Tanda Marelle Tanda Marelle was a Human female senior reporter who worked for the NewsNet " Galactic Resorts " shortly before the Clone Wars and during the Galactic Civil War . She was also a master art and jewel thief , called the " Tombat " and believed to be male by the galactic media . Despite her unsavory alternate profession , she was an important informant for the Rebel Alliance . Among other things , Tombat stole a pair of six thousand years old Manderon slugthrowers from Fitz Roi and the corusca gem necklace of Imperial Moff Landric ' s wife . Biography . Tanda Marelle was a Human female born on Alderaan before the Clone Wars . A member of a prominent trading family , she became bored with her life and sought adventure and excitement . Even Marelle became a journalist , working for the " Galactic Resorts " holomagazine . Traveling the resort worlds of the galaxy , Marelle used her position to aid in her other career choice ; a jewel thief . On assignment , she would use her cover to case targets and individuals . In 22 BBY , just prior to the Clone Wars , Marelle was a senior correspondent with " Galactic Resorts " , and contributed several opinions regarding the state of the galactic economy and tourism spending while the galaxy appeared to be gearing up for war . As a jewel thief , Marelle established an alias for herself , the Tombat . Early in her career as a thief , an incident caused people to believe that the Tombat was male . Marelle did nothing to correct the mistake , and actively encouraged the misconception as it amused her . She found the ruse useful for evading capture and suspicion as authorities were always searching for a man . The Tombat became an infamous figure in the galaxy , known as a superb jewel thief who was invisible and could bypass any defense or security system and take whatever he wanted without a trace . Stories told of his prowess with woman , and his ability to captivate females . The Tombat always left behind a single quella stone in place of the items stolen as a signature . By the early part of the Galactic Civil War , arrest warrants were issued in 30 star systems for the Tombat . At some point , Tombat was rumored to have broken into Noval Garaint ' s base in the Kheedar system and discovered that the bounty hunter had rebuilt and reprogrammed the chassis of a half dozen F1 exploration droid s to serve as bodyguard units . Although Marelle was not concerned with any cause apart from her own , that changed in 0 BBY with the destruction of her homeworld by the Galactic Empire . Shaken by the destruction — mainly due to amount of gems she had stashed away on the planet — Marelle sought out the Alliance to Restore the Republic to offer her services . She tracked Alliance General Airen Cracken down to a safehouse on Albecus , and brought with her a packet of love letters that Cracken had written at the age of sixteen and lost long ago . Her display convinced Cracken that she would be a remarkable asset , although he lamented the fact that her commitment to the Alliance was sporadic at best . Despite being Alderaanian , Marelle did not get along with her fellow exiles due to her reputation as a thief . During a briefing , Alliance agent Targeter angrily confronted Marelle for wearing a pendant that Targeter insisted belonged to the Alderaanian Royal Family . The pendant was later seen in the possession of Leia Organa . In 0 ABY , Marelle reported on the preparations for the 2 , 367th annual Priole Danna Festival on Lamuir IV . During the festival , Marelle stole a pair of antique slugthrowers created by Andel Tanner during the Galactic Republic ' s Manderon Period which belonged to the Jatz singer Fitz Roi . Lifting them from the safe in the singer ' s hotel room , Marelle left leaving behind a blue quella stone in the weapon ' s leather holding case . Several months later , Marelle was on Spira , reporting on the annual Spira Regatta Open . She pulled the Spira Heist during the Regatta . In 1 ABY , Marelle was on Tinnel IV when she raided the personal estate of Moff Tiaan Jerjerrod , ruler of the Quanta sector . She stole several works of art from the Moff ' s vaults , but left data disks in place . A few months later , Marelle was on Elshandruu Pica , where she stole gems and setting valued at over six million credits from Lady Landric of Danteel who was staying at Margath ' s on Elshandruu Pica . Lady Landric , wife of Moff Landric announced that a full scale investigation into the theft was to be launched . Two days later , Marelle returned the gems and settings to the safe where she had looted them from , baffling investigators . Despite this , the Imperial Office of Criminal Investigations assigned Special Enforcement Officer Zanza Gata to the Tombat case . In 2 ABY , Maralle reported on the release of Fitz Roi ' s newest sound slug , " Tymin ' Downband " while on Arcopola . A month later , she looted the art collection of Whiphid business tycoon Baron Galrowk on Gambolla . A few months later , Marelle was on Brentaal IV reporting on the lavish production of The Kallea Cycle . During a banquet hosted by House Brentioch , Marelle arranged for quella stones to be baked into the bowls of shim - bay crispa served to the guests , which included Moff Jamson Caglio , Imperial Advisor Alec Pradeux , and Inspector Zanza Gata of the IOCI . Personality and traits . Marelle was trained to use a blaster , and carried a palm blaster . She was also trained in unarmed and melee combat . Marelle was knowledgeable about bureaucratic procedure , alien cultures , and law enforcement . She could fly repulsorlift vehicles and swoops , and could operate security equipment . Marelle was able to program and repair computers , and program droids , and was skilled in demolitions and first aid treatment . An able thief , she was also able to con or persuade targets , was adept at sneaking and hiding , skilled in the art of forgery , and was a gambler . Marelle carried a doorjacker with her . Behind the scenes . Marelle ' s profile in " Cracken ' s Rebel Operatives " lists her age as 28 , and is written from an in - universe perspective set just after the Battle of Yavin , indicating a birthdate of 28 BBY . However , HoloNet News articles set in 22 BBY list her as a senior reporter despite the fact that she would be only 6 years old . This article assumes that the age given in " Cracken ' s Rebel Operatives " is incorrect , and had been superseded by more current sources .