Jaesa Vakara was a female Zeltron/Human hybrid who served the Galactic Empire as a TIE pilot during the Galactic Civil War. She shared her life force with that of Aaellu Lambert – a Force adept from the time of the Old Republic – thanks to a Sith ritual performed by Jaesa's mother, Torem Odé, on her unwilling father, Gam Vakara, during her conception, though Jaesa retained no memories of her "past life".
Jaesa's mother left her upbringing primarily to her father to keep their relationship a secret, and as such she was raised to be a hard-working, well-behaved believer in the order and security the Galactic Empire had brought to the galaxy following the Clone Wars. She made good use of her father's connections and reputation – in combination with her own skills – to advance rapidly and become a respected Imperial pilot, undergoing entry tests for admission into Storm Squadron at just nineteen years old. Unfortunately, Jaesa shared the same potent connection to the Force that Aaellu Lambert had enjoyed in life, which eventually compelled her to seek out surviving Jedi for guidance when her mother – herself a Force-wielder – refused to train her. This led Jaesa to Mahad, the leader of the Gloomtroopers terrorist organization, who agreed to teach Jaesa what he knew in exchange for intelligence he could use to undermine the Empire's rule.
Leading a demanding double-life proved to be difficult and when Mahad attempted to assassinate Darth Vader while he attended the Empire Day celebrations in Theed in 2 ABY, Jaesa was forced to make a snap decision regarding her loyalties, resulting in her stepping in to save Mahad after his friend Rita Odé died holding off the Sith Lord to buy them time to retreat. After a chase through the capital, both Jaesa and Mahad were rescued by the latter's Gloomtroopers, giving both individuals a second chance they did not take for granted.
Left with no other choice, Jaesa became part of Mahad's anti-Empire militia and continued her training between missions, slowly coming to realize that the Empire was not the paragon of law, order and justice that she had once believed it to be. Towards the end of the year, the pair were separated on Dathomir, and while Mahad was captured by Imperial forces and taken to a secret prison facility, Jaesa was recruited by the Singing Mountain Clan. Learning new abilities, Jaesa eventually launched a rescue attempt on the facility, but soon discovered it was quarantined due to an outbreak of an experimental virus. Nonetheless, Jaesa fought through the army of infected and rescued Mahad, helping him and several other survivors to escape.
Unfortunately, Mahad took it upon himself to provide a distraction, and though he escaped the quarantine zone via speeder he was captured a few miles outside the perimeter by members of the Nightsisters and taken into slavery. Jaesa infiltrated the Nightsisters with the help of the Singing Mountain Clan, but she was unable to prevent the return of Axkva Min, an immensely powerful Nightsister who took over the clan and raped Mahad, intent on beginning a Force-strong dynasty. A coalition of Singing Mountain and Nightsister witches, rebel fighters and members of the Gloomtroopers ultimately defeated Min, but Jaesa – furious – took it upon herself to execute the witch, prompting her "sisters" to exile her from the clan.
In 3 ABY, Mahad and Jaesa traveled to Hoth to hunt down and kill the exiled Nightsister Kyrisa, cooperating with the Rebellion to use Echo Base as a staging point for their search. During the Battle of Hoth, Mahad and Jaesa confronted Kyrisa and her wampa, Unkajo, in a previously sealed off area known as Wampa Valley, repelling her opportunistic attack and forcing her to retreat back into the snowfields. Weeks after the battle, Rachi Sitra contacted Mahad and Jaesa, asking for their help in stopping Kyrisa, who had escaped Hoth by agreeing to work with Imperial-backed Dark Jedi Namman Cha.
Sometime before the Battle of Endor, Jaesa married Mahad and the newlyweds settled down on Dantooine to "retire" somewhere the Empire would not find them. By the time the New Republic was established, Jaesa and Mahad were living on a profitable thune ranch with their daughter Noralyn Vakara.
In 12 ABY, Jaesa and Mahad became involved in the Empire Reborn campaign and later reinforced the Jedi Praxeum against Desaan's Reborn and shadowtrooper forces. Two years later, in 14 ABY, Jaesa and Mahad were caught up in the Disciples of Ragnos crisis and once again lent their aid to Luke Skywalker's New Jedi Order.
Appearances[]
- Star Wars: An Empire Divided
- An Empire Divided: The Tansarii Catalyst
- An Empire Divided: Scum and Villainy
- An Empire Divided: Rebellion in Bestine