Ecks

Kracen "TACTX-01" Ecks

"I am burdened with the perfect recollection of every detail of my life, which means I will never forget your failure today. Understand that you will pay for it, accordingly." -Captain Ecks to Unknown Subordinate

Project: TACTX
Kracen Ecks appears to be much older than he truly is, and he will probably live longer than the average human being (barring illness, injury or simple dumb luck). He is a clone, of an unknown source - even to himself. 'Project: TACTX' (short for 'Tactical Cloning Experimentation') was a Black Project privately funded on the Imperial world of Corulag, in the years following the destruction of the Second Death Star.

The Project was headed by an ambitious Imperial Bio-Engineer by the name of Dr. Tyrus D'rel. His intention was to refine the cloning techniques used on Kamino to create a new breed of prodigies - each clone would have the mental and physical potential of several lifetimes, in one body.

It was a failure.

Ten clones were bred in Spaarti-Cylinders, from a single sample of modified genetic material (source classified); they were then trained during their accelerated growth period via the flash-learning matrix, a device used upon the original clones of Jango Fett, in order to assimilate as much knowledge as possible.

At least 3 clones expired during or just after incubation.

Another (unconfirmed) estimate of 3 went insane and had to be recycled.

Of the remaining clones, only one proved even remotely promising (i.e. possessing any of the desired characteristics), while the rest developed into suspiciously sane specimens.

Ecks, the first and most promising product of the experiment - was still considered a 'technical failure', along with the rest. His termination, along with the termination of all TACTX-clones, data and records, was ordered - and would have been executed but for a bombing attack by Anti-Imperial Terrorists.

An unknown number of the TACTX-clones escaped the burning facility (while Dr D'rel perished), including Kracen Ecks. Following his ingrained directive, and the skills he integrated during incubation, he joined the Imperial Navy Starfighter Corps as a TIE-pilot.

In His Imperial Majesty's Service
Given the programming that did take hold, the clone designated TACTX-01 enlisted in the Imperial Fleet, and eventually came to join Hydra Squadron. His skill as a pilot earned him some recognition, but not so much as his capacity to remember everything he was taught.

Ecks became known by the callsign 'Holo', in duo-reference to his holographic memory, and his peculiar personality. At this point in time, he had not taken a name for himself, only going by his callsign.

He achieved the rank of Captain, and caught the attention of the Imperial Security Bureau (by virtue of his adaptability) who requested his transfer.

Ecks accepted.

Taking the name by which he now known, Ecks trained with the Bureau, specifically COMPNOR's Surveillance branch. His piloting skills were put to good use as a free agent, tasked with mingling Imperials, Rebels and Independents alike, and reporting anything of value back to his superiors.

Although appearing to be a man in his 30s, Ecks has in fact only been 'alive' for a much shorter time (the exact date of which is classified). He still does not know where his 'brother clones' are (or even if any of them live at all), nor does he know the details of the genetic material from which he was cloned, or the reason for the project's failure.

He is as much 'out in the galaxy' for himself, as he is for the Empire.

Cover Story
As far as the 'galaxy at large' is concerned (including much of the Empire), Ecks is a simple, self-employed dealer of arts and antiquities (small and exotic items), working out of his ship (a humble lambda-class shuttle).

When business is slow, he runs cargo.

Service Record
CLASSIFIED: TOP SECRET (By order of the Imperial Security Bureau)

Trivia
Ecks isn't entirely sane, and few in the Empire know he is a clone.

He is as fascinated by the alien/rebel peoples he meets as he is determined to see them all 'safely subjugated' under the Empire's rule again.

His first name, Kracen, comes from a character in a semi-popular, daytime holodrama called Fantasy Planet, known for its doomed, melodramatic romances and predictable storylines.

Ecks was (predictably) the spelling of the 'X' symbol, to represent an unknown quantity.

He is allergic to bacta (a result of the experiment's failure).