on the Revanchist to provide support. Vantai however was confident that the mission could be accomplished as planned and despite repeated objections from both Calaan and Onar, he ordered Gold Squadron not to intervene. As the situation deteriorated, General Salm stepped in and overruled Vantai, ordering Gold Squadron to move in and attack. Although they arrived too late to save Lancer Squadron, which had been completely wiped out, the intervention of Calaan's unit saved the Black Knights from a similar fate. Taking charge of the situation, Calaan led his pilots into an attack on the docks. Supported by the Black Knights, Calaan and Gold Squadron were able to destroy the Revanchist's docking supports, causing the vessel to be pulled down into Foerost's atmosphere, where it disintigrated.
With Tarsik's most powerful weapon destroyed, the New Republic task force, now under the joint command of Vantai and Admiral Areta Bell, launched its final assault on Tarsik's capital of Empress Teta. During the battle Calaan led Gold Squadron in an attack on Tarsik's flagship, the Hunter. Calaan, Azzameen and Vistal were able to take down the ship's shields long enough for Kato, who had been once been a slave of Tarsik's, to destroy the bridge, killing the warlord once and for all. Shortly after the end of the campaign, Calaan shocked his squadron-mates by announcing that he would be leaving Gold Squadron. After the incident involving Lancer Squadron over Foerost, Calaan became convinced that New Republic commanders had become overconfident in the abilities of their fighter squadrons. He believed that without a major shift in the way that new pilots were trained, more and more units would suffer Lancer Squadron's fate. As a result he requested and was granted permission by Starfighter Command to create a new starfighter squadron using Calaan's proposed training techniques. Calaan took Cody Vistal with him to serve as his executive officer. Calaan quickly determined that his new unit would be dubbed Republic Squadron.
A few months after the conclusion of the campaign against Tarsik, Larena gave birth to the couple's first child, whom they named Brin. Soon after her birth it became apparent to her grandfather that Brin was force-sensitive. Tristan Calaan was force-sensitive himself, and despite their apprehension, he was able to convince Tarvin and Larena to allow her to learn the ways of the force when she was old enough.
Republic Squadron[]
After Tarvin had hand picked each of the new recruits for Republic Squadron, he began a long and rigorous training program to weed out pilots who weren't yet at an elite skill level. Because of the length of the program, Tarvin was unable to take part in the campaign against Grand Admiral Thrawn. During the time, Tarvin turned down a number of promotions so that he could stay with his new unit. After more than a year of training, Tarvin and Cody finally felt they had a good final roster which was now ready for combat. They would get their chance when the reborn Palpatine launched his attack on Mon Calamari. Tarvin led his squadron against the World Devastators along with the rest of the New Republic relief force. During the battle, Rep. Squadron's Three Flight under the command of Arto Reedo was cut off from the rest of the group. Despite the best efforts of Tarvin, Cody and the rest of the squadron, the four pilots of Three Flight were all killed. When his squadron was called on only a few weeks later to defend Manaan, Tarvin was forced to call up inexperienced replacements to replenish the ranks. His own wife volunteered and took the callsign Republic Twelve. At Manaan, the inexperienced pilots of Three Flight were again cut off. After already losing two of the replacements, Larena and the other survivor were rescued by Tarvin and Lead Flight. Tarvin would go on to lead his squadron at the Battle of Onderon, during which his flying earned him another embellishment for his Kalidor Crescent.
Colonel Calaan readies for takeoff in the cockpit of his X-wing.
In 12 ABY, about a year after the end of the campaign against the clone Palpatine, Larena gave birth to twin boys whom they named Dirrax, after their friend, and Nerric, after Larena's father, both of whom perished on Alderaan. Dirrax and Nerric quickly grew up to want to be just like their father. With his encouragement the two would eventually begin honing their piloting skills in the Twinster, just as he had years earlier. During this time, while aiding in the rebuilding process on Coruscant, Tarvin met his birth mother for the first time. Though the meeting was awkward at first, Tarvin accepted his mother's apologies and after meeting her husband Alsod and their son Conor, left, glad to have met her at last. Conor, Tarvin's half brother would be inspired to go on to become a fighter pilot himself after Tarvin's visit.
As the Galactic Civil War began to wind down, Tarvin finally began accepting promotions. He was promoted to Major in 14 ABY and to Colonel a year later. The latter promotion gave him command of not just Republic Squadron, but Black Knight Squadron as well. Tarvin felt that the war would be ending soon and as a result he began grooming Cody to take over Republic Squadron soon after his promotion; believing he was the best man to replace him when he retired.
Sending one elite squadron to eliminate another elite squadron? It's like ramming two Star Destroyers together. All it leaves is a big mess, and in the end everyone has a bad day.
—Tarvin in 16 ABY
In 16 ABY, Republic Squadron was ordered to eliminate a squadron of TIE Defenders which had been harassing New Republic convoys. Unbeknownst to the New Republic however, Typhoon Squadron, the squadron in question, was one of the most elite units in the Remnant and had been tasked specifically with drawing out Republic Squadron and destroying them. When Republic and Black Knight Squadrons were tasked with escorting a convoy, Typhoon Squadron ambushed them. Despite being outnumbered two to one, the Imperials were able to inflict heavy casualties on the Knights and scored two kills against Republic Squadron as well. Fortunately, Tarvin had the presence of mind to record the hyperspace vectors of the retreating Imperials, which led New Republic Intelligence straight to their base. New Republic forces made up of Tarvin's command, a small SpecForce team led by Larena, and a group of CR90 corvettes attacked the base shortly after and caught the Imperials completely by surprise. Using a precision flying maneuver he had learned from Tyler Saft, Tarvin was able to fly his fighter through a small gap in the station's outer defenses and destroy the shield generator, allowing the attack force to destroy the base. Many of the fighters from Typhoon Squadron were destroyed before they could launch. The squadron's commander however, was able to get away where he proceeded to engage Tarvin in one on one combat. After a fierce dogfight, Tarvin was able to shoot the Commander down as the two surviving Imperial fighters escaped into hyperspace. Immediately after the battle, Republic Squadron was praised as a rival to Rogue Squadron and Tarvin became a national celebrity for his actions in ending the Imperial threat. A few weeks later, the public attention coupled with his pre-existing cockiness got the best of Tarvin and he challenged Rogue Squadron's Wedge Antilles to a simulated dogfight. Though Tarvin was able to make the engagement interresting, he was ultimately bested by Antilles. Though Antilles was a gracious winner, Tarvin was forced to endure weeks ribbing from members of Rogue and Republic Squadrons alike.
Two years later, Tarvin and Larena sent Brin to train at the Jedi praxeum on Yavin IV. Later that year, Luke Skywalker asked Tarvin to come to the Praxeum and help him train the Jedi in the art of starfighter combat. Tarvin gave Cody temporary command of the squadron during his time on Yavin IV and ended up being thoroughly impressed with Cody's ability to lead.
When the war ended a year later in 19 ABY, Tarvin felt that he had accomplished his goal of ridding the galaxy of the Empire's tyranny and getting revenge for Alderaan. After discussing it with his wife and his old friends Kael and Hally, he finally chose to retire and live out the rest of his days in peace on Naboo. Unfortunately for Tarvin and his vision for a peaceful future, he was unaware that the long sought after peace would be short lived. Six short years later he would be called on again to face an extragalactic threat, greater than any he could have imagined.
The Yuuzhan Vong War[]
This is an enemy unlike any we've fought before. The New Republic doesn't just need great pilots, we needs heroes. We need Tarvin Calaan.
—Major Cody Vistal after the Battle of Dantooine in 25 ABY
Tarvin at first didn't know what to think of the stories of the extragalactic invaders called the Yuuzhan Vong. In his mind, there couldn't be anything worse than the Empire. As the stories of atrocities became more frequent and horrific however, he came to realize that he could have been wrong and prepared himself for a return to action. After the debacle at Dantooine, Cody Vistal knew it was time to call Tarvin back. Tarvin however, not wanting to interfere with Cody's command, had himself bumped from Colonel back down to Major so that Cody, who himself was a Major at the time, would be able to maintain control of the squadron.
Tarvin joins the fight against the Yuuzhan Vong.
Tarvin's first action was at the Battle of Ithor. Calaan was horrified by the devastation that was unleashed on the planet. He quickly realized that this war would be different. He saw that unlike the war against the Empire, this one wasn't being fought for a political ideal, but for the very survival of the many species in the galaxy. After Ithor Tarvin and Republic Squadron were assigned to the task force under General Yald Sutel which was subsequently deployed to defend Ord Mantell. During the ensuing battle, Tarvin and Republic Squadron attempted to attack the qworlth skaal that the Yuuzhan Vong had launched at the Jubilee Wheel space station. Ultimately the qworlth skaal proved to be too well protected and it succeeded in capturing a number of refugees from the Wheel. After withdrawing from Ord Mantell, Republic Squadron was reassigned to the defense of Gyndine. When the Yuuzhan Vong subsequently attacked, Tarvin disobeyed the order to withdraw after the evacuation of the New Republic embassy and, along with his squadron, attempted to rescue seven civilian refugee ships which were stranded behind the Yuuzhan Vong line. Despite his best efforts only three transports made it out, for which he would blame himself until the end of the war. To add insult to injury, Tarvin was demoted to Commander in the aftermath of Gyndine for unecessarily putting the lives of his squadron mates at risk. Republic Squadron was then assigned to the New Republic defenses at Commenor. When the Yuuzhan Vong attacked Fondor, Tarvin and Republic Squadron were part of the task force under Commodore Brand that was sent to assist. Shortly after emerging from hyperspace, Tarvin witnessed the distraction of the Hapan fleet at the hands of Centerpoint Station's repulsor beam. Calaan and his squadron had been positioned close to the Hapan fleet, and despite initially being presumed dead, they were, by chance, spared from the destruction. As the Yuuzhan Vong began their push into the Core, Republic Squadron took part in the hectic evacuation of Bellassa. The operation was largely successful and millions of refugees were saved. Calaan and Vistal were the last people to depart the planet before it fell to the Yuuzhan Vong and only barely managed to break through their blockade and escape. After the evacuation, Tarvin and his squadron were reassigned to General Antilles' new flagship, the Mon Mothma, and would go on to take part in two small yet still uplifting New Republic victories at Talfaglio and the Black Bantha. The victories were short lived however, as soon after, the Yuuzhan Vong began their push towards Coruscant. When they finally did launch their attack, Tarvin and Cody led the squadron in a heroic defense of the planet. During the battle, Cody was surrounded and cut off by enemy coralskippers and was in danger of being killed. Tarvin, putting himself directly in harm's way, dove in to assist his friend but was hit, and spun out of control. Knowing that to eject in the middle of so many enemy units would be suicide, he stayed in his cockpit and awaited his fate as Cody's E-wing exploded above him. Fortunately for Tarvin, his father's Star Destroyer was nearby and Tristan was able to get a tractor beam on his son and pull him aboard moments before the remaining New Republic Forces were ordered to retreat. Weeks later, Tarvin learned that, along with Cody, his mother and her husband had also perished during the battle when the Vong bombarded the planet's surface. Tarvin was emotionally shaken by the loss of his longtime friend and the mother whom he had really never had the chance to know. However, just as the loss of Alderaan had years earlier, the loss of those he cared about inspired him to keep on fighting so that one day he might have vengeance.
After Coruscant, Tarvin went on to take part in the recapture and defense of Borleias, where he single-handedly destroyed a squadron of coralskippers. During the battle he learned that his daughter had narrowly escaped Coruscant and with the squadron down to only eight members invited her to join Republic Squadron. By the time the New Republic was finally pushed off Borleias, Brin had proven herself to both her father and the other members of the squadron and was asked to stay as a permanent member.
I made you a promise Kael. I promised you that once I found a new home I would never let anything happen to it. That's a promise I intend to keep. I was at Ithor. I was at Gyndine and Coruscant. I'm tired of running. I'm drawing a line in the sand right here. Maybe we can't win this war. Maybe this galaxy can't be saved. But if we are going to turn the tide, it's going to happen right here! The Yuuzhan Vong's win streak ends today!
—Tarvin to Kael Sykes moments before the Battle of Naboo in 27 ABY
After Borleias, Tarvin was able to link up with the Dagger and Black Knight Squadron, both of whom had barely escaped Coruscant themselves. While onboard the Dagger Tarvin learned that the Vong had threatened to attack Naboo for the sole purpose of striking fear into the broken New Republic by devastating the peaceful and out of the way world. Tarvin, acting without orders, decided that he had to do whatever he could to prevent that. He refused to order his men to join him in what was a seemingly suicidal task, however they all volunteered to stick with Tarvin until the end. Brek, Black Knight Squadron and the crew of the Dagger followed suit and the small renegade force set off for Naboo. Upon arrival Tarvin and his men linked up with his old friend Kael Sykes and the other members of the Royal Naboo Security Forces. The battle turned out to be a stunning success, despite the loss of the Dagger. News of the victory spread quickly throughout the galaxy. It was used throughout the New Republic as a propaganda tool and years later it would be used in Galactic Alliance military academies as a textbook example of how to defend a position when the enemy had greater strength. From that point on, Republic Squadron was known among the Yuuzhan Vong as the Death Bringers and Tarvin himself was known simply as the Death Bringer.
Late war[]
The Death Bringer! All yorik-et, attack and pray that your deaths bring you eternal glory!
—Unknown Yuuzhan Vong pilot during the Battle of Ebaq 9
Tarvin during the final battle against the Yuuzhan Vong in 29 ABY.
After Naboo, just as Tarvin said it would, the war went much differently. Tarvin took part in a series of small New Republic victories meant to train the new recruits. Afterwards, he and his squadron were assigned to General Farlander's battle group for the trap being set at Ebaq 9. During the battle, Republic Squadron actually fought alongside Tarvin's old unit, Gold Squadron. Gold Squadron, as well as many of the other fighter groups in Farlander's group suffered heavy casualties. Republic Squadron however, came away unscathed. After the battle Cal Omas reformed the New Republic into the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, much to Tarvin's disappointment. He felt that by taking away the New Republic, Omas was saying that all of Tarvin's friends who had died fighting the Empire had died for nothing. When asked by Galactic Alliance politicians to change Republic Squadron's name to Naboo Squadron or Alliance Squadron, Tarvin refused saying that even though the Vong had destroyed the New Republic, he and his squadron mates would always fight for the ideals which it stood for.
In early 29 ABY Calaan took part in the liberation of Bellassa. Due to his actions during the battle coupled with his actions during the evacuation of the planet earlier in the war, Calaan, along with the rest of Republic Squadron, would be revered by the people of Bellassa for many years to come. Tarvin would go on to lead Republic Squadron in a series of major battles that finally brought about an end to the war. First he fought in the defense of Mon Calamari. Following that, he fought under Wedge Antilles at the Battle of Corulag and immediately after joined the attack on Coruscant. During the final battle, he led Lead Flight directly into the Vong lines around Muscave. Thanks to the heroic sacrifice of squadron mate Ryanni Synter, Tarvin and Lead Flight were, with the help of other ships in the area, able to destroy an enemy Kor Chokk warship. Afterwards, his squadron was withdrawn to Zonama Sekot, where he helped defend his father's group of warships from a wave of coralskippers. During the battle Tarvin had enlisted the help of a lost TIE pilot who had been seperated from his unit. Tarvin later learned that the pilot was one of the two survivors from Typhoon Squadron. Tarvin and Valner Greer, the pilot in question, made amends, with both men realizing that the other was only following orders. With the war finally over, Tarvin retired once again. He handed command of Republic Squadron over to longtime member Jarton Kinsk and then returned to his family on Naboo with the hopes of living out the remainder of his life in peace.
Retirement[]
When Tarvin and Tristan returned to Naboo for their long awaited retirement, they were immediately invited to a ceremony in Theed in which a street was renamed Calaan Way in their honor. At first, Tarvin had trouble adjusting to a civilian life and spent most of his spare time in the cockpit of Twinster, weaving through the asteroids in the Naboo system. What he found most difficult was the fact that his sons had left to join Republic Squadron and the knowledge that he had missed out on much of their growing up while he was away in the military. Eventually however, he was able to settle down and enjoy the retirement that he had waited so long for.
Dirrax: “How can you sit there and say that your own son died for nothing?”
— Tarvin Calaan and his son Dirrax after Nerric's death in 36 ABY
Tarvin: “Because my son did die for nothing! And you almost did too. If you took the time maybe you would see it! Your my son. You used to listen to me. You used to see these things.”
Dirrax: “Well maybe I changed while you were away. Did you ever think of that? Maybe I shouldn't be your son anymore. I never want to see you again.”
Tarvin: “Then get out.”
Tarvin was vehemently opposed to the Galactic Alliance's involvement in the Swarm War. As he saw it, the conflict didn't involve the Alliance and they were trying to play the role of galactic police. He felt that the Empire had once played this role and that by doing so the Alliance was heading down a dangerous path. He encouraged his friends in Republic Squadron to resign and Jarton Kinsk and the other surviving members from Tarvin's day, who agreed with Tarvin's views, subsequently chose to retire. Tarvin's own sons however, who had spent their entire adult lives under the Alliance, decided to remain loyal. During the war, Republic Squadron was ambushed and wiped out. Only Dirrax and the squadron's commander, Zhandon Narva, survived. The squadron was officially decommissioned shortly afterward. When word of Nerric's death reached Tarvin and Larena, they were heartbroken. Kael and Hally attempted to comfort their old friends but it was no use. Things got worse when Dirrax returned home. Tarvin and his son's frustration turned to anger and the two fell into a heated argument. Dirrax told his father that he resented him for all the years he had missed of their childhood while he was away in the military. Tarvin told his son that Nerric had died for nothing. The confrontation ended with Dirrax storming out, claiming he no longer wanted to be Tarvin's son. Tarvin couldn't understand how his son had become so different from him. Brin and Larena however, hypothesized that they had fought not because they were different but because their two personalities were so similar. Around this time Tarvin learned that Brin had become pregnant with Jance Onar, Brek's son. Tarvin was surprised that he hadn't noticed the relationship between the two before, and feared that Dirrax might have been right when he said that Tarvin had missed out on much of his children's lives. Shortly thereafter, Tarvin, Larena and the Onars attended a small wedding ceremony between Jance and Brin.
Tarvin would go on to hold a deep resentment toward the Galactic Alliance. This resentment was so deep in fact would lead him to come out of retirement for the conflict that would ignite only four years later.
Second Galactic Civil War[]
I'm sort of surprised your here. I figured you'd stay with the Alliance."
"Hey, I'm all for galactic unity. I believe if we let every system leave the Galactic Alliance whenever they felt like it, the galaxy would fall apart. But the minute Alliance leaders decided to use intimidation to keep those systems from leaving, they lost my support.
—Wedge Antilles and Tarvin Calaan in 40 ABY
General Tarvin Calaan at the beginning of the Second Galactic Civil War in 40 ABY.
In 40 ABY, as tensions between Corellia and the Galactic Alliance rose, so did Tarvin's anger over how the GA was handling the growing situation. Though he was upset with Corellia for taking advantage of Galactic Alliance laws while at the same time disobeying them, he was more upset with Galactic Alliance for using military muscle to threaten the Corellians. Just as he had four years earlier, Tarvin felt that the Galactic Alliance was acting very Imperial. He especially disagreed with the GA's laws specifying how large the Corellia's defense forces could be. Their navy had always been a source of pride for Corellians and in Tarvin's eyes imposing regulations on its size was tantamount to putting regulations on Corellian culture. Due to his being so outspoken against the Alliance, he garnered the attention of Galactic Alliance Intelligence. When he learned that he was under surveillance coupled with the news that Wedge Antilles had been detained by GAI, Tarvin was outraged and told Larena that he had lost all faith in the Alliance. When the Alliance tried to intimidate Corellia with a show of force in the form of Operation Roundabout, it was the last straw. Tarvin knew intimidation would only strengthen Corellia's resolve and that if left unchecked, the crisis could escalate into a full scale war. As a result, he and Larena traveled to Corellia in the hopes that they, along with people like Wedge, could help prevent the conflict from exploding into an open civil war.
Upon arrival on Corellia, Tarvin was immediately commissioned as a General in the Five Worlds military. Though he was originally asked to take command of a large group of warships, Tarvin instead chose to command only a single wing of fighters. Tarvin dubbed the three squadrons now under his command Messenger Wing in reference to him joining the Corellians in the hopes of, as he put it, "sending the Alliance a message." The wing consisted of two XJ7 X-wing squadrons named Independence and Liberty Squadron and one A-9 Vigilance interceptor squadron named Freedom Squadron. Tarvin himself took the callsign of Independence Leader. Tarvin and his new wing were soon assigned to the Corellian fleet being sent to Hapes to aid the Heritage Council in deposing Queen Mother Tenel Ka. Tarvin questioned the mission from the start and was completely opposed to any action which involved assassinating the Queen Mother. Five World Prime Minister Gejjen however was able to convince Tarvin that killing the Queen Mother was not their intention, and that they only wanted her step down from power. When the Corellians entered the Hapes system and immediately came under attack from the waiting Hapan Navy, Tarvin realized, too late, that Gejjen had lied. During the battle, Tarvin found himself in a dogfight with his son Dirrax, who was now a Galactic Alliance Guard pilot. The two shared a touching moment in which Dirrax told Tarvin that he would always be proud to call him his father. However, the meeting was bittersweet as Dirrax, always duty-bound, told Tarvin that if they ever met like that again, he would have no choice but to shoot him down. Tarvin, fighting back tears, told his son that if that was case, he would not hesitate to defend himself. When Tarvin realized that the Corellians had been drawn into a trap, he was forced to convince Admiral Delpin that they had no choice but to retreat or risk losing the three heavily damaged Corellian Dreadnaughts. Reluctantly, Delpin agreed and the Corellians escaped. After the battle, outraged about being deceived by Gejjen, Tarvin began to question the Five Worlds leader's motives and whether he had made the right decision in joining the Corellians.
Tarvin: “No. I just figured you'd be smart enough to leave me alone. I guess I gave you too much credit. You're going to regret this.”
―Dur Gejjen and Tarvin Calaan upon the latter's capture
Tarvin became very distressed when Wedge Antilles "resigned" his post in the Corellian military. Tarvin knew immediately that Wedge had been fired and had Larena, using her Intelligence experience and Tarvin's security clearance, search for some information on the Five Worlds' reasons for firing their most experienced military leader. What the pair dicovered was that Wedge had been fired for not being aggressive enough and not just that, but after his "resignation", the Five Worlds leaders had attempted to have him assassinated. Tarvin realized that the Corellians had no intention of bringing about a quick resolution to the war and as a result he decided it was time for him and Larena to leave. After seeing what had happened to Wedge however, Tarvin knew it wouldn't be as easy as simply retiring. As result, he decided to wait for the right moment to leave. In the meantime, he sabatoged the starfighters of Messenger Wing by making it so their weapons systems would fail when he activated a signal. After Tarvin was ordered into the battle to break the Blockade of Corellia, he realized that it was time to make his move. When he refused to fire on a heavily damaged and defenseless GA frigate, he was relieved of his command. Messenger Wing was ordered to take the frigate out, but found their weapons had been sabatoged by Tarvin and they were forced to leave the battle. Meanwhile, Tarvin slipped away from the battle to his estate on the surface, hoping to pick up Larena and make a quick getaway. Upon arrival however, he found his estate swarming with CorSec officers and he and Larena, realizing that Gejjen had suspected they might defect, were taken into custody. Without even a trial, Tarvin was sentenced to death for treason and Larena was placed under house arrest. Fortunately for Tarvin, the newly formed Confederation proudly broadcast news of his capture across the galaxy. His children, Brin and Dirrax, quickly went about formulating a rescue attempt upon hearing the news. With the help of former Republic Squadron pilots Jarton Kinsk, Vyalla Serru and Nien Nuvv, the two were able to rescue their parents and get them out of the system. During the rescue, Tarvin's friends had been forced to kill Dane Tabber, the younger brother of close friend and squadron mate Rita Tabber. Because Dane insulted Rita's memory to Tarvin's face however, Tarvin didn't regret seeing him die.
After the Raid on Corellia, Tarvin and Dirrax made amends, with both men realizing they had misread the situation. Tarvin, Larena and their three Republic Squadron companions then took refuge on Rori in an old smuggling hideout once used by Hally Serrie Sykes' father, where they could avoid detection from both the Confederation and the GA. Kael Sykes helped by using his position in the RNSF to throw off GA investigators, who had learned off Tarvin's escape and hoped to capture the "traitor" themselves. From Rori, Tarvin and his companions planned their next actions to help and bring about a quick end to the war.
Personality and traits[]
You need to realize that I'm acting without orders. I won't command any of you to come with me. This is a completely volunteer mission."
"Then I think I speak for all of us when I say we're in. We'll follow you to the end, Tarvin.
—Tarvin Calaan and Jarton Kinsk before the Battle of Naboo in 27 ABY
Tarvin Calaan was a loyal and trustworthy individual. Tarvin always put the well-being of his friends, family and innocent civilians above his own. He was always willing to put himself at risk for those he cared about and was always ready to try a new and dangerous maneuver in order to accomplish his mission. Due to this fact, his own father once described him as brave to the point of insanity. Tarvin would even go so far as to disobey direct orders if it meant he could help someone in need. At multiple times during the Yuuzhan Vong War, Tarvin disobeyed or acted without orders in the hopes of saving lives. The most notable instances of this are at Gyndine, where he went back to defend a group of stranded transports, Coruscant, where he dove in to assist Cody Vistal, and Naboo, where he left the New Republic fleet and led in the defense of that world.
Above all else, Tarvin always felt the need to have something to believe in. After years of fighting against the Empire, Tarvin truly believed in the New Republic and was heartbroken when it collapsed during the Yuuzhan Vong War. This, almost impulsive, need to be a part of some movement also led him to join the Corellians in their rebellion in 40 ABY; a decision he would later regret. First and foremost, Tarvin was a born leader. He inspired loyalty in the men and women under his command and most of them would remain close friends with him years later. Some were even willing to risk their lives to save him from Confederation imprisonment in 40 ABY. Despite his good qualities, Tarvin, like all fighter pilots, was cocky and headstrong, much to the annoyance of his wife.
Physically, Tarvin was fairly tall and of a strong build, though he was not big enough to be considered intimidating. Strangely, he bore a close resemblance to his adoptive father Tristan Calaan, and most who didn't know otherwise, assumed that the two were in fact related by blood. It is unknown if this resemblance was simply a coincidence, or if it was brought about by the Force bond they shared.
Talents[]
Arrogant, stubborn and one of the best pilots I've ever seen. He's definately your son, Tarvin.
—Larena Vaal Calaan to Tarvin, refering to their son Dirrax
Tarvin Calaan was known throughout his career as one of the best fighter pilots in the galaxy. This was not surprising, considering he had a Clone Wars veteran fighter pilot as a father. During the Second Galactic Civil War, Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles both agreed that amongst non-Jedi, Calaan was probably the best X-wing pilot to have never flown with Rogue Squadron. Tarvin was most famous for his attacks on capital ships. During his career he accounted for more capital ship kills by a fighter than any other pilot. Though, in most cases, he had support from other fighters and sometimes even other capital ships during these assaults, Tarvin's precision flying techniques, imparted to him by Tyler Saft, made him exceptionally good at evading fixed defensive weaponry. Tarvin's skills in a fighter were made even more impressive by the fact that he, like Antilles, flew without the benefit of the Force. Also, Tarvin was known to set the inertial compensator on his fighter as low as eighty percent. This meant he had to deal with far greater g-forces than the average pilot and still he was able to outmatch them in combat.
Tarvin apparently had some skill with a blaster as well, as he showed when he was shot down during the Ohma-D'un Crisis. During the battle, he was able to use his sidearm to fight through waves of battle droids and destroy the Imperial Installation on Ohma-D'un. It is unknown where he picked up his skill with blaster. Like piloting, he might have learned it from his father. Another possible teacher was his wife Larena, who herself was skilled with the weapon. More likely however, learning how to use a blaster was part of his basic training to become a fighter pilot.
Relationships[]
Larena Vaal[]
Larena was Tarvin's main love interest throughout his life and in fact was the one who ends up marrying him. Tarvin met Larena at age six and the two were fast friends. Despite their friendship never turning into anything romantic throughout their teenage years, their friend Dirrax and both of their parents knew, even then, that the two were meant for each other. It wasn't until after the destruction of Alderaan and the loss of their friends and family however, that the two realized how much they needed each other. After finally admitting their feelings at Endor, the relationship took off, with the two being married just about two and a half years later. After surviving the Galactic Civil War, Yuuzhan Vong War and the tragedy of losing a child, it became apparent to those close to them that they had possibly the strongest relationship any of them had ever seen. Tarvin and Larena remained happily married as of 44 ABY.
Kora Vintar[]
Kora Vintar and Tarvin had interesting yet brief relationship early in the Galactic Civil War. They met on Yavin IV and became close friends. Due to the fact that Kora was Larena's partner, they saw a lot of each other. Kora, like Larena, had experienced a great personal tragedy and needed someone like Tarvin to love her. During the evacuation of Hoth, Kora revealed to Tarvin that she had feelings for him. Tarvin cared about her but was unsure if he could carry on a relationship with her while he also cared about Larena. Kora didn't want to hurt Larena either and so convinced herself that Larena needed Tarvin more than she did. She volunteered to stay behind at Echo Base and set of charges to destroy the facility. During the attempt she was killed. Tarvin was extremely hurt by the loss of Kora, and was unable to look Larena straight in the eyes for almost a year. Although he eventually did fall in love with and marry Larena, he never forgave himself for Kora's death.
Rita Tabber[]
Rita Tabber and Tarvin's friendship never really developed into anything romantic. Nonetheless, many pilots in Gold Squadron who weren't aware of Tarvin's relationships with Kora and Larena, felt that he would end up falling for Rita. Before the arrivals of Kael Sykes and Hally Serrie, Rita was clearly Tarvin's closest friend in the squadron and he reacted more severely to her death at Naboo than he had for other squadron mates who had been killed.
Behind the scenes[]
If this fanon were actually canon, then Tarvin would actually make three brief appearances in the films. He could first be seen in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, as one of the two X-wings escorting Quantum Storm away from Hoth. He could also be seen twice during the Battle of Endor in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. First he could be seen flying just ahead of the Millennium Falcon as the Imperial fighters attack. He could be seen again later in the battle as Grizz Frix's wingman.
This character's name was originally meant to be Tristan Calaan. However, in the hopes of making the character's name more "Star Wars sounding" it was changed to Tarvin. The name Tristan was later used for his father.
Tarvin Calaan's character was heavely based of that of Wedge Antilles (The author's favorite canon character). Many of the events in Tarvin's life were inspired by events in Wedge's life. Examples include the Tarsik Campaign, which was based off the Zsinj Campaign, Tarvin leaving Gold Squadron to form Republic Squadron, which was based off Wedge's departure from Rogue Squadron to form Wraith Squadron, and Tarvin's decision to join the Five Worlds. Despite their similarities, it has been said by the author that, of the two, Wedge is the better pilot, making Tarvin arguably the second best, non-jedi, pilot in the galaxy. In fanon, Tarvin and Wedge are friends and interact on a regular bases.