Grand Marshall Stele

Amazing commission by KaanaMoonshadow of my OC, Grand Marshall Marion Stele! She is based on the likeness of Thai actress Ammara Siripong.

"The Jedi tried to bring peace and order to the Galaxy and they failed. The Sith tried to bring peace and order to the Galaxy and they failed. The crooked bureaucrats of the old and new Republics tried to bring peace and order to the Galaxy... they failed. The old Imperial elitists tried and guess what? They FAILED! Now... we're doing it MY way."

-Grand Marshall Marion Stele, just after the New Empire's founding.


Marion Stele is essentially a rule 63 of Maarek Stele, the main protagonist from Star Wars: Tie Fighter. One of the greatest starfighter pilots in Galactic history, she racked up more than 900 confirmed solo kills and nearly twice as many assists in only a year's time (between the Battles of Hoth and Endor). In my own little head canon Marion eventually takes control of the Imperial Remnant and transforms it into the New Empire. She is a firm believer in the Empire as it helped out her homeworld at a time of great crisis while the Old Republic had been too mired in bureaucracy and red tape to act. Nevertheless, the new Grand Marshall despises the old Tarkin Doctrine and all those in the old Imperial High Command who religiously followed it. Her number one priority is proving to the people of the Galaxy that totalitarianism is the most effective way to maintain peace, order and prosperity and that she and the new regime are neither the ruthless elitists that ran the old Empire or the incompetent bureaucrats who ran the Old Republic. 

Stele served under the tutelage of Grand Admiral Thrawn himself after he witnessed her single handedly defend a deep space Imperial outpost from a joint Rebel/pirate attack in a TIE Bomber. She also flew alongside Lord Darth Vader himself in new prototype TIE Defenders during the former Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin's coup attempt and saved the life of Emperor Palpatine on two separate occasions. Even Vader claimed that she was the best pilot he had ever flown with.

After Endor, Intelligence Director Ysanne Isard (pretty much the new Emperor at this point) recalled her to Coruscant from her post under Thrawn in the Unknown Regions. The two engaged in a rather heated argument as Stele (now a full fledged General) insisted that Isard recall Thrawn and put him in full command of the of the Navy itself. Isard however considered the Grand Admiral a threat to her position and thought it best to keep him where he was. She had been tempted to have Stele killed for her disrespect but the General was quite popular among Imperial Naval pilots and her death would have been yet another in the recent series of incredible blows to morale. Some might even have rightly blamed the Director for it given her reputation.

Marion was assigned to lead the TIE Interceptor squadrons protecting Imperial Center in preparation for the inevitable Rebel attack. She spent three years training and drilling pilots but as the Empire's grip on the Galaxy loosened, many began to believe that the Rebels would win and deserted. When the assault finally came, it was abundantly clear that Coruscant could not be held and even Isard herself had abandoned it. After engaging the Rebel forces in orbit for about half an hour, taking out a number of starfighters but becoming increasingly overwhelmed (the planetwide protective force field had been sabotaged by members of Rogue Squadron and enemy ground troops were already landing), Marion, being the highest ranking officer left alive among the orbital defense forces called for a retreat. She and what surviving Tie Starfighters she could rally made emergency combat landings on the few remaining Imperial Star Destroyers and capital ships still in orbit which immediately made hyperspace jumps to the Outer Rim.

Years later, Marion united most of the remaining factions of the Imperial Remnant and formed the New Empire under her leadership. While she lacks Thrawn's penchant for overall strategy, she does share his perspective eye for talent and knack for knowing just where to put said talent. Luke Skywalker's childhood friend Janek "Tank" Sunber for example is now Lord General of the New Imperial Army. In addition to possessing some of the last remaining squadrons of TIE Avengers and TIE Defenders in existence, Marion has also instituted a mass manufacturing program for the TIE Hunter, a notably cheaper TIE starfighter compared to the former two that is still hyperspace capable and has a shield system (albeit a weaker one).

Stele has also abolished the xenophobic policies of the old Empire though surprisingly has NOT loosened many of the misogynistic policies. Despite being forced to push herself far harder than most male servicemen in order to become recognised in the Imperial Navy (one of the very few women to ever do so), she herself in fact has said on record she believes that most female humanoids simply do not have what it takes to be frontline soldiers or fighter pilots. That they are far better suited as aides or for caregiving roles, believing herself to be one of the very rare exceptions. She has even instituted a new uniform dress code that all Imperial humanoid servicewomen most wear midriff baring uniforms with skirts and heels unless they are in a combat role, then just the bare midriff is required (except in actual combat situations of course). While Marion doesn't participate much at the frontlines anymore, she nonetheless wears pants and regular officer's boots with her cropped uniform because according to her: "the Grand Marshall doesn't wear skirts and heels." This somewhat hypocritical regulation has understandably drawn much criticism but hey, nobody's perfect.