Danik Kreldin

Danik Kreldin (40 BBY&mdash;) was the advisor to Warlord Malign and thirty-six year veteran of both the Old Republic Navy and the Imperial Navy, finishing his career as a high admiral. Founder of the Black Star squadron and the most decorated officer in Imperial history.

Generally considered to be the best pilot in the Galactic Empire, with a kill count over five hundred confirmed, Danik was also a cunning military strategist and tactican, plotting many of the Empire's victories throughout his tenure as an admiral. He was known as The Nightmare of Athaniss, a title bestowed upon him following a battle over the Imperial world of Athaniss after shooting down twenty-three enemy fighters in a single confrontation.

Early life (40 BBY–22 BBY)
Born to Kennith and Tesera Kreldin, Danik grew within the grounds of the Kreldin Estate, the Kreldin family being a wealthy upper-class family, its money generated by the Sindahar Mining Corporation founded by Kennith's great-grandfather, though the young and adventurous Danik would often venture out into the depths of Coronet City and beyond, where he would pick up invaluable skills he would later apply to his military career.

As Danik's father was a naval officer in the Republic Navy, Danik stayed with his grandfather, who taught young Danik how to fly a starship and who eventually bought Danik his first swoop. Danik honed his piloting skills over the years, participating in several street swoop races until he entered into a tournament at the age of 17 - which, to his dismay, he lost.

Danik got his first taste of a starfighter at the age of 18, and from there on he decided to follow in his father's foot steps (currently a captain in the Republic Navy) and enlisted in the Navy.

Republic career (22 BBY–19 BBY)
Eighteen years old, Danik was assigned to a newly-constructed Acclamator-class assault carrier, the Aken. - as a naval gunner. Danik had to wait four years, as he was not an officer, before he could get into the cockpit of a starfighter. Fate, however, would find Danik behind the controls of a starfighter in just a few months. War between the Republic and the Confederacy erupted just two months after Danik was assigned to the Aken.

From Geonosis to Alaris Prime, Kreldin shot down eight enemy fighters as a gunner. But, by the time of the Battle of Thule, there was a shortage of pilots aboard his transport and Danik was offered to pilot in combat. Danik proved himself to be a great pilot, shooting down four craft and surviving the bloody conflict. He is allowed to continue piloting, and shortly after the Battle of Sarapin, Danik receives a commission to ensign.

Danik's reputation steadily grew throughout the Clone Wars, a famous ace and leader with a knack for survival. Indeed, Danik lost many squadron mates, and was transferred to many different stations and squadrons until he landed himself as squadron leader of Red Squadron aboard the Jabiim's Ghost. He would fight at dozens of confrontations, including the titantic Battle of Coruscant, but by then the war was drawing to a close, and the rise of Emperor Palpatine had arrived.

By the end of the Clone Wars, Danik was an established lieutenant, ace and leader, one of the few famous non-Jedi pilots in the Republic.

Imperial Career (19 BBY&mdash;)
Danik's Imperial career ended just as his career in the Republic ended. The Galactic Republic became the Galactic Empire, and Danik remained in the Navy, agreeing with the changes brought about by the New Order. Danik's reputation would increase exponetially during his time in the Empire.

Inter-war period (19 BBY–0 BBY)
The period between the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil War was one of many conflicts involving the Empire moving to set its power in stone, eliminating opposition and stomping out dissenters. From enslaving the Wookiees to the Kwymar Suppressions, Danik remained an active pilot aboard the Victory-class Star Destroyer Emperor's Might.

Early Galactic Civil War (0 BBY–4 ABY)
Danik was fortunate enough not to be stationed aboard the Death Star during the Battle of Yavin. Now a lieutenant commander and stationed aboard the Imperator-class Star Destroyer, the Tyrant, Danik served with disctintion at battles such as Kalann, the battle to take Yavin IV in the wake of the Death Star's destruction, and Thyferra, among many more. Eventually Danik was assigned to Darth Vader's personal task force, the Death Squadron, from where Danik would fight in battles such as Hoth, Bespin, Fonder, Kothlis, and the confrontation against Black Sun over Coruscant.

At the Battle of Bajic, Danik predicted the end of the rebellion, and at the Battle of Endor Danik felt this prediction had come true - the rebels were outgunned, stuck in between the second Death Star and the Imperial Navy. It was at Endor where Danik met future Black Star pilot Fianar Reanus.

But, to the surprise of Danik, the Imperials were decisevely defeated at Endor, Emperor Palpatine died, along with a huge portion of the Imperial High Command and Darth Vader, and the Imperials were routed.

Mid to Late Galactic Civil War (4 ABY&mdash;)
Danik escaped aboard the Tyrant to Imperial Center, only to find it under attack by the self-proclaimed New Republic several months later in the Battle of Coruscant. Danik joined up with the Emperor's Pride Fleet under Warlord Tagger, only to be met with defeat yet again in the Second Battle of Coruscant and the proceeding mop-up operations by the Republic.

It was a dark time for the Empire, and Danik was questioning his continued existence. From battle to battle, defeat to defeat, the Imperials were on the run - until the reigns of the Empire were taken ahold by Warlord Valak. From his Castle on Dreven, he proclaimed himself Emperor, and a new age for the Empire begun. Danik was transferred to the Malevolence, the old Tyrant being sent away to Outer Rim duties. Danik's reputation as a skilled pilot and leader kept him at the front lines.

Danik helped in the orchestration of many of the Empire's battles, including the Battle of Caspar and the Third Battle of Coruscant. With the third Death Star spreading fear throughout the galaxy, and the Empire reclaiming most of its lost territory, Danik's career soared, landing him in the admirality.

Black Stars (11 ABY–12 ABY)
Danik Kreldin and Fianar Reanus founded the Black Star squadron shortly after the Battle of Cochran. It was a five-man elite fighter squadron, consisting of only the Empire's best pilots and stationed aboard the Imperial Corvette, the Admiral Canis. It was the Black Star's that set Danik's legendary status into stone, and where earned the nickname The Nightmare of Athaniss.

The Black Stars would suffer no defeats throughout their existence, although they would begin a rivarly with the smuggler Axel Vichten, who remains the only man to ever elude the Black Stars in battle.

Danik, however, was nearing the end of his piloting career, his age and other responsibilities getting in the way. Ultimately, Danik was forced to retire from active pilot duties, and soon after the Black Stars were disbanded by Admiral Osbourne. Dark times were soon approaching the Empire, however.

The Neo-Empire (12 ABY–13 ABY)
Valak had abdiciated the throne, Admiral Osbourne his replacement. Only a few months later, however, Osbourne was overthrown by Lorn Rhys and the Empire thrown into turmoil after the destruction of Selene and the Dark Eminenence. Danik, a supporter of Osbourne, launched his own coup against Rhys, which failed. Danik was forced to flee, meeting up with his old friend Fianar Reanus and the two established the Neo-Imperial Movement.

Based off of the Truth and Reconciliation, a Marauder-class corvette, the Movement gained many supporters and the ire of Rhys's Empire. Troubles brewed in the Movement, however, and Danik soon found himself in a trap set by the Empire on Etti IV. Unable to fight his way out, Danik was captured by the Authority and imprisoned.

Realizing he was dead, as the Authority would merely hand him off to the Empire's Lord Korolov, Danik attempted suicide - and failed, thanks to the intervention of one Scaven Marx. Marx, an influential man in both the Empire and the Authority, faked Danik's death and helped him escape.

Return to Power (13 ABY&mdash;)
Danik remained in hiding, under Marx's protection, and worked as an agent for the future Grand Moff. Following the Imperial defeat at the Fifth Battle of Coruscant, Danik worked as an underground soldier, rallying pro-Imperial support and launching a guerilla campaign against the Republic. This would not last long, however, and soon Danik was forced to flee the planet. To his good fortune, however, Lorn Rhys was overthrown, and Warlord Malign had ascended to power in the Empire.

Danik was welcomed back to the Empire as a hero. He quickly climbed back up the rank ladder, until his retirement in 14 ABY where he was given an honorary promotion to high admiral. His retirement from active duty, however, did not mark the end of his Imperial career. He served as Malign's military advisor, given new powers and responsibilities, and orchestrated the great Imperial blitzkrieg in the early months of 14 ABY, where the Empire reclaimed Bothawui, Corellia, Chandrila, and Bespin, as well as annexed the |Caspar Democratic Union.

OOC Info
Danik joined the MUSH in March of 2001, joining the Imperial Navy as a starfighter pilot. He rose through the ranks quickly, and in 2002 became a MUSH legend along with his IC rival, Axel.

In 2005, Danik became an Official Feature Character and the Imperial Assistant Faction Head.