Thorden

"Well, Tizlak, I'm old-fashioned. If I'm going to stab a friend in the back, I'd like to meet the person handing me the knife."

―Thorden, to Tizlak Sharr^[1]

Thorden was a human governor of the moon Toshara, serving the Galactic Empire during the Imperial Era. During the Galactic Civil War, Thorden believed that there was chance of the Alliance to Restore the Republic defeating the Empire, and began preparing for this possible outcome.

Biography

Governor of Toshara

"Lando Calrissian. I wasn't expecting to see you in my city."

―Thorden, to Lando Calrissian, about his dominion over Mirogana, the capital city of Toshara^[1]

Thorden talking to Tizlak Sharr in a holographic message about the betrayal against Gorak Palas.

As governor, Thorden had great control over the Galactic Empire's presence on the moon Toshara. Thorden had an agreement with the Pyke Syndicate, the most powerful criminal organization on Toshara. However, Thorden intended to betray Gorak Palas, the Pyke responsible for the syndicate's operation on the moon, with the help of Tizlak Sharr, a Pyke who had betrayed Palas.^[1]

Preparing to create a new government

"In the chaos that follows the end of the Empire, I will need order. The cyphrite weapon will guarantee that order. And I have enough resources locked away to start my own government…"

―Thorden, to Lando Calrissian^[1]

In 3 ABY,^[2] Thorden believed that the Empire's chance of being defeated by the Alliance to Restore the Republic were high, and thus began preparing to create his own government on Toshara in the chaos that would follow a possible defeat. He began gathering resources, which included trying to acquire the coordinates to the legendary hidden moon Okala Five. This moon was rumored to contain two point eight trillion tons of pure cyphrite ore, which Thorden intended to use to create a weapon.^[1] Thorden's belief in the outcome of the Galactic Civil War would be proven true in 4 ABY, as the Battle of Endor would plunge the Empire into chaos resulting in the death of the Emperor and the emergence of several dissident factions, marking the beginning of the end of the Empire.^[3]

The coordinates to Okala Five were to be the prize for a sabacc tournament, and since Imperial officials were not allowed, Thorden sent the thief Kay Vess, who had previously caused Thorden to lose his book-keeper, Bosnok, to win the tournament. In exchange, Thorden offered her a large amount of credits, and blackmailed her using forged credentials that would make the entire underworld think she was an Imperial, which would destroy her reputation. However, Thorden did not expect Vess to win the tournament. The credits he gave her were rigged to explode. Thorden expected Vess to take the credits to the tournament, which she did, and the explosion created an opportunity for Aksali Noll, the leader of a bandit group sent by Thorden, to take the map to Okala Five. Noll and her group, the Starfallers, were betrayed by Thorden, who obtained the map.^[1]

Vess teamed up with Lando Calrissian, who had participated in the tournament, to retrieve the map. The two entered Thorden's personal bunker at the Mirogana spaceport, which the Empire was unaware of, deceiving the Governor. Vess entered a box that Calrissian had brought to Thorden. Calrissian said the box contained Tolium gas and was a gift for Thorden. Tolium gas was necessary to create the weapon, as when mixed with cyphrite ore, the result was a deadly toxin. While Calrissian distracted Thorden by offering to help with the mining operation with his expertise in the matter, which Thorden knew about, Vess retrieved the map. After Vess got rid of the false credentials that Thorden could use against her and created a distraction for Calrissian to escape, the two left the place with the map, which Calrissian would take to the Rebel Alliance. Vess received credits from Calrissian as payment for helping Rebellion acquire the map.^[1]