Catronus Steffans Catronus Steffans was the Galactic Republic Defense Ministry Director for Public Information during the Mandalorian Wars . As such , he gave public comments on various subjects regarding the war with the Mandalorian Neo - Crusaders , along with receiving daily briefs on various subjects concerning the war . Steffans was often quoted in news sources such as the " Taris Holofeed " and " The Admiral ' s List " . During the first couple years of the war , Steffans issued statements and gave news conferences on several important events . Steffans was quoted in the " Taris Holofeed " after the early stalemate on the Outer Rim world of Suurja , and after the war progressed beyond the Jebble - Vanquo - Tarnith line and to the highly - populated planet Taris , Steffans gave a press conference during a Mandalorian siege . After the Mandalorians devastated the Republic planet Serroco with nuclear bomb s , he furiously decried the " horrific crime " and called Mandalore the Ultimate himself an " abomination . " Biography . A male , Catronus Steffans was the Defense Ministry Director for Public Information for the Galactic Republic during the period of the Mandalorian Wars . Starting in 3976 BBY , Mandalorian Neo - Crusaders from the fringes of known space began conquering worlds in the far reaches in the Outer Rim Territories before clashing with the Republic in 3964 BBY . By that time Steffans was a high - ranking defense official with the Republic and had made himself available for comment on military affairs for news sources . That year , a Mandalorian advance in the Outer Rim was halted at the Jebble - Vanquo - Tarnith line set up by Republic Navy Captain Saul Karath . After four consecutive inconclusive battles at the planet Suurja , Steffans commented to the " Taris Holofeed " that these events showed the success of the cordon , and that a Republic pushback was upcoming . In addition , Steffans spoke on the recent controversy within the Jedi Order over participation in the war , stating that the Republic valued its relationship with the Jedi and would support the Order in any endeavors . The next year , Steffans was quoted in an of " The Admiral ' s List " regarding a dispute over the status of fringer s and freelance tradesbeings in naval groups — Republic Admiral Noma Sommos had filed a complaint about them after recent incidents in the Outer Rim . Steffans did not take a side in the debate , stating that the greater question was whether the Republic would abandon the commercial opportunities it were known for in the name of military expenditure . Later that year , the Mandalorian Wars began to truly heat up — the planet Serroco was devastated by Mandalorian nuclear bomb s , and Taris itself was placed under a heavy siege . Following the bombing of Serroco , Steffans gave a remote press conference about the planet ' s devastation . Steffans was also able to spare a few words on the attack on Taris , saying that the crises on Taris and Serroco were the types of great tests that allowed the true spirit of the Republic to shine . This press conference was reported on for an of the " Taris Holofeed " . In a later of the " The Admiral ' s List " , Steffans indicated his shock , horror , and anger over the attack on Serroco and , with heavily populated worlds such as Telerath , Ralltiir , and Arkania potentially under threat by the Mandalorians , indicated that future Republic military policy was under review . Later that year , Arkoh Adasca , head of Republic - allied corporation The Adasca BioMechanical Corporation of Arkania , or Adascorp , was killed during a reported attack on his shuttle , the " Arkanian Legacy " , by Mandalorians . Although little was known of the incident at the time , Steffans issued a statement about Adasca ' s death . Assuring that medical goods and processed materials from Adascorp were continuing to make their way to the Republic , Steffans remembered Adasca as a great and loyal citizen of the Republic , and declared his expectation that a productive relationship between the Republic and Adascorp would continue well into the future . At a later point in the war , Steffans , in his position as Defense Ministry Director of Public Information , received a daily brief on military happenings from the Defense Ministry Joint Operations Information Office . The brief , which contained information on Mandalorian operations on Taris and Myrkr , along with updates on happenings in the Jedi Order and the production of war materiel , also provided policy recommendations from the Information Office . Personality and traits . In his public statements , Director for Public Information Catronus Steffans spoke directly for the Republic Defense Ministry . As such , in his on - the - record comments on the Mandalorian Wars , he provided a very pro - Republic stance . Steffans was able to communicate a hopeful message even during trying times , including during his press conference in the midst of the siege of Taris . Steffans also produced his fair share of furious anti - Mandalorian rhetoric , especially after the devastation of Serroco , which he called " shocking and abhorrent " and Mandalore the Ultimate himself an " abomination . " Early on in the Mandalorian Wars , Steffans was very optimistic about the Republic ' s military progress — for example , after the stalemate on Suurja Steffans predicted that the recent success of the Jebble - Vanquo - Tarnith line would soon result in a Republic pushback . Beyond just military matters , Steffans believed that the commercial opportunities afforded by the Republic were important and one of the concepts for which it was fighting . . Behind the scenes . The character of Catronus Steffans was quoted but never directly appeared in several issues of the " " comic book series . Steffans was first quoted in " " , an in - universe news report included on the last page of " " . Steffans went on to be mentioned in several more such in - universe reports in subsequent issues of the series .