Saitou Tarentae

From the Wastes of Eriadu

Saitou was born on the vast city planet of Eriadu during the final years of the Empire's dominance under the name of Yutzka Serovich. The exact location and even date are not known as record keeping had become quite sloppy in those years. Saitou though interested in many aspects of his own personal and affiliation histories, never researched this fact nor has any other found it necessary to do so. His family was small and consisted of his two parents and one sister. Serovich's father, an Imperial TIE pilot, was often reassigned and therefore the family moved every few years. Serovich's life on Eriadu was mostly uneventful and lasted roughly five years. His next home would be Corellia. Here he would meet and befriend Daisuke Airyu. The one event that lingers in Saitou's memory of those days is the near death experience of his sister. While out on shopping errands the two became separated and Serovich's sister was attacked. Not knowing the cause or the possible result Serovich rushed to his sister's aid seething with fury. The fight was short and both attacker and defender were wounded heavily. Though this would not otherwise be noteworthy, a passing Jedi took notice and offered to take the young Serovich under his wing. However, this offer was refused and sensing no devastating loss the Jedi moved on never to reenter Serovich's life again.

Rise of a Pirate, Emergence as a Pilot

The Empire soon collapsed and Serovich’s father was one of countless fatalities. The exact details were never learned and it was only years later that any information could be pieced together. The path of the father was to be quickly continued. As soon as both Serovich and Airyu were able, they joined the Imperial Immersion and Education Academy, a Black Sun training facility under a false Imperial name. The IIEA quickly became the two friends’ new home and soon both became qualified Z-95 pilots. However, on their final training mission before full integration into the Black Sun, the IIEA was attacked by Avenger Squadron, an elite squadron of the Emperor’s Hammer TIE Corps. It was then that the two found out about the true nature of their academy and after their surrender they were enrolled in IWATS. While Daisuke Airyu was to quickly excel through this new stage of training an unfortunate accident would set Serovich back six months. During his first IWATS flight his old training TIE suffered severe mechanical failure and the resulting onboard explosion forced his hospitalization. Upon his recovery he was much the same as any other pilot and worked his way through the ranks and into a squadron.

A Helmet paired with a Hood

Upon his promotion to Sub-Lieutenant and assignment to the SSD Avenger Serovich became aware of the Dark Brotherhood. In those days it was required that every officer of the SSD be a part of the Brotherhood. However, being a newly assigned pilot and provisional member this was not so for Serovich. His home squadron was Hunter of Avenger Wing I. Joining his friend Daisuke Airyu, Serovich quickly acclimated to the new environment and slowly rose through the ranks. The time soon came that he would be inducted into the Brotherhood as a Sith Apprentice, but the bulk of his effort remained with the TIE Corps. It was not until Shups recognized the innate Krath tendencies within Serovich that this was to change. Quickly passing the Krath tests and rite of induction, Serovich became Saitou. He would be assigned to House Acclivis Draco, the Krath House of Clan Scholae Palatinae. This was the time during the reign of Grand Master Zoraan. None would have imagined the pivotal role Saitou would come to play.

While Serovich continued to ply his way upwards through the structure of the TIE Corps, Saitou began his relatively quick ascent within the Brotherhood. This proved difficult logistically despite the intertwined nature of the two organizations at the time. During his career Serovich was able to call the ISD Challenge and Typhoon Squadron his second home. However, Serovich ultimately proved a better Squadron Commander than a Flight Member and led Slayer Squadron of Wing XIX for a long period. Ultimately his allegiance would prove strongest to HAD of CSP.

Youngest of the Old School, Oldest of the New

[More to come soon]