A Woostoid Among the Stars

Born on the industrial world of Woostri, Zakan Pa was a rarity among her people. The Woostoids, known for their sharp intellect and disciplined approach to life, were often drawn to academia, diplomacy, and administration. Few of them pursued paths as unpredictable as that of the Jedi, and even fewer found themselves drawn to the thrill of starfighter combat. But Zakan Pa was different.

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From an early age, she displayed an uncanny connection to machines, particularly ships. While other Jedi younglings practiced lightsaber forms and meditation, she found herself drawn to the Temple hangars, fascinated by the sleek designs and inner workings of starfighters. When she finally climbed into a cockpit for the first time, something clicked—it was as if she had been born to fly.

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Her instructors quickly realized that Zakan’s connection to the Force manifested strongest through her piloting. In the vacuum of space, where even the most experienced pilots had to rely on calculations and reflexes, Zakan moved with an effortless grace, her instincts almost supernatural. She could anticipate enemy maneuvers before they happened, navigate asteroid fields without instruments, and push her ships beyond what most believed possible.

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The Rise of an Ace Commander

Zakan’s career as a Jedi took a unique path. While many of her peers focused on lightsaber combat or diplomacy, she carved out a reputation as one of the greatest pilots the Order had ever seen. As a Jedi Guardian, she balanced her skills between combat and leadership, quickly rising through the ranks to command entire squadrons.

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During the turbulent years leading up to the Yavin IV Academy’s founding, Zakan fought in numerous conflicts, including skirmishes with pirate fleets, Sith remnants, and rogue mercenary groups. Her expertise in tactical starfighter engagements became legendary. Jedi and Republic pilots alike spoke of the "Pa Maneuver", a technique she developed where a ship could stall mid-drift, forcing an enemy to overshoot—an impossible move for most pilots but second nature for her.

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Her skill wasn’t just in combat, however. She was a brilliant strategist, able to read the flow of battle and adjust tactics in real-time. Though she was an ace, she never saw herself as above her fellow pilots, treating every member of her squadron as family.

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Founding the Yavin IV Academy

When the Jedi sought to rebuild their presence on Yavin IV, Zakan was among the first called upon to help establish the new Academy. While others, like Arushi Juk and Az’u Fir’al, focused on diplomacy and Jedi teachings, Zakan ensured the Academy had the means to defend itself. She oversaw the construction of starfighter hangars, planetary defenses, and scout networks that kept the Academy safe.

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Zakan was not just a commander—she became one of the first members of the Jedi Council on Yavin IV, alongside Arushi Juk and Az’u Fir’al. While Arushi served as the Academy’s spiritual guide and Az’u as its tactical mind, Zakan became its watchful guardian, ensuring that the Jedi of Yavin IV would never be caught unprepared.

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A Legacy That Endured for Centuries

Unlike many Jedi of her era, Zakan Pa lived to see more than two centuries of Jedi history unfold. The natural longevity of the Woostoids, combined with her discipline and connection to the Force, allowed her to remain an active leader long after others had passed into legend. She witnessed wars, political upheavals, and the rise and fall of empires.

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As she aged, she took on the role of a mentor, guiding young Jedi pilots and commanders in both starfighter tactics and leadership. Her wisdom became invaluable, her stories of past battles a source of inspiration for generations. Even in her final years, when her reflexes had slowed and she could no longer fly as she once did, her mind remained as sharp as ever, offering guidance to the next generation of Jedi leaders.

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When Zakan Pa finally passed, it was said that the skies above Yavin IV felt a little emptier. But her legacy endured—not just in the holocrons that recorded her strategies, nor in the students who carried on her teachings, but in the very stars themselves.

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For as long as Jedi pilots take to the skies, they will always remember Zakan Pa—Ace of the Jedi, Guardian of the Stars.