Hohass Ekwesh Hohass Ekwesh , also known as Runt , was a male Thakwaash from the planet of Thakwaa , serving the New Republic as a founding member of the starfighter / covert operations unit , Wraith Squadron and fighting in the campaign against Warlord Zsinj . Biography . Wraith Squadron . Because Hohass Ekwesh was considered small for his species , he was nicknamed " Runt " . Despite this fact , he was still a physically imposing presence with almost three times the strength of a Human his size and a height still taller than most Humans . He had multiple personalities , often referring to himself in the plural - which proved to be a deterrent in pilot training . Ekwesh would frequently lose himself to the " pilot ' s mind , " which was hostile to any potential enemies and did not readily obey orders . After being accepted into candidate training for Wedge Antilles ' s new commando / fighter unit , Ekwesh suffered repeatedly in the simulators - although he received very high marks in one case when a scoring variation saw fellow pilot Kell Tainer ' s exemplary marks recorded on Ekwesh ' s record ( Tainer received a score of 0 due to Runt ' s poor performance ) . In a later exercise , Tainer attempted to target Ekwesh ' s fightercraft , which allowed the Thakwaa to see through the " pilot - mind " and behave in a more controlled manner . Thanks to several exercises to ease the connection between his minds , Ekwesh proved himself to be an excellent and controlled pilot after Kell Tainer ' s assistance . Upon joining the new Wraith Squadron , Ekwesh was given the callsign of Wraith Six . Tainer became his wingman at Wraith Five and the pair became close friends . During squadron training , the Wraiths ' erstwhile home on Folor Base was discovered by Admiral Apwar Trigit and an evacuation was immediately started by the Republic forces . Ekwesh and Tainer - accompanied by Blue Squadron ( New Republic ) trainees Dorset Konnair and Tetengo Noor - were able to lure the Admiral ' s Star Destroyer away from the base by impersonating the Millennium Falcon by modifying their ships ' shield energy output and broadcasting in a code known to be corrupt . The resulting deception provided much - needed time for remaining transports on Folor ( including the Borleias ( transport ) ) to escape destruction . When Admiral Trigit saw through the ruse and opened fire on the small starfighters , Ekwesh switched minds once again - this time to his " student " self , a careful observer with a superb memory - and was able to lead Tainer , Konnair and Noor out of danger through the canyons on Folor ' s moon . After the capture of the Night Caller , Runt was given the task of reading and answering mail for the captured Imperial crew - on the grounds that his unusual mindset would be best at formulating unique responses for multiple recipients . Over time , Ekwesh noticed that Kell Tainer also suffered from a " bad mind " that would lash out at times of failure , causing his friend to punish himself endlessly for perceived mistakes . Runt attempted to persuade Tainer away from this mindset . This peaked during the Battle of Ession when Tainer suffered a panic attack and attempted to flee the battle ( just as his father , Kissek Doran had done years before ) . Ekwesh followed Tainer ' s X - Wing and obtained a target - lock , temporarily allowing Tainer to focus on the battle and eventually return to help their fellow Wraiths . After the death of fellow pilot Jesmin Ackbar , Runt was trained to be the Wraiths ' new communications specialist . During the squadrons ' leave on Coruscant , Ekwesh was ambushed by a Cyborg and received a concussion . In truth this ambush was a trap set by Warlord Zsinj , furious at the loss of the Star Destroyer Implacable ( Imperial - class ) . Upon recovery , Runt was placed in charge of a Wraith Squadron analytical group to determine what steps they would take next in their fight against the Warlord . The combined theories of Runt ( along with fellow Wraiths Face Loran and Voort saBinring ) led to the creation of the Hawk - bat Independent Space Force , a covert operation where Wraith Squadron would pose as pirates in an attempt to hire themselves out to Warlord Zsinj . While the operation was eventually successful , Runt was not selected for the groups ' meeting with Zsinj - as the only Thakwaash serving in Starfighter Command , Ekwesh was far too distinctive and could compromise the Hawk - bats ' cover . When fellow Wraith Castin Donn was killed onboard Iron Fist ( Executor - class ) after disobeying orders and stowing onboard the teams ' shuttle , Runt overheard comments from Commander Wedge Antilles stating that unit morale would be seriously hurt as a result ( Donn being the second Wraith to die in a manner of mere days ) . Ekwesh then spent the evening redecorating the teams ' temporary base to organize a formal dance for the squadron , giving his fellow pilots a badly - needed raise in spirits . As a result , Commander Antilles unofficially appointed Ekwesh to Morale Officer for the unit . Ekwesh served with distinction throughout the Zsinj Campaign , at one point suffering severe burns during a Wraith Squadron mission to Binring Biomedical Product when a rigged incinerator trap caused his fur to catch fire . Despite being badly injured , Runt was able to assist Shalla Nelprin in her fight against Zsinj agent Radaf Netbers ( who had recognized that the Wraiths and Hawk - bats were one and the same ) . Runt was able to overpower Netbers , breaking his neck and preserving the squadrons ' secret . After spending several days in a Bacta tank for his burns , Ekwesh was able to attend a planning meeting for the squadrons ' newest tactic : using a decoy ship codenamed the Millennium Falsehood to lure Zsinj out of hiding . When Commander Antilles asked if any flaws existed in their current plan , Runt sneezed loudly - which he attributed to leftover bacta in his nose . Squadron newcomer Elassar Targon suggested the sneeze was instead a bad omen ; his superstitious nature theorized that a flaw existed but nobody could recognize it . Targon would eventually be proven correct ; Commander Antilles had overlooked the fact that Chewbacca would be serving as co - pilot for the Falsehood missions but he ( Antilles ) could not speak Wookiee . The problem was quickly resolved by assigning Wraith Squadron quartermaster Squeaky as translator for the missions . During the final assault on the Warlords ' forces - the Battle of Selaggis - Ekwesh found himself partnered with recently - promoted squadron Captain Face Loran ( since Ekwesh & Loran were among the few Wraiths with hyperspace - capable starfighters ) . Runt escaped the battle without serious injury and chose to remain with Wraith Squadron when it was transferred to New Republic Intelligence Service . Post - Zsinj Campaign . Mission to Ryvester . In 13 ABY Runt took part in a Wraith Squadron mission to the planet Ryvester . Their objective was to rescue gem expert Mulus Cheems , assassinate his captor ; Imperial Admiral Kosh Teradoc , and destroy Teradoc ' s research - and - development laboratories , where his people were experimenting with plagues and toxins . Runt stood guard outside the side - door of a club , inside of which his fellow wraiths were rescuing Cheems and fooling Teradoc into taking disguised explosives in the form of a statuette . When fellow Wraith Kell Tainer emerged from the club under attack , Runt picked his attacker off of him and used his strength to shake him until he went limp . He then threw two Smoke grenade s into the club to cover the Wraith ' s escape . The mission was a success , the bomb they had given Teradoc exploded , destroying the research facility and killing Teradoc . The Wraiths then escaped the planet with Cheems . During this mission Runt was shown to have retained his position as the squadron ' s communications expert . Mission to Mulvar Sensor Station . In 19 ABY Runt , Voort " Piggy " saBinring and Shalla Nelprin took part in a Wraith mission to sabotage the imperial - controlled Mulvar Sensor Station . Piggy went undercover into the station as a cleaner , allowing him to sneak Runt and Shalla inside . They then proceeded to sabotage the station and Runt set up explosives to bring down some of the buildings , but not inflict too many casualties . The mission was a success , and revealed Runt was now proficient with explosives after being taught by his friend Kell Tainer . Furthermore , Runt showed he had developed his ability to control his various personalities , and was able to refer to them at will when explaining to Piggy why Shalla could be retiring . Death . Mission to Chashima . In 29 ABY , near the end of the Yuuzhan Vong War on the world of Chashima , Runt participated in a Wraith Squadron mission to steal a new bioweapon created by the Yuuzhan Vong in order to prevent its use against the Galactic Alliance . He , along with Estoric Sandskimmer , infiltrated a Shaper compound and escaped with the weapon , however they were hotly pursued by Yuuzhan Vong warriors . When Estoric was hit with a Thud Bug , Runt stopped and faced the three warriors , defending himself with a Vibroblade . He and Estoric were charged by two of the warriors , but instead of defending himself , Runt blinded the warrior charging his companion , protecting him . He then took an amphistaff hit to his midsection . Piggy took out two warriors from his sniper position , leaving Runt to kill the last warrior , who had just killed Estoric , with his vibroblade . During the fight , Runt was bit by an amphistaff , it ' s venom causing him to rapidly lose function . When Piggy reached him , Runt asked his friend to perform a mercy kill on him , as it was that or face a fate worse than death when other warriors found him . Piggy unhappily obliged , and apologized to Runt , who forgave him as he shot him in the throat . Legacy . Runt ' s sacrifice saved possibly thousands of lives that could have been taken had the Yuuzhan Vong still had this weapon . Piggy would be haunted by Runt ' s death for years , and would resign from Wraith Squadron and renounce his nickname because he believed that Runt ' s death was pointless as the war was already as good as over . Eventually Piggy would resolve these issues and become an integral part of the Wraiths again . Personality and traits . Runt , like all Thakwaash , had many different minds . The two most important of these were his social mind , and his pilot mind . His social mind was the mind that he used to talk to people . It was polite and deferential . His pilot mind was an inarticulate mess , a hotshot pilot that constantly disobeyed orders . This was the reason behind him being assigned to the Wraith Squadron . While with the squadron , they , and in particular Tainer , helped him learn to switch more easily between his minds , and restrain the excesses of his pilot mind . Another mind that came to prominence was his student mind , " the one who remembers , and studies for tests " , which recalled exactly how to fly down a narrow trench while avoiding turbolaser fire from an orbiting Star Destroyer . While with Wraith Squadron , his prowess at seeing things from many points of view was put to good use . One exercise that he performed was to read and answer correspondence for Imperial pilots Wraith Squadron had captured . Another was to try to emulate the thinking of Warlord Zsinj ; his Zsinj - mind was very erudite , but he was not fond of it , as it " [ made ] our ego puff up " . He served as morale officer for Wraith Squadron . Strength . Runt was physically the mightiest squad member , with the possible exception of Voort " Piggy " saBinring . His strength was first revealed when he lifted a turbolift door effortlessly , twice , with no help from hydraulics . The second time was when he was forced to attack an Imperial unarmed combat specialist who had just defeated Shalla Nelprin and was a moment from killing her . He picked up the warrior and smashed him into a wall hard enough to break his neck . He served as the physical trainer for Wraith Squadron . Behind the scenes . The illustration of Ekwesh from " The New Essential Guide to Characters " was adopted as a humorous mascot by the concept artists of " " , who referred to him as " Horse Pilot . " He was often used as an inspiration during all - night design sessions . Alex Jaeger even designed a custom X - wing , basing its design on a horse trailer . Author Aaron Allston used a fan drawing made by Amy Pronovost to help himself visualize Ekwesh . By the release of " " , Allston had retroactively killed off Runt by revealing in the 29 ABY section that , dying by amphistaff venom , his friend , Piggy , performed a mercy kill on him by shooting him at point - blank range .