Kell Bircher Kell Bircher was a male Human who was a Rebel spy and nephew of the Rebel leader , Mon Mothma . Following the Battle of Yavin , he used the skills of a Bothan slicer to enter his identity in the Imperial database as a colonel . He was able to parlay his station to become the commander of the " Imperial I " - class Star Destroyer , " Devastator " , taking control of the ship from its previous commander , Darth Vader . As commander of the " Devastator " , he was involved in hunting down the Rebel fleet , personally piloting a TIE interceptor to engage Rebel forces . Bircher was eventually able to track the location of the Rebel fleet after following the Rebel pilot , Prithi , who had skirted protocols of making several different hyperspace jumps before returning to base . In the ensuing attack , Bircher was forced to reveal his double agent status , shutting down his TIE interceptor squadron , and disabling " Devastator " . The Imperial Star Destroyer was forced to abandon the attack while Bircher turned himself over to Mothma . Although the other Rebels were suspicious of him , Mothma vouched for his character , and he returned to the Chandrila system to continue aiding the Alliance . Biography . Rebel spy . Kell Bircher was a Human male from Chandrila and the nephew of the Rebel leader , Mon Mothma . He was a student of political history and was a member of the Chandrilan Special Forces . He eventually became a devoted member of the Rebellion and was chosen for a secret mission for the Rebellion . With the aid of a Bothan slicer , Bircher ' s name was inserted into the civilian and military databases of the Galactic Empire . He was given the rank of colonel and was able to smuggle himself into Imperial ranks shortly before the Battle of Yavin . Promotion . Two months after the Battle of Yavin , Bircher was ordered by Emperor Palpatine to take over command of Darth Vader ' s Star Destroyer , the " Devastator " . He later briefed a group of TIE interceptor pilots , the best - of - the best who were going to fly advanced models . Bircher wore a red flight suit . He personally led two squadrons of those pilots in an ambush of Gray Flight . When the Rebel X - wings launched proton torpedoes and destroyed eleven interceptors , he did not authorize a withdrawal . Instead , he called for evasion pattern Delta Delta Victor . The Rebels were able to escape from the ambush . When the " Devastator " chased the Rebels to their next ambush point , Bircher led the remaining Interceptors to face Gray Flight . The Rebels launched more torpedoes , and Bircher confirmed that they were going to miss the Star Destroyer . However , the Rebels were actually targeting a fusion generator , which blew up . Bircher , at the last moment , realized that the Rebels were retreating and ordered his own forces to fall back . He then activated his hyperdrive to escape to rendezvous coordinates Beta One . The " Devastator " escaped , although their Interdictor was heavily damaged . Later , aboard the " Devastator " , Bircher ordered updates on damage reports . Shortly afterward , he was aboard the " Devastator " at a no - fly zone with an Imperial fleet . He ordered a shuttle piloted by the Rebels Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles to stand down and prepare to be boarded . He ordered a search , and then greeted Lieutenant Birra Seah as she arrived on the bridge . Bircher followed the Alliance Fleet and when they arrived at the coordinates , ordered all of his TIE fighters to launch . He planned on joining them himself . As the " Devastator " opened fire on the fleet , Bircher led his group into range . At two kilometers out , he ordered them to open fire . During the battle , he transmitted external control of the Imperial fighters over to " Home One " and jammed tactical communications . He then crashed aboard Hangar Five on the cruiser and met his aunt , Mon Mothma . Bircher revealed himself as a Rebel spy and was forced to explain his actions to members of Gray Flight , claiming that he had always had a backup plan to shut down weapons control of his forces if he believed that they might kill any Rebel pilots . Although Wedge Antilles offered Bircher a position in the newly formed Rogue Squadron from the remains of Gray Flight , he was forced to decline as he had business back in the Chandrila system . As he departed , he complimented Gray Flight ' s leader , Leia Organa , claiming that she was a damn fine pilot . In response to Bircher ' s infiltration , Darth Vader embarked on a secret mission to eliminate the hackers who had placed him into the system , and to purge those who had fallen into his deception . Vader ' s search eventually brought him to Chandrila , but Bircher was not at the Mothma home at the time when Vader destroyed it . Personality and traits . Emperor Palpatine considered him a young and capable officer . When he arrived aboard the " Devastator " , he stated he had already taken precautions to ensure that he was prepared for anything . He disregarded the lives of his men , speaking of how it was their moment of triumph . He was able to recognize a trap when the Rebel starfighters began retreating . He considered himself an Imperial pilot above all else , and did not hesitate to tell his subordinates as such . He saw pilots as precision instruments and not bombs . Behind the scenes . Bircher appears in Dark Horse Comics " " comic book arc which was written by Brian Wood . He appeared in the following series , which revealed that he was a Rebel spy under the direct command of Mon Mothma .