Gideon

> "Long live the Empire."
> ― Gideon
>
>

**Gideon** was a human male who served as an officer in the Imperial Security Bureau, a law enforcement and intelligence agency of the Galactic Empire, during its reign. Through his career he rose through the ranks, attaining the rank of a Marshal about a year prior to the Battle of Yavin. By 9 ABY, he had risen to the position of Moff, became a warlord, and led a sizable remnant of the Empire, which included forces such as stormtroopers, scout troopers, death troopers, and incinerator troopers. Throughout his career as an ISB officer, Gideon developed an interest in the culture and warrior society of Mandalore.

## **History**

### **Mandalorian Uprising**

> "You promised a weapon capable of decimating entire armies, yet this only handled a small margin of that. Considering what is coming, I'd say you need its full capabilities."
> ― Gideon, to Tiber Saxon
>
>

In the year 1 BBY, Gideon was asked by Grand Admiral Thrawn to fill in for him on evaluating the progress of Lord Tiber Saxon's superweapon, which the Governor of Mandalore had promised to him and Emperor Palpatine as a means of dealing with the Mandalorian resistance. Gideon accepted the task and then enlisted the support of Rook Kast and her lover Count Lorka Gedyc of Clan Gedyc.

During the Mandalorian Civil War, Gideon studied the ongoing events that were occurring on Mandalore with some displeasure. In an effort to establish control over the Mandalorian clans who remained disobedient to Imperial rule, he ordered a strike against them using gunships outfitted with E-Web heavy repeating blaster cannons to target and slaughter fields of young Mandalorian warriors. This event — which coincided with Saxon unleashing the Arc Pulse Generator, a superweapon designed to vaporize anyone donning armor forged from Mandalorian beskar alloy — would come to be known in Mandalorian culture as the Night of a Thousand Tears. Gideon would then observe a presentation of the Arc Pulse Generator by Saxon. Despite being impressed, he pointed out that the superweapon's capabilities were below what was promised to Grand Admiral Thrawn and the Emperor, and advised Saxon to enlist the aid of Sabine Wren — the creator of the superweapon — in upgrading it. He also informed Saxon about rumors regarding the Darksaber and Mandalore's Mask.

Later, Gideon was informed by Kast and Gedyc about Saxon's death and the weapon's destruction, leaving him rather frustrated, though he remained well-composed. After speaking with them, Gideon turned to the bounty hunter Durge, who was in the room with him, and asked if he was capable of the job he had for him. Durge replied that he was capable, and eager.

Soon when the Mandalorian resistance was escalating its efforts, Count Gedyc didn’t want the Empire to take this news lightly and the Marshal promised it wouldn’t. Soon he received a transmission from Emperor Palpatine himself since he was in need good news because the Alliance to Restore the Republic defeated both Grand Admiral Thrawn and the last member of his Inquisitorius and sieged the planet Lothal. When Gideon said he didn’t have any and that defeating the Mandalorian resistance will take time since the Empire doesn’t have the Arc Pulse Generator anymore and their numbers were growing. Since time had become an ally of the Rebel Alliance, Emperor Palpatine said he can’t accept this news so he gave orders for all of the Mandalorian people to be wiped out.

### **Post-Imperial Era**

> "He has explicitly ordered us to bring it back alive."
> ― Pershing, to Jusland Ruthas, about the Child
>
>

By 9 ABY, Gideon became a warlord, led a sizable remnant of Imperial forces, and attained the rank of Moff, having somehow faked his execution for war crimes after the fall of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic. He wished to acquire a valuable asset from Arvala-7, tasking Jusland Ruthas and Doctor Pershing with bringing it alive by any means necessary. This brought him into conflict with the Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin. He was eventually successful, when his Dark Troopers captured the asset on Tython. Upon Djarin's effort to rescue the asset, he was defeated in combat and attempted suicide, but was knocked out and detained, leaving the Darksaber to Din.

## **Personality and traits**

> "As I understand it, you do carry some interest in the culture of Mandalore, do you not?"
> "I do, Grand Admiral. Mandalorian culture has always drawn my interest."
> ― Thrawn and Gideon
>
>

A clever and formidable member of the Galactic Empire, Gideon valued knowledge and power. He was imposing and ruthless, willing to kill fellow Imperials to achieve his goals, as shown by his non-hesitation in killing over a dozen stormtroopers when he first arrived on Nevarro and even killing an officer only for interrupting him. He was also an adept tactician and skilled at psychological warfare. He was willing to reveal information that would have infuriated his enemies just to taunt and destabilize them. He was also a calm, level-headed individual, rarely expressing emotion if he hears of something he doesn't like.

Gideon carried a unique interest in Mandalorian culture, which is expressed when he asked Mandalore's Governor, Tiber Saxon, to deliver both the Darksaber and Mandalore's Mask into his possession. Despite his interest, however, he had no issues with using the Arc Pulse Generator to kill Mandalorian warriors, and even ordered a large-scale strike against multiple Mandalorian clans who posed a threat to the Empire.

## **Appearances**

* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 60: Exploring Old Ruins" (first appearance)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 61: Return to Mandalore" (hologram only)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 63: Aftermath" (hologram only)
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 64: Heroes of Mandalore"
* *Legacy of Jarik Shan - Volume 5: Rebirth* — "Chapter 75: Liberation of Lothal"
* *Sun and Moon* (will appear)
* *The New Jedi Order* (will appear)