Saffron DeMeers

> "*I had my fair share of run ins with both the Empire and angry clients. I'll take my chances with the Empire.*"
> ― **Saffron DeMeers** to Udas and Callan Rychel
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## **Overview**

**Saffron DeMeers** was a former pirate, smuggler, and member of Arrow Squadron. Alongside her brother, Hollis, and her twin brother, Nath, she defected from the Glaston Pirates and joined the unit during their campaign in the Chommell Sector in the year 2 ABY.

Strong-willed and outspoken, she continued to fly with the Arrows throughout the Hutt Campaign and into their mission in the Tingel Arm. During the unit's assignment to the Tingel Arm, she became romantically involved with fellow squadron mate Ashar Fogg.

Her call sign was Arrow Nine.

## **Biography**

### **Life on the Run**

Born to her smuggler father, Hollis, and a mother that died during childbirth, Saffron and her younger brother Nath were raised in the tough world of smugglers, thieves, bandits, and criminals. From an early age, she had taken a keen interest in the workings of the criminal underbelly and by the age of eight, she was already working on small jobs alongside her brother.

While Nath was quiet and more reserved, preferring machines and books, Saffron was headstrong and combative, often asking to be taught how to handle various weapons and ship controls. Her father, with moderation, began to train her with blaster pistols and vibroblades. As she grew, she took on a more protective role, engaging in dangerous jobs and often serving as the firepower for whatever gang the DeMeers were working with at that time.

As the Galactic Empire continued to crack down on any form of illegal activity, Saffron and her family struggled to make a living. The DeMeers worked on an unofficial code of not trading or smuggling in slaves or heavy weapons, if at all possible. With the tightening of the Empire's grip, jobs became more and more scarce, forcing the family to make a difficult partnership.

### **The Glaston Pirates**

> "*We might be scum, but these people aren't our kind of scum.*"
> ― **Saffron DeMeers** to her brother and father
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Faced with limited prospects for employment, Saffron, Nath and Hollis eventually joined a well-known, but vicious gang of bandits known as the Glaston Pirates. Led by the charismatic Ras Moltar, an individual that her father had worked with briefly in the past, the DeMeers were accepted into his large gang - numbering several hundred - and stationed on the moon of Rori at the pirate's base of operations - Vagabond's Rest. Almost immediately, Saffron was unhappy with the arrangement. While the DeMeers were never afraid to get their hands dirty on a job, the actions and personalities of the other pirates ran completely counter to their own values and goals.

Saffron was verbally abused and, on more than one occasion, came to physical blows with one or more of the other Glastons. She raised her concerns to her father, but he preached patience - they would only work a few jobs with the pirates before being on their way.

However, one an early mission, the DeMeers family watched with horror as Ras and his crew wasted valuable supplies and murdered of all the women aboard the ship, leaving the men to watch. Returning from the mission, Saffron refused to speak to Hollis, viewing him as culpable in the massacre. Nath, her younger brother, also began to privately express his concerns to their father.

Slowly, Hollis began to realize that he had made a mistake and was working for an evil, ruthless gang. After witnessing even more atrocities committed by the pirates, the DeMeers family had seen enough, the family plotting possible ways to escape from the pirates as well as the Empire.

When members of Arrow Squadron were captured as they posed as musicians, Saffron saw her chance. She had been assigned to guard the prisoners, not thinking twice about them until her father recognized one of the capture individuals as Craal "Al" Noarnn. Noarnn, the diminutive bomber pilot, had once impersonated a lounge singer on the planet of Myyribod in The Mossy Rock, a cantina that Hollis had frequented. Saffron, one evening when she was the only guard, approached the group about defecting from the pirates.

The leader of the team, Sorshara Bray, was initially skeptical of the proposal and spoke to both Saffron and Hollis many times. As this was going on, Nath worked with the pilots to smuggle tools and weapons that would assist in their escape.

With a plan set and foraged ransom communications presented to Ras, and with Hollis and Saffron assigned as guards, a mission to deliver them and collect a ransom was approved. Nath had already stowed away aboard the ship as all three of the leaving together would have raised suspicions. During the escape, Saffron killed her fellow guards and unlocked the cell while Nath hacked into the security footage and looped the video, making everything appear normal. They fled the night before, altering their plans at the last minute to avoid any possible detection.

While they were free of immediate danger, the Glaston's still posed a serious threat.

### **Arrow Squad**

Saffron and the others arrived back at Arrow Squadron's base to a mixed reception. The commander of Arrow Squadron - Lieutenant Tolamael Benere, was pleased to have his pilots and the intelligence they carried back safely. However, he and others in the unit were skeptical of the DeMeers. After several meetings, including some tense interactions, Tolamael began to believe the validity of their stories. When Sorshara backed up their claims, the DeMeers were cleared of any wrongdoing and offered transport to a system of their choice.

Saffron, still furious with the pirates, wanted to go back and fight. Nath was indifferent, agreeing to go wherever his family went. Hollis, who had taken a liking to the young Benere thought his daughter was right and he agreed. They presented themselves as recruits and, given their experience flying and in combat, were quick studies. By the time the Arrows had planned their attack on the pirate base, the DeMeers were ready to take the fight to their enemies.

Saffron flew with distinction at the Battle of Vagabond's Rest, shooting down several of her former pirate gang mates. The intelligence provided to the Arrows by the DeMeers proved accurate and allowed the Alliance forces to gain the upper hand. In the fast, bloody battle, Saffron saw her father Hollis shot down and killed, a moment that would continue to haunt her for some time. However, the Arrows triumphed and killed or captured all of the pirates.

Following the battle, Saffron and her brother participated in the disastrous Hutt Campaign. Saffron, while stationed with her unit aboard the Dawn's Light, ran into some old smuggling friends who were now working for the Hutts. After flying in the battle, however, she was furious with the breakdown in intelligence and considered resigning. Nath talked her out of it and the two were transferred, along with the Arrows, to the main Rebel Fleet.

> "*Ullatak was a slaughter and we walked right into it.*"
> ― **Saffron DeMeers** to Tozin X'ala
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After several months of this, both siblings were sent for additional training. They were good, talented pilots, but the Alliance was vetting all applicants, even those that had been pressed into service. As a result of their being away for training. Both Nath and Saffron missed the Battle of Endor. Saffron was upset at missing the opportunity to avenge their father and do more damage to the Empire. Returning to their unit only weeks after the fight, Saffron was made aware of their new mission and their new commander.

### **The Tingel Arm**

Udas, a veteran pilot in the unit, had assumed command of the unit with the promotion and transfer of Lieutenant Benere to Alliance High Command. Saffron liked Udas, he was tough and a soldier, but was also sad to see the talented Benere go. In addition to this change, the Arrows were being assigned to the Tingel Arm, a wild and dangerous area on the far reaches of the galaxy. Reports of Imperial forces in the region could not be ignored and, after all, the Arrows had experience rooting out dug in Imperial positions.

Saffron and Nath had heard their late father speak of the arm and its dangers. Privately, they expressed some concern as they could not count on much assistance from any of the local powers. However, their experience in the underworld and with the darker side of commerce might prove valuable and they followed through with their orders.