Doctor Theda was a member of Imperial research team MS-133 in 8 ABY. MS-133 was part of the military forces under the command of Moff Kentor Sarne, a warlord who ruled the Kathol sector in the Outer Rim Territories. Led by Doctor Lancer Brunou, MS-133 conducted an archaeological expedition to the planet Aaris III with the intention of discovering why the native species had become extinct several thousand years previously.

During their excavations, members of the team uncovered a strange artifact that began to manipulate their feelings, causing them to act in suspicious and homicidal ways. Attacked by the primitive descendants of the native Aaris, Theda was badly wounded by blaster fire. As the situation on the planet worsened, so did Theda's condition. By the time that the survivors were eventually rescued by the New Republic CR90 corvette FarStar, Theda had died.

Biography[]

In 8 ABY, Doctor Theda served in the forces of Moff Kentor Sarne, the Imperial warlord who ruled the Kathol sector in the Outer Rim Territories. A scientist, Theda was assigned to MS-133, a research unit that Sarne tasked with performing an archaeological excavation on the planet Aaris III. The team, headed by Theda's colleague, Doctor Lancer Brunou, was to investigate ruins left by a long-dead civilization and attempt to discover the cause of their extinction.^[1]

Several months into their expedition, other members of the team discovered a strange artifact hidden in a floor vault within a chamber they had uncovered among the ruins. The artifact—known as the Plaque of Victory—was an inanimate artifact that housed an entity that fed off of the life force of beings around it, causing them to become suspicious, paranoid, and homicidal. Soon, the Plaque began to influence the members of MS-133; the team started to feel like they were being watched from the jungle surrounding their base camp and generally ill at ease. A small contingent of the team's security detachment headed into the jungle to investigate but never returned, although blaster fire was heard in the distance. Theda, along with the rest of the scientific staff, was issued a weapon in case of trouble.^[1]

That night the base camp was attacked^[1] by the primitive descendants of the Aaris,^[2] the planet's native species, using energy weapon technology. Theda was badly wounded during the confrontation. Over the next several days, the injured doctor's condition continued to worsen as the rest of MS-133 either disappeared or were killed^[1] by the Aaris.^[2] The last survivors—Lancer Brunou, a research assistant named Solla Deremot, two soldiers and a technician—constructed a primitive fortification in an effort to survive while a distress signal was sent to Moff Sarne's capital on Kal'Shebbol, requesting help. The call was intercepted by the New Republic CR90 corvette FarStar, and the vessel diverted to assist. By the time the crew sent a landing party down to assist the survivors, Theda had succumbed to the injuries sustained several nights earlier, although both Brunou and Deremot managed to survive to be rescued.^[1]

Personality and traits[]

Theda was a scientist who had achieved the title of "Doctor" through study. A capable academic, Theda was able to do fieldwork as well as lab work.^[1]

Behind the scenes[]

Theda was a minor character introduced in Artifact of Aaris, a roleplaying game adventure in The DarkStryder Campaign, published by West End Games in 1995. Theda is wounded and killed before the events of the story begin, and the Doctor's involvement in the adventure is revealed through in-universe documentation from Doctor Brunou's journal and the accompanying out-of-universe game text.^[1]

Artifact of Aaris implies that, under the Plaque of Victory's direction, the members of MS-133 turned upon each other, resulting in multiple deaths and the destruction of the shuttle.^[1] However, The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, published in 2008 confirmed that the team came under attack from the remnants of the Aaris civilization.^[2]

Appearances[]

• "Artifact of Aaris" — The DarkStryder Campaign (Reprinted and collected in The DarkStryder Campaign, Deluxe) (First mentioned)

Notes and references[]