Tozin X'ala

> "*Practice, discipline, patience. These are my virtues.*"
> ― **Tozin X'ala**
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>

## **Overview**

**Tozin X'ala** was a calm, collected, and talented male Iktotchi pilot from the moon Iktotch. A veteran pilot and scholar prior to joining the Rebel Alliance, X'ala was one of the original founding members of Arrow Squadron.

X'ala flew with distinction throughout the Galactic Civil War as a member of Arrow Squadron. He served in the campaign to liberate the Betseeda System, the war against the Glaston Pirates and the ill-fated Hutt Campaign. Following the destruction of the Second Death Star, X'ala re-enlisted in the reformed Arrow Squadron, continuing his service into the New Republic Era.

His call sign was Arrow Eight.

## **Biography**

### **Always Unique**

Born on the harsh, challenging moon of Iktotch, Tozin X'ala was the only son of two loving parents. As with all members of his species, Tozin had the psychological ability of precognition, or the ability to directly perceive the near future. As a boy, he learned to control these traits, but as with all Iktotchi, the further they traveled from their moon, the weaker the abilities became.

Much like all members of his species, Tozin was very sensitive to the feelings and emotions of those around him. His family was very, very close and when his mother died of an illness, he felt a great outpouring of grief from all the Iktotchi in his town.

Additionally, like all in his species, he was raised with a deep, reverent respect towards the cultures other than their own. As a youth and young adult, he spent countless hours with offworld travelers and merchants, listening to their stories and learning about their way of life. That being it, it was not always easy for Tozin to communicate with others as his inherent precognition made him the target of fear and ridicule by some offworlders unfamiliar with the Iktotchi way.

Tozin pushed past these relatively few individuals and continued to learn about the customs of others. He dedicated himself to learning the customs and cultures of as many species as possible and, eventually, this interest lead him to the center of the galaxy, the capital world of Coruscant.

By 14 BBY, Tozin was living on Coruscant and working as a cultural attache. He immersed himself in the anthropology of alien worlds. These studies did not always pay the bills, so he also worked in another common occupation of the Iktotchi, piloting. His ability to sense the immediate future and his natural dexterity made him extremely talented and he worked as a hover taxi driver and personal pilot on the massive city-planet.

With the rise of Galactic Empire, alien races such as the Iktotchi were subjected to cruel and demeaning legislation. Tozin lost his job as a cultural attache and, eventually, was even barred from driving his taxi. Frustrated and hurt, he joined a non-violent protest movement. The group conducted several large protests against the Imperial humancentric policies. During one of these protests, Imperial stormtroopers opened fire on the peaceful protests, killing scores of Tozin's friends.

At this point, the thoughtful, deliberate Iktotchi realized that nonviolence would not work with the Empire and force was the next option.

### **The Rebellion**

Tozin, along with some of his former nonviolent counterparts who had survived the massacre, made contact with an underground Rebel cell on Coruscant. After evading the Imperial authorities for several days, Tozin and the others were shuttled off world and began their life as rebel operatives.

Originally, given his diverse knowledge of cultures and customs, Alliance High Command assigned Tozin to their fledgling diplomatic core. For nearly a year, he spent his time working with governments and planets who did not openly support the rebellion to garner their support. While the work used his skills and his talents, it was often unrewarding and tedious.

Eventually, he grew tired of the diplomatic route. Still angered by the grave injustices carried out by the Empire, he wanted a more active role, a combat role. After speaking with several high ranking officials, he was admitted and passed through the alliance's pilot training program. His natural abilities were apparent and he graduated at the top of his class.

Around this time, Admiral Raddus was quietly working to build additional fighter squadrons for what he accurately predicted would be an expansive conflict. One of those squadrons was forming under the command of Lieutenant Tolamael Benere and Idolon Jdre, two pilots that the Admiral trusted very much. Tozin, fresh off finishing up his former combat pilot training, was assigned to the newly formed Arrow Squadron.

A very short time later, the Alliance Fleet was rushed into the Battle of Scarif. Tozin and his squad mates were pressed into service and flew with distinction. The hectic battle that followed was costly for the Rebel fleet as both the entire Rogue One strike team, nearly all of Blue Squadron, Admiral Raddus, his flagship the Profundity, and dozens of other ships were lost. However, the Death Star plans were secured and the surviving Arrows were able to escape back to their base on Yavin 4.

Tozin had proved a natural pilot and found that he enjoyed the challenge and thrill of aerial combat. He also proved to be a calming influence on Benere and other members of his squadron.

### **The Betseeda System**

> "*It would be easy to dismiss the Betseedans as a hindrance. However, I believe that if we work with them, collaborate and make them our partners, we will have a powerful friend.*"
> ― **Tozin X'ala**
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Almost immediately after the Battle of Scarif, Arrow Squadron was refitted, reinforced, and assigned to the Betseeda System. Alliance command realized that they could and should work to liberate individual systems from the Empire's grip and the Betseeda System, which posed little strategic value, but was ripe for an insurrection, was chosen as one of many targets.

Under Benere's command, the Arrows arrived in the system and established a base on the surface of Betseeda Prime on an island in the massive Shonzu Lake. While some members of the squadron worked on Jdre's supervision to build their new base, Benere and Tozin attempted to establish contact and a working relationship with the native partisan soldiers known as the Betseedan Resistance Forces. Initially, the commander of this group, Madeline Gren, was reluctant to work with the Arrows, feeling somewhat abandoned by the Rebel Alliance. Eventually, through persuasion from her own staff and the efforts of Benere and Tozin, a partnership was formed and an attack against the unsuspecting Imperial forces was planned.

In what became known as the First Battle of Betseeda Prime, a combined attack force of BRF soldiers and Arrow Squadron pilots launched a surprise attack against the occupying Imperial forces. Unprepared for the attack, Imperial resistance melted and their commando, Admiral Jhutan Ensah ordered a retreat off the planet. It was stunning success, driving the occupying Imperials back to their Star Destroyers and boosting the moral of those supporting their cause. Gren was killed in the attack and Hooper Croix assumed command. New recruits flocked to the BRF and the Arrows felt confident in their first attack.

Benere, however, knew it would not always be this easy.

### **The Warpath**

> "*I failed him and the cost of my failure is immense.*"
> ― **Tozin X'ala** to Danic Polis and Idolon Jdre talking about the loss of Vid Paratool
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Tozin and the Arrows continued to labor against the Imperial forces. In another stunning success at the Battle of Faan Shaarada, they were able to severely damage the two Imperial Star Destroyers in the region, the Venom and the Salient. All the while, Tozin was quietly working his diplomatic skills with the Betseedan government to earn their secret support of the war effort.

It was not all success and victory, however. At the Battle of Myyribod, several Arrow Squadron members were killed and Vid Paratool was feared dead after Tozin was not able to save him. In reality, Vid crash landed on the planet of Myyribod and was missing for a number of months. The defeat, especially his inability to save Paratool, weighed heavily on the Iktotchi. Sensitive and thoughtful, he felt the resentment from some members of the Arrows, even if they did not openly voice their minds.

Doing his best to distance himself from these thoughts, he buried himself in his work and continued to build a rapport with the BRF and Betseedan government.

During the trying period of the Siege of Tazion, Tozin spent nearly all his waking time working with Ide Jdre to sort of provisions, supplies, and protection for the local Betseedans. Approving of the BRF plan to break the siege be infiltrating and disabling the Star Destroyer Salient, Tozin volunteered for the dangerous mission and posed as a captured rebel.

He was wounded in the attack by blaster fire, but survived and was able to recover. While he was recovering, he worked on the administrative side and was greatly pleased when the government in Tazion officially recognized the rebellion; it was the culmination of his diplomatic efforts and he kept a copy of the official declaration among his personal items. While he did not fly in the small engagement, he was greatly pleased by the BRF pilots and their efforts at the Second Battle of Betseeda Prime.

Tozin and Lieutenant Benere continued to strengthen the ties between the Arrows and BRF, now under the leadership of Nez Rennoc. These efforts continued until the final battle of the campaign, the crucial and bloody Battle of Jonquil Station. During this attack, he flew in a wing commanded by Idolon Jdre that was assigned with, perhaps, the most challenging aspect of the mission. This wing, which also contained Danic Polis and Yol Aak, was tasked with attacking their old nemesis, the Star Destroyer Salient, which was docked close to Jonquil Station and heavily defended by anti-aircraft batteries. The Star Destroyer was also the flagship of the Imperial battle group and personally commanded by Captain Yiromatu Takei.

With the attacks against the Salient proving ineffective and with the Arrows absorbing several casualties, Ide Jdre, Tozin's close friend, undertook a suicide mission to destroy the gun platforms. In a brilliant display of skill and daring, Ide managed to knock the turrets off line and clear a path for his wing to deliver the knockout blow to the Salient. Tozin, Aak, and Polis fired a coordinated salvo of proton torpedoes at bridge of the Salient. In the following explosion, Captain Takei was killed and the Salient was mortally wounded. She would self-destruct only moments later.

However, Ide's actions had drawn the attention of incoming TIE fighters and, despite Tozin and others managing to intercept many of the incoming fighters, Ide was shot down and killed in front of his entire squadron. The Imperial presence in the system had been eliminated, but at great cost. Several Arrows had been shot down and killed and the unit was both mentally and physical exhausted.

### **The Glaston Pirates War**

Along with the surviving Arrow Squadron pilots, Tozin was transferred to the Chommell Sector in order to put down a growing threat. A vicious group of brigands known as the Glaston Pirates had been raiding and destroying vital shipping lanes in the region. Arrow Squadron, fresh off their victory in the Betseeda System and recently reinforced by new pilots, was dispatched to eliminate the pirates and their leader, Moltar, at all costs.

Along with the other members of his squadron, Tozin believed this campaign would be quick. However, when the pirates were able to successfully delay, and then flee their base, during the inconclusive Battle of Ruaha, the Arrows were forced to adjust their strategy. With the pirate base now unknown, Tozin and the other members of Arrow Squadron undertook an intelligence gathering mission. Not his specialty, Tozin instead worked with Lieutenant Benere to get a better understanding of the galactic politics at play. Benere, who was slowly changing from a hot-shot flyboy into a well-rounded leader, appreciated the tutelage of the knowledge Iktotchi diplomat.

Eventually, the Arrows were able to successfully learn the location of the pirate base. Alongside the combined strength of Arrow Squadron and the recent additions of the DeMeers family, who were defecting from the Glaston Pirates, the Rebel forces attacked the pirate location. In the Battle of Vagabond's Rest, the Arrows caught the pirates off guard. While there was some resistance offered by the pirate star fighters, Tozin was troubled by Lieutenant Benere's orders to fire on the transports that were attempting to escape.

Having never believed Lieutenant Benere to be a bloody man, he was not only confused by the order, but felt pangs of sorrow from a few of his other pilots. He also had flashbacks to when the Imperials had fired on peaceful, unarmed demonstrators, even those who were fleeing.

Initially, Tozin did not obey the order, silently refusing to fire on the transports. Once the Arrows began receiving some anti-aircraft fire from the remaining turrets at the base, Tozin instead targeted these installations. Other members of Arrow Squadron continued to destroy the transports, much to the pain of the quietly sensitive Iktotchi.

With Moltar dead and his pirate band all but eliminated, the Arrows campaign had been another success. The battle had cost them three pilots, including the patriarch of the DeMeers family, Hollis DeMeers, but they had eliminated the pirate threat. Shipping lanes were once again safe in the sector and the alliance began to receive much needed supplies from Naboo and the surrounding planets.

### **Hutt Campaign**

> "*It is against my better judgment to generalize an entire species. However, I can say without a doubt that you cannot trust a Hutt.*"
> ― **Tozin X'ala** to Lieutenant Tolamael Benere
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With the success of the campaign against the Glaston Pirates, Arrow Squadron was attached to a large task force that was targeting the planet of Ullatak. Alliance High Command had entered into an agreement with the Hutts to liberate a planet within Hutt Space, Ullatak, from an occupying Imperial garrison. Tozin, who was an established cultural expert spoke out vocally against this campaign, warning both Lieutenant Benere and his superiors that the Hutts could not be trusted.

High Command, ignoring the protests of many squadron leaders, went forward with the Hutt Campaign. As the squadrons traveled towards Hutt Space aboard the cruiser Dawn's Light, tension mounted among the fighter pilots.

When the Battle of Ullatak finally erupted, the intelligence provided by the Hutts proved wildly inaccurate. The Hutts had advised minimal resistance when in fact, nearly an entire Imperial division was heavily entrenched and well armed. While Alliance fighters fought a bloody battle in the sky, Hutt ground forces attacked the Imperial defenses. Several pilots, including Arrow Squadron veteran Yol Aak, were shot down and killed by Imperial ground defenses. Additionally, Vid Paratool, one of the original members of the unit and a close friend of Tozin, defied orders and broke formation. The Twi'lek had been on the verge of collapse for some time, but the fruitless attack on Ullatak had proved his breaking point.

Although the battle was successful, it was extremely costly. The Hutts regained control of Ullatak and, as Tozin had suggested, quickly broke their treaty with the Alliance and ignored any sort of obligations they once promised. Several Alliance officers lost their posts for the blunder of a campaign. Closer to home, Vid Paratool resigned his commission prior to facing a court martial and left the unit, never to be heard from again.

It was a trying time for the Arrows to say the least.

### **Guard Duty**

Having been on nearly constant campaign for several years, Arrow Squadron was granted a reprieve - or a punishment depending on who you asked - and was assigned to escort duty with the main Rebel Alliance Fleet. Tozin, personally, was pleased with the break and enjoyed flying stress-free escort runs. While stationed with the fleet, he was also able to catch himself up on all the happenings within the political realm. Much had changed since his original assignment to the Betseeda System and he was pleased to see more and more worlds supporting the Alliance mission.

After almost 10 months of serving as essentially guards, the Rebel Fleet began to assembled in the Sullust System. Tozin was quick to learn of a massive assault being planned, but reminded uncertain of the target. Eventually, Squadron leaders from across the Fleet were briefed by Admiral Ackbar that they would be making an attack against the Second Death Star.

With Arrow Squadron members scattered across not only the fleet, but several away on other missions or in training, only a handful of pilots flew at the massive Battle of Endor. Tozin, alongside Lieutenant Benere, Danic Polis and S'Hral Glaso were the only members of Arrow Squadron that flew in the battle. During the battle, Tozin was nearly killed when the Mon Calamari cruiser, Liberty, was unexpectedly destroyed by a blast form the Death Star. His systems damaged and unreliable, Tozin went deep within himself and flew the remainder of the battle using his precognition abilities to guide him. Each member of Arrow Squadron flew with distinction and, after a great and costly battle, the Alliance managed to destroy the massive battle station.

In the celebration that followed, Tozin enjoyed the alliance's success with his fellow squad mates. He also considered retiring from the Arrows, something pilots Kostan Stodl and Craal "Al" Noarnn had already done. However, when Lieutenant Benere was promoted to a high ranking position with Starfighter Command, Udas was given command of the squadron and promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Another original member of Arrow Squadron and a close friend of Tozin, he realized that the Mon Cal would greatly benefit from the same sort of tutelage he had once offered Benere. Deciding against retirement, Tozin re-enlisted when Arrow Squadron was reformed under the New Republic Defense Fleet.

### **Seek and Destroy**

> "*We must not discount the remoteness of this region, my friend. Something tells me that Imperials will not be our only challenge.*"
> ― **Tozin X'ala** to Lieutenant Udas
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Over a year since their participation in the Hutt Campaign, Arrow Squadron was once again sent out from the fleet, this time to engage the remaining elements of the Imperial Navy. Dispatched to the Tingel Arm region of space, located in the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim Territories, Arrow Squadron was assigned with eliminating any remaining Imperial forces in the region.