Grappa ( Rodian ) Grappa was a male Rodian mercenary hired by the government of the planet Osarian to serve as a captain in the Osarian First - Force . His hiring was a response by Osarian to the quickly escalating Osarian - Rhommamool conflict ; the planet ' s own military was too small and technologically limited to pose a threat to the neighboring world of Rhommamool . In 25 ABY , Grappa attempted to halt the " Jade Sabre " , a shuttle carrying the former New Republic Chief of State , Leia Organa Solo , who was on a diplomatic mission to Rhommamool . The head of the Osarian government , Shunta Osarian Dharrg , wanted to forcibly arrange a meeting with Organa Solo in order to hinder her from inadvertently heightening the Rhommamoolian leader ' s stature in the sector . Although Grappa ' s small squadron of outdated Z - 95 Headhunters was initially able to outmaneuver the Republic ship , their attempts at redirecting the " Jade Sabre " were ultimately unsuccessful . Three of the starfighters under Grappa ' s command were incapacitated in the ensuing skirmish , forcing the remainder of the First - Force squadron to retreat . Biography . Service in the Osarian First - Force . Some time prior to 25 ABY , the male Rodian Grappa was hired by the government of the planet Osarian to serve in the Osarian First - Force , the spaceborne branch of the world ' s military forces . The authorities on Osarian were concerned that the escalating conflict with the neighboring planet , Rhommamool , would erupt into war , and were thus looking to hire mercenaries to complement their technologically inferior military . Grappa and his fellow mercenaries were supplied with Z - 95 Headhunter starfighters by the Osarian government . Although the ships were considered outdated by 25 ABY , the mercenaries were able to overcome this hindrance by employing advanced starfighter tactics . At some point , Grappa was granted the rank of captain in the First - Force . Encounter with the " Jade Sabre " . In 25 ABY , Captain Grappa , still in Osarian employ , attempted to intercept a New Republic shuttle , the " Jade Sabre " , carrying former New Republic Chief of State Leia Organa Solo , who was on a diplomatic mission to Rhommamool . The Jedi Mara Jade Skywalker and Jaina Solo accompanied Organa Solo in the shuttle . Although Organa Solo ' s mission was to negotiate peace between the two planets , Shunta Osarian Dharrg , head of the Osarian government , was worried that her visit would inadvertently cause the stature of Nom Anor , the leader of the extremist Red Knights of Life organization that controlled Rhommamool , to increase , both on Rhommamool itself and in the sector at large . Dharrg wished to meet with the diplomat before she could do so with Anor . Grappa approached the " Jade Sabre " with four Z - 95 Headhunters — all piloted by fellow Rodians — hiding two more some distance away in case the " Sabre " did not come willingly . He made viewscreen contact with the shuttle , and demanded the passengers follow him and his pilots to Osa - Prime , the capital of Osarian , to meet with Shunta Osarian Dharrg . The crew aboard the shuttle refused , and attempted to flee the First - Force Headhunters by out - navigating them with their technologically superior shuttle , fearing that a gunfight would lead to a diplomatic crisis . Grappa and his fellow mercenaries were forced to open fire and bring forth the two covert fighters in order to keep up with the " Jade Sabre " . Despite the fact that the shuttle was piloted by the Jedi Jaina Solo , whose sensitivity to the Force gave her an advantage , the First - Force Headhunters managed to position themselves in increasingly favorable shooting positions while pursuing the shuttle . Although the battle appeared to go in Grappa ' s favor at first , this changed when the " Jade Sabre " suddenly incapacitated one of his Headhunters by crashing into it . Within moments , a T - 65XJ X - wing starfighter piloted by yet another Jedi , Wurth Skidder , joined the battle , destroying two more Headhunters . With additional New Republic reinforcements approaching , in the form of a " Mediator " - class battle cruiser , the remaining First - Force pilots chose to retreat and abort their mission . Personality and traits . Grappa was willing to risk his life by engaging high - profile New Republic officials in starfighter combat . His adeptness at starfighter tactics was such that he and the ships under his command were able to successfully out - navigate the Force - sensitive Jedi pilot Jaina Solo , as well as causing Mara Jade Skywalker to consider his abilities " good . " Grappa had the appearance of an average Rodian ; his skin was green , his eyes were black , his head sported a spiny head ridge , and a tapir - like snout adorned his face . His voice was described as uneven , and he was able to speak Basic , albeit with a limited vocabulary . Behind the scenes . Grappa was created by the author R . A . Salvatore . His only appearance is in the novel " " ( 1999 ) of the " " series . Grappa was also given a brief entry in " The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia " ( 2008 ) .