Nils Tenant

"Put in a word for me, Wilhuff—for old times' sake. A great change is coming—everyone senses it—and I want to be back in the action."

―Nils Tenant, to Wilhuff Tarkin^[3]

Nils Tenant was a human male who served as a rear admiral in the naval forces of the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. When the war came to an end and Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine of the Republic anointed himself Emperor, Tenant continued serving in the navy of the new Galactic Empire as a Rear Admiral. Through the influence of their friend Wilhuff Tarkin, Tenant was eventually elevated to the Joint Chiefs of the Imperial Military in 14 BBY.

Biography

Early life and Clone Wars

In their youth, Nils Tenant attended the Sullust Sector Spacefarers Academy, the graduates of which moved on to positions in local system navies, commercial piloting, or the Judicial Department of the Galactic Republic. During their time at the academy, he befriended Wilhuff Tarkin, an Eriaduan who had previously worked with the Outland Regions Security Force.^[3] Eventually, Tenant joined the naval forces of the Republic. As a navy officer, he was involved in the Clone Wars, a three-year long conflict that pitted the Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems.^[1]

Tenant aboard their Venator destroyer during the Clone Wars.

At some point during the war, Tenant reached the rank of Rear Admiral and was put in command of a Venator-class Star Destroyer.^[3] While patrolling the Chrelythiumn system, far beyond the Outer Rim of the galaxy, Tenant and their crew intercepted a mysterious transmission. When it transpired that the message contained a distress code abandoned by the Jedi Order more than 2,000 years earlier, Tenant transmitted said message to the planet Coruscant, where the Jedi High Council had its headquarters. The Council subsequently sent a party to investigate the source of the transmission.^[1]

Imperial service

Pacification efforts

"Still hunting down General Grievous's former allies. And you?"
"Pacification. Brought back to attend a Joint Chiefs meeting."

―Wilhuff Tarkin and Nils Tenant^[3]

After the Clone Wars ended, Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine of the Republic declared himself Galactic Emperor, transforming the democratic Galactic Republic government and replacing it with his Galactic Empire. Tenant, continued serving in the Imperial Navy as a rear admiral and was assigned to pacification operations in the Western Reaches for a time,^[3] and utilized an Imperial-class Star Destroyer.^[2] In 14 BBY,^[4] Tenant was called back to Coruscant to attend a meeting of the Joint Chiefs of the Imperial Military. There, after learning that their friend Moff Wilhuff Tarkin would be there, Tenant found and spoke with Tarkin. After Tarkin thought his arrival to Coruscant was kept secret, Tenant informed him that only a few were well kept. After commenting on Tarkin's new uniform, Tenant informed Tarkin that they were involved in pacification missions and brought to Coruscant for a Joint Chiefs meeting. Tenant then stopped Tarkin from walking, and asked if rumors regarding a mobile battle station were true.^[3]

Tenant was a friend of Wilhuff Tarkin (center), Moff of the Empire.

Tarkin, who helped oversee that project, stopped Tenant from further discussing the superweapon. Tenant, apologetic, remarked that there were many circulating rumors and that the Emperor had not been seen in months. Tenant commented disparagingly on a newly commissioned statue of the Emperor for Imperial Plaza, and believed it looked more terrifying than majestic. Tarkin proclaimed that was the idea. Tenant then petitioned Tarkin to speak to the Emperor in their favor, believing a great change was coming soon and wanted to be back at the center of action. Tarkin assured Tenant that if the occasion arose, he would. Some time later, Tarkin met with the Emperor and again recommended oversector governors who had better control of regions of the galaxy, recommending either General Cassio Tagge, Rear Admiral Conan Antonio Motti, or Tenant to take Tarkin's position as the commanding officer of Sentinel Base.^[3]

Member of the Joint Chiefs

"Ironic, is it not, that his attempts to increase his own cachet should end up benefiting so many of his seeming competitors?"

―Emperor Palpatine, to Moff Tarkin, in reference to Vice Admiral Rancit^[3]

Following in the aftermath of the Berch Teller campaign and the betrayal of Imperial Vice Admiral Dodd Rancit, the Imperial Military was restructured as the Naval Intelligence Agency was folded back into Imperial Intelligence, ISB Director Wullf Yularen was made jointly made Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence, ISB Deputy Director Harus Ison was moved to the Ubiqtorate, and Tenant was made a Joint Chief, while Motti, Tagge, and others were similarly upgraded. Tenant's friend, Tarkin, was elevated to the new position of Grand Moff.^[3]

TIE Series

"And when citizens of the galaxy see this TIE series in action, they will know and have every reason to believe that Palpatine's Empire is only getting stronger."

―Nils Tenant, in a speech to the Joint Chiefs and Imperial High Command^[5]

Admiral Nils Tenant, as a Joint Chief, was a proponent of the TIE series.

Eventually, Tenant achieved the rank of admiral during their service as a Joint Chief and was involved in the furthering the Empire's TIE series platform in coordination with Sienar Fleet Systems, the manufacturer of the starfighter. Tenant was directed by their friend, Grand Moff Tarkin, to meet with Chief Executive Officer of Sienar Fleet Systems Raith Sienar regarding the development of additional TIE/ln space superiority starfighter variants.^[5]

The following day, Tenant delivered a speech to members of Imperial High Command and the Joint Chiefs of the Galactic Empire regarding the development of further TIE series designs. Tenant spoke on the TIE fighter's symbol of the Imperial Navy, but that in order to achieve the Emperor's goals for expansion, more designs were needed. Tenant reported that the designs of the expansion and development of the TIE series was consistent with the design of the TIE fighter.^[5]

Personality and traits

"Nils Tenant is very competent."

―Wilhuff Tarkin, to Sheev Palpatine^[3]

Nils Tenant was a fair-skinned, brown-haired human^[1] male.^[2] He had a prominent nose, blue eyes, and a downturning full-lipped mouth.^[1] As a veteran of the Clone Wars, Tenant disliked their pacification missions and yearned to be reintegrated back into active service. Although their friend Wilhuff Tarkin considered him genuinely competent, Tenant would not hesitate to use his connection to gain the Emperor's favor. The admiral's audacity was ultimately rewarded when he was made Joint Chief.^[3]

Behind the scenes

Nils Tenant first appeared in the newsreel prelude to "Overlords," the fifteenth episode in Season Three of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series,^[1] which aired on January 28, 2011. Although he went unnamed on screen, the online guide to the episode identified him as "Tenant."^[6] Their first name of Nils was revealed in Tarkin,^[3] a novel by James Luceno, released on November 4, 2014.^[7]