Face Loran

This article is about Face. You may be looking for Face (Earth).

Colonel Garik "Face" Loran
"I love it when a plan comes together!" "We're going through the front door!"
Species:	Human (Lorrdian)
Homeworld:	Pantalomin
Gender:	Male
Age:	32
Hair Color:	Black
Eye Color:	Green
Skin Color:	Caucasian
Height:	1.83 meters
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Allegiance:	New Republic
Unit:	Wraith Squadron
Rank:	Colonel
Astromech:	Vape

Face Loran is the leader of Wraith Squadron, specialising in Unarmed Combat, Starfighter and Ground Assualt Tactics, Undercover Operations and Intrusion/Infiltration.

Background

Garik Loran was born from Lorridian parents on the planet Pantalomin. The majority of his childhood years was spent working as a child actor. He shot to galactic fame (earning his nickname "Face") starring in Imperial propaganda films such as 'Win or Die' and 'The Black Bantha'.

However, at the age of 14, everything changed. A group of Alliance extremists kidnapped him, taking him to a secure location. Once there, they gave him a "crash insight to the Empires evil". Then, just as he was getting to grips with it all, an Imperial rescue team showed up. A firefight ensued, in which the young Face picked up his previous scar. Both the Rebels and Imperials were wiped out, leaving a very confused and terrified boy.

He retreated to his parents planet of Lorrd, and for a year didn't speak or interact with anyone, all the while learning his genetic skills of mimicry and impersonation. He also began to show promise in martial arts, his newfound gifts allowing him to 'read' his opponents. What followed would be a 7 year journey around the galaxy as he trained with Mistryl, Imperial Royal Guardsmen, Madalorian Supercommandos and a variety of other individuals. Finally, he ended up in Rogue Squadron, where under Wedge Antilles he created Wraith Squadron, intended for covert missions and tactics which would not always be looked upon favourably in starfighter command (although Face himself has said on many occasions that he prefers the blast-through-the-front-door approach).

Early Biography

The Acting Years

Born into a middle class Lorridian family, Face Loran showed early promise as both a model, and a talent for acting. It was because of this his family enrolled him into the prestigious Lorridian Academy for Performing Arts. At the age of seven, he caught the eye of an Imperial Commander Terac, who promptly cast him in the lead role of a holodrama. The success of the first holofilm ensured Face's continued acting career, including the now infamous "Win or Die". Face was an actor for seven years, starring in over twelve holodramas and numerous holonews specials.

Tecar ensured the young star received the best possible training from various professionals. Because of this, Face was trained in piloting, riding (both swoops and animals) and stage fighting. However, it was his final film, "Winning Shot" that Terac really pulled out the shots, having the young actors pistol skills trained by the infamous gunslinger Gallandro.

However, only a day after the film was wrapped, something happened that would change the young Face's life forever.

The Kidnapping

Face was kidnapped by Alliance extremists, who were determined to strike a blow to the Empire, by killing it’s Poster Child. However, before they executed the young teenager, they showed him multiple holoimages and secretly filmed examples of the Empires evil. Confused, tortured and alone, the young Face withdrew into himself.

When an Imperial rescue mission was mounted, Face found himself caught in the crossfire, earning himself a blaster scar which cut across his famous features. The Imperial agents, led by Commander Terac were eventually victorious, although Terac had dropped his weapon during the melee. At the end of the firefight, only one Imperial agent, along with Terac were still standing.

When they tried to take Face with them, the frightened youth refused. Seeing that he was no longer going to be of use to them, Terac changed to his backup plan. If Garik Loran was no good to them alive, then he’d use his dead body as proof of the terrorist acts of the Rebel Alliance. In a last desperate act, Face snatched Terac’s fallen blaster pistol, and using skills ingrained from his time with Gallando, killed both Terac at the last Imperial. Scarred, confused, and terrified, the young actor staggered out of the Alliance’s hideaway and vanished.

The First Year

After managing to secure transport back to his parent’s homeworld of Lorrd, Face was still too traumatised by his ordeal to participate in any normal society. News of his ‘death’ had been circulated around the galaxy, and so Face stayed with his family in secret. Not saying anything, the youngster existed in silence, unable to interact with society. For almost a year, the young Face simply sat and watched. His genetic heritage began to kick in, along with his actors training, and Face soon realised that he could read peoples body language as clearly as though they were speaking to him directly.

After sitting and watching in silence for just over a year, the galaxy was suddenly thrown into turmoil as the Rebel Alliance destroyed the first Death Star. Suddenly, there was a challenger to the Empires evil. Wanting to fight to atone for all the help he had given the evil regime, but still scared of the Alliance, Face, aged 15 years old, decided to set out into the galaxy for himself.

Space Drifter and Lucius Xoff

Although worth (at this stage) approximately 30 million credits, Face signed on to a tramp freighter, working as a deck hand, wanting to see what life was like on the ‘other side’. For four months, Face roamed around the galaxy, picking up numerous languages, but even more injuries as he adjusted to a rougher lifestyle than he was used to.

After four months, Face ran into a man who would remain an important part of his life. A young male, ten years older than a 15-year-old Face, impressed the traveller with his financial and businesslike acumen after successfully managing to reveal a smuggling ring based purely on studying their financial records for five minutes. Face, observing the action from an independent perspective approached the young male, Lucius Xoff, and offered him a chance of a lifetime. Face offered 10 million credits to the young entrepreneur. The deal was, that Xoff could keep 10% of the profits, with a further 10% going to Face (to fund his trek), 10% to be ploughed back into the business, with the final 70% to be used to set up a charity organisation. Only two rules were given... The Empire was not to be a customer in anyway, and Face was always to be the majority shareholder.

The First Training

It was after his meeting with Xoff, that Face decided to take control of the direction of his life. He’d seen enough to the galaxy to know that the Empire evil was still spreading, but he still didn’t want to join the fledgling Rebel Alliance. Face did the next best thing. His year of solitude of Lorrd had shown him the ability to read people’s body language, and after a few months on board a rough tramp freighter, he realised that this greatly aided his fledgling combat skills.

Using more of his savings, Face successfully managed to track down Shada D’ukal, a member of the Mistryl Shadow Guard. Despite the secretive nature of the organisation, Face managed to convince Shada to train him in the ways of the Mistryl combat arts. It was only the sheer amounts of credits that Face was prepared to pay made Shada acquiesce to Face’s request. For a year and a half, until his seventeenth birthday Face trained under D’ukal for 16 hours a day, sometimes training solo for weeks at a time as Shada took on other missions. The Mistryl trained the adolescent in numerous techniques, including stealth, acrobatics, intrusions as well as several martial arts including K’Jtari and Hijkata.

However, as Face turned 17, Shada decided to cut off his training, stating he had learnt too much and she didn’t want to train him anymore. Hungry for more experience, Face left for a fabled Academy on Cularin.

Temple of the Five Masters

Set up by a group of mysterious instructors during the rise of the Empire, the Cularin Academy was a secluded and highly secretive academy where five enigmatic martial arts masters trained specially chosen apprentices. When he first approached the masters, Face was rebuffed repeatedly. It wasn’t until a desperate Face challenged one of the masters to combat, that he was finally acknowledged. Despite his previous training, Face only lasted three minutes against the master. However, his tenacity and raw talent was noticed, and Face was taken into the academy. Whilst there, he trained with three of the five masters, studying K’tara and K’thri. However, it was when he trained in Echani with the third master, that Face found his preferred style.

After just over two years of intense training, Face was officially declared a master in all three of his chosen arts. At the end, he could defeat any other student in the academy (sometimes against odds of 3 to 1), and could hold his own against any one of the masters. However, like Shada before them, the Five Masters declared that Face must move on, as he still had much before him on his path. The Emperor had fallen a few months previously, but Face still felt he had more learn.

Training on Bunduki

Buoyed by his success at the Temple, Face moved to the ancient art of Teras Kasi. Tracking down the secluded Followers of Palawa, Face convinced them to train him in their combat style. After a little under a year, Face had learnt all of the techniques, and was sent away to seek more training. It would not be for another few years of practice before Face returned once more for one final class, where he would be claimed a master.

The Imperial Royal Guard

The Emperor had fallen a year previously and Face had begun to realise that learning various forms of combat wasn’t enough. He realised he needed to go to the next stage of his training. Not just how to fight, but how to plan, strategise and lead. Face managed to find Jarax Taklar, an ex-Imperial Royal Guard (former squadmate of Vin Northal). Taklar, however, did not have Rebel leanings, and so Face had to convince him that he was pro Imperial, after confiding in him about his past Imperial position. For a year, Taklar taught Face extensively in Echani, including use of the double bladed vibrostaff. Face also received advance training in intrusion, espionage as well as small unit tactics.

The training came to an end when Face fought Jarax in The Squall on Yinchorr. The pair fought for almost an hour, ending up in stalemate. Jarax confronted Face about his true nature, and Face admitted that he was preparing himself to fight the Empire, as well as the rest of the evil in the galaxy. Enraged, Jarax attacked Face once more, who managed to defeat his trainer using a mixture of all the other martial arts he had learned. Leaving his instructor temporarily paralysed, Face challenged him to see beyond what his indoctrination had made him believe, and left.

Mandalorian Training

Using a small intelligence network set up along with Visage Enterprise, Face eventually tracked down his final instructor. Dena Steel was a retired clone ARC Trooper who had originally trained Imperial forces, before leaving (against his Imperial masters wishes) to become freelance. Face tracked him down just as he was preparing to retire properly. For just under a year, Face trained with the Mandalorian, learning everything the experienced solider could teach him about CQB, multiple different weapon systems, tactics, intelligence, demolition techniques and a plethora of other subjects too numerous to mention.

Because of the gene altered aging process, during the year he was training Face, Steel aged over 10 years. Steel died, with his final and most talented pupil by his beside. The aged clone was thankful for one last chance to be useful.

New Republic and Red Blade

After he finished training with Steel, Face finally joined the New Republic. He originally joined NR Special Forces as a private, under his actual name, but denying he was the Garik Loran. Purposefully keeping under the radar, Face did well in training, without excelling. However, he caught the eye of Vhiran "Rataka" Maverick, a Colonel in the New Republic Special Operations Brigade.

Ratakan, realising the younger mans true identity and talents, forced the Lorridian to show his full talents during training. Once Face had beaten not only his classmates in unarmed combat and light weapons, but his instructors too, Rataka tested Face's tactical abilities in several exams, quickly promoting him to Lieutenant, and taking him to Special Operations.

After only a few months of their partnership, Face and Rataka recruited two more members, Sgt Will "Locker" Bevan, and a pilot, Captain M.V. Mardex. The four of them became a joint clandestine alpha unit, codenamed Red Blade. They shortly became infamous in the SpecOps and SpecForces units for being one of the most effective teams from either discipline, performing over 20 successful combat missions in a little under six months. However, after one mission, they were framed for a crime they didn't commit.

Sentenced to twenty years in a military prison, Face, Locker and Rataka promptly escaped from a military stockade. Mardex was placed in a mental institution for instability.

For the next 6 months, hunted by the very military they had served, Red Blade performed numerous operations, sometimes breaking Mardex out of the VA hospital to assist them. After 6 months, the team proved their innocence, and were reinstated, save Mardex, who decided to break out of the institution permanently.

Whilst Locker was drafted back into the Special Forces and Rataka was moved elsewhere, as part of his reinstatement, Face entered starfighter command. He had been flying his own craft since he was taught as part of his actors training when he was 8 years old. After he joined Starfighter Command, Face applied the same determination to his piloting training as he had for the previous seven years, and immediately found himself assigned to the infamous Rogue Squadron almost as soon as he’d finished training.

Biography in Rogue/Wraith Squadron

The first few missions

"I'm much better at covert insurrections. But this is so much fun"

―Face Loran to Myn Donos on Assaulting a Black Sun base

Even though Wraith Squadron's inception occurred a considerable time after Face joined the Rogues, Face Loran nevertheless was a constant presence in both Squadrons since the reorganisation of Rogue Squadron ^(ref), bringing with him his large assortment of weapons (the legendary 'Face's Weapon Cache') and more ground-assault based thinking than either Wedge Antilles' or Corran Horn's approaches at the time, described by his fellow pilots as "the natural leader of ground battles" ^(ref). Face always naturally assumed a strong leadership role, although his fierce loyalty to his friends and colleagues occasionally tugged heartstrings which clouded his judgement, for example taking the death of Ran Kether (prior to finding out that Ran had been recreated as a 'Landwarrior' ^(ref) ) particularly hard.

An early assault on a Black Sun stronghold, with Myn Donos for backup, proved Face's ability to command to Wedge and Corran, who include him in the planning and assault on an Imperial Star Destroyer, allowing him unofficial command of his own unit, which he dubbed 'Wraith Squadron'.

During his early time in Rogue Squadron, Face was bitten on the calf by Kettch, the squadron's almost-tame Ewok ^(ref), and since then rumour has it that occasionally Face transforms into the legendary Facewok. However Face recovered quickly and his next notable command was a joint Rogue and Wraith mission, to infiltrate the forces of Darth Khyyron, and destroy his forces ^(ref).

After the Rogues' move Aquaris Base, Face accidentally destroyed 'Kether's Kasino' in an attempt to kill a shark through a transparisteel wall ^(ref), but this did nothing to diminish the camaraderie and loyalty he had already inspired in those under his command. Besides which, he also showed he was a man of great substance and great nonchalance, casually handing Ran the money to refurbish his 'kasino' and then some.

Operation: Vertex

Being the official ground-assault and covert-ops expert, Face Loran was the obvious choice to head up Operation: Vertex, an undercover mission which led to the eventual destruction of the Imperial Star Destroyer. To be chosen for this mission showed great prestige within the Rogues and only the cream of the squadron could be considered: Face chose his team accordingly, rejecting off-handedly a new recruit to the squadron, Shira Brie, which unbeknownst to Face at the time, was to be a mistake with grave consequences ^(ref) . Teamed with the new girl on an informal training/morale boosting exercise involving "powered-down blasters and sensor units" ^(ref), Face coped admirably with the new tension brought into his life, as he had overcome other obstacles in the past (mainly with a mixture of pizzaz, showmanship and ego).

Shocked (even though he had a bad feeling about it) and personally insulted by the discovery of Shira Brie as a stowaway on the Operation Vertex mission ^(ref), it was all Tyria Sarkin could do to eventually calm the man down enough that he wouldn't shoot the new girl. This did nothing to stave Face's inherent mistrust of Force-users in general, however, and from this moment on Face and Tyria were generally to be found at loggerheads. It was at this point that it seemed to become clear to all but Face and Shira that their destinies were intertwined, even as Shira and Face were forced into closer proximity as they had to take up the remaining cover identities as husband and wife!

Despite this setback, Operation Vertex was a success and the estimation of Face Loran in his colleagues' eyes shot up once more, proving he was not a man to be trifled with.

The Beginnings of Wraith

"Face has been involved in those types of groups for longer than he's been involved with the New Republic, and I don't think he ever gained a full appreciation for staying within our [the Rogues'] military rules and our overpowering sense of loyalty. He's always preferred to bend the rules and do things his way."

―Corran Horn to Tyria Sarkin, trying to explain why Face is the ideal man for the job

Upon his return to base after Operation Vertex, Face was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and was officially 'poached' from the Rogues by Starfighter Command, in order that he officially would set up Wraith Squadron as a permanent Intelligence Unit, working in conjunction with Rogue Squadron as a sister squadron or unit. This allowed Face to expand on his already subversive command style, allowing him to bring in non-military personnel and keep both them and him under the radar: the Wraiths soon became a mixture of "the 'old' Rogues and ... veterans from the second generation of Wraith Squadron pilots around the time of Thrawn's bid for the galaxy" ^(ref), as well as his own handpicked 'experts'.
Face's first official command saw him and the Wraiths 'rescue' Rogue Squadron, as the Rogue's Arrow had suffered a horrific crash on Hoth (however the Rogues had already dispatched any Imperial presence on Hoth, so mainly needed a pick-up rather than a rescue.)

During the following years after Operation Vertex, Face and his team underwent several top-secret missions, and he began a flirtation of a relationship with the girl who had previously caused his life hell, Shira Brie, who he promoted to second-in-command of his Wraith Squadron, placing great trust in the young woman.

The beginnings of the partnership

"Impressive work out there, people. We haven't completed a mission like this utilizing both squadrons for far too long, but you proved tonight that none of us have lost our touch. You worked together in a way that would make the most efficient Imperial squadrons jealous, and watched out for each other in a way that the Imps would find most foreign. Through your diligent labors, and your sacrifices... you have insured that the technology of the Cataclysm-Class C Cruiser will not fall into the hands of the Noz or Empire."

―Wedge Antilles the assembled pilots of Rogue and Wraith

Later Wraith Squadron was reunited with the Rogues, and it was then that he re-consolidated his squadron with new members, as the Rogues and Wraiths were immediately required to set out on a data retrieval mission to the planet of Yintoa ^(ref), to retrieve Doctor Gheanphausernoph from a Black Sun stronghold on a Noz-controlled planet. This mission went smoothly, although Wraith Anatha Bereil was killed ^(ref). Face later held a memorial service for her ^(ref). The mission was successful despite this heavy loss, however, and earned Face yet more credit from Wedge Antilles and the command structure.

After this mission's completion, perhaps spurred by the loss of Anatha Bereil, perhaps scared by the growing seriousness of their relationship, Shira Brie unexpectedly decided to leave the Wraiths, angering Face, whose opinion was that she "left the entire squadron in the lurch" ^(ref).

Wraith Squadron Reborn

Shadow Lightfoot was transferred into the Wraiths, offering herself to the squadron with the reasoning: "I just think my skills would be better used as a Wraith. I'm a tracker, infiltrator, and other field skills. As a Rogue, I'm always being put in the cockpit of an X-wing that makes me claustrophobic. I was commissioned mainly as a cook and to fly whatever large ships we happen to occupy, but rarely do I get to use my land skills. The Wraiths have a long standing reputation for specialized field operations, and I'd like to be a part of that." ^(ref) Face almost immediately (after putting the new recruit through several gruelling tests, of course) nabbed the newbie, sending this communiqué to Corran Horn to inform him of the transfer: "Dear General. Please accept this authorization for Captain Lightfoot to join Wraith Squadron effective immediately. Signed Colonel Loran. PS: I like your shoes." ^(ref) Face also reclaimed Elassar Targon for his squadron ^(ref)

The new Wraiths were put to the test almost immediately as the Wraiths were needed in a dogfight above the base, and then a ground-assault against pirates, in which Face's leg was badly damaged, requiring surgery by Tyria. This left Feylis Ardele in temporary charge of the Wraiths.

"I can't lose my leg... I didn't mean it when I said you can't keep up.”
“Now if you'd just admit I'm [ranked] above you...”
“Not a chance. I'll lose my leg first!"

―Face Loran and Tyria Sarkin

Unfortunately, the mission also resulted in the death of several Wraiths (Link Trapper, Gen Akrana and Jaster Maral).
The operation on his leg a success, Face quickly regained his health and vigour. Shortly afterwards, several older members (Iella Wessiri, Nawara Ven and Will “Locker” Bevan) were transferred away. Face used this opportunity to reorganise Wraith Squadron, ensuring he once more had the best talent available.

Renegades of the New Republic

Shortly afterwards, Face abruptly found himself (as well as Corran, Wedge and all their squadrons), enemies of the Republic due to Councilor Brom's intervention, claiming that the Rogues and Wraiths were traitors to the New Republic, having committed a number of atrocities including planting fake evidence against Moff Arden in order to justify exterminating his rule on Yintoa.

Being an enemy of the New Republic, Face was set in charge of locating and retrieving supplies for the squadrons, which he did so, for example sending his female pilots on a mission to steal from Moff Archardu for 'vital' party supplies, to boost morale ^(ref).

Sometime later, Face discovered that Elassar was taking drugs, as whilst semi-conscious but with his eyes open, Face watched Elassar shoot up in front of him ^(ref). He vowed to help him kick the habit - whether he wanted to be helped or not.

Face once again showed his fierce loyalty to his squadron members, current or prior, when the Wraiths were pulled away from a recreational party to rescue one of Face's old team members, the Bothan slicer Keyta Rey'lya ^(ref). Whilst gathering information the Wraiths infiltrated one of the more notorious galactic sludgenews papers, to both gather intel on Keyta's condition and intimidate the papers out of their continued lies about Face himself and the other COs of Rogue Squadron.

Once found, Face and the other Wraiths infiltrated (through strolling in through the front door in stolen uniforms) an Imperial Academy base where Keyta was being held, and located and retrieved Keyta from the detention block, cell H50-419. ^(ref). Keyta was damaged in the retreat, with a wound in her belly ^(ref), however she recovered, due to Elassar doing a complicated surgery in the Sacul, under the watchful eye of Tyria (from a holoscreen near him) ^(ref)

Reunited with the Rogues once again, Face offered a position in Wraith Squadron to Bowman Gavin, seemingly saving him from himself, as the other man was imploding in the Rogues, saying: "I don't need an answer kid, it's not a question. If you want to fly with me, that's fine. If you want to live your life with an R2 as your wingmate, that's cool to. Just don't let your own sithin' stubbornness make the choice for you"^(ref). Gavin eventually submitted a formal request to transfer to Wraith Squadron ^(ref).

After the wedding of Tyria Sarkin and Wedge Antilles ^(ref), Face and the Wraiths presented the couple with a wedding gift: a Naboo N-1 Starfighter, purchased due to his credits and Kai's bartering skills. Face himself also presented Tyria with the lightsaber of "Tyran Sarkin, a Jedi Master from Toprawa... [her] grandfather." ^(ref).

After Wedge and Tyria's honeymoon, Face announced the arrival of the 'Firestorms', who were sent to "hunt down and bring Rogue and Wraith Squadrons to 'justice'" by Brom, who still objected to the Rogues' and Wraiths' continued existence. The leader of Firestorm, however, was old Wraith and Red Blade colleague, Will “Locker” Bevan, so instead decided to join forces with the squadrons, to form another sister-squadron. ^(ref)

Taking down the Datul Crime Syndicate

The next mission Face set the Wraiths on was a joint mission with the Rogues; together they would collectively be taking on the Datul Crime Family. Face sent Feylis Ardele undercover well before this was announced to the other Wraiths ^(ref). Joined by Rillao, Face gave basic martial arts training to those Wraiths who needed it ^(ref).

Whilst training for their upcoming mission, one of the Firestorms nabbed Zraix K'Implez, a Verpine who had been snooping around the Sacul, and brought him to Face. Zraix told Face that The Sacul had asked him to "to go poking around her innards", as the Verpine could communicate with the ship using radiowaves, and that Zraix wanted "to be with the Sacul, to fix her, make her better" ^(ref). Face had no option but to hire him, as the Sacul practically hired him for her!

It is not all roses, however, as Face makes an incorrect decision to give Elassar a sedative in order to force him to get some downtime (after Elassar spends all his hours awake, looking after Kat, who he is romantically involved with, but who also is going through her own emotional trauma and reliance on alcohol). However, this flares Elassar's drug addiction again, all because Face wanted a quick solution to a problem ^(ref). Elassar then demanded that Face help him recover from his addiction - by chaining himself to a pipe in Face's office so that he can go cold turkey, which he does, recovering from his addiction ^(ref). It is a testament to Face's personality that Elassar remained in the squadron after this, and the episode does not seem to have soured their relationship.

Sometime afterwards, the Wraiths promote Face to the unofficial position of General ^(ref), as a show of the squadron's solidarity and their respect for him.

The Wraiths' next mission sends them to Dorstal IV, a planet which was apparently "severely lacking in fashion sense but... also way behind on queuing systems" (Kai, ^(ref)), however the Wraiths end up looking like circus performers and have to improvise their costumes ("Pretty much every Wraith cringed inwardly. They hated it when Face improvised."^(ref) )... this did not help the situation, as the Wraiths were then attacked by Crawlers, ending in a fight, in which Shadow was injured, and a retreat. Face watched as Shadow was helped to recover by Gavin, and the beginnings of a new romance blossomed in his squadron.

Still stunned by the knock to his squadron, Face next found himself helping to save both squadrons from the New Republic, as the 'Victory's Wake' attempted to take some of the Rogues hostage, lulling them into a false sense of security by arriving in a scorched ship and reasoning to Wedge: "After Rogue Squadron had been declared fugitives, my crew and I knew your actions were wholly honourable and that you had committed no crimes. Since your escape, many in the New Republic have become bitterly divided over whether or not you were guilty. My crew and I were some of the few who really began challenging the beliefs of the council that condemned you. We finally brought up our concerns and our intentions and were promptly fired upon by other New Republic ships. There were other Commanders, and plenty of other good men who supported you all, and joined us, but we were the only ship to escape. We decided to come out here and find you." ^(ref) Face and Gavin set detonated explosives on the corvette, which, with the help of Tyria, Rillao and Myomor, allowed the Rogues and Wraiths freedom once again. Face was forced to dispatch of the remaining New Republic survivors when one attempted to kill Wedge, taking the deaths on his conscience to spare Wedge the deaths of 'fellow' New Republic 'good guys'.

" Someone had to Wedge. Someone had to."

―Face Loran to Wedge Antilles on why he killed the two NR Officers trying to assassinate Wedge

The return of Shira

"My point is, that if I think you're a threat to me, or my people, I'll kill you. Then worry about the heartbreak later."

―Face to Shira on Mykyr

It was at this point that Shira Brie chose to sweep back into Face's life, sending a message to Face's personal datapad telling him she was monitoring the Datul's main ship - Shira is working undercover for the Datuls. Whilst undercover himself, Face has a meeting on the Datul ship with Shira and New Republic agents, which almost blows both Shira and Face's cover stories.

Kidnapping Shira might not seem like the sanest of things for Face Loran to have done next, but nevertheless this is what he did, bringing her back to The Sacul, where she eventually awoke and confronted him in the training rooms. Face and Shira then have a conversation and eventually, a fight. Face gives her the chance to explain herself, saying: "what do you want to do? Actually, the real question is, who do you want to be?", with Shira replying (that even with all the time that has passed): "I don't know" ^(ref).

Whilst the rest of the Rogues and Wraiths vacation to Ry-Son IV, Face takes Shira to Mykyr, where he restrains her in order to have a "civilised conversation"!^(ref) (whilst she is stripped of the Force, due to the concentration of Ysalamiri on the planet) Face admits to her that even though he has feelings for her, he will hold his squadron as paramount. Neither Face nor Shira know how to solve their impasse, so inevitably they end up having sex (of course). The following morning Shira confesses that she is not psychologically 'all there' (as if Face needed telling!).

"Face... do the people you've killed... Do... Do they whisper to you at night? When you're all alone? ... They don't whisper to me. They shout...
Do you any idea how it feels to have done the things we've done... and to care?"

―Shira trying to explain herself to Face on Mykyr

After trying to explain, she shoots Face with a stun from one of his own DL-44s, after a final promise, Face falls unconscious and Shira leaves.

"I’ll hunt you down. I will stop you.”
”I know."

―Face and Shira. The last words they share on Mykyr

Waking up and retrieving his possessions from a bunch of low-lifes in the local cantina, Face sends a message to the Wraiths for them to come get him ("She's loose. Am on Myrkr. Come and get me. Face."). Once picked up (incidentally, in his absence the Wraiths used Face's in-through-the-front-door approach to Myrkr ^(ref)) and reunited with the Wraiths, Face goes into Ruthless Efficiency Mode, saying: "I mean we finish this. Here and now. Not just rescuing Tyria, but we take down the whole damned family. No messing, no fair fights, just lethal efficiency." ^(ref).

Whilst assaulting the Datul stronghold, however, the Sacul crashes spectacularly ^(ref). Thankfully, no (organic) Wraiths were injured, however it took the Wraiths a while to recoup their losses. Having recouped, Face joins Ailie Datul in a mission which sees her kill her own father, becoming injured in the process. Face carries her back to the Rogues, where she is adequately looked after. ^(ref)

Return to the New Republic

"Why is the Blade currently spinning away from the Arrow... Why is Bowman on board it, and why in the darkest pits of sith do I have a scout [Shadow] who's having an emotional break down?"

―Face demanding answers from Wedge

After sharing a heated discussion with Wedge, it turned out that Gavin had left the Wraiths, leaving Shadow distraught even though she insisted: "Bowman hasn't stopped loving me. That's the reason he left. He thinks he's protecting me" ^(ref). Gavin returns and is given a second chance by Face.

In a meeting with Councillor Brom, Face bluffs the resignation of Wraith and Rogue squadrons, eventually winning Brom over with his persuasions, under several conditions:

"Full pardons for any being under General Antilles command or my own during the situation for any crimes that we were forced to commit...[and that the Firestorms are]...to be permanently attached to Rogue Squadron in the same way the Wraiths are."

―Face successfully bluffs Councillor Brom

Celebrating in a barfight, Face is rescued by a woman who is "just the right mixture of cute and beautiful" ^(ref), who he later discovers is Asha Torsyn, pilot of the Midnight Wind (a stock YT-2000 craft), who becomes his girlfriend and travelling companion - and in doing so, an unofficial Wraith.

Marooned on Sekar IV

Whilst the Sacul is being rebuilt, the Wraiths join the Rogues on vacation, to the delightful 'remote camping location' planet Sekar IV. Unfortunately nothing ever goes smoothly for the Rogues or Wraiths, and their shuttle (and only way home) is destroyed by a TIE fighter crashing into it. Furthermore, the planet plays havoc with their hormones, ensuring that emotional pain and darkness take hold of members' personalities, including Face, who argues with Corran and Wedge openly (not just Tyria!) and has a bit of an emotional crisis regarding his feelings for Shira (basically that he still has them, but can't act upon them). Face also finds his darker side fusing with his theatrical side, as he dons a cape and cowl, becoming a dark knight, preying upon the invaders. The upshot of this journey to Sekar IV, for Face, however, was that the Wraiths picked up a new member, Octavia 'Red' Terah, whom Face had Elassar help after she injured herself. ^(ref)

As the Wraiths and Rogues are formulating a plan to escape Sekar IV, they come up again 'enemy' (New Republic, as Brom attempts revenge) troops, who the Wraiths deal with in their own way. They, along with the Rogues, are rescued, most unexpectedly, by some droids, Zraix and Asha Torsyn, the girl who Face had met at a bar. (For old times' sake, as a reward for her rescuing them all, Face takes Asha with him on an undercover mission to a bar, with Gavin and Kai in tow. ^(ref))

Admiral Grant and Shira Brie

Just as Face is repairing his mental wounds regarding Shira, and slipping into a 'healthy' relationship with Asha, an old friend, Jadax Ryenn, shows up, telling Face that he has intelligence that Shira is still alive, and has joined forced with Grand Admiral Grant, and the Empire. Face realises at last that it is time to deal with her, once and for all. As it turns out, Face has no choice in the matter, as on a mission Shira sends him a message: giving him 20 seconds to guess a password or die, from explosives she set up. Face ventures an answer (or perhaps a resignation?) - "You win, Shira" ^(ref)- and the explosives fail to detonate. (Keyta later finds out that it was Face's voice, not what he said, that stopped the countdown). Shira sent Face a handwritten note in response, to let him know she knew of his 'success' on the mission. It simply read: "NICE FACE, NICE".

After realising the danger his crew were in due to various Force users, Face ensured that at least four ysalamiri were installed into Shadow's hyrdroponics bay aboard the Sacul. These small lizards help create a Force empty bubble which encompasses the Sacul, allowing her to be invisible in the Force.

Gavin is at this point on one of his excursion from the Sacul: his homing beacon sends a signal to the Wraiths, who go and pick him up - only to find him bloodied and broken. Face also finds Shira's DNA inside his mouth - proof that Gavin has been seduced (somewhat literally) to the Dark Side, and certainly Shira having another chip at Face's ego and control over his subordinates ^(ref). Gavin fails to provide Face with an adequate explanation for this, and Face confines him to sickbay, pending an official investigation.

"She offered. When we captured her... rescued her... whatever the sith we did. We were on Myrkr, and she offered me the galaxy. She said with her Force powers and my finances and skills, we could carve out the Empire and place ourselves at the head. I guess... maybe... for a moment [I was tempted]. But then I realised what I was fighting for. It's not so I can get rich. Been there done that, manufactured the T-shirts. It's not so I can get the girls... I fight because it's the right thing to do. And fighting for Shira wasn't right. And you're wrong. I don't need to experience the Dark Side to know how much of Shira is steeped in it. I've seen it. There was a time when I needed it, just to feel alive. That time has passed. Shira is evil, and I will fight her. Not because of who she is, or what she's done, but because it's right."

―Face explaining to Gavin about Shira

Gavin escapes in the night, killing the Ysalamiri and threatening Red in the process, who proves her Wraith colours yet again to Face by stalling Gavin in the hope that the rest of the Wraiths can stop him. She can't, and neither can an intervention from Shadow, whom Gavin asks: "Forgive me?" ^(ref). Gavin escapes to the ether - presumably to join Shira.

Face is left to deal with this new treachery, a fresh hole in the Sacul, a suddenly silent, heartbroken and withdrawn Shadow (who since Gavin's departure stopped cooking, adding 'hungry Wraiths' to his list of problems), his own feelings regarding Shira and explanations to his girlfriend, Asha.

Due to his total concentration on his other problems, Face fails to notice that another romance is blossoming in the squadron, as Red rekindles a brief affair with a Twi'lek named Levatt Tur'dan, a former pilot with whom she had a relationship prior to joining the Rogues ^(ref). After a tryst, Tur'dan drugged Red and stole her private datapad, kidnapping her and attempting to take her back to Grant, who he is secretly working for^(ref). Red is saved by Void, and brought back to Face, who realises that he mustn't neglect any member of his squadron even if his own, or one other Wraiths' world falls apart around him. However, some members of the New Republic military were still looking to hurt the Rogues and Wraiths, and after this transgression they decided to attack, giving Octavia a tribunal against her actions with Tur'dan. Thankfully, Face was then pulled together enough that with Void, they supported Red through the ordeal, making sure that Red kept her position with the Wraiths. ^(ref)

"You're probably still hung up on the whole 'Shira' thing. And Asha's probably complicating that. And then there's your CO stuff, like Shadow angsting quietly all over the place, and Red being all mucked up over the whole Evil Twi'lek thing. And the Sacul pouting about that and how she was right all along and stuff. Oh, and also the whole Gavin fiasco"

―Kai eloquently summing up Face’s emotions

Face and Shadow then go on an information-gathering mission, Face coaxing Shadow to go out of the Sacul (and into assets-revealing clothing) for the first time since Gavin left ^(ref). This also gives Face a chance to test the waters and see how Shadow will cope to resuming life without Gavin, especially important as Face then hires Voort 'Piggy' SaBinring, at his request (and poaching him from NR Intel) to fill the hole in his team left by Gavin's departure. ^(ref)

Reports reach the Wraiths that an assault on Cortil Steege, a renowned collector of various Sith, Jedi and Mandalorian ancient artefacts, seemed like it had been committed by a Force-user with a lightsaber - Bowman Gavin

"It makes sense. Shira's probably sending him on testing missions, and if he happens to get any good loot out of it..."

―Keyta theorising over Gavins current status

Kai, acting as research expert, finds out that the artefact stolen was an ancient Sith in origin, giving Face a description of a glowing purple amulet, which is used to "To hide the voices within"^(ref)

Shira contacts Face directly through a holotransmission, overtly showing him (and Shadow, and the other Wraiths) that Gavin has become her apprentice ^(ref) - and perhaps accidentally reminding Face that he hasn't replaced the Ysalamiri Gavin killed when he left the Wraiths. Face then takes the Wraiths back to Myrkr, where they pick up another four Ysalamiri and their nutrient plant, setting this in the hydroponics bay where the last tree also stood.

Face decides to push Shadow to her limits before he even considers her going out on another mission, making her enter a simulation in which she is made to find a base and kill whoever she finds inside. Face sets the sim so that Gavin is the captive, making it as realistic as possible, and Shadow surprises herself (and perhaps Face?) by finishing the mission and killing the Gavin sim. ^(ref).

It was not just Shadow that Face had to prepare for the oncoming inevitable battle against Gavin and Shira, however, and he shows this by putting himself through the training SIM 'LoranAlpha', which set a holographic glamour over a training droid so that the droid looked, moved and had the personality of Shira Brie. Whilst running the training programme, Face realises that most of Shira's personality, defects and how she behaves is a direct result of his influence in her life. Face ends the running of the programme without deleting it.

"I used to be a Sith before I met you. You helped me to curb that side of me, and use my other talents. To think before I acted, to not give into my emotions. You taught me the plans, the backup plans, the contingencies... You taught me the tactics and the psychologies... Loran... Face... You took a broken, confused ex-Sith, and turned her into the most dangerous woman in the galaxy."

―Program Loran Alpha (a Shira simulation) explaining to Face why he is the one who needs to stop her.

After a day or two of downtime, the Wraiths are sent on a 'simple' infiltration mission, acting as exterminators of a 'Koloomian roaches infestation' in order to insert a special code into the missiles which were made for Grant's Super Star Destroyer, the Bloodlust. ^(ref)

Tragedy on the Queen's Pearl

As time passes, so Asha and Face's relationship grows and Face realises that he loves Asha back ^(ref). He arranges to take her on a vacation, just the two of them (despite his misgivings about leaving his squadron in control of... his squadron). Face and Asha therefore go on a cruise on the luxury liner the Queen's Pearl, using the identities Sifu and Shyran Lonar, the exact identities used by Face and Shira on the Operation: Vertex mission which had started in conflict, yet ended with their relationship progressing.

After reassuring the cruiser's captain that he is purely on a recreational mission, Face woos Asha at dinner, asking her to marry him. However, in a shocking turn of events, Asha rejects him

"I'm sorry Face... I'd love to say 'Yes', really I would, but I can't. Not yet. Not now ... I've realised that I can't love you, and you can't love me. The way I view it, love is 100%, and right now, you can't give yourself 100% to me, and that means I'm finding myself unable to give myself 100% to you."

―Ahsa explaining why she can’t marry Face

Face must sort Shira out first.

Right on cue, Shira and Gavin (with 500 stormtroopers in tow) assault the Queen's Pearl, and Face takes command of the bridge from its captain, Captain Hoodak. He comms Kai to come and collect the innocent passengers, leaving Kai to take care of the how’s and wherefores (as the passenger compliment of the Pearl is much larger than there is room on the Sacul!) and, saying goodbye for the moment to Asha, boldly steps out with some members of the Pearl's security team, to face his nemesis and ex-lover, Shira Brie.

After a bloody battle, where the entire security team is wiped out, the Wraiths manage to arrive with the Sacul, rescuing Face, Asha and a proportion of the civilians caught in the cross-fire. However, just as the Wraiths depart, Shira shoots at Face, missing and striking Asha. As the Sacul flies off, Asha lies dying in Face’s arms. She manages to initiate the Mandalorian wedding ceremony, and together, Face and Asha recite the short commitment, making them man and wife. Asha dies moments later, leaving Face in agonising grief.

A New Enemy

After the Wraiths arrive back at the fleet, Face realises that the Rogue's taskforce has been joined by other ships, specifically the Stormsword, the flagship of Bothan Admiral Kre'fey. Face ignores his call, instead going to the Arrow to drop off his injured passengers. There, he tells Wedge of his marriage and Asha's subsequent death, having to save her possessions after Kre'fey organises their confiscation. Kre'fey also challenges the legal standing of his marriage, until the Sacul's hologram corrects him. ^(ref)

In the briefing for the final confrontation with Grant, Kre'fey appears again, goading Face by insulting him and Asha. The Lorridian retaliates by hitting the Admiral, and getting himself arrested and confined to the Sacul under armed guard ^(ref). However, after explicitly telling the Wraiths NOT to interfere with Kre'fey, or himself, Face managed to escape from the Sacul, fooling both Wraiths and guards in the process, before managing to escape off the Arrow in one of his top secret cover identities, Lieutenant Iba Tarell ^(ref). Utilising a previous information conduit, Face used his Iba identity to scam Grakar Hoodin, an Imperial sensor technician into helping him through the security process, eventually landing on the Bloodlust. There, he finally met up with his contact, Katerina Allistre and began to plan his role in the Battle of Bormari

The Battle of Bormari

"Making you insane before I kill you? That's just the icing on the cake."

―Face to Shira Brie, shortly before the duel that ended her life.

Initially, during the battle Face ignored his true objective, but concentrated on sabotaging the shield relay system inside the Bloodlust. He planted six thermal detonators in various power relay conduits surrounding an area he had outlined to the Rogue's Arrow. If the Rogues managed to successfully damage the shields, the commanders of the Bloodlust would divert power along those conduits. When that happened, the detonators blew, leaving one section of the giant ship defenceless.^(ref)

Face then moved on to his true objective, Shira Brie. Still disguised as a repair technician, Face made his way to Shira's quarters. She was still there, having been stunned by Katerina Allistre. Face used the ysalamiri he'd bought along to temporarily strip Shira of her Force Powers. Without those, Shira's fragile mind began to collapse, eventually attacking Face. Face responded viciously, the pair combatants practically beating each other to death. Finally, Face defeated the Sith Lady, but in doing so, made the mistake of throwing her into the small suites 'fresher station, allowing her access to the Force once more.^(ref)

Shira originally projected an image of Asha into Face's mind, trying to convince the Colonel that she was in fact his dead wife. With great effort, Face managed to see through the confusion. Shira then unleashed waves of darkside Force Lightning, torturing Face in agony. It was only when she stopped to taunt him more, that Face finally completed his mission. Emotionlessly, he ejected his Redemptor, shooting Shira through the heart. As his one-time lover and nemesis flew to the ground, Face slumped back, the fight taken out of him and almost fatally injured in Shira's last attack, and waited for the end.^(ref)

However, before the Bloodlust could be destroyed, Bowman Gavin returned to Shira's quarters, surprising and getting the drop on Face. Surprisingly, the Dark Jedi gave his weapon to the injured Colonel, in an attempt to convince the Wraith to listen to him. An angry Face decided to shoot Gavin in the leg before listening. However, the ex-Wraith had a suprise for Face, Shira had secretly had a son with the Wraiths CO, a son who was hidden behind the mirror in Shira's refresher!

Gavin opened the secret compartment, allowing Face to take his son, and escape the destruction. Face was picked up in an escape pod by the Wraiths, albeit seriously injured from his fight against Shira. Once the battle had resolved, and the New Republic fleet had escaped to hyperspace, Face retrieved his son and introduced him to the rest of the Wraiths as Jaden Loran.

Face returned to Coruscant with the rest of the Rogues and Wraiths, eventually standing trial for his assault .

Physical Attributes and Abilities

"Give me a minute, I'm good. Give my team an hour, we're unbeatable."

―Face Loran

Face still enjoys the natural good looks that shot him to fame, remaining remarkably attractive to many sentient species (at the time of the campaign against Grand Admiral Grant, holding position 17 in Galactic People magazine's survey of 100 Most Beautiful People. Face also remarks that he had previously held position 1 in his past glory years). He's just under 6'1' tall, with dark hair and piercing green eyes. His traditional Rancor hide jacket is enough to hide the majority of his weaponry, as well as offer slight protection from blaster fire.

Owing to his years of training, Face is currently in the top percentile of the New Republic Armed Forces in Unarmed Combat. He has achieved mastery in several martial arts. He is also an expert in most forms of weaponry, specialising in blaster pistols and blaster rifles, although is proficient in more exotic and heavy weapons.

Face is also a master of disguise, and his skills of impersonation, coupled with his make-up abilities leads to a natural advantage in undercover work. ("It was often said that Face sometimes but on a disguise just to use the refresher." ^(ref)). Face has numerous cover identities which he has used various times throughout his career. He is also a notable pilot, having won a place in Rogue Squadron on his own talents.

"A very dangerous man. Deadly and unpredictible. Thrawn may have always been seven steps ahead of everyone else, but Garik Loran is only one step behind him AND he'll have an out even Thrawn couldn't predict. Loran is trouble."

―Imperial Intelligence Dossier on Colonel Loran

However, his main ability, is small unit tactics and operations. His deviousness, and that of his fellow Wraiths means that they often solve problems in unique ways, not often predicted by friends and foe alike.

Owing to his Loriddian genetic makeup, plus his own discipline, Face has a constant thoughtshield up, protecting his thoughts and emotions from casual observance from Jedi or other Force users. However, a powerful, trained and determined Force user could eventually break down the barrier.

Much to the constant amusement of his Squadron, Face significantly lacks electrical, mechanical, computer or medical skills. Although he is of a proficient enough nature, the majority of the Wraiths can run rings around their CO, and often do!

Personality Traits

Face has an easy-going and charming exterior, which (most of the time) goes all the way through. However, he is often plagued by guilt of both the people he's killed and those who have died under his command. He is fiercely loyal to those he perceives as 'his people' and will break any rule he sees fit in order to keep them safe. He was in love with Asha Torsyn, a freighter pilot who rescued him from a bar fight. However, Asha was mortally wounded on board the Queens Pearl. She had time to initiate the Mandalorian Wedding Ceremony, officially marrying Face, before she succumbed to her injuries, dying as Asha Loran.

Face lives everyday with the fear that one day something will happen to him, or he will have to leave Kai or Elassar in charge of the Wraiths. And that Wraith Squadron would be renamed "Dinner Squadron" because Kai was hungry, or that the new training regime would somehow involve complicated 'lucky rituals' as well as heroic posing classes with advanced alcohol consumption lessons. ^(ref)

Military Rank and Current Assignment

Face is a Colonel in New Republic Intelligence (with 5 Intelligence Stars). He is currently in command of Wraith Squadron (Wraith Lead).

Significant Possessions

Owing to both his parents shrewd investing of his money and the personal genius of Lucius Xoff, Face has a personal net worth of close to 8 billion credits, the majority of which is tied up in Visage Enterprises, his company which is involved in everything from Arms Manufacturing to Charity Foundations.

Although he uses many weapons, his personal side arm is the Redemptor. This is a small, almost silent but incredibly powerful holdout blaster pistol in a quick launch holster on Faces right forearm. Finally, Face has a huge personal armoury of weapons, both legal and illegal. Originally, it was contained in the fabled Face's Weapon Cache, but it is now concentrated in a small, personal armoury in his office on the Sacul, and several warehouses hidden around the galaxy for when required.

Starships

On paper, the Sacul is owned by a conglomerate of 14 people/organisations, with each holding an equal part. Each of the twelve Wraiths (Face included) has a part, with the 13th part belonging to the New Republic. The final part belongs to Visage Enterprises, allowing Face a majority control over the craft. However, in reality, the Sacul is either considered her own property, or belonging to her chief engineer, Octavia Terah.

Astromech

Faces astromech is Vape, a standard R2 unit with only a few modifications. A chilled elba beer dispenser will fire a bottle at whomever calls for a "Cold One" (access privileges permitting of course). Vape also has an upgraded holoprojector with internal speakers ready to play any of Faces holodramas (all of which are loaded into his memory). Vape has also somehow managed to acquire Faces tactical ability, and has been known to come up with extraordinary plans himself!

Timeline

Timeline (Training)

Face travelled the galaxy for just over seven years, learning as many different skills and classes of combat as his wealth and talent would allow him. Below is a timeline, breaking down Face's training, and highlighting who his main trainer was at any particular time.

This character is the personal character of Face, an RS member. Please consult that member before making any changes!