Zinh Koradum was a noteworthy banker and finance expert prior to the events of the later Clone Wars and Galactic Civil war, aligning himself with the Empire. He would later go on to support Admiral Priedd Droen and his moves to reinforce the Empire if it were threatened. Following the fragmentation of the Empire with the destruction of the Second Death Star above Endor, .
Early Years[]
Zinh was born to an affluent family on the planet Naboo in 49 BBY, and was educated in the ways of finance and of management, operating with the finest of minds and benefits that a young financial officer for the Royal palace in Theed could hope for, performing his duties admirably enough to warrant merit and commendation; which would later see him depart his home of Naboo and begin work on Coruscant for the Senate Guard as a finance overseer, and management official; often reporting to oversight committees and representatives of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, mostly to argue for more funding and improved access to finer equipment, something which gained the ire of pacifist elements in the Senate, who believed the militarisation of the Senate Guard was the next step if such equipment was acquisitioned.
Despite the political fallings out he had with Senators and officials alike, he spent the majority of his years on Coruscant, unmoved and unsurprised by most Galactic events, such as the Battle of Naboo and even the very outbreak of the Clone Wars; predicting it by the credit flow, calculating when and where conflict would arise in financial interests or in the name of politics, always guessing where and when the next battle between Separatist and Republic would begin, by looking at what money was being wired to the planet; be it to pay for fortifications or for the salary of civilian and military staff on the site; Republic or Separatist.
By the time of the Rise of the Empire in 19 BBY; Koradum was a well established banker, and a significant figure in finance circles, with his financial acumen attracting the highest placed of clients in both legal and illegal circles. So much so that he drew the attention of the Emperor himself; and was summoned to meet him in the newly declared Emperors temporary dwellings, for an audience with the Emperor. Despite initial misgivings, Koradum would attend and most certainly reap the rewards of his decision; becoming one of the Emperors few Financial advisors, and answering directly to Palpatine regarding personal finance, and finance for the Empire as a whole.
Whilst the position brought with it stress and a significant workload, it also brought benefits that he would almost certainly enjoy in frequency; purchasing a significant estate on Orinda in 14 BBY, and eventually requesting and receiving his own guard, which comprised mostly of Imperial Shadow stormtroopers, which he employed on numerous occasions to offer personal defense, and which he also sought to increase the numbers, from a small squad of 8 to nearly a whole garrison before the year was even out, thanks to the large number of retiring Clone Troopers, and the number of ex-separatists who wished to seek a means of security from the clutches of Imperial justice. Whilst many saw this as a sign that he regarded himself as a man of the Military and believed it to be a sign of naivety and arrogance, he was lucent enough to see that opposing the Emperors wishes was unwise, and merely built the guard as a display of his position; but also as a functional security and military force, opting against having Imperial stormtroopers on his property, unless they answered directly to himself.
By 6 BBY, Zinh had a sizeable force on his Orinda Estate, including several garrisons of his Shadow infantry, 2 squads of AT-STs, 3 squads of AT-PTs and even 2 Imperial starfighter squadrons, which was a source of immense satisfaction for himself at his financial handling of the position he found himself in, which had failed to so much as leave a ripple in the Emperors still warm appreciation for his services. The same could not be said for oversector Moff Ardus Kaine, who saw this force build up as a means of probing the Moffs loyalty to the Emperor himself, something which embittered him to Zinhs presence on the planet. Around this time, Zinh had also been enthralled by the Navies often concealed and hidden commission of new Super Star Destroyer classes, such as the Executor-class star dreadnaught, and also came in to contact with the well respected and discussed Admiral Priedd Droen, who also had an interest in the Super star destroyer classes, both became close confidantes and friends over the years, and would often discuss the present state of the Empire. What astonished Koradum the most was Droens insistence that the Empire was ignoring its manufacturing capabilities in favour of short term displays of force and vessel construction, rather than the updating and construction of additional Imperial shipyards, something which Koradum confirmed when he reviewed the expenditure for the past 8 years; confirming that little to no expense had been spared on the construction of new Warships, but nearly nothing on new shipyards.
Despite two prominent Imperial officials growing concerns for the poor preparedness of the Empire to deal with the shortfalls of lacking shipyards, he proceeded with his own security forces improvements, whilst operating with normal activities for the financial management of the Empire. By 4 BBY, Koradums security force still held sway, and by this point Koradum had entered the conspiracy with Priedd Droen to secure Imperial interests; investing large amounts of his own time to concealing the thefts and funds diverted towards the construction of concealed shipyard construction facilities, such as the Cairn Installation, and at the same time the emboldened Banker sought a audience with the Emperor, and openly suggested the construction of a number more Executor-class Star Dreadnaughts, which the Emperor concurred with; though Koradum some years later would doubt that it was because of his request or straightforward approach. Several Executor-class Star Dreadnaughts were commissioned in the same year, mere months after his meeting with the Emperor, to Koradums satisfaction; and at an even greater satisfaction when one Executor-class star Dreadnaught was announced to be at his disposal, at the Emperors insistence; those in the conspiracy movement, including one of his closest allies, Admiral Droen believed this was a sign that the Emperor rewarded only his inner circle; though Koradum doubted this, and believed it to be more a test of some sorts, though he was unable to discern why the test was given; until the Emperors full instructions were sent regarding the dreadnaught.
To Koradums surprise, and initial concern; the Emperor left the financial management of the whole construction project for the dreadnaught to Koradum, whom he expected to manage and operate, at nearly his own expense; though Koradum proved to be capable enough to manage the construction of the vessel, even accelerating the construction process, thanks to some assistance from Admiral Droen, who also was shaken by the revelation that the Emperor placed financial control of the vessel at Koradums feet, believing that the Emperor was aware of the movement, though neither could prove this fear for certain. By 1 BBY the dreadnaught was nearing completion, and despite the Imperial Senates blind sighted willingness to believe the Emperors lies and half-truths, Koradum was careful not to draw unwanted attention to the project, even insisting that the other 3 dreadnaughts be concealed also, a suggestion which the Emperor championed, to the dismay of Fondor Shipyards and Kuat Drive Yards, who were forced to up security at significant financial cost to themselves.
Koradum would go on to serve the Empire diligently for its remaining years of dominance, having seemingly forgotten the operation of his own Guard, maintaining rather than expanding the force and focusing a majority of his time on the construction of concealed shipyards and mining and refinery platforms, driven by a somewhat belligerent sense of patriotism. In 3 BBY, a Year prior to the Battle of Endor, Koradum once again began work on his private body of Shadow stormtroopers, drawing officers, capable veterans and loyal Imperial mercenaries in to his guard, and bringing his own dreadnaught to Orinda, with the Emperors prior approval, which only served to anger Grand Moff Ardus Kaine, who felt challenged by Koradum, who he perceived as his lesser. He began the process of assembling a force to aid in the Emperors plan for the destruction of the Rebel fleet, believing that his calculations for a conflict were correct, and left the assembly of discipline and order to his most trusted officers, considering suitable names for the dreadnaught, and overseeing the transfer of what assets he had to secure accounts, and calling upon access to several Imperial II-class Star Destroyers from the conspirators that he had so diligently protected and funded, believing the trade off for his services in exchange for the fruits of joint labor to be a fair price, to which Admiral Droen reluctantly agreed.
Imperial Remnant[]
Whilst Koradum was aware that he was not an officer, he believed that leaving the dreadnaught in the capable command of trusted officers, and manning it with a number of shadow troopers, he would ensure the vessels loyalty to himself, and thus to Palpatine. He christened the Executor-class star dreadnaught the Benefactor, much to his own satisfaction; satisfaction that was short lived, when Imperial channels flooded with the news that the Second Death Star had been destroyed, and the Emperor, along with Lord Vader; were confirmed as deceased. Horrified, and believing Ardus Kaine would surrender to the Rebels, he ordered the recently arrived Imperial-II class star Destroyers; Raider, Obliterator, Merciless and the Anaxes, including his Executor-class star Dreadnaught the Benefactor to make the trip through Hyperspace to the Cairn Installation, unaware that Admiral Priedd Droen would also be present.
Emerging out of Hyperspace at the facility, he was initially startled to find a number of Star Destroyers, Cruisers and Frigates also present at the facility; with most turning their cannons on his own vessel, before a order to hold fire was issued by Admiral Droen, who demanded to know the identity of the commander of the behemoth dreadnaught, now baring down upon the Cairn Installation. Having identified himself, and the fleet at his command; Droen instructed a shaken Koradum to proceed to the facility, where a hasty meeting then took place. Many present at the meeting continued to argue over what course should be taken, and it was discovered that many conspirators had either departed for Warlords space to swear allegiance, Surrendered to the New Republic or had been killed at the Battle of Endor. Despite this set back, Droen insisted that the matter would resolve itself, and that the Empire would unify against the Republic, Koradum doubted the credibility of the statement, thanks in part to his calculations and also in the issue of Warlords arising from the ranks of Grand Moffs, the rank and file of the Army and even Imperial Officials who held no rank in the Military. Despite his hesitance, Koradum elected to depart for one of the groups other facilities; namely, the Argonomar Facillity, concealed in an Asteriod belt from the sight of Grand Moff Ardus Kaine, beleiving with what resources he possessed aboard the hold of the Benefactor, he could craft a sizeable force.