Penn Pershing

**Penn Pershing** was a human male doctor and clone engineer affiliated with a remnant of the Galactic Empire during the New Republic Era. By 9 ABY, Pershing and "the Client" placed a bounty on Grogu in hopes of acquiring it. One of the bounty hunters who accepted the commission was Din Djarin who met with the Client and Pershing while they were under the protection of Remnant Stormtroopers. Previously, Pershing served within the Pentastar Alignment led by Ardus Kaine.

Djarin retrieved Grogu for the Imperials, and delivered him directly to the Client and Pershing, who verified he was healthy. The doctor and the Client then argued about extracting material from the child, with Pershing ensuring that it remained alive. After having a change of heart, Djarin returned and fought his way through the facility where Pershing was working on Grogu. The bounty hunter confronted Pershing who begged for his and the child's life, causing Djarin to spare the scientist and leave with the infant.

After the kidnapping, Pershing continued his work for Gideon, injecting Grogu's blood into the bodies of volunteers, ultimately resulting in their deaths after initial promising results. In need of more of Grogu's blood, the doctor sent a hologram to Gideon revealing that he was unable to continue his work. Gideon eventually recaptured Grogu on the planet Tython, but as Pershing was being transported aboard a shuttle, the vessel was attacked by the bounty hunter Boba Fett, who used the ion cannons on his ship, the *Slave I*, the disable the shuttle. Djarin boarded the vessel along with his ally Cara Dune, but Pershing was held hostage by one of the shuttle pilots. Dune shot and killed the pilot, grazing Pershing's ear. Pershing then betrayed Gideon and offered his master's enemies valuable intel that allowed them to successfully infiltrate Gideon's light cruiser and rescue Grogu.

He later joined the Amnesty Program and had the designation **Amnesty Scientist L52**.

## History

Following the abduction of Grogu by Moff Gideon, Pershing was being transported aboard Shuttle 2743 when the ship came under attack from Boba Fett in *Slave I*, and was disabled by Fett's ion cannon. Thinking the shuttle was under attack by pirates, Pershing suggested they fight back, but the co-pilot said he didn't have a death wish and refused. When Din Djarin and Carasynthia Dune boarded the shuttle, the co-pilot held a blaster to Pershing's head, stressing the clone engineer's importance to Gideon and the New Republic, although Pershing confirmed to Djarin that Grogu was alive aboard Gideon's light cruiser. After goading Dune about the destruction of Alderaan, she shot and killed the pilot. Pershing's ear was grazed by the blaster bolt, leaving a partial hole.

After Djarin obtained the help of the Mandalorians Bo-Katan Kryze and Koska Reeves, Pershing gave them valuable intel for their raid on Gideon's cruiser, including Grogu's location, and the presence and power-up time of a platoon of third-generation dark troopers. During the raid, Djarin used Pershing's code cylinder to access the brig, and to seal the cargo bay housing the dark troopers.

## Personality and traits

Pershing was a nervous scientist, and according to the Client, his enthusiasm outweighed his discretion. The doctor was eager to learn about Grogu and was dedicated to his work, but he was also a fearful man, especially when confronted with weapons at the hand of alert Mandalorians. In contrast to the Client, who was willing to acquire Grogu at all costs, Pershing sought to avoid harming the child, and though immediately contradicted by the Client, informed Djarin that Grogu had to be returned alive. When Djarin returned the asset, Pershing refused the Client's demands to do whatever was necessary extract needed material, stating that they had very specific instructions to keep the child alive. This decision ended up saving Pershing's life when Djarin returned to rescue the child, as the Mandalorian realized Pershing was the only one in the facility trying to protect Grogu. He stood 1.7 meters, or 5 feet 7 inches, tall. He did fundamentally believe in his research, believing it was being twisted for the wrong ends by the Imperials, and that it could be used for better means by the New Republic. In the end, however, he found himself to be too trusting of Elia Kane.

## Appearances

* Shadows of the Empire (Mentioned only)
* *Boba and Fennec* (First appearance)