Bio:
Chris Reynolds was born on Macquarie, a remote planet in the Cooramoor Sector of the proximal outer rim territories nearly 30 standard years ago. He grew up in a close family with his parents and
two little sisters, whom he doted on and was always there for them whenever they needed the ‘big brother’. His parents were first generation traders and did very well with their import of rare and exotic items that the local Imperial Governor and his sycophantic lackeys enjoyed.
Chris was keenly interested in speed from an early age. If it went fast, it was for him, if it didn’t, he’d find a way to make it. His peers still fondly recall the time he modified a landspeeder with the power pack out of an old TIE Interceptor that had been sent for scrap. The look on the faces of the Troopers that tried to catch him on Speeder Bikes was well worth the discipline infringements. His parents encouraged Chris’s adventurous nature and had given him a second hand T-16 on his 14th birthday. Although it handled like a taun-taun, with a bit of technical and mechanical wizardry, there was nothing that could beat him in a straight sprint (something he capitalised on and made quite a few credits off many a convoy escort visiting dirtside). His prowess as a pilot brought him to the attention of the flight leader of the small Imperial Navy detachment, who took it upon himself to commence Chris’s indoctrination with a view for service at the Academy. Young Lieutenant Piet, misguided in his ideals though he was, was an excellent teacher but also hid a most treacherous and devious soul. Chris excelled in the theory and practice of spaceflight -- his understanding of Battlezone procedure (tactics, logistics and administration) was unheard of in one so young and Piet could see rapid advancement for himself and his protege.
It was unfortunate, yet also prophetic, that in their concern for Chris, it was his family that inadvertently set him on his path of self-destruction. They were worried about the amount of time he was spending in Imperial company and objected to his goal of Imperial service. A fair-minded person, he listened impartially and promised to seek a compromise. He discussed his dilemma with Piet, who saw a block to his plans, one that required removal. He spread rumours of dissension and Rebel assistance and had charges of treason leveled at Chris’s family, unbeknown to Chris, and used his influence to keep Chris out of the way when the arrest "went wrong".
Naive was something Chris was not, and he knew his family’s death was an Imperial setup. He made contact with the local resistance movement and, after some months of security precautions on their part, during which time Chris passed on accurate and valuable information gleaned from Piet, he was accepted as a member of their cadre. Having nothing but ground vehicles, Chris was trained in CQB (Close Quarters Battle) and demolitions. He spent his time mainly in the workshops or Aid Post (he seemed to have a natural affinity for hands on healing, with bacta being in short supply) and volunteered for every mission he could. It was quickly noted that he worked better alone (his once gregarious and outgoing nature had turned inward) as he took extreme, sometimes foolish risks, to accomplish the mission and did not want to be responsible for any one else as the loss of his family weighed heavily on him. He saw himself in some way responsible for their deaths and his misplaced guilt fuelled his desire to destroy the system that created creatures like Piet. His Cadre Staff reported favorably on his performance with a small notation "appears to act ‘Just A Little Bit Krazy’ when on solo missions". He took this to heart and in later months he made this off the cuff remark into his callsign ‘Jalb_k".
His insistence and planning had no small part in the eventual overthrow of the Imperial Government through a planet wide coordinated strike. Luck, also, had little to do with the timing of the attack. The Alliance was just starting to take shape and The Empire had larger problems than a small outer rim world. Macquarie joined with the Alliance and sent what support they could, without reducing their own defensive capabilities, just prior to the Battle of Yavin IV. Due to the wide range of specialties, the Macquarians were split up amongst different squadrons, and in some cases wings, and Jalb_k found himself as pilot and some time reserve-tech, bouncing from squadron to squadron, wing to wing where needed. Due to his previous training he was also used in covert ground assault missions, most of which remain classified to this day. His skill and technical abilities have never been in doubt, but he has never been offered a permanent position in any Squadron, something which has at times made him take even more spectacular risks to try and prove himself. Although he always came through with the results he was labeled as a loose cannon and stored in reserve with what he felt was a sign around his neck: ‘Activate only in time of crisis!’. He craved acceptance, he needed to replace the family he lost on Macquarie and it wasn’t until a chance encounter on the Liberty that he saw his chance.
In Lieutenant Jeff "Kallysto" Young, Corsair Squadron’s Executive officer, he saw a kindred spirit, and realized that the emotion that this seemingly reserved and introverted pilot had was directed in a much more positive and effective way. He saw how he could tone his flamboyant flying and fighting style to a measured, methodical and ultimately lethal mode, with far less risk to himself and his team. He put this into practice, and became a much more effective combat pilot – so effective, in fact, that he was recruited by the Black Panther Wing. However, he somehow knew that his place was on board the Liberty, and he tendered his application to the Corsairs soon after. Two days after his acceptance he was in the Lounge celebrating his first kills as a Corsair when he met up with two other new arrivals, Matthew 'Krayt' Houseman and a Buccaneer by the name of Josh 'Hellcat' Kinney.
The three became fast friends and eventually applied, and were accepted, to Rogue Squadron. Some months later Corsair's CO, Bob 'Blindman' Lin, was injured on operations and, due to a lengthy rehabilitation period, he thought it best to step down from his command position. He made a formal request to Rogue Leader, Vince 'Stryker' Rambo,
asking that his former pilot and then Rogue Nine be transfered back to Corsair and given command of the squadron. Under the hand of Jalb_k Corsair went from merely a recon squadron and added interception to their mission statement.
A role in which the Corsairs revelled and helped raise Renegade Wing's infamy throughout the Empire to new heights. After the destruction of the Liberty and the loss of several pilots, including Rogue and Buccaneer Leaders, at the battle of Endor, Renegade Wing was placed onboard the CRS Vigilant and Jalb_k was promoted to Colonel and given command of the Wing and Rogue Squadron.
