Shann Childsen

"Where are you taking this…thing?"

―Shann Childsen on Chewbacca — 20?cb=20250116042720

Shann Childsen was a Human male Imperial officer who served onboard the first Death Star during the Galactic Civil War.

Biography

"Prisoner transfer from cell block 1138."
"I wasn't notified. I'll have to clear it."

―Luke Skywalker and Shann Childsen shortly before the former shoots the latter^[1]

Shann Childsen joined the Imperial Navy prior to 0 BBY.^[1] His personality and dislike towards certain alien species gained him a reputation as a bully by his fellow officers. At some point he was demoted after a superior blamed him for a clerical error, however, Childsen's fanatical support of the New Order assisted in his selection as a security officer, and thus saved his career in the Imperial Navy. He eventually achieved the rank of Lieutenant.^[2]

In 0 BBY, he was in command of Detention Block AA-23 on the first Death Star when Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca infiltrated the battlestation to rescue Princess Leia Organa. Solo and Skywalker disguised themselves as stormtroopers and made their way to Detention Block AA-23 with Chewbacca in tow, wearing binders in order to appear as a "prisoner." Upon the trio exiting a turbolift into the detention block, Childsen, standing at a duty post asked Skywalker where they were taking the Wookiee, to which he responded that it was a prisoner transport from cell block 1138. Childsen was suspicious and claimed that he wasn't notified; he ordered two nearby Death Star troopers to draw their blasters and grab the Wookiee while he attempted to contact another Imperial to verify the transfer.^[1]

As one of the Death Star troopers approached Chewbacca, the Wookiee subsequently broke out of the binders and knocked the trooper to the side. Childsen, seeing this, reached for his blaster, but was shot and killed by Skywalker as he pulled it out. A gunfight ensued between the infiltrators and the Death Star troopers in the detention block, that ended with the troopers killed and several security cameras destroyed. After the shooting had finished, Skywalker and Solo ran to the duty post, where Childsen's body had slumped over. Skywalker removed it while Solo checked to see which cell Princess Leia was in.^[1]

Personality and traits

Childsen was a light skinned, human male with brown hair.^[1] He was considered a bully by fellow officers and was an ardent believer in the New Order's anti-alien policies.^[2] Childsen particularly disliked such "primitive" species as Wookiees, Talz, and Ewoks.^[1]

Equipment

Childsen wore the uniform of a security officer, which consisted of a black tunic, duty belt, and cap. The tunic had a code cylinder in each breast pocket, and a rank insignia plaque made up of four blue squares in a single row that sat on the left side of the chest part. He carried a DH-17 blaster pistol.^[1]