Ardan Ardan was a Human male native of the Core World Brentaal IV and a lieutenant commander of the Imperial Navy during the height of the Galactic Civil War . He participated in the Imperial subjugations of the planets Ithor , Kashyyyk , Firro , Sinton , and other worlds populated by non - Humans . Ardan later commanded the bridge pit crews of the Super Star Destroyer " Executor " , the flagship of the Dark Lord Darth Vader , during the events leading up to the Battle of Hoth . Biography . The Human male Ardan was a member of the Imperial Navy officer corps during the Galactic Civil War . A native of Brentaal IV , a wealthy commercial planet in the Core Worlds that proved strategically important during the Clone Wars , Ardan was a veteran of the Imperial war machine dating back to the Empire ' s initial subjugation of the planet Kashyyyk in 19 BBY . He also participated in the Imperial conquests of Ithor , Firro , Sinton , and other non - Human - populated worlds . By 3 ABY , Ardan served with the Imperial Death Squadron as a lieutenant commander aboard the Super Star Destroyer " Executor " , the personal flagship of the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader . Ardan commanded the " Executor " bridge pit crews . Ardan was present within the " Executor " starboard - side crew pit in 3 ABY , monitoring a number of helmsmen , when Vader strode purposefully across the bridge ' s command walkway to discuss the findings of a reconnaissance Viper probe droid in the Hoth system with Admiral Kendal Ozzel and Captain Firmus Piett . Ardan , along with the rest of the crewmen within the command pit , watched with fearful silence as the Dark Lord passed above them . The probe droid ' s data revealed the location of Echo Base , the Rebel Alliance ' s hidden headquarters on the planet Hoth , leading to the " Executor " participation in the subsequent Battle of Hoth . Personality and traits . Ardan and the remainder of the " Executor " pit crew present displayed fearful deference for the presence of Darth Vader as he stalked across the upper command walkway of the flagship ' s bridge to learn of the Viper probe droid ' s report in the Hoth system . Ardan also possessed a certain level of Force - attunement . He had brown hair , dark eyes , and light skin . Equipment . Lieutenant Commander Ardan wore the standard - issue Imperial officer ' s uniform during his service aboard the " Executor " bridge in 3 ABY . His equipment included a blaster pistol as his personal sidearm . Behind the scenes . Ardan appears in the 1980 film as one of the unidentified extras among Darth Vader ' s bridge crew who gaze fearfully at the Dark Lord in the scene introducing the Imperial forces . The panning shot of Ardan and the " Executor " bridge crew helps to establish the film ' s theme of Vader ' s authoritative dominance over his subordinate officers . The character ' s name and backstory were first introduced on the " Lieutenant Commander Ardan " card as part of the April 1997 " Dagobah Limited " expansion set of the " Star Wars " Customizable Card Game , which also includes the game stipulation that Ardan is " Force - attuned . " This level of Force ability is a step down from a " Force - sensitive " and significantly less than a full Jedi / Dark Jedi character for gameplay . The character image appearing on the Ardan " SWCCG " card , seen here , is a transposed version of the character ' s scene from the film . In the card game ' s image , Ardan ' s rank insignia plaque and code cylinder are located on his right breast , while in the film they are located on his left breast — in accordance with all other Imperial officers in the film . However , in both the card image and the film scene , the character is looking up and over his right shoulder . Additionally , the card image lacks the presence of the two helmsmen whom Ardan is flanking within that scene in the film .