Nath DeMeers

Arrow Squadron

> "*Anything, well almost anything, can be fixed with a few good tools and endless optimism.*"
> ― -**Nath DeMeers** to Yol Aak
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## **Overview**

**Nath DeMeers** was a former pirate, smuggler, and eventually a pilot in Arrow Squadron. Joining the unit alongside his father, Hollis, and his sister Saffron, the trio defected to the Arrows during their campaign against the Glaston Pirates.

A quiet and perceptive individual, Nath continued to fly with Arrow Squadron throughout the war against the Glaston Pirates, the Hutt Campaign and during their assignment to the main Rebel Fleet. When the Arrows were assigned to the Tingel Arm, Nath and Saffron were offered the opportunity of transferring to a different unit. Both declined the offer and joined their squadron mates on the dangerous mission.

His call sign was Arrow Eleven.

## **Biography**

### **Early Life**

Born to a smuggler father and a working girl from the streets of Brentaal, Nath was the twin brother and younger brother to Saffron DeMeers. Unfortunately, their mother did not survive childbirth. As such, their father, Hollis, a low-level thief and criminal, was forced to raise the children on his own. Teaching them the only thing he knew - smuggling - the two DeMeers children grew up around the rough and tumble world of the shipping lanes. Learning from an early age that street smarts and a good blaster were the best way to stay alive, both children were working in small roles during their fathers' jobs by the age of eight.

Saffron was always the louder, more aggressive of the two children with Nath saying little, but observing much. A natural learner, he was quick to pick up several languages including Huttese, Aqualish, Rodian, and a touch of Shyriiwook. All of these languages were learned from various crew members and gang-mates of his father who often delighted in teaching the young boy their tongue. Nath also developed a strong talent with mechanics, often spending his free time taking things apart and reassembling them.

His father encouraged these pursuits as he believed that, with his children exploring their natural talents, he could form the perfect gang of smugglers. The elder DeMeers continued to take odd jobs as the Republic fell apart and the Galactic Empire rose. Nath and his sister continued to learn from their father and those around him and, eventually, they began to assume a greater role in their jobs and assignments. Saffron often served as the muscle while Nath worked on mechanical issues or forging illegal documents. Holding, as best as possible, to the DeMeers family code of moving only items and not things like slaves or weapons, Nath developed a keen sense of justice and equality.

Over time, the Empire began to crack down on all levels of smuggling and job prospects for the DeMeers were slowly drying up. Desperate for work and a steady source of income, Hollis began to work with less savory individuals. With Hollis aging and wanting to set his children up in a proper way, he began taking on work with a group of bandits known as the Glaston Pirates.

### **Time with the Pirates**

> "*I get it, we're no saints, but what these people are doing is just plain wrong.*"
> ― Nath DeMeers to father and sister
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Hollis, although reluctant in joining the ranks of the feared pirate gang, had worked with their leader, Ras Moltar, in the past. Moltar admitted Hollis to his ranks knowing the man's talent, but emphasizing that the family's personal code of conduct no longer applied to their occupations. Saffron protested almost immediately to her father while Nath remained quiet and angry, seething at treatment of his family at the hands of Moltar and his deputies.

Working with the group brought steady work with a near constant stream of jobs coming their way. Both Saffron and Nath thought this was a bit strange, given the Imperial crackdown. Neither had any idea that they were actually working on behalf of the Empire in a proxy war against the Rebel Alliance.

During one of these early raids, 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. Saffron, and soon Nath, began speaking out against the pirates to their father and warning him that they were in over their heads.

Slowly, Hollis began to realize that he had made a mistake and was working for an evil, ruthless gang. Gone was the thrill of smuggling parts or equipment. Gone was the familial sense of justice. In their quarters in the Glaston base on the moon of Ruaha, located in the Chommell Sector, the family plotted possible ways to escape from the pirates as well as the Empire.

That opportunity arose when members of Arrow Squadron were able to infiltrate the pirate posing as captured musicians. The plan was for the pirates to ransom the captured musicians back to their employer - Niima the Hutt. In the interim, the group was held at Vagabond's Rest, the capital and secret hideout of the pirate gang. One of the guards assigned to oversee the captured prisoners was Saffron.

Using her connection and access to the prisoners, she delicately approached them about defecting from the pirates and helping the trio escape. Hollis recognized one of the team members, Noarnn, from a previous encounter on the planet of Myyribod and knew that they were undercover and no musicians. 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 on smuggling tools to the prisoners that would help them remove their restraints

With a plan set and foraged ransom communications presented to Ras, and with Hollis and Saffron assigned as guards, they were given a small ship and ordered to escort the "musicians" to Niima. Nath had already stowed away aboard the ship as all three of the leaving together would have raised suspicions. The night before their scheduled departure, Nath, Saffron, Hollis, Craal Noarnn and Sorshara escaped from Vagabond's Rest undetected.

### **Joining the Arrows**

Sorshara guided the group back to Arrow Squadron's location, the Rebel Base on the swamp moon of Rori. The DeMeers were immediately taken into interrogation in order to vet both their story and their motives. Arrow Squadron member Kostan Stodl, who had a long and deep-seeded mistrust of pirates, was very outspoken in permitting the DeMeers family anywhere near Arrow Squadron.

After several lengthy discussions with Arrow Squadron's leadership, the DeMeers were cleared of any malcontent and permitted to go about their way. They had offered valuable information regarding the defenses of Vagabond's Rest and the strength of the pirate forces. Nath had also found a few friends in the unit and was actively working to repair several damaged astromech droids. While several members of the unit took a liking to the quiet, industrial young man, Stodl remained skeptical of the entire family.

The DeMeers decided to volunteer to join the squadron instead of leaving Rori. With all three of them having combat experience flying both larger ships and single-seat fighters, like X-Wings, Lieutenant Benere appreciated their added numbers. After going through some basic flight simulators, Nath and the others were officially accepted as rebel pilots.

### **Unhappy Returns**

Nath, his father and his sister all flew against the Glaston Pirates and the Battle of Vagabond's Rest nearly a month after their defection. The intelligence that they provided, as well as that gathered by the strike team, proved invaluable to the Arrows. Arrow Squadron caught the pirates off guard and was able to knock out several of their defensive positions almost immediately. The pirates scrambled what fighters they could muster and attempted to defend their positions. Ras also gave the order for the pirates to evacuate to another secret location.

Unknown to most members of the squadron, Lieutenant Benere had been given orders by High Command to take no prisoners. When he ordered his ships to fire on the fleeing pirates, there was a momentarily lapse of command and no one fired, unsure if the order was just. However, Nath's own father opened up with his guns, downing a freighter that contained some of his old friends. Nath followed suit, sending a crippling blast into the side of an escaping ship. Their actions spurned the majority of the Arrows to join the assault.

As the battle progressed, it became apparent that the Arrows had the upper hand. Ras and his few fighters put up a spirited defense, ultimately shooting down and killing Nath's father Hollis and several Arrows in the battle. Eventually, both Ras and his deputy Farina were killed by the Arrows and the few pirates still alive surrendered.

Following the battle, Nath and the surviving Arrow Squadron members were assigned to the task force that was forming up to retake the planet of Ullatak.

### **Continuing to Fight**

> "*I miss him, you know? It feels strange to be out here in the expanse without him. He was always there with a story or an anecdote. I think he would have liked this, the camaraderie and the mission.*"
> ― -**Nath DeMeers** speaking to his sister, Saffron DeMeers about their late father
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Nath and Saffron, having both survived the battle against their former colleagues in the Glaston Pirates were swept up in the Galactic Civil War. Having proved their abilities, Nath served as as translator and guide during the Hutt Campaign, his fluent Huttese proving extremely valuable to the Rebel Alliance.

He and his sister ran into several of their old smuggling acquaintances while stationed aboard the Dawn's Light en route to Ullatak. They also began to bond with their fellow squadron mates. Nearly all of them expressed concerns about siding with the Hutts. These concerns were shared by the DeMeers children as they had frequently dealt with the untrustworthy Hutts in their past occupations.

Nath and Saffron fought at the Battle of Ullatak and witnessed the failure of the Alliance intelligence. While they both survived the attack, one of the pilots that Nath had developed a friendship with, Yol Aak, was killed. Dismayed by the breakdown in command and the lack of respect shown for the common soldier, both siblings considered resigning their commissions. However, knowing that their father would wish for them to stick it out, they remained with the Arrows.

Arrow Squadron was transferred to the main Rebel Fleet shortly after the Hutt Campaign. During this long tenure of relatively easy escort and convoy duty, Nath worked on various mechanical issues throughout the fleet and continued to embrace his role as a Rebel. After several months of this, both siblings were sent for additional training by Starfighter Command. As a result of their being away for training, Nath and his sister missed the climatic Battle of Endor. Returning to their unit only weeks after the fight, Nath found several changes in the unit's structure and mission.

Lieutenant Tolamael Benere had been promoted to a senior position within the Rebel Alliance. As such, Udas took over command of the squadron. Craal Noarnn, an old friend of Nath's had chosen to retire from active service, as had veteran pilot Kostan Stodl, who had never grown accustomed to the presence of the former pirate siblings in the unit.

With these changes came several new recruits and a new assignment.

### **The Tingel Arm**

The Arrows were assigned to the wild and vast Tingel Arm, an area of space known to be dangerous for any faction, regardless of their allegiance. The young pilot recalled that his father had spoken of the dangers of the region and expressed some reservations about the assignment to his sister.

However, he was committed to doing his duty and carried on with the mission. Nath was assigned the role of Chief Mechanic and head translator for the Arrows, unsure of what he would be facing in such a wild region of space.