Lief Ragnos

Lief Ragnos
Biographical Information
Race	Noghri
Homeworld	Honoghr
Clan	Khanu'bar
Mother	Kysara clan Vunin'gar
Father	Barukh clan Khanu'bar
Born	Year 40 BCGT, Day 135 (age 66)
Languages	Honoghran, Basic
Physical Description
Gender	Male
Height	1.53 metres
Coloring	Grey
Eye Color	Black
Political Information
Affiliation	Khanu'bar Institute, Year 10– Clan Khanu'bar
Positions	Director, Khanu'bar Institute
Prior Affiliation	Tresario Star Kingdom, Year 23–24 Anzatan Commonwealth, Year 8–9 Trade Federation, Year 8 New Anzat Order, Year 7–8 Iron Sun, Year 0–7 Stava Regiment, Year 24–23 (BCGT)
Awards

Lief Ragnos, born Khamengi of clan Khanu'bar, is a Noghri military officer and politician who currently serves as the founder and director of the Khanu'bar Institute, a non-governmental organisation focused on the environmental recovery of Honoghr and the cultural unity of the Noghri people. He is most notable for his service in the armed forces of the Tresario Star Kingdom and its predecessor state, the Anzatan Commonwealth.

Biography

Early life and Clone Wars

Khamengi was born on Honoghr to a Noghri family of clan Khanu'bar in the final years of the Galactic Republic, the fifth of six children of the union between Barukh clan Khanu'bar and Kysara clan Vunin'gar. His father was a clansnoghri with vast knowledge of the wild plants of the region and their uses. His mother, Kysara, was a respected warrior and hunter, and well-known in the community for her skill at dressing and butchering game and livestock. Raised in the rural traditions of the Noghri and the Khanu'bar, Khamengi learned to farm dekh grain, herd the flocks of khengr birds, and trained for war through the sport of turkha with his siblings. He took part in his first raid at the age of 14, against the rival clan Virkh'ush, and became renowned for his leadership skills as much as his talent with the fighting sickle. This fame drew the attention of the Stava Regiment, a Noghri-led mercenary unit working for off-world clients during the Clone Wars. Recruited by Stava, Khamengi was assigned to Ragnos Squad, from which he adopted the nom-de-guerre Lief Ragnos.

In Year 23 BCGT, during covert operations in the Farrfin sector, news of the environmental devastation on Honoghr reached the unit. The shocking reports of a ravaged planet and widespread famine split the Stava Regiment between those committed to completing their mission and those wishing to return to the planet to assist in relief and evacuation. Disagreement turned to mutiny on the surface of Charmath, as Ragnos Squad ignored orders and attempted to desert. Confronted by Exar Squad while on their way to a civilian starport, Ragnos was the only survivor from his squad in the ensuing firefight. Stowed away on a transport that delivered him to Selonia, it took Ragnos months to scrounge enough credits for passage to Honoghr. Once there, he found the planet in ruins due to the effects of the Trihexalophine1138 toxin, which poisoned the soil and dessicated all plant life save for a region in northern Honoghr known as the Clean Lands. Khanu'bar territory was located on the opposite hemisphere to the Clean Lands, and the clan possessed little in the way of motorised transport; by the time Ragnos returned to his clan territory the Khanu'bar had been virtually extinguished due to starvation and war over resources.

With nothing to return to on Honoghr, and fearing retaliation from the Stava Regiment, Ragnos fled the planet and sought work in a variety of different sectors, often working under additional pseudonyms.

After the Clone Wars

Having barely a credit to his name, Ragnos initially took up work as a steward's assistant on a Gallofree transport that ran routes between the Core, Hutt Space, and the Gordian Reach. From there, he was later hired as a shipbreaker at a private salvage yard in the Moobia system. With his savings, Ragnos was able to pay for flying lessons and received his license to pilot light and heavy freighters late in Year 19 BCGT. He soon joined the Maltorian Express courier company as a cargo pilot, transporting freight between the Bortele Cluster and Maldrood. In Year 15 BCGT, Ragnos returned to the Kessel sector to work as a security officer in the spice mines, a job he held for three years. After narrowly surviving a gas explosion, Ragnos resigned and began offering his services as a private bodyguard. His clients over the following years included the weapons dealer Jax Harik, dancer Lyra Lux, and Hutt lord Qulappa; during these years Ragnos greatly sharpened his knowledge of the Outer Rim criminal underworld and its many networks. In Year 7 BCGT, Ragnos was hired to run high-level protection for a crystal mining operation on the planet Nizon, in the Centares system, which culminated three years later in the successful dismantling of a Cona-based smuggling ring. Afterwards, Ragnos operated mainly as a freelance bounty hunter, specialising in targets distant from galactic civilisation - as far away as Huk, Toola, and Pelgrin.

In Year 0 of Combine Galactic Time, Ragnos was hired as an operative of the Iron Sun mercenary company, based out of Mindabaal. The group, though small, acquired a reputation for specialising in security operations for local governments throughout the Mid and Outer Rims. These included training militias, planning emergency response scenarios, and the infiltration and elimination of antisocial elements. After one such operation in Year 7 CGT took Ragnos back to Honoghr, his skills attracted the attention of the New Anzat Order.

New Anzat Order

In Year 7 CGT, Ragnos was approached regarding the possibility of joining the Anzatan People's Guard as an officer, given his talents and extensive history of security operations in and around Maldrood and Kessel, the two sectors controlled by the New Anzat Order at the time. Ragnos, seeing an opportunity to more directly contribute to the reconstruction of Honoghr, applied to the Guard and was promptly appointed a Warrant Officer. Due to his prior experience and the fluctuating internal politics of the NAO, he rose through the ranks quickly, eventually assuming command of First Battalion with the rank of Captain. Later renamed to Loyalist Battalion, the unit's deployments to Anzat, Kessel, and Honoghr gave Ragnos the chance to network with a variety of military and civilian leaders across Anzatan space.

Nevertheless, Ragnos felt that not enough was being done to reverse the ecological damage on Honoghr. Near the beginning of Year 8 CGT, Ragnos requested and received an honourable discharge from the Anzatan People's Guard in order to pursue a career with the Trade Federation, whom he hoped would have the means to either work toward Honoghran recovery, or allow him to earn the funds to do so himself.

Trade Federation

Lief Ragnos joined the Trade Federation's Department of the Navy in Year 8 CGT. There he was assigned to Battlegroup Oseon and took part in maneuvers around what would later be recognised as the Hevvrol sector. Despite a promising start to his Federation career, Ragnos was persuaded to return to the New Anzat Order after receiving a personal appeal from Regent Wilhelm von Ismay, who called on all former Anzatan personnel to help reinforce the Order in a time of crisis. Six months into his employment, Ragnos was honourably discharged from service with the Trade Federation.

Anzatan Commonwealth

Back in NAO, Ragnos was faced with a Guard that was suffering defeats across Anzatan space. In Year 8 CGT, he was alarmed to discover that Mandalorian forces were attempting to overthrow the government of Honoghr. Ragnos moved to reinforce the struggling Guard, but it was too late to prevent the planet's fall. For years after, he harboured a personal vendetta against Mandalore for the loss of his homeworld. Ragnos took part in NAO operations to recover the Honoghr system, which nevertheless failed to achieve their goal. During this time of conflict, Ragnos rose through the ranks of the Anzatan People's Guard, reaching the rank of Colonel and Executive Officer of the Guard.

In early Year 9 CGT the New Anzat Order was reorganised into the Anzatan Commonwealth and the Anzatan People's Guard was restructured into the Royal Anzatan Marines. Ragnos was commissioned a Staff Commander of the Marines and assigned as XO of the Kesselian Dragoons Naval Squadron, based out of the Kessa system. He soon became acting CO of the unit and received a promotion to Major. Following another round of reforms, the Marine component of the Squadron was reorganised into Alpha Company, 1st Marine Battalion. Ragnos was appointed CO of Alpha Company, now with the rank of Brigadier General. He was also elected to sit in the first Parliament of the Commonwealth, representing the Kessel Sector as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.

In late Year 9, Ragnos was honourably discharged from the Royal Anzatan Marines to pursue civilian business on Honoghr. Months later, the coup that resulted in the assassination of Anzatan Sovereign Wilhelm von Ismay pushed Ragnos into hiding, fearing that he would be targeted by the new regime of Queen Keishi Miahr due to his affiliation with the Ismays.

Khanu'bar Institute

In Year 10 CGT, Ragnos founded the Khanu'bar Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to the social and environmental improvement of Honoghr. He established the Institute as a politically neutral entity, though he remained personally opposed to Mandalore's control of the planet. From self-imposed exile, Ragnos served as the Institute's director, overseeing its mission. In Year 13 CGT, Ragnos reconciled with the new Anzatan regime and the Khanu'bar Institute established its headquarters-in-exile on Anzat. However, Ragnos declined a return to the Anzatan military. The Institute's Astrographic Department, which offers commercial astrography services to clients across the galaxy, is its most famous branch. Since Year 23 CGT, this department has been crucial to raising funds for the Institute's operations, contracting with many of the most prominent governments and companies in the Galaxy. This was complemented by the opening of the Institute's Artisan Programme in Year 24, through which skilled craftsnoghri are commissioned through the Institute to produce unique works of art.

Tresario Star Kingdom

In Year 23 (CGT), Ragnos received a commission in the Tresario Star Kingdom Army, the successor institution to the Royal Anzatan Marines following the folding of the Anzatan Commonwealth into the Tresario Star Kingdom in Year 15. He held the rank of Colonel until Year 24, when he retired from service with the Tresarian military shortly before his 65th birthday.

Independent contractor

Following his employment with the Tresario Star Kingdom, Ragnos has claimed to be focusing on furthering the mission of the Khanu'bar Institute. Nevertheless, he is known to have worked with The Legacy of Ithor and Muurian Interstellar as a private security contractor, reuniting with former Anzatan Navy officer Tania Kharas in the latter. He has also reportedly become a recognised Master Bounty Hunter among the bondsmen of the Galaxy.

On Day 294 of Year 24 CGT, during the 16th Uli Memorial Swap Meet on Nimban, Ragnos and ally La-La Ju were involved in a controversial incident aboard the Subjugator-class cruiser Free City, owned and operated by Tusk Brothers Trading Company. On-board cameras captured the pair boarding the ship and entering the ship's unsecured bridge, manned at the time by Tusk director Wyatt Holiday. Ju was recorded removing Wyatt's personal blaster pistol, while Ragnos was seen to install tracking devices and explosive charges across the ship. Tusk employees later discovered similar charges aboard the company's Swine's Wine pleasure barge, stationed amid the swap meet festivities. All the bombs were determined to be inactive, which Ragnos later insisted was intentional. Ju and Ragnos claimed their actions to be in retaliation for their treatment by Tusk Brothers in the lead-up to an organised hunt hosted by the company on Tynnani. The pair were subsequently accused of theft and terrorism by Tusk Brothers and barred from their establishments. Ragnos and Tusk resolved their quarrel early in Year 25, with Tusk putting out a notice announcing the rapprochement.

Personality and traits

Ragnos has been characterised as a guarded, solitary figure, though with an unwavering sense of duty and loyalty to Honoghr and the Noghri people. He is known for his ruthless efficiency in dealing with criminals and enemies, as well as his talent for maintaining a disciplined and optimised organisation.

Reports during his tenure in the Anzatan Parliament portrayed Ragnos as aloof and disinterested in the politics that did not pertain to his home sector; he registered among the lowest contributions of the first Parliament. He was known, however, to be a vocal opponent of the Jedi and of Mandalore; he considered the former responsible for the catastrophe on Honoghr, and the latter to be tyrants and invaders. This position has allegedly softened over time, as exemplified by his friendship with Ithorian Jedi Wynk Waawat, and under his direction the Khanu'bar Institute has adopted a position of neutrality and pacifism. Bills that Ragnos supported during his time as an MP included ones advocating higher inheritance taxes, stricter safety regulations for industrial labour, and incentives for sustainable development.

In addition to his native Honoghran, Ragnos is fluent in Galactic Basic and has demonstrated an elementary grasp of Huttese and Mando'a. His accent while speaking Basic is permanently aspirated and breathy, as if he were whispering even while shouting, which are common traits among Noghri speakers.

Associates

Ragnos is known to have a close working relationship with his bodyguard and pilot, the Besalisk Maleena Rollan, who has accompanied him on numerous missions and provided essential operational support. Other allies are known to include the Oracle of Ithor, Wynk Waawat; former Anzatan Navy officer and CEO of Muurian Interstellar, Tania Kharas; and Gungan freedom fighter La-La Ju.

Powers and abilities

Ragnos is a highly skilled warrior and tactician, with a deep understanding of military strategy. Though a skilled marksman, he has a particular talent and preference for hand-to-hand combat, whether armed or unarmed. He is a practitioner of stava, the traditional martial art of the Noghri, and of turkha, a traditional ball game with heavy focus on wrestling.

Equipment

Weapons

Ragnos has a distaste for long-barrelled blasters, and when possible chooses to engage wielding his traditional fighting sickles. He has reportedly developed a specialised technique for battling Force users and has plated his sickles in rare phrik alloy, making them resistant to lightsabers.

Ships

A capable pilot, Ragnos honed his craft running freight in the Mid Rim during the early years of the Empire. He has amassed a large private fleet over the years, from personal fighters to large capital ships that fly under the flag of the Khanu'bar Institute. Though in his younger years he preferred snubfighters, such as the N-1 Starfighter Arrow and the A-24 Sleuth Blade, in time it is freighters that have become his vessel of choice, often piloted by his trusted bodyguard Maleena Rollan. Nevertheless, there have been reports of Ragnos flying a Razor starfighter against space pirates as recently as Year 24.

HWK-290 Light Freighter Masterless

Originally produced by the Corellian Engineering Corporation in Year 44 BCGT, the Masterless has passed through many owners. It was extensively renovated in Year 11 CGT and is believed to have been owned by Wes Calais before being acquired by Preraditi Industries. By the time it was purchased by Lief Ragnos at Leritor II, the ship was known as the Eagle's Flight. Ragnos repainted the ship into a green-and-white colour scheme and renamed it the Masterless. With a powerful hyperdrive and sublight engines, top-class maneuverability, and a strong sensor package, it has become Ragnos' preferred ship for all personal and professional business.

YT-2000 Light Freighter Honoghr

Built by Mecrosa in the shipyards of Candoria, the Honoghr was Ragnos' first choice for a personal heavy-duty freighter. Though largely replaced by the Masterless as Ragnos' personal ship, it often flies together as part of its detail, under command of the accomplished Iktotchi mercenary Zun Braitano. Customised with a copper-plated exterior, the ship's steady oxidation into green lives out the dream of planet Honoghr's reconversion from a desert wasteland to a green paradise.

YT-510 Light Freighter Loghru

Loghru, named after the heat-blasted second planet of the Honoghr system, was directly commissioned by Ragnos for construction by the Kilsyth Guards of the Pedducis Chorios system. With its high speed ceiling and top-of-the-line sensors, Loghru is typically flown together with Masterless and Honoghr as part of the same formation.

Action VI Transport Memory

Purchased directly from its builder, Arakyd Industries, Memory acts as Ragnos' personal mobile headquarters, holding vast reserves of supplies as well as a repertoire of land and atmospheric vehicles. Modular living quarters formed from adapted Sandcrawlers allow the ship to house hundreds of troops for rapid deployment to crisis situations. Its registered captain is the Baragwin pilot Oyuna Zarkot, an old associate of Lief Ragnos from his time with Iron Sun.

Colossal-class Heavy Carrier Khengr

The flagship of the Khanu'bar Institute, the Khengr was constructed by Hoersch-Kessel Drive in the Gordian Reach, under supervision from master shipwright and Count of Serenno Saba Ku. The ship presently houses the headquarters of the Institute and contains an array of yachts, survey ships, transports, and freighters for use by Institute personnel. In order to ensure the Institute's security, the Khengr is also a fully operational warship in its own right, with a complement that includes the Raider-class corvette Magnanimous, the Tower Squadron of Toscan starfighters, and the Maldrood Squadron of U-Wing gunboats. The carrier's registered captain is Marneg Cacete, an Anzat who claims to have graduated from the naval academy of the New Anzat Order.

Service record

Ranks held

Grade	Insignia	Anzatan People's Guard	Time held (CGT)
[N-2]		Warrant Officer Class I	Y7 D72 - Y7 D102
[O-1]		Second Lieutenant	Y7 D102 - Y7 D194
[O-2]		First Lieutenant	Y7 D194 - Y7 D249
[O-3]		Captain	Y7 D249 - Y8 D49
Grade	Insignia	Trade Federation Navy	Time held (CGT)
[O-3]		Second Lieutenant	Y8 D73 - Y8 D244
Grade	Insignia	Anzatan People's Guard	Time held (CGT)
[O-3]		Captain	Y8 D246 - Y8 D262
[O-4]		Major	Y8 D262 - Y8 D319
[O-5]		Lieutenant Colonel	Y8 D319 - Y9 D044
[O-6]		Colonel	Y9 D044 - Y9 D070
Grade	Insignia	Royal Anzatan Marines	Time held (CGT)
[O-5]		Staff Commander	Y9 D070 - Y9 D198
[C-1]		Major	Y9 D198 - Y9 D291
[C-2]		Brigadier General	Y9 D291 - Y9 D312
Grade	Insignia	Tresario Star Kingdom Army	Time held (CGT)
[C-4]		Colonel	Y23 D202 - Y24 D125