Ardo Banch

Ardo Banch was a human lieutenant in the Galactic Empire who was stationed on the planet Tatooine. In 3 ABY, Banch greeted the Sith Lord Darth Vader when he arrived in search of information about his son, Luke Skywalker, and directed the Sith to a terminal containing local records. Vader then traveled to the Lars Homestead, where Banch reached him in a repulsorcraft to inform him about transmissions the Imperials had picked up; however, the lieutenant was killed when the repulsorcraft was fired upon by a criminal gang.

Biography

Ardo Banch was a human who served in the officer corps of the Galactic Empire.^[2] In 3 ABY,^[1] Banch held the rank of lieutenant and was stationed with the Imperial garrison on^[2] the planet^[3] Tatooine when the Sith Lord Darth Vader arrived there with a pair of death troopers and the analysis droid ZED-6-7 in search of information about his son, Luke Skywalker. The Imperial officer and a dozen stormtroopers greeted the Sith Lord as he disembarked from his Lambda-class T-4a shuttle, with Banch introducing themself and offering any assistance they could; however, they were cut off by one of the death troopers. Unable to understand the trooper, Banch again offered assistance and provided the location of a terminal with local records when ZED-6-7 requested one.^[2]

Banch then tried to follow Vader and the droid to the terminal but was halted by a death trooper and so remained outside. The Sith and his entourage then departed in the shuttle for the Lars Homestead where Skywalker had grown up, but after the lieutenant's men picked up some transmissions, Banch traveled out on a repulsorcraft to inform Vader. As the lieutenant hailed the Sith from the vehicle, it was hit by fire from a vessel belonging to a gang that aimed to rob Vader, killing Banch. Vader then slew those responsible.^[2]

Personality and traits

Ardo Banch had light skin and brown hair. The lieutenant repeatedly offered aid to Vader despite a lack of response from the Sith, but was uncertain of how to deal with his death troopers and did not understand their encrypted speech.^[2]

Equipment

When greeting Vader, Banch wore a gray Imperial officer's uniform including a gray cap, black boots, and a black belt. The lieutenant's tunic bore an Imperial code cylinder on each breast and a rank insignia plaque with three blue pips above three red. Banch had access to a terminal and a repulsorcraft.^[2]

Behind the scenes

Ardo Banch appeared in the first issue of the 2020 comic-book series Star Wars: Darth Vader. The issue was written by Greg Pak, illustrated by Raffaele Ienco, and published by Marvel Comics^[2] on February 5, 2020.^[4]

Appearances

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• Darth Vader (2020) 1 (First appearance)

Notes and references