I am Jedi General Viera Cacete of the Jedi Order.
—Viera Cacete to Irella Wain during the Battle for Balmorra
Viera Cacete, birthname Ve'ra, was a Force-sensitive Asheran female Jedi Knight during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. Born on Ashera in 45 BBY, Viera was dubbed a "child of destiny," prophesied to herald a new golden age for her people. This was interrupted during her adolescence by the arrival of Jedi Master Kian Jirra, who took her to Coruscant to train as a Jedi. She would go on to become his Padawan, and was eventually knighted at the onset of the Clone Wars. As General of the 56th Battalion, Viera would form a strong bond with Commander Dodge, gaining experience across various fronts.
Entering the war without any leadership qualities, Viera was forced to quickly adapt to her environment. She received guidance from Dodge, eventually developing a stronger sense of self. She would become instrumental in the Battle of Balmorra, negotiating for peace in the face of further bloodshed. The weight of the war grew heavier as it progressed, and the 56th were faced with increasingly difficult engagements. During a mission to Skara, Viera was critically wounded by a Kaleesh assassin called Hett Thoan, rendering her briefly decommissioned from combat. She would face the assassin once more during an assault on Nathera, in a duel that saw her master, Kian Jirra, slain. Embittered by this event, Viera swore vengeance on Thoan. The opportunity would come soon enough when she traveled to Ashera to investigate a Separatist presence. There, she walked the path of her destiny, as laid out by the Asherans. The Separatist occupation was eventually revealed, and Viera faced Thoan once more. This time, with aid from Zay Arlenn, he was defeated. However, realizing she was little more than a symbol of superstition to her people, she chose to abandon her destiny and leave Ashera.
At the war's twilight, the 56th returned to Balmorra to quell a recent incursion caused by Torm Amadis. Following the decisive siege of Bin Prime, Viera's troops received a hidden transmission that prompted them to attack her. She was barely able to escape, and continued to evade their pursuit on Balmorra's surface until she could flee. After some time, Dodge tracked her down and tried to plead for forgiveness, but Viera's faith had been shattered. Under the shadow of the newly-formed Galactic Empire, she went into exile.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Viera Cacete was born in 45 BBY on the world Ashera to Ralith and Ara'dis Cacete. After her birth, Viera was proclaimed as Ashera's prophesized chosen one, the Toras'yin, and she was raised normally until she would be of age to learn to embrace her destiny. However, her Force-sensitivity drew the attention of Jedi Master Kian Jirra, who arrived on Ashera to collect her and take her to Coruscant, where she would train to become a Jedi herself.
During her first years as a youngling there, she was a member of the Danorian-wolf Clan, where she befriended Garahum Helion, Jenira Kiir-Am, Chi-Chi, and Zay Arlenn.[1]
The light within[]
Your lessons at the Jedi Temple do little to teach you what the wider galaxy will teach you. You must learn to identify where beauty lies and where danger lurks. Always be steadfast. Remember that the light will always call, but darkness calls louder.
—Kian Jirra
Much of Viera's training was plagued by a sense of inadequacy, leading to her often isolating herself from her friends. Eventually, the Danorian-wolf Clan became the next generation of younglings to travel to the Unknown Regions world Ilum to undergo an ancient Jedi rite known as the Gathering, in which they would enter the Crystal Cave to harvest their own kyber crystals to construct lightsabers. Master Kian served as their escort to the caves, where Grand Master Yoda awaited them and imparted wisdom, warning that the caves would present a trial to each of them. Master Kian also provided his own lesson, cautioning them that while the light would always call, darkness called louder.
In the caves, an uncertain Viera initially trailed behind her friends, but lost them when a light at the end of a tunnel caught her attention. She tried to follow it, but by the time she reached the light it had faded and was replaced by a reflection of her older self as a Jedi Knight. Initially in awe, the vision suddenly changed to depict corpses littering the ground around her, frightening her and prompting her to flee back down the tunnel. She came to a chamber where she witnessed visions in the ice that depicted various scenes of her presumed future, each one cryptic but suggesting failure and descent. As the visions overwhelmed her and she started succumbing to her doubts, the ice below her cracked, sending her plummeting into water.
While submerged, Viera remembered two memories. The first was her friend Jenira asking to teach her to do a flip; the second was a sparring session with Garahum, reminding her of his genuine friendship. She then spotted a light above her and swam toward it. Despite the light fading, she managed to emerge from the icy water and haul herself back onto the ice. As she shivered on the ground in darkness, the light shone again, and she realized it came from a kyber crystal. Before she could reach it, however, its light died again. She questioned what the point of coming here was if she was destined to fail. Then, in her defeat, a realization set in: recalling Master Kian's lesson, she came to the conclusion that she always had to find her own light, and in that moment it was the Force. The crystal restored its light, and Viera took it.
Returning to the entrance to the Crystal Caves, Viera found that she had been the last to find her crystal. Evidently her friends had waited several hours for her return, leaving her surprised but grateful. As they left the caves, Viera reflected on the trials she had faced and admired her crystal, acknowledging that although the light was small, it was hers.[1]
The Clone Wars[]
Battle of Balmorra[]
Viera aboard the bridge of the Valiance prior to the Battle of Balmorra
With the outbreak of the Clone Wars, the Republic found itself desperate for more generals on the front lines. To fulfill this need, many young Jedi were knighted ahead of their trials, Viera among them. Being thrust into the galactic scale conflict, Viera was entirely unsure of herself as she was assigned to take command of the 56th Battalion. Currently led by Commander Dodge, the 56th hadn't seen much combat post-Geonosis, and were as such similarly new to the warfare. Dodge, in particular, attempted to relate to her doubt by explaining his own absence from the front, and expressed his belief in her abilities, if they were anything like the Jedi he'd witnessed on Geonosis. Viera remained doubtful, but was nonetheless determined to adapt and, hopefully, become the leader the 56th Battalion needed.
Pursuing Amadis[]
Shadow warrior[]
Recovery[]
Will of the master[]
Invasion of Lirath[]
Walking the path[]
The final march[]
The Balmorran insurgency[]
The Siege of Balmorra[]
Honor before glory[]
Shattered[]
Jedi exile[]
Evading the Empire[]
Respite[]
Forgiveness[]
Personality and traits[]
Viera Cacete was an Asheran female with silver eyes, dark brown hair, and fair skin. As with all Asherans, she possessed heightened senses, including improved eyesight and agility; she was considered one of the most physically capable in her youngling clan.[1]
Viera was a fierce warrior and confident leader during the Clone Wars
Having been taken from her homeworld when she was young, Viera had little recollection of her family. Much of her childhood was plagued with a sense of inadequacy in her Jedi training, believing she was inferior to the standards of the Jedi. This often led to her isolating herself from her friends, feeding further doubt within her. Despite these feelings, Viera fostered strong friendships within her clan, particularly with Jenira Kiir-Am and Garahum Helion. It wasn't until her trial on Ilum during the Gathering that she was able to understand these feelings, coming to the realization that hope was something she had to give herself.[1]
By the time the Clone Wars erupted, Viera had maintained a reserved personality, oftentimes questioning herself under the weight of the galaxy. When she was knighted at the onset of the war, she was particularly doubtful of herself as a newly-christened Jedi Knight, especially considering it was to fulfill a demand for more generals on the frontlines. Fortunately, her assignment to the 56th Battalion meant she was subject to the patient guidance of Clone Commander Dodge, who possessed strong leadership qualities that inspired Viera. She quickly adapted to her new position and displayed her true worth as a Jedi when she negotiated for the surrender of Torm Amadis during the Battle of Balmorra, earning praise and respect from her peers.[3] Before long, she had become a confident and fierce leader and the centerpiece of the 56th Battalion, finding purpose in the galaxy-wide conflict.
Skills and abilities[]
Will you teach me how to do a flip?”
“A flip?”
"Yes! You're the best at doing those kinds of tricks. Even better than Zay!
—Jenira Kiir-Am and Viera
With enhanced senses as an Asheran, Viera's standout trait during her Jedi training was her physical prowess. Improved agility and eyesight allowed her to perform acrobatic feats better than the rest of her clan[1], whereas her lightsaber skills were considered second only to Zay Arlenn. Despite her people's spiritual culture, Viera occasionally had trouble connecting with the Force—typically a result of her own doubt.
Equipment[]
During the Clone Wars, Viera fitted herself in a black undersuit and brass breastplate beneath a brown Jedi vest, cinched by a utility belt. Her outfit was completed by black, shoulder-height sleeves, fingerless gloves, and combat boots. Her lightsaber typically hung from her belt, and emitted a blue blade when activated.
Behind the scenes[]
Viera Cacete was confirmed to be a main character of Clone Wars: Adventures when the series was first announced as The Clone Wars: Ultimates. She was first mentioned in the series's pilot episode, "End of Peace", first published on November 27, 2016.[4] She later made her official debut in the series's third episode, "Civil War", first published on December 9, 2016.[5] "Civil War" was later retconned and incorporated into an as-of-yet unreleased novella-length story, Ashes and Blood.[6]
Viera Cacete was voted "Best Light-side Character" in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Wiki Awards.
Appearances[]
|