Kyle Katarn

Kyle Katarn's parents were Morgan and Patricia Katarn, who worked as farmers on the Sullust colony moon known as Sulon. Born in 23 BBY, the Human boy spent his childhood on their farm. The death of his mother, caused by a malfunctioning BT-16 perimeter security droid, deeply affected the Katarn family, leaving the two men to manage the farm without her help. He developed a close bond with his father's custom-built labor droid, WeeGee, with whom they could communicate using droidspeak. He often joined his father in their workshop, repairing or assembling machines, which strengthened their relationship. He was captivated by his father's tools and the things he could create with them. By the age of twelve, he was maintaining WeeGee himself, and soon after, he could disassemble and repair almost anything on the homestead. His father also taught him a Primitive binary code, which they used to communicate with their agrirobots.

During his childhood, Kyle enjoyed playing hide-and-seek in a nearby canyon and cavern. Shortly before his eighteenth birthday, local authorities began surveying the area for the installation of a G-Tap. Eventually, Katarn presented his father with a multitool as a gift, engraved with his initials.

Upon reaching adulthood, Kyle sought to ease his father's financial burdens and acquire the knowledge necessary to continue the family trade as an agro-tech mechanic. As a resident of the Rim, Kyle had limited educational opportunities, making the Imperial Academy an attractive option. His father, who Kyle suspected was sympathetic to the Rebellion, reluctantly agreed to his enrollment. In 5 BBY, he left his homeworld on a freighter bound for Carida to attend the Academy. The day before his departure, his father gave him an antique Bryar pistol as a gift. Kyle also kept a holo-recording of their last meeting, in which Morgan expressed his pride in him.

During his four years of training as an engineering student at the Academy of Carida, he discovered his aptitude for cybernetics systems theory and information engineering. Like all engineers, Kyle received only thirty hours of training in TIE/LN starfighters, focusing more on piloting various support craft such as T-4s. Other activities included extracurricular martial arts like fencing under a strict instructor, target-shooting classes, studying battle tactics with set-pieces, and exhausting patrols in uncomfortable Stormtrooper armor, which negatively impacted their morale and readiness. His roommate was Odom Meck, and he had to deal with the irritating nobleman Nathan Donar III. He often encountered Jan Strange of the Imperial Intell, who was secretly a Rebel informant.

Three months before graduation, Kyle, like many other cadets, focused on the dangerous tradition of "walking the edge" during their ceremonial parade. He researched the practice and discovered that thirty-six cadets had died from falling off the cliffside, with nearly half of them marching on the right flank, where he would be assigned. Nathan Donar was appointed Company Commander to lead his column.

His Omega Exercise marked a turning point in his life and career. It involved a raid on a Rebel asteroid base, which he led as Cadet Leader. It was during this mission that Katarn began to suspect his Force potential, inherited from his father, as he experienced premonitions that saved the lives of several strike team members. Katarn expressed concern about the unnecessary deaths of surrendering Rebel agents, arguing that they would be more valuable as prisoners, which annoyed Sergeant Major Hong. He also encountered Jan Ors again. Despite being on opposing sides of the war, Katarn and Ors felt a strange connection, leading Katarn to spare her life and the lives of many station inhabitants. After securing the base, Kyle led his surviving troops to a cafeteria to await reinforcements. Before their arrival, they were ambushed by a Rebel rescue force, and he was injured, becoming one of only seven wounded troopers who survived behind a barricade. Eventually, the Imperial group arrived and rescued the surviving stormtroopers.

Following the mission, Katarn was hospitalized back at the Training Base, where he was hailed as a hero. He was released from the hospital just hours before his graduation, where he would receive his commission and hoped to make his father proud. Unbeknownst to him, Morgan was a supporter of the Rebel Alliance and had been executed by Inquisitor Jerec. Questioning his performance and strange feelings during his last mission, he hid in the Academy's library and met Odom, who had explored religion, and confided in him his concerns. His connection to Morgan and his own Force sensitivity drew the attention of Jerec, who visited the Academy for the ceremony.

During the graduation ceremony, Katarn marched on the right flank under the command of Company Commander Nathan Donar. Despite his worries, Donar led the parade successfully, without any casualties falling over the edge.

He was awarded the Imperial Medal of Valor by General Rom Mohc and congratulated by a figure in black, whom Kyle assumed was a government official. The man introduced himself as Jerec and extended a puzzling invitation for Kyle to join those with power whenever he was ready. Katarn felt a chilling cold in his presence, and as the medal touched his uniform, he experienced another strange sensation: a power surging through his nerves, granting him detailed visions of the area and others' minds. His nerves discharged when the man stepped back. He was unaware that Jerec was the very man who had recently killed his father.

After the ceremony, Kyle was approached by his cheering peers, eager to admire the Medal up close. As he, like other Rimmers, had no visitors, Meck invited him to join his family for dinner, which he reluctantly accepted, pretending that his motivation was to see Meck's attractive sister.

Soon after, he received an official message announcing that his father had been killed in a suspected Rebel raid on his homeworld of Sulon. Katarn, remembering the lives he had spared on the asteroid base, developed a strong hatred for the Rebellion, believing them to be murderers. He immediately went to the Office of Cadet Affairs and waited for it to open at dawn.

Although the Academy denied his request for funeral leave, Katarn accepted a commission in the special operations division of the Imperial Army. Now a Second Lieutenant, he embarked on a cruise on the Star of Empire, his last moment of freedom before officially becoming an officer in the Imperial navy. He caught a military transport leaving Carida and then transferred to the orbital transfer station off Dorlon II. There, he boarded a shuttle that docked with the liner's hangar.

It had been years since Kyle had been among non-human beings and could admire females, leading to an awkward moment when the mother of twin girls frowned at him, and he tripped. To his surprise, he noticed that people were intentionally bumping into him. A businessman he met, Lando Calrissian, explained that the "real galaxy" was unlike the sheltered environment of the Academy, and his Imperial officer's uniform would attract sneers. Just then, he was reunited with Nathan, who was also traveling with his family, and invited him to dinner, eager to introduce the heroic "cadet who won the medal" to his parents. Kyle was flattered, considering they were part of the Empire's inner circle. Governor Dol Donar II showed genuine interest in Katarn's achievements, and Kyle, in turn, pretended to compliment Nathan's leadership during the parade. They dined in the Nebula Room, where Kyle ate green salad and candied insects. When asked about his background, he mentioned his father and his death, prompting Donar to launch into an anti-Rebel tirade, assuring Katarn that his father would be avenged as the Emperor had something in store for the Rebels. Calrissian then approached them and invited the Governor for a game of sabacc.

After dinner, he went to the Corellia Room to rejoin the Donars playing with Calrissian. Soon after, he encountered a familiar face. Their eyes met, and he recognized the Rebel girl from the asteroid. She turned away, and Kyle tried to follow her through the crowd, not only to arrest her but also to seek revenge and answers. He boarded a moving walkway, started jogging, and entered a lift tube. He realized that the level below was off-limits to passengers and used the emergency ladderway. Once he landed, he was immobilized by Rosco Ross, an accomplice of the girl who had been waiting for him, and was led into a storeroom. After a brief scuffle, Ors pointed out that he had spared their lives earlier. Katarn also felt another connection with Ors, not the hatred he had expected. After exchanging names, Ors agreed to let him live if he promised that they would go their separate ways and not act against them. Kyle felt desperate and, along with his promise, asked to speak with her.

The two met again in the ship's library while she was practicing her dancing in a virtual reality set, prompting him to genuinely applaud her talent. They continued to the ship's cafeteria, where Katarn wanted to discuss the war and the fact that the people the Rebels were fighting were good men, including the Stormtroopers, and his innocent father. Ors's attention was piqued when he mentioned Sulon, and she realized that the Imperial was the son of one of their leaders.

Upon her invitation, Katarn discreetly went to her cabin to avoid being seen with a Rebel agent. There, he was startled when her droid, A-Cee began a self-destruct sequence, which Ors managed to override in time. It had been programmed to detonate in the presence of an Imperial Officer. Ors explained her role in the Alliance Intelligence and showed Katarn footage from the Battle of the G-Tap that had been obtained by the droid and the reporter Candice Ondi it was serving. Katarn skeptically watched the holorecord until he saw his father leading other Sulonese people he knew. He then realized that the Imperials had staged the attack, painting Rebel insignias on their ships to make it appear as if the Rebels had been the aggressors. Their use of standard Imperial tactics, which Katarn had extensively studied at the Academy, gave them away. Seeing the footage for himself, Katarn became distrustful of the Empire and defected, symbolically tearing off his Medal of Valor, throwing it in a recycle bin, and thanking her for revealing the truth to him.

Some time later, Kyle sought out Ors and found her struggling with a heavy metallic casing in the ship's hangar, and he helped her lower it to the floor. He suggested that she should have used a floor jack or called for a maintenance droid, which was exactly what she had been thinking, irritating her. He complimented her on her set of tools and offered to help repair her ship, given his technical training at the Academy. He performed some diagnostics on the hyperspace motivator. An hour passed, and Jan admired his knowledge and confidence. She was further impressed by how quickly Kyle finished the task. Katarn explained that whenever he let his mind wander, the solution always became clear to him. Finally, Kyle confessed his desire to join the Alliance, his commitment evident in his eyes. Ors's team was scheduled to leave the Star two days later, and she invited him to join them.

The next morning, he received an anonymous e-mail advising him not to waste his career for a Rebel woman and to prepare for interrogation. He immediately realized that it had been sent by Nathan, and his father had somehow learned what was happening. Kyle was unaware that their movements were being observed by the bounty hunter Slyder, who had sold them out to the Donars. Feeling guilty for betraying Nathan's confidence, but not forgetting the reason for his defection, he called Jan and warned her that someone was after them. He donned his Imperial sidearm, loaded his possessions into a carryall, and ran to the hangar, leaving his officer uniforms behind.

Rosco and Waller were already at the ship, waiting for Ors. As Kyle claimed to be able to fly it and remembered the access codes from Jan, he briefly took the lead and offered to initialize the ship until Ors arrived, surprising both Rebels. His first problem was that the pressure doors were closed, and the Controller wouldn't cooperate without a prior request. Kyle activated the repulsors and had Waller shoot at another ship to force the Controller to open the doors. As the Sorry lurched up and down, he saw Jan entering, followed by a Rodian they had met earlier, Nathan, and Imperials. He was relieved that Nathan wasn't harmed when they exchanged fire. Jan collapsed due to a lack of oxygen, and he moved the ship towards her, able to focus thanks to an oxygen mask. Once Rosco brought Jan onto the ramp, Kyle lifted them up. Men in space suits boarded a ship, but he didn't fire. They threw a concussion grenade at the Sorry. Ignoring the controller's threats, he thrust the ship towards the half-opened doors and exited into space. Ors sat next to him, and Waller notified them that a ship was pursuing them. Kyle regretted not updating the navcomp. The enemy ship was gaining, and Kyle was surprised to see Jan turn to confront it. Unexpectedly, it exploded by itself. They both realized that it was an internal explosion caused by A-Cee, who had been loaded onto the ship and self-destructed in the presence of Nathan.

The Sorry's successful escape led them to the New Hope. Kyle was struck by the sheer size of the repurposed vessel and the casual demeanor of the Rebels. Ors then introduced him to Mon Mothma, the Alliance's leading figure. It was here that he discovered his father's reputation as a respected leader and friend of a Jedi. He also confided in Mothma that his primary motivation for joining was to avenge his father's death. Mothma displayed empathy, emphasizing that the more pressing threat was Palpatine, suggesting that aiding the Rebellion would be the first step to finding his father's killers. This proposition was met with a mix of skepticism, apprehension, and pride. Mothma then revealed the existence of the Empire's Death Star, a space station armed with a superlaser capable of planetary destruction. Kyle was impressed by the scope of Alliance Intelligence and recalled Donar's warnings about the Emperor's plans against the Rebellion. Mothma proposed a mission: to infiltrate an Imperial facility in Trid on Danuta and retrieve schematics of the station, hoping Rebel engineers could find a vulnerability. She believed his Imperial training and the advantage of being a man in an all-male facility made him suitable for this potentially suicidal mission. Kyle questioned why a commando raid was not considered, to which Mothma explained their commitment to minimizing collateral damage in Trid, a principle that distinguished the Alliance from the Empire.

She also showed him a video of the target: the memory matrix room containing the plans. Upon viewing it, he recognized a familiar officer, Meck. When Mothma asked if Kyle knew him, he lied, visibly sweating. However, Mothma was aware of the officer's identity and their past friendship, but did not reveal it. Kyle accepted the mission, driven by his loyalty to his father and the Sulonese. This marked the beginning of his career as a Rebel-aligned mercenary and spy.

Reportedly, soon after joining the Alliance, Kyle spent time at a Rebel base filled with smugglers and pirates, honing his skills in sabotage and subterfuge. Katarn was responsible for introducing the Twi'lek Rianna Saren to the organization. His initial task for her was to infiltrate a Black Sun warehouse on Coruscant to investigate their involvement with the Empire. After Saren's successful completion, Katarn revealed his Rebel affiliation and introduced her to Leia Organa.

Before his departure, he received a brief message from Jan wishing him luck. Upon presenting his orders to the Deck Master, he was given a selection of older ships. After carefully evaluating their drives, systems, durability, and weaponry, he chose the freighter known as the Moldy Crow. He then dedicated several days to equipping the ship with various parts, tools, and amenities, some of which he discreetly "acquired". He prepared to impersonate the pilot Dan Drexel, complete with forged documents, before setting course for Danuta.

It took the Moldy Crow five days to reach its destination. Kyle, alone with the ship's vibrations and vent noises, spent his time on maintenance and rest. He attempted to formulate plans, but the lack of information forced him to rely on improvisation. Upon entering the planet's orbit, he was intercepted by two TIEs and identified himself to the Orbital patrol vessel X-Ray 291. He received clearance and was directed to approach the Trid spaceport, marking his first landing on the planet. Before disembarking, he set the emergency start-up sequence and prepared to bribe the local Imperial customs agent. The agent noted Kyle's face seemed familiar from a previous debriefing. Kyle claimed he was pulled from hyperspace by an uncharted gravity well, causing him to be off-schedule, and offered some credits to expedite the process.

He dedicated his first day in Trid to reconnaissance, passing by a square and heading towards the Facility. He briefly considered kidnapping a scientist for access but dismissed the idea. He sensed he was being followed and entered a cafe to observe his surroundings, spotting a distant familiar figure; he failed to recognize Jan stalking him. He eventually reached the security perimeter near the Research Complex and pretended to exercise. However, due to his inappropriate attire, he took a quiet street and returned to the spaceport, buying food from a street vendor. He concluded that entering without inside assistance was impossible, recalling Meck and the choice between friendship and duty. After dinner in the Crow, he slept and had a nightmare: he was a Rebel on AX-456, shooting Stormtroopers emerging from a hatch, all with Meck's face under their helmets.

He went to town early the next morning. Knowing Meck's spirituality, he sought a religious place. After getting directions from a street vendor, he found and entered a Danuta Temple, carefully observing his surroundings. Again, Ors was behind him but he failed to see her. He arranged a secret meeting with Meck and rested in the Crow. Kyle spent a tense afternoon and evening in the Blue Moon, buying drinks, avoiding stares and unwanted advances, holding his blaster ready, hoping Meck would appear and not betray him. After an hour, just as he was about to give up, Meck arrived. Meck warned him that Kyle had become "infamous" and showed him a wanted poster with his Academy yearbook photo and various accusations. Kyle admitted to defecting and explained his mission. Kyle pledged to protect Meck's identity and promised they'd collaborate on a plausible cover story.

Meck provided Katarn with critical information that aided in the mission's success. He also disabled the perimeter security, granting Katarn access to the base. Inside, he received communication from Jan, indicating the Crow was en route. Major Horst had his men trap Kyle in the south corridor. While taking cover, Katarn decided to clear his mind, similar to his approach to technical repairs, and let himself go. He accurately anticipated his adversaries' positions and the trajectory of their shots, dodging and returning fire with precision. The feeling was similar to his encounter with Jerec at graduation. He then received another message from Jan, confirming the Crow's approach and suggesting that he wasn't insane, but the Force was with him. He made his way to the officer with the keycard, who was deploying a walker to intercept the Crow. Katarn surprised Horst, who questioned his survival. Instead of surrendering the keycard, Horst attempted to shoot him, but Kyle fired first. He contacted Jan to update her and warn of incoming reinforcements, suggesting she break off. Jan ignored him, and communication was lost. Unsure of Jan's fate, Kyle decided to continue the mission.

He reached the secure room, hoping Meck would fulfill his promise and unlock the door. Meck did, expressing his amazement at Kyle's progress. He led him to the vault containing the plans, where Kyle sensed an aura of evil. He thanked Meck, calling him a hero, and suggesting that the lives saved would atone for the deaths of his comrades. Meck demanded to never see him again and reminded Kyle to inflict a convincing bruise. Kyle thanked him and departed.

The partial plans Katarn stole were eventually combined with those seized at Toprawa, from the Death Star itself, and by Rianna Saren and Zeeo after their battle against Imperial slave master Zarien Kheev on Danuta, resulting in a complete blueprint of the station.

Shortly after the Battle of Yavin, Mon Mothma requested Katarn to investigate the destruction of Tak Base resulting from the attack on Tak Base. Katarn accepted, and, at his request, Jan Ors was assigned as his mission officer. Katarn's investigation uncovered the Imperial Dark Trooper project, spearheaded by Clone Wars veteran General Rom Mohc. Several clues led Katarn to Anoat, where he apprehended Moff Rebus, a notorious Imperial weapons engineer. After raiding a testing facility for phrik on the planet Fest, Katarn was led to the Gromas system, where the mineral was being mined and the initial phase of Dark Trooper production took place. After destroying the facility, Katarn had to rescue Crix Madine from an Imperial detention center on Orinackra and traveled to the Ramsees Hed docking port on Cal-Seti. There, he managed to track a smuggling ship that was making runs to the frozen planet of Anteevy, where the second phase of Dark Trooper construction was completed. Katarn destroyed the facility on Anteevy and was led to Nar Shaddaa, where he located a nav card detailing the activities of all the smugglers involved in the Dark Trooper project. Upon leaving the planet, Katarn and Ors were briefly captured by Jabba the Hutt.

After defeating several kell dragons with his bare hands, Katarn was able to retrieve the card, rescue Ors, and escape Jabba's space cruiser. Katarn and Ors infiltrated the ISO building on Coruscant, where he decoded the nav card. He also fought and defeated Boba Fett. Using the new information, Katarn and Ors tracked one of the smuggler ships to the Refueling Station Ergo. Katarn hijacked this ship and used it to sneak onto the Executor, the only ship with the location of the Arc Hammer, where the final phase of Dark Trooper production was underway. Once aboard, he stowed away on a cargo transport headed for the Arc Hammer. After an intense battle against a Phase III Dark Trooper clad General Mohc, Katarn destroyed the Arc Hammer and escaped, effectively ending the Dark Trooper Project. As a reward for his valor, Mon Mothma presented him with the Star of Alderaan.

When Jan assumed an Imperial identity to assassinate the Head of the School of Torturers, her cover was compromised, and Kyle intervened to save her.

Katarn was also a member of a SpecForce group assembled by the former Jedi Knight Corwin Shelvay, teaming up with Force-sensitives Shira Brie and Erling Tredway to sabotage the superlaser of the second Death Star en route to D'rinba IV.

Some years before 5 ABY, a smuggler ran weapons into an Imperial controlled sector and managed to upset both the Rebel Alliance and another individual. The Alliance dispatched Katarn to handle the smuggler's operation, during which Katarn and a Gran bodyguard crossed paths, resulting in a firefight that left the Gran with a blaster injury in his leg. Katarn resolved the smuggler's operation shortly thereafter.

Katarn, working for the Alliance, achieved a lot. However, as a freelance mercenary, he was known for working on both sides, taking jobs for the Empire and later the Imperial Remnant. Katarn also gained notoriety as a troublemaker on the moon Nar Shaddaa.

Katarn continued to grieve his father's death and sought vengeance on the one responsible. One year after the Battle of Endor, Katarn was contacted by 8t88, an administrative droid working as an information broker. The droid arranged a meeting in Rimmer's Rest on Nar Shaddaa. Ors, concerned, tried to dissuade him, but Katarn, seemingly convinced, ignored her warnings and went alone to the Smuggler's Moon, eager to learn who had killed his father.

Upon arrival, Katarn waited for the droid in the cantina, watching a holorecording of his last farewell with his father before leaving for Carida. The nostalgia was broken by the droid's arrival. At gunpoint, 8t88 revealed that Jerec, the very person who congratulated him at graduation, a Dark Jedi with ambitions of restoring the Empire, had killed his father. The droid then admitted he was working for the Dark Jedi and had lured Katarn there to help them decode a holodisc salvaged from his home on Sulon. Katarn refused to cooperate, and 8t88 left the cantina with a Gran and another county hunter to eliminate him, unaware that Katarn had bugged him with a tracker droid. The Gran held past grudges against the mercenary. After his Bryar pistol was briefly confiscated, Katarn used telekinesis to retrieve it. Following a brief skirmish, he freed himself and pursued 8t88, following the tracker signal.

Dodging and battling various adversaries, he caught up with the droid as he was about to escape on his shuttle. From a distance, Katarn managed to shoot off the droid's arm as he waved the holodisk to taunt Katarn, causing it to fall into the abyss. Ors then arrived in the Crow, having followed his tracks. Katarn refused to be "rescued" and instructed her to wait for him above. Katarn climbed down into the city's depths to the platform tower's base and retrieved the holodisk. He fought his way back up before being ambushed by bounty hunters, and was rescued again by Ors. In the process, he was aided by a voice that guided him. However, he sustained a blaster wound and a concussion. Ors stabilized his wound, but during the three-day trip back to the Rebel fleet, Katarn vomited and lost consciousness. Ors brought him to the medical frigate Mercy.

Due to Katarn's status as an agent, he was entitled to high-priority treatment in the special Ward 114 reserved for Special Operations, but his questionable past resulted in a "borderline priority" listing. The doctor in charge also noted that he was not on assignment when injured. Despite this and the casualties arriving from Shackel, he decided against sending him to lower decks for less effective treatment and admitted him to the special Ward 114.

About twelve hours later, Ors visited him in Tank 23. Curious about the holodisk's importance and aware of their Rebel peers' distrust, she "borrowed" it, but not before discovering that Kyle secretly kept a 3-D snapshot of her in his wallet, and she whispered her love to him.

Indeed, as the doctor had said, Katarn was soon removed from the tank and placed in a medical bed. While unconscious, "everywhere, between wake and sleep... with the Force," he experienced a vision with the spirit of the Jedi Qu Rahn, a Jedi Purge survivor who had recently perished. He told him about Jerec, who murdered his father, and their connection to the Valley of the Jedi, a nexus of power where the spirits of many Jedi and Sith were trapped. Force-sensitives could draw great energies from it, and it must not fall into Jerec's hands. The figure revealed he had been watching over Kyle for a long time and that he was already in apprenticeship, but should return to his homestead and use the holodisk to learn the ways of the Jedi and reach the Valley. Kyle pretended to be asleep, carefully observing the ward, and saw Jan entering. Instead of approaching him, she stealthily opened his locker and did something with his clothes. Curious, he stood up to investigate and discovered she had returned the disk she had taken. Shortly after, Jan visited him as he was packing, informing him that the Crow would remain for repairs. When asked if he was going after Jerec, Kyle said he would visit his old home, as instructed in his vision. He asked Jan to meet him on Sulon once the Crow was available.

Katarn had to return home to continue the quest, and visited his homeworld, for the first time since leaving for the Academy. Following secret paths from his childhood, he reached their estate but didn't approach, noticing a group of people emptying some stones from his home and loading them into a shuttle. Katarn reactivated their family droid WeeGee and loaded the disk, revealing his father's message and a green-bladed lightsaber that belonged to Qu Rahn, setting him on the path to becoming a Jedi. He began a journey to find the Valley of the Jedi and protect it from a faction of Dark Jedi led by Jerec, who wanted the valley's energy for his own dark purposes. Katarn's father, thought to have died in the battle of Sulon, had actually died at Jerec's hands after refusing to reveal the Valley of the Jedi's location. However, Morgan had etched a map to the valley into the ceiling tiles in the Katarns' house, which Jerec later discovered. Katarn arrived after the map had been removed.

He infiltrated the Government House in the city of Barons Hed, and found the droid 8t88, who had created a digitized version of the map. Katarn was intercepted by Yun, one of Jerec's dark pupils. Katarn defeated Yun, but refused to kill a disarmed opponent, allowing him to leave. Katarn was then attacked and forced to flee without either version of the map. He tracked 8t88's shuttle to the Fuel City, a fuel station outside Baron's Hed, and stowed away aboard Jerec's freighter, the Sulon Star. While on board, Katarn encountered and defeated two more of Jerec's pupils, the symbiotic "twins" Gorc and Pic, who had recently destroyed 8t88 to eliminate witnesses to the Valley's location. After defeating Gorc and Pic, Katarn killed Grendel and took the droid's severed head, managing to escape the ship and be picked up by the Crow.

Kyle's difficult escape was followed by a pursuit by TIE fighters from the Fuel City. Kyle advised Jan to move toward the Nefra Canyons to evade the TIEs and exited to the ship's hatch. Using the Force, he precisely hit the pilot's viewport with his blaster, causing him to crash.

The team returned to the now-abandoned homestead, and with WeeGee's help, they recovered the digital map from 8t88's head. In celebration, he started dancing with Jan, leading to hugging, kissing, and confessions of love. They were joined by Luke Skywalker, who sought news about their quest for the Valley. Kyle then realized that Jan had known about his personal quest all along, had "borrowed" the holodisc, and was there to spy on him. Jan convinced him she had no other choice, given his secrecy. Luke welcomed him to the Jedi Knighthood, confirming that his training was complete and that he had heard Morgan's voice.

The squad left Sulon, heading for the New Hope, which was positioned above Milagro. As they transitioned from hyperspace within the system, they found themselves close to a crippled Imperial Star Destroyer and its escort, which was launching TIEs against the massive ship. Luke proposed engaging the Imperials to buy the Hope time for reinforcements to arrive. Jan disagreed, believing their survival would be measured in minutes. Kyle, serving as her co-pilot, urged her to trust Luke's Jedi instincts and suggested entering the Star Destroyer's defensive perimeter, where friendly fire would be a concern for the Imperials. This tactic proved effective when the Imperial Captain, Purdy M. Trico, enraged, ordered his forces to break formation to eliminate the two ships, thus compromising their defenses.

Kyle participated in the battle in the Milagro system as Jan's co-pilot, fighting alongside Skywalker, who used the Force to guide them through the incoming blaster fire. They were joined by three squadrons led by Han Solo in the Millennium Falcon, who exploited the gap in the Destroyer's defenses. When the Falcon was targeted by six enemy fighters, Kyle intervened, destroying one. The two exchanged quips, joking about the Alliance's reliance on cargo freighters in combat.

The battle concluded with a victory, and the Crow safely returned to the Hope. En route to Mon Mothma's quarters, Kyle noticed, with surprise, that the sentries didn't require him to relinquish his weapons, a first for him. Jan, sensing his thoughts, shared a knowing smile. Kyle was introduced to Leia Organa and Han Solo, to whom he detailed the history of Jerec and the Valley, as well as his own experiences, at Mon Mothma's request. Mon Mothma revealed to Solo that Jan and Kyle were instrumental in acquiring the Death Star plans, and she acknowledged that Jan, Luke, and Leia had persuaded her to trust Kyle in his mission. Solo empathized with him, as he was still viewed with suspicion by the Command. Kyle intended to journey to Ruusan with Jan to confront Jerec. Luke asserted that releasing the Jedi spirits would negate Jerec's power, dismissing Mothma's belief that a full battle group was necessary. Kyle affirmed that this mission was his destiny, regardless of her support.

Addressing the challenge of bypassing Jerec's blockade, Kyle seized upon Han's idea of concealing the Crow within a captured Imperial transport. Han and Jan added that the transport should carry ammunition, specifically sabotaged torpedoes. Kyle and Jan proceeded to Milagro and Military Correction Facility 63, where they interviewed prisoner Alfonso Luiz Obota. Impressed by his capabilities, they offered him a role in the mission.

As outlined in the mission plan, a Rebel force would impersonate the crew of the Imperial freighter High Hauler. Following a staged Rebel attack, they would retreat towards the Hoth's Brand system. Obota would pose as the acting Captain, while Kyle would be disguised as an Imperial Warrant Officer. Kyle informed Obota of their arrival and the scanner readings, later commending him on his performance. He alerted Obota to the arrival of the Imperial inspection team at the docking bay. The agents maintained their roles throughout the inspection, and when the Imperial Lieutenant began questioning the presence of the Crow in the Hauler's hangar, Kyle intervened to halt the discussion. In the ensuing hours, the Moldy Crow received clearance for routine supply runs, allowing Kyle and Jan to gather intelligence and familiarize themselves with the planet.

With the Hauler's mission fulfilled, the Moldy Crow ascended into Ruusan's atmosphere. They headed towards a settlement recently attacked by Imperial forces, hoping to uncover clues. En route, Kyle once again heard Rahn's voice, urging him to resist succumbing to hatred. Jan noticed his distraction, but Kyle kept the experience to himself. Kyle detected a familiar signal, a primitive binary code used by his father years ago, pointing to a specific location. Jan questioned the detour, but Kyle assured her that no Imperials were present. They flew over the ruins of the Fort, where Kyle sensed no life. Reaching the location indicated by the signal, Kyle assured Jan they were being watched, though he couldn't identify the observers. Kyle touched the ground and unearthed an ancient dagger blade, while Jan discovered a helmet, remnants of an ancient battlefield. The sound of a drone interrupted their thoughts, and Kyle prevented Jan from drawing her blaster. The flyer examined them before signaling them to proceed west. They resumed their journey in the Crow, following the flyer until they reached an ancient temple, the settlers' refuge.

There, Kyle was reunited with Grif Grawley, a Sulonese man who had known him in his youth. Grif had followed Kyle's father to this colony to escape the Empire. He led them to the temple, and, aware of Kyle's Imperial background, he questioned him and demanded they surrender their weapons. Kyle advised Jan to comply. They retreated to the temple and exchanged information about the colonization, the Imperial attack, and their escape into the wastelands. Kyle recounted his father's murder and his defection to the Alliance. Luther Pardy, who held Kyle's weapons, remained skeptical of Kyle's honesty and accused him of being an Imperial spy, dismissing his claims about the Jedi. In response, Kyle used the Force to retrieve his lightsaber from Luther's belt and ignited it, convincing Grif and others of his claims.

That night, Grif led Kyle and a team of colonists to meet the native species, the Bouncers, who, Grif had learned, had met Morgan and recognized him as a "knight." Kyle was amazed, speculating that his father might have chosen not to become a Jedi Knight despite his potential. As they encountered a group of Bouncers, Kyle sensed another presence: an Imperial patrol arrived, attacking the indigenous creatures without provocation. Jan moved to warn them, but it was too late. Kyle saw Jan arming herself with a blaster rifle to defend the defenseless natives. He attempted to dissuade her, pointing out that it was not part of their mission and their presence would be exposed to the Imperials. Kyle told Grif that this was an opportunity for retribution, but they should ensure no one escaped alive. After Jan disabled a speeder bike, the Imperials stopped to investigate. A skimmer circled them, firing and causing rocks to dismember and kill a Rebel near Kyle. Grif, Kyle, and most of the group moved towards the squad of Stormtroopers, ambushing them from behind. Kyle swiftly dispatched them with his lightsaber, including their leader.

They spent the remainder of the night burying the dead in carefully prepared graves and gathering any equipment and scrap from the battle that could potentially reveal their involvement in the patrol's disappearance, a task Kyle found tedious in the dark. Weapons and equipment were loaded onto the skimmer. At sunrise, Kyle insisted on searching for more, but Grawley argued that the area was too vast and they needed to leave before dawn.

One of the Bouncers, whom Grawley called Floater, agreed to guide Katarn to the Valley. Kyle thanked their leader, advised him to hide, and exchanged condolences for their losses. The Jedi asked the Bouncer leader if he knew if they would succeed in stopping Jerec, but the Bouncer could not be reassuring and just replied by writing down a line from the same poem they had told to his father: Kyle or someone else, sooner or later, would come to fight a battle and free the spirits trapped in the Valley. The pair departed, but Kyle delayed their journey to the Valley, deciding to return to the Temple. Jan questioned his decision, and Kyle could only explain that the time was not right, that they should wait at the Temple because something was about to change.

It was the first time in a while that the couple had time to sleep, but in the afternoon Grif warned him that a patrol was approaching. Kyle marveled at Jan's sleeping posture but had to wake her up and showed some lust as she put on her pants. Grif had prepared the captured skimmer to lead the patrol away from their base, allowing them to observe them. Kyle refused to take Floater with them, deeming it too dangerous. After some time, the skimmer brought them to a mesa. It took them half an hour to reach the top, and Kyle envied the older man for keeping his breath while Kyle's was out. From the mesa's summit, they observed the Imperials through electrobinoculars as they approached the rocky area where the skirmish had occurred and where they had buried the bodies, fearing their presence would be discovered. Kyle realized that a Dark Jedi was among them. It was Yun, who had also sensed their presence, and Kyle's, from the distance, but it was when he had a change of heart and decided to repay his debt. Jan wondered why the Jedi, knowing they are there, hadn't summoned their forces to destroy them. Kyle could not explain but ensured her that they would be safe for the remainder of the night and should proceed with their mission.

That night, the team flew into a canyon, as close to Valley as possible. Kyle left WeeGee in the Crow and with the help of night goggles, they followed Floater's guidance among the mazelike canyons. They had to rappel down or ascend vertical cliffs and slopes in order to cover the five-kilometer distance without being spotted by Jerec's forces. Not far from their destination, Kyle was climbing a rope below Grif, who reached a flat shelf and was spotted by attack droid AD-43. Kyle could only watch as the older man jumped on the droid wrestling with his strength. The droid hovered around as a wounded Grif attempted to damage it with his hunting knife, until its guidance system threw them to a rocky wall, and they fell together into the canyon. Grif's death was felt by Kyle through the Force.

Besides the sad event, the two considered that the droid might had alerted the Imperials, forcing them either to go back, or proceed before they could reinforce their perimeter. They decided to follow Floater who continued high above them, and they managed to remain unseen by shuttles and speeder bike patrols that passed nearby. Floater led them to an ancient, enclosed aqueduct which followed the land contour, and led directly to the Valley. Before entering, Kyle gave to Floater an approving pat. Equipped with glow rods, they followed Floater and emerged crawling to the other side. Near the Valley now, Kyle could feel years of waiting in pain like thousands of tortured voices. Floater reminded that the last part of the prophecy remained: a battle to be fought. The view of the Imperial garrison built by Jerec around the Valley was a sight much worse than Kyle had anticipated. With their electrobinoculars, they spotted Jerec standing on a platform of the tall central tower with a woman, Sariss. He then decided to make his way to the tower, insisting that Jan should remain behind and not leave Floater alone.

By dawn Kyle made it to the bottom by descending a three-sided chimney, and once on the ground he hid behind rocks. The area until the base of the tower was open and he had to wait for an hour until an opportunity showed up. All this time he had a sense of uneasiness, but when he tried to reach out the Force, he found no danger; he didn't know that they had been observed and Jan was Jerec's target. Then a tractor passed in front of him, followed by a train of fifteen cars. Using the raising cloud of dust, and high noise as a cover, he darted towards the tractor and hid into a coupler; at the right moment, he dashed out and sprinted towards one of the tower's footings. The agent marched to the turbolift at the inner core, while the sentries had their backs towards him. He decided to assume the role of an Imperial so as not to attract any attention, until the watch command questioned him; the Jedi, with the lightsaber in view, gave an aura of authority and mentioned Jerec's name, making the guard to apologize and leave. A brace of Commandos emerged from the lift, and Kyle understood that they mistook him for a Dark Jedi; courtesy of the lightsaber tucked under his arm. Kyle took a frowning strict expression, until they left and rode the lift up.

As he prepared to confront Jerec, Rahn's voice once again filled his mind, allaying his anxieties. Rahn assured him that he and the Force were with him, and that his lack of overconfidence was a strength. He advised against succumbing to hatred and urged him to invoke Rahn's name against the "half-man" who awaited him. The turbolift soon came to a halt. A messenger droid entered, and Kyle exited onto an empty platform, wondering about the "half-man." His Force sense, which had been absent, returned, and he saw the captured Moldy Crow on a nearby landing deck. His thoughts were interrupted when he was pushed downwards. Igniting his lightsaber, he saw Maw, a Dark Jedi whom Rahn had bisected. Maw's torso was alive, sustained by the Force. Maw's eyes burned with hatred, intensifying when Kyle spoke Rahn's name. Maw charged with great speed, and they exchanged blows, but Kyle fell back down. Injured Maw severely with his lightsaber as he passed above; Maw dropped his lightsaber and fell onto the walkway. Kyle approached him and Maw taunted Katarn to kill him unarmed, lying how his father whimpered on his knees when he was killed; and that it was he who had placed Morgan's head on a pike for all to see. The thought that killing a murdering brute would bring justice passed from Kyle's mind, who, without even realizing it, acquiesced to his anger and cut Maw's torso in two. He was shocked by his actions, feeling dark energy swirling around him.

At that moment, he realized it was a setup. Jerec emerged from the turbolift, leading Sariss and Boc, with a captured and bound Jan Ors. He congratulated Katarn on taking his first step towards the Dark Side, offering him a place at his side if he struck down Ors. Katarn felt the temptation of ambition, hesitating before feeling disgusted with himself. He refused, remaining true to his father. Disappointed but unsurprised, Jerec blasted Katarn with dark energy, damaging the outpost and trapping Katarn inside the Sulon Star. Katarn navigated through the collapsing vessel, trying to reach the airlock where his ship, the Moldy Crow, was docked.

Activating the emergency start-up, he released the ship without following safety protocols. The Crow escaped the falling ship but failed to gain altitude, and one of its wings collided with a rock spire. Upon impact with the planet's surface, Katarn, unstrapped, hit the console and lost consciousness. He once again joined the Force and saw a vision of Rahn, who showed him how "that which was" became "that which is." In his dream, Kyle bonded with the ancient Jedi Master Tal of the Army of Light. He also witnessed the actions of Dark Jedi LaTor, a member of the Brotherhood of Darkness who created the thought bomb with Kaan, and the massacre that occurred at that very place a millennium ago, killing everyone involved.

Meanwhile, Jerec dispatched the three remaining Dark Jedi to find and kill him. They discovered the unconscious pilot in the wreckage of the Crow and dragged him out. Kyle awoke at night, writhing in pain. Boc Aseca, the Twi'lek Dark Jedi, sadistically taunted him, brandishing Rahn's lightsaber hilt. Seeing the Dark Jedi raising a rock above it, Kyle tried in vain to rise and stop him from destroying the lightsaber, leaving him defenseless. Sariss prepared to execute Katarn, sending the Twi'lek to report to Jerec. However, Yun, feeling sympathy for Katarn, who had spared his life, and guilt for his past actions, blocked her blow with his yellow-bladed lightsaber. Sariss' blade was deflected, mortally wounding Yun. As Katarn regained his strength, he heard Yun's final words, possibly redeeming himself, stating that as a Jedi, Kyle deserved a battle.

Katarn picked up Yun's lightsaber and called upon Tal's wisdom. With his help, he resisted a mental attack and retaliated. The two dueled, surprising Sariss with his knowledge and skill. When Sariss began to wear him down, wounding his face, Kyle knew it had to end quickly. As Sariss lunged, he parried. Blade-to-blade, Kyle used Tal's Flowing Water Cut. As Sariss withdrew, he "expanded" with his mind and body, and the saber pierced Sariss' chest.

Katarn defeated Sariss as the sun rose, casting a shadow from a stone pinnacle that pointed towards the Valley below. Kyle knew that was his destination. He saluted the dead Yun and rushed there. He used Mind trick to bypass sentries and a patrol, then followed the stairs down. At the chamber floor, he was drawn to a glint. Approaching, he saw it was his father's multitool, which Kyle had given him years earlier with a dedication. The memory of his father, and the knowledge that he had come so far, gave him strength.

An arch marked the entrance to the Valley of the Jedi, which Kyle explored. He saw effigies of Lord Hoth and Tal. He climbed a tall tomb, spotting Jan tied to a column from the elevated position.

He rescued Ors. Disguising himself as one of the statues in the Valley, Boc revealed himself and attacked Katarn. Boc wielded two lightsabers, against which the self-taught Jedi Knight struggled, relying on his fencing skills and Tal's knowledge. Boc's flurry of sabers immobilized Kyle, until Rahn reminded him that his mind was also a weapon. Ors supported Kyle by throwing rocks at Boc, distracting the Twi'lek and giving Kyle time to concentrate. Succumbing to the dark side of the Force, Katarn struck Boc with an ancient dark side technique known as spear of midnight black. Immediately, Katarn feared he was lost to the darkness, trying to recall how many steps it took to fall to the dark path forever. It was then that Katarn realized he was truly a Jedi; it doesn't matter how far down you follow the dark path once you have returned from it.

Having defeated Boc, Katarn had eliminated all of Jerec's Dark Jedi. Katarn then descended into the Valley Core to confront the Dark Master himself. They dueled, and although the Dark Jedi Jerec had already begun drawing power from the Valley of the Jedi and used its power to heal himself, Katarn was able to defeat him with a light-side technique that disrupted Jerec's connection to the Force. Disarmed, Jerec tried to turn Katarn to the dark side by reminding him of his father's murder, urging Katarn to strike him down and claim the Valley's dark power for himself. Katarn, not wishing to feed his hatred, showed Jerec mercy and tossed the Dark Jedi his saber. Jerec would not accept Katarn's mercy and once again attacked him. Katarn's counterstrike killed Jerec, and he fulfilled the prophecy by freeing the souls of the countless Jedi trapped by Lord Skere Kaan for over a thousand years. Afterwards, Katarn carved statues of Rahn and his father, and thanked the spirit of his father.

Katarn continued working with Ors for the New Republic, cooperating with Bey, Dash Rendar and Guri on an insertion mission to the Tof fortress world Saijo, and nearly razing Kwenn Space Station while apprehending the Ketton spy Derrida with the help of a pint-sized lagomorph. Katarn took a more permanent role with the New Republic and served with Lieutenant Judder Page's Katarn Commandos, executing missions on various worlds like Kashyyyk, Boudolayz and Garos IV.

Luke Skywalker offered to train Katarn further, but Katarn declined, still holding a great fear of the dark side.

During the height of the Imperial Civil War, a Palpatine clone orchestrated the capture of Mara Jade, a former Imperial assassin. Having abandoned the Empire and severed ties with the Emperor's telepathic commands after assassinating a clone of Luke Skywalker in 9 ABY, Jade was intercepted on a mission to Senex sector. Lord Cronal imprisoned her, but New Republic forces under Kyle Katarn's command eventually rescued her. Mara later sought out Katarn and convinced him to train her in the ways of the Force. They formed a rare reciprocal apprenticeship, a facet of the Concordance of Fealty rarely practiced since the Cleansing of the Nine Houses. During this period, the pair moved to Altyr V to support a New Republic base. While sabotaging an Imperial assault, Katarn discovered a lead to the Sith ruins on Dromund Kaas, a long dead world. Katarn investigated the ruins but came under the influence of the dark side of the Force. His former pupil Mara Jade went to him and dueled him. Seeing that combat was futile, she lowered her guard and opened herself to Katarn's killing blow. Just as Katarn's blade was about to touch Jade's neck, he stopped in remorse for his actions, turning back to the light side, for the time.

Upon establishing the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4, Skywalker extended a second invitation to Katarn for training, which Katarn accepted, now sure it would aid him in controlling his dark side tendencies. During this period, he stored away Yun's lightsaber and constructed his personal blue lightsaber as a component of his training. Having once again achieved the rank of Jedi Knight, Katarn formed a bond with fellow Jedi trainee Corran Horn; however, the fall of two Academy students to the dark side heightened Katarn's anxieties about succumbing himself. Relinquishing his connection to the Force, Katarn entrusted his lightsaber to Skywalker and resumed his mercenary lifestyle alongside Jan Ors, undertaking clandestine missions for the New Republic.

Over the subsequent year, NRI investigators took note of Katarn's excessive zeal in eliminating Imperial Remnant soldiers on several occasions. He was dispatched on a mission to Tatooine with the purpose of disrupting Imperial recruitment efforts, where he discovered their pursuit of Force-sensitive individuals. Despite the mission's intended focus on intelligence gathering, he resorted to his impulsive tactics and launched a raid on the Imperial headquarters. During the encounter, an Imperial, presumed to be the leader, mentioned "reborn" before being killed. In his report to Mon Mothma, Katarn acknowledged that the opposing forces were stronger than anticipated and requested a corresponding increase in his compensation, while also minimizing the extent of Imperial casualties. He further expressed his desire for this to be his last mission involving the Force.

He left a single Imperial alive for interrogation, but the survivor was so traumatized that he could barely provide any useful information. The only thing the interrogation team could extract from him was that his orders had originated from Kejim.

Acting on this intelligence, Katarn was directed to the planet Kejim. En route, the New Republic intercepted fragments of Remnant communications, which were then relayed to Katarn and Ors, reinforcing the Republic's suspicions of illicit activities. Initially, Katarn hesitated to proceed, as the transmission referenced the Valley of the Jedi. Indeed, a Remnant base was discovered on the planet, and a thorough examination led to the discovery of unusual crystals that, upon analysis, closely resembled those utilized in Jedi lightsabers. Their mission could have ended there, since Katarn was unwilling to engage with anything related to the Force, but Ors accepted the assignment on his behalf, enticed by Mon Mothma's offer of double their usual payment.

It was soon uncovered that the Empire Reborn movement, led by Admiral Galak Fyyar, was utilizing the planet to conduct experiments involving these crystals and the Force, specifically with the intention of imbuing non-Force-sensitives with Force abilities. Although Katarn successfully infiltrated and dismantled the outpost, Ors was subsequently captured and seemingly killed by the Dark Jedi Desann and his apprentice Tavion Axmis on the planet Artus Prime.

Fueled by rage over his partner's "demise," Katarn reclaimed his Force powers by harnessing the energy of the Valley of the Jedi, once again flirting with the dark side. He journeyed to the Jedi Academy to retrieve his blue lightsaber, which he had entrusted to Skywalker, and learned that Desann had been a former student of Skywalker's. Katarn was compelled to collaborate with his former Master, and together, he and Skywalker embarked on a quest across the galaxy to bring Desann to justice.

While Skywalker secretly ventured to the Valley of the Jedi in pursuit of Desann, Katarn traced Desann's shuttle to Reelo Baruk on Nar Shaddaa, where he encountered Lando Calrissian, who aided Katarn in escaping Nar Shaddaa and eliminating Baruk in the process. Nevertheless, Katarn was haunted by the memory of Desann's command to Axmis to "murder" Ors and her resulting screams, which only intensified his desire for retribution. He ultimately seized the opportunity for vengeance on Bespin, where he confronted Desann's apprentice, Tavion. She informed Katarn of his mistake in revealing the location of the Valley to her and her master, and was defeated by Katarn in lightsaber combat. Katarn employed the Force grip to suspend Axmis over a Cloud City platform, demanding answers. She confessed to everything, revealing that Ors was still alive. Katarn spared Axmis's life and cast her aside. Axmis fled, only to plot her revenge on Katarn for showing her mercy.

Subsequently, Kyle boarded a hauler bound for the Cairn Installation, where the Doomgiver, the vessel holding Ors captive, was docked. Katarn encountered Skywalker once more and learned the significance of the crystals he had discovered on Kejim, as well as the presence of Desann's troops in the Valley of the Jedi. Katarn infiltrated the Doomgiver as it entered hyperspace and successfully located and freed Ors. Ors informed Katarn of Desann's fascination with the Academy on Yavin IV. Katarn deduced the Doomgiver's destination and, with Ors's assistance, managed to disable the Doomgiver's shield generator, enabling Rogue Squadron to destroy the ship. Simultaneously, Katarn prevented the deranged scientist, Galak Fyyar, from ascending to the throne as "Emperor Galak Fyyar the first."

As the Doomgiver exploded, Katarn and Ors escaped to Yavin IV. After parting ways, sealed with a kiss, to aid the Jedi Academy, Katarn battled through the jungles of Yavin IV against the legions of new Shadowtroopers and Reborn. Katarn eventually reached the Academy itself, arriving just in time to repel an invading force of stormtroopers. He descended deeper into the academy, valiantly fighting off numerous Reborn and Shadowtroopers, while rescuing many Jedi in the process. Katarn proceeded into the depths of the ruins, where he confronted Desann. Both Desann and Katarn attempted to sway the other to their side, but Desann soon attacked Katarn out of frustration. Katarn defeated the Dark Jedi, thwarting his plans for domination. Skywalker expressed his gratitude to Katarn for his assistance and offered him a position at the Academy. Katarn declined, at least for the time being. Katarn eventually joined the Academy after he and Ors spent time together on the beaches of Spira.

Not long after, the Academy was targeted by a Nightsister and her band of outlaws, who sought ancient Sith artifacts held by the Academy. Despite the Nightsisters exploiting the Academy's vulnerable state, Katarn and a group of others managed to repel them and prevent them from acquiring the artifacts.

At a later time, Katarn and Ors were dispatched to investigate Remnant activity on Alzoc III. Katarn infiltrated the base by concealing himself in a shipping crate and proceeded with his mission. Meanwhile, Ors was discovered by a squad of stormtroopers in one of the hangars and taken hostage at blasterpoint. Katarn managed to rescue her, but only after eliminating two Reborn, who had survived Desann's defeat. Together, Katarn and Ors escaped aboard the Raven's Claw.

With the triumph over Desann's Dark Jedi, Katarn regained his self-assurance and returned to Skywalker, where he was elevated to the rank of Jedi Master and continued to practice the ways of the Force as an instructor at Skywalker's Academy.

Katarn accepted two students, Jaden Korr and Rosh Penin, to train them in the ways of the Jedi. Both students possessed talent and progressed rapidly under Katarn's guidance. When a new menace, a Dark Jedi cult known as the Disciples of Ragnos, began to threaten the galaxy, Katarn and his apprentices investigated numerous worlds in pursuit of the Disciples. Their investigations spanned the galaxy, from Deep Core worlds such as Byss to Outer Rim Territory worlds such as Vjun. Katarn submitted numerous datacard reports to the Jedi on their success, including Tauntaun Feathers A1 from Hoth.

The Jedi Order discovered that the leader of the Cult was none other than Tavion Axmis, Desann's former apprentice. Katarn's investigations revealed that she had acquired the Scepter of Ragnos from Commenor and intended to use it to resurrect the ancient Sith Lord Marka Ragnos. While Katarn was away, his apprentice, Penin, was abducted and eventually succumbed to the dark side, joining the Disciples of Ragnos.

Katarn's other student, Jaden, joined forces with Katarn to investigate the planet of Vjun, the location of Darth Vader's castle. There, the two were forced to separate when Katarn's perch collapsed beneath him, causing him to fall several floors. Korr, reaching the top of the building alone, confronted the fallen Penin. Korr implored his former friend to return to the light side, but was unsuccessful. After defeating the Reborn Twins, Vil and Dasariah Kothos, Korr overcame Penin and approached him. Katarn then rejoined him at the top of the tower. Suddenly, Tavion Axmis emerged from behind a pillar and revealed her role as the leader of the cult. Subduing Korr and Katarn with Force lightning, she remarked that Katarn should have killed her when he had the chance. Using the Force to seize Jaden's lightsaber from his grasp, she used it to bring down the roof and escaped with Penin. Korr's actions on Vjun and Katarn's recommendation led to Skywalker promoting Jaden Kor to Jedi Knight.

Katarn later received a transmission from Penin pleading for assistance. Drawing upon his own experience of redemption at the hands of Mara Jade, Katarn was determined to answer the call. Requesting Korr to accompany him, the pair set out once more, this time to Taspir III. Once again separated, Korr proceeded ahead and confronted Penin. Encouraged by Alora, he contemplated killing Penin as retribution. In the facilities below, Katarn sensed his precarious situation and telepathically urged Jaden to spare Penin's life. Following his master's wishes, Jaden spared Penin's life and fought Alora, who severed Penin's left arm. Jaden killed Alora just as Katarn arrived. Katarn ordered Jaden to aid the Jedi on Korriban, as he rushed Penin off to a medical facility.

Katarn went on to become the Academy's foremost Jedi Battlemaster, training numerous other Knights, and participating in the Third Battle of Yavin where he stopped and killed a rampaging former Emperor's Hand by the name of Jeng Droga.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Katarn contributed to the development of strategies against the invaders and liberated the Human captives of the Imperial Remnant world Ord Sedra, collaborating with Lieutenant Pallin and his stormtroopers. Following their victory against the Vong, Kyle entrusted the imperials with guarding the invaders in a small security building. Katarn also proposed marriage to Jan Ors after their mission, but she declined his proposal, citing her reluctance to marry due to the uncertain nature of their lives. The Vong eventually escaped from their captivity after being left unguarded, prompting Katarn and Ors to take action upon hearing the news. After Jan was attacked by a Yuuzhan Vong warlord, Kyle fought the Vong and killed him with a bomb while his lover saved herself with his lightsaber.

Towards the end of the war, the living planet Zonama Sekot agreed to assist the Galactic Alliance, and Katarn was among the Jedi Knights bonded to seed-partners and provided with Sekotan starships for the final battle.

After the conclusion of the invasion, Katarn heard a rumor that the Sith still existed. Drawing upon his personal experience on Dromund Kaas, Katarn investigated, following leads from Ord Sedra in the Clacis sector first to Yaga Minor, and then halfway across the galaxy to the Cloak of the Sith, near Roon. Katarn disappeared there, his fate mirroring that of Daye Azur-Jamin, who had been missing since early in the Yuuzhan Vong war.

It was discovered that Katarn had indeed been abducted by Azur-Jamin, who had since turned to the dark side, and Kyle succumbed once more. Mara Jade Skywalker, Jaden Korr, and a team of Alpha Blue specialists led by Jan Ors tracked Katarn to Roon and rescued him from Azur-Jamin. Azur-Jamin was eventually redeemed, revealing the presence of a Force-sensitive Yuuzhan Vong. Katarn returned safely and assumed an active role in Jedi affairs, being appointed to the Masters' council.

Five years after the war with the Yuuzhan Vong, Katarn had become a highly regarded Master who was not afraid to express his opinions. During the Dark Nest Crisis, alongside Han, Leia, and Kyp Durron, Katarn traveled to the moon of Kr, where the Killik Dark Nest Gorog resided, to coordinate the conflict. Katarn participated in the fighting on the ground while the Solos assisted Luke and Mara Skywalker. As the Killik crisis continued to escalate, Katarn later led a Stealth-X squadron of Jedi Knights against the Dark Nest.

At some point during his service to the New Jedi Order, he authored the Spy Primer, a guide for espionage agents. Jae Juun and Tarfang were known to have studied it as part of their training.

Four years after the Killik crisis, Katarn remained on the council. As tensions grew between Corellia and the Galactic Alliance, Luke Skywalker's nephew Jacen Solo, under the influence of the dark side, began interning, torturing, and executing Corellians in his new role as a colonel in the Galactic Alliance Guard. Katarn, along with fellow Council-member Cilghal, voiced his concerns to Skywalker that Solo was a dangerous influence in his new position. As the conflict progressed, eventually evolving into the Second Galactic Civil War, Katarn also suggested that Leia Organa Solo be exiled due to her actions, which appeared to contradict the wishes of the government he continued to serve. However, Katarn was merely acting as a voice of moderation and came to realize that the Jedi sometimes had to operate independently of the government.

Katarn's fears regarding Solo were justified as the wayward Jedi Knight amassed a network of allies and political power. Eventually, Solo amended the laws governing the Galactic Alliance and deposed Chief of State Cal Omas in a coup d'etat. Following the mysterious death of Mara Jade Skywalker, his former apprentice, Katarn attended the funeral of his close friend. When Solo, who was, unbeknownst to Katarn, now Darth Caedus, arrived at the funeral, Katarn, along with Kyp Durron and Kenth Hamner, informed the co-Chief of State that he was not welcome to stand with the Jedi Masters and that his place was either with the Knights or the visiting dignitaries; however, a grieving Grand Master Skywalker overruled them. Yet Solo now moved against the Jedi and the ideals of the Galactic Alliance Katarn served; the Galactic Alliance Guard held the students hostage at the Jedi Academy on Ossus. During the Battle of Kuat, Skywalker confronted Jacen over his actions before withdrawing the Jedi Order from the Galactic Alliance. In retaliation, the Galactic Alliance Guard soldiers on Ossus killed several Jedi Knights, mutilating Tionne Solusar and leaving her husband Kam for dead.

Katarn joined the other Jedi Masters on Endor, where they deliberated on their next course of action against Jacen. Although Master Durron was in charge of the formulated mission to capture or kill, Skywalker selected Katarn as the team leader and assigned him a secondary objective that only he was privy to: a tracking device was to be affixed to Solo during their engagement with the powerful fallen Jedi and secret Dark Lord of the Sith. The team accompanying Katarn included three Jedi Knights: Corran Horn's son Valin, the Falleen Thann Mithric, and the Bothan Kolir Hu'lya, as well as the young Seha Dorvald, a former spy of Colonel Solo's. Katarn and his team infiltrated Coruscant's undercity and eventually confronted Solo outside the Senate Building.

Solo proved to be a formidable adversary, even for Katarn's skills, and the Jedi Master had to protect the weaker members of the team as he dueled the former Jedi Knight and now young Sith Lord. As Caedus asserted, Katarn was unaware of the true nature of his opponent, and the Sith's brutality during the duel left the Jedi Master struggling to gain the upper hand, though the mission itself was merely a diversion to attach the tracking device to Solo. Forced to defend Hu'lya from Solo's attacks, Katarn sent his lightsaber spinning at Jacen, only to have it deflected and return to his hand. When his opponent gestured towards him, Katarn braced himself for a telekinetic battle, but he was caught off-guard by Solo's tactic: the Sith Lord seized a passing GAG speeder with the Force and hurled it into the Jedi Master's back. Katarn was propelled forward and impaled on Solo's blade. The Sith Lord withdrew his lightsaber and turned to finish off the rest of the team, unaware that the tracking device had been attached to his cloak by Dorvald and that Katarn was still alive. Although a grief-stricken Mithric was slain by Solo, Horn and Dorvald dragged Katarn to safety while Hu'lya made her escape. Unfortunately for the severely wounded Master, Solo's blade had punctured his lung, and Katarn's weakened immune system was unable to resist the infectious plague that the Commenori, opposed to the Galactic Alliance, had unleashed on Coruscant. However, against all odds, Kyle Katarn survived both the serious wound and the diseases he picked up in the undercity sewers. On his return to Endor he was healed by Cilghal, with yet another successful mission to his name. Katarn later regained enough of his strength to accompany the Jedi on their mission to the Corellian system, where they rescued the abducted Hapan Chume'da Allana from Caedus' clutches.

During the final battle with Darth Caedus and his forces in the Mist, Master Katarn was one of the many Jedi who took part in the assault. He, along with Sebatyne, Horn, Kyp, and Grand Master Skywalker, helped subdue the remaining Moffs after the death of Caedus.

In the year 43.5 ABY, Katarn lent his assistance to Jaina Solo in her mission to apprehend the renegade Valin Horn, who had succumbed to a puzzling psychosis. The Grand Master ultimately subdued Horn, who was also being pursued by Master Skywalker, his son Ben, Han and Leia Solo, media outlets, and bounty hunters.

Katarn stood by as witness during the Grand Master and his son's farewell when Master Skywalker faced exile. Later, with Valin Horn now in the custody of the Galactic Alliance, Katarn voiced his concerns to Jaina Solo alongside two fellow Jedi Knights.

Katarn exhibited worry for Jysella Horn, the daughter of his comrade Corran Horn, after her descent into madness during a Council session. Upon the revelation of Jaina Solo and the Darkmeld team's actions, Katarn expressed satisfaction that Seff Hellin was now under the care of the Jedi Order, yet he also conveyed his unease regarding the lack of communication from Cilghal, Tekli, and Jaina Solo to himself and the High Council.

At a later time, Kyle Katarn used the phrase "Grand Master" when talking about Kenth Hamner. However, this was done sarcastically, referencing the recent issues surrounding the increasing number of Jedi Knights experiencing mental instability, as Han Solo observed. He adamantly supported Tahiri Veila during her trial, a sentiment shared by Masters Sebatyne and Cilghal.

Katarn proceeded to share his thoughts on Natasi Daala's threat of a Mandalorian siege against the Jedi. When the siege, led by Belok Rhal, commenced, Katarn highlighted that the Mandalorians had sealed off every entrance and exit, both known and hidden, to the Temple. His concern extended to the citizens of Coruscant, fearing potential harm should they attempt to protest the siege. Hamner concurred but struggled to devise a solution without buying time. Apprentice Kani Asari volunteered to negotiate with Rhal. Following Rhal's public murder of Kani, Katarn, Saba Sebatyne, Corran, and Durron collectively prevented Hamner from retrieving the body, deeming it unsafe for him to be exposed to the unstable Mandalorian in charge of the siege.

Shortly thereafter, Master Katarn stood among the Masters as Han Solo demonstrated to Chief of State Daala that the afflicted Jedi had recovered, leading her to order the lifting of the Jedi Temple siege. Nevertheless, she refused to return Valin and Jysella Horn to the Jedi's care.

Later, during a Council meeting, tensions flared due to Daala's refusal to release the Horn Jedi and Kenth Hamner's perceived lack of leadership. Octa Ramis insisted on military intervention to free the Horns, even if force was necessary. Hamner refused this course of action. Katarn then argued that unless they were willing to endure such treatment from Daala, they would be compelled to resort to military action. The heated discussion was interrupted by Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo, who presented the masters with the revolution unfolding on Blaudu Sextus. The revelation that Mandalorians were suppressing the revolt ignited Saba Sebatyne's fury, prompting her to demand Jedi intervention. As the Masters lacked knowledge of the Sextus situation, Katarn inquired about the relationship between the Octusi, responsible for the revolt, and their owners. Finding the situation less clear-cut, Katarn's focus shifted to uncovering the instigator of the revolt, even suspecting the Council's newest member, Barratk'l. However, this suspicion was quickly dismissed when she vehemently denied involvement, supported by Hamner. The meeting continued, with the Jedi seeking Saba's recommendation for Jedi to address the Sextus situation. Katarn's suggestion of Tesar Sebatyne and another Barabel Jedi provoked Saba's anger, as she refused to disclose their whereabouts, insisting they had not engaged in any actions that would tarnish the Jedi's reputation. The meeting concluded abruptly when the masters stormed out, revealing Kenth's decision to prevent the launch of the StealthX squadron.

When the Masters gathered to welcome back the Jedi who had been transported to the Transitory Mists, the events on Sextus were fueling slave uprisings throughout the galaxy, which most Masters, including Katarn, interpreted as the will of the Force. Kenth's refusal to allocate more Jedi to aid the burgeoning revolts led Han Solo to demand that Kenth reveal his agreement with Nek Bwua'tu. Under pressure from Katarn, Kenth disclosed Bwua'tu's promise of non-aggression against the Jedi in exchange for refraining from launching their Stealth X's from the Temple. This revelation enraged the Council, prompting Saba to call for a vote of No Confidence in the temporary Grand Master, with Katarn among those demanding his resignation.

During the preparations for the launch, he was slated to command a StealthX squadron, alongside Kyp Durron, Octa Ramis, and Barratk'l, to assist Luke and Ben Skywalker against the Lost Tribe of Sith's war fleet. When Kenth Hamner intercepted them and forbade their departure, Saba Sebatyne instructed them to proceed to their launch stations. Kyle attempted to reason with his longtime friend Hamner, arguing that he should not bear the Order's burden alone, which was the purpose of the Council. Hamner's refusal to listen led to a violent duel in which Sebatyne killed Hamner and reluctantly assumed his position as Grand Master until Skywalker's return. Katarn and the others were then able to depart, participating in the rescue of the Skywalkers above Almania's moon Pydyr.

Subsequently, Master Katarn led a StealthX squadron against the Sith Armada in an ambush orchestrated by Grand Master Luke Skywalker during Operation Shieldfall. The battle's conclusion resulted in the Sith Forces retreating with Abeloth and Ship. Lacking any knowledge of Abeloth and her forces' retreat destination, Master Katarn was among those tasked with searching the galaxy for potential hiding places. Upon finding nothing, Katarn returned to Coruscant to both welcome back the returning Grand Master Skywalker and engage in further strategizing against the Lost Tribe.

When the Jedi permanently departed Coruscant, Master Katarn was among those present on Upekzar to confront Abeloth. This proved to be a trap, resulting in the deaths of numerous Jedi due to an explosion of dark energy, which also triggered a volcanic eruption. Most of the Jedi managed to escape.

Master Katarn's role, if any, during the Jedi's assault on the Lost Tribe on Coruscant remains unknown. He was present in Senator Wuul's office during the Council meeting to discuss further military action against the Lost Tribe and their new master, Abeloth. He voiced concerns about Abeloth's origins and was the sole Master to take Wynn Dorvan seriously when he claimed to have killed Abeloth. After Tekli and Lowbacca informed the Council about Abeloth's origins, Katarn proposed several theories regarding her ultimate goals and Ben Skywalker's role in those plans. The Council meeting concluded shortly after the discovery of Ben's capture by Abeloth and his escape from Coruscant.

Following Abeloth's demise, Katarn was among the masters present to greet Luke upon his awakening from his coma. When Luke shared his plan to relocate the Jedi away from Coruscant entirely, Katarn was among the first to endorse Luke's vision.

Katarn often projected an air of self-assurance, complemented by a cynical and wry sense of humor. However, he frequently grappled with self-doubt and meticulously deliberated over every decision. While he valued independence and free thought, his foremost concern consistently revolved around the safety and well-being of those he held dear. A persistent element in his character was fear—fear of death and fear of making the wrong choice. Considering himself unlucky, he had little interest in games.

Later in life, Kyle would confess that the idea of being a Stormtrooper, wielding power and inspiring fear in the populace, held a certain appeal. Katarn's combination of traits made him a promising cadet leader during his time at the Imperial academy. Sergeant Major Hong particularly valued the young cadet's abilities, admiring Katarn's logical approach to assignments and his humility in seeking advice from his superior officer.

During his Omega Exercise, Katarn demonstrated a greater capacity for empathy than most Imperials. He found himself unable to order the execution of captured Rebels, opting instead to release them. Katarn subsequently employed his cynical humor, reason, and concern for others to motivate his team when the mission encountered difficulties, enabling them to unite and complete their objective.

Upon learning the truth surrounding his father Morgan's death, Katarn's personality underwent a significant transformation. He became embittered and developed a deeper animosity toward the Empire. Although he disapproved of Mon Mothma's psychological manipulation, he joined her cause driven not by her ideals but by his father's memory. He accepted missions from the Alliance targeting the Empire, seeking opportunities to personally eliminate Imperial agents and disrupt their plans. He no longer feared death, but his apprehension of making the wrong decision persisted. His sensitivities remained intact as he began working for the Alliance; he questioned the morality of ambushing two Stormtroopers, but this hesitation vanished when one turned toward him, compelling him to act without delay.

Soon after graduating, he perceived negativity from the crowd aboard the Star of Empire, marked by harsh glances and whispers directed at his Imperial uniform, leaving him feeling isolated, unwelcome, and despondent. Even after defecting, Kyle experienced similar sentiments on the New Hope, perceiving himself as an outsider, this time among the Rebels. He felt a connection to the ship he chose there, the Moldy Crow, seeing himself as a bird separated from its flock.

While consistently placing himself in perilous situations, Katarn always prioritized the safety of innocents and deeply cared for his partner, Jan Ors.

During his tenure as a Rebel agent, Katarn operated as a lone wolf, preferring to work independently, disregarding advice and assistance from Jan Ors, even when they collaborated. Teamwork, according to Ors, was not one of his strengths; Katarn recklessly endangered himself, often requiring Ors to rescue him, an act Katarn frequently dismissed as unnecessary. Ors attributed this behavior to Katarn's constant desire to impress others, despite his well-known accomplishments. During instances when he sought Jan's assistance or engaged in brief exchanges during extractions, he masked his anxiety and dangerous circumstances with lighthearted banter, such as "How 'bout a ride?"

Despite Jan and Kyle owing their lives to each other on numerous occasions, Katarn initially remained oblivious to her romantic feelings. It was only during the quest for the Valley of the Jedi that the pair finally professed their love, a journey marked by turbulence, not only through danger and death but also through navigating Kyle's dark mood swings; at times, his close relationship with Mara Jade strained their bond.

On occasion, Katarn displayed a fondness for Novanian grog.

Despite his prowess as a warrior and his reckless nature, it appears that Katarn, upon discovering his Jedi abilities, adopted a more discreet approach; like his father before him, he hesitated to fully embrace the Force. This reluctance stemmed from his fear of the dark side and his distrust of his own motivations for wielding such power. He repeatedly rejected the ways of the Force, even severing his connection to it entirely at one point. He recognized that deep down, he was driven by a thirst for vengeance and animosity toward those responsible for his father's death, emotions fueled by the dark side.

He tapped into the dark side of the Force twice during the struggle for the Valley of the Jedi, killing Maw in anger and employing a dark side technique to defeat Boc; it was not only Rahn's guidance that prevented him from succumbing but also his love for Jan and his father's memory.

It was after the Dromund Kaas incident that he completely severed his connection to the Force. His motivation for reconnecting with the Force was once again driven by revenge, seeking to avenge Ors, whom he believed had been killed. However, even in his darkest moments, a glimmer of light persisted within him. More often than not, he would spare the lives of even his most formidable adversaries. Upon learning that Ors was alive, Katarn underwent a transformation, replacing his hatred with hope and his thirst for revenge with compassion.

Eventually, he embraced his destiny as a Jedi Knight, arguing that no Force power is inherently dark or light, but its nature is determined by its application. Rather than concealing his encounters with the dark side, he openly shared his experiences with his apprentices to prevent them from repeating his mistakes. When Rosh Penin ultimately resisted the allure of the dark side and returned to the Jedi path, and Jaden Korr successfully navigated the crisis of the Disciples of Ragnos without succumbing to darkness, emerging as the hero, Katarn finally recognized his worth as a Jedi and a teacher. His confidence grew, and any past hesitations vanished. During his tenure on the Jedi High Council, he maintained a low profile, primarily listening and gathering information rather than becoming embroiled in the passions of his fellow Masters. However, it was noted that his comments, when offered, were often direct and insightful.

Katarn never favored traditional Jedi robes, instead opting for the attire he wore during his mercenary days, even at formal events such as Mara Jade's funeral. He disliked being addressed with titles like "Master Katarn," as titles made him uncomfortable, and preferred to be on a first-name basis with his apprentices. This reflected his continued connection to the common people of the galaxy, demonstrating humility by avoiding standing out.

From a young age, Kyle displayed a keen interest in his father's trade, his use of tools, and demonstrated remarkable technical and engineering aptitude, capable of handling and resolving any issues within their homestead. Skills acquired during his childhood on the farm led him to become one of the few Humans in the galaxy proficient in the electronic language of droidspeak, as well as a primitive binary code, considered obsolete by that time, where combinations of two sounds represented letters of an alphabet.

At the Academy, he further developed his talents in cybernetics systems theory and information engineering. Kyle also received training in martial arts, including fencing, shooting, and piloting various support craft. He also underwent training in breathing techniques to lower his vital signs, reduce brain activity, and slow down his perception of time. Following his defection, Kyle spent time at a Rebel base populated by smugglers and pirates, acquiring skills in sabotage and subterfuge.

Katarn was skilled in the use of a variety of weapons. His training provided him with expertise in Imperial weaponry. This training, combined with his natural intuition, allowed him to effectively utilize any weapon he encountered during his travels. As skilled with weaponry, Katarn possessed great accuracy with blasters, rarely missing his targets and utilizing blasters of various shapes and sizes, shooting several adversaries with pistols, rifles, and even an assault cannon. Upon acquiring his first lightsaber, he was immediately able to wield it effectively due to the fencing lessons he had taken at the Academy.

Like many Force-sensitives, Katarn initially discovered his abilities in the form of intuition, which often aided him in solving engineering problems when he calmed his mind. This clairvoyance became more pronounced during his Omega Exercise, manifesting as precognitive visions that briefly saved his team. After the Dark Trooper campaign, he discovered what he termed the "gun trick," using telekinesis to retrieve a weapon in challenging situations, a technique he employed on Nar Shaddaa. It was at this time that the spirit of Qu Rahn, knowing that Kyle would prevent Jerec from claiming the Valley of the Jedi, appeared to him as a voice and taught him how to use the Force to save his life. The first instance of this occurred when Kyle found himself wounded among thugs, discovering how to slow time around him.

Despite being largely self-taught and receiving minimal lightsaber combat training, Katarn learned numerous techniques from the spirits of Rahn and the ancient Jedi Tal in the Valley of the Jedi, including the Flowing Water cut and the Falling Leaf attack. As a result, Katarn defeated seven trained Dark Jedi: Yun, Gorc, Pic, Maw, Sariss, Boc, and ultimately Jerec himself—a remarkable feat for a novice at the time. Katarn mastered the fifth form of lightsaber combat, Djem So, and also possessed knowledge of other forms such as Shii-Cho and Ataru. On occasion, he would employ a reverse Shien grip. He demonstrated ambidexterity, wielding weapons in both his right and left hands. Upon becoming Battlemaster, his study of lightsaber combat led him to incorporate elements of various forms into his unique style.

Katarn possessed strong Force abilities, including Force absorb and Force protection (demonstrated during his mission with Jaden Korr); despite his fear of the dark side, Katarn utilized dark powers such as Force grip and Force lightning, even as a Jedi Master.

During the Reborn crisis instigated by Desann, Katarn revisited the Valley of the Jedi to swiftly restore his connection to the Force, which inadvertently increased his raw Force potential. It is important to note that his motivation was once again revenge, fueled by the apparent death of Jan Ors. Katarn demonstrated mastery of the Force by relearning powers of both the light and dark sides in a relatively short period. Katarn exhibited a strong will, resisting the numerous taunts and mind tricks employed by Desann in the Yavin temple.

Katarn became one of the New Jedi Order's most respected Jedi Masters. By the time of the Disciples of Ragnos Crisis, Katarn had become one of the most skilled swordsmen in the New Jedi Order and successfully trained Jaden Korr, arguably the most celebrated hero of those events. An exceptional swordsman, Katarn became the New Jedi Order's foremost Battlemaster. His overall mastery of the Force was remarkable, surpassed only by the most powerful Jedi Masters. Even Darth Caedus acknowledged Katarn's abilities, a rare occurrence for him.

Katarn demonstrated a comfortable understanding of Shyriiwook with his longtime friend Chewbacca, when he and his apprentice Jaden Korr encountered the Wookiee at Mos Eisley.

Kyle Katarn's preferred weapon was a Bryar pistol gifted to him by his father. He continued to carry and use it as a backup weapon, unlike most Jedi who typically shunned blasters, even after becoming a Jedi and constructing his first lightsaber. Katarn briefly utilized a packered mortar gun, rail detonator gun, concussion rifle, Imperial Heavy Repeater, E-11 blaster rifle, DXR-6 disruptor rifle, FC-1 flechette launcher, PLX-2M portable missile launcher, and Destructive Electromagnetic Pulse 2 ion carbine. He also employed sequencer charges, thermal detonators, and laser trip mines. During his career, Katarn used a personal energy shield with a belt-mounted shield generator called the Military Mobility Shield. In his mercenary days, Katarn frequently wore body armor beneath his signature coat. He was also one of the few non-Mandalorians to possess a set of Mandalorian Armor, which he acquired after being captured by Jabba.

Throughout his life, it is known that Kyle Katarn utilized at least three distinct lightsabers. The first lightsaber he possessed was originally the property of Jedi Master Qu Rahn, and it emitted a green blade. This lightsaber was gifted from Rahn to Morgan Katarn, and subsequently to his son, Kyle Katarn, who employed it in his duel against the Dark Jedi Yun, Gorc, Pic, and Maw. During Katarn's venture into the Valley of the Jedi, this particular weapon met its end at the hands of the Dark Jedi, Boc Aseca. However, one of the Dark Jedi, Yun, experienced a change of heart and intervened to prevent Sariss from delivering a fatal blow to Katarn. Following Yun's death, Katarn appropriated Yun's lightsaber for the remainder of his journey through the Valley of the Jedi, using it to confront and ultimately defeat Sariss, Boc, and Jerec. This lightsaber projected a yellow blade, and it is speculated that it may have been the same one he later used while training Mara Jade, although it appeared to exhibit a more orange color at that time.

Following the events that transpired on Dromund Kaas, Katarn enrolled in the Jedi Praxeum, where he proceeded to construct a new blue-bladed lightsaber. This new weapon was characterized by two handgrips and a hilt that was longer than those found on most standard lightsabers. Given that his previous two lightsabers had belonged to others, this lightsaber marked Kyle's first official lightsaber of his own making.

The Moldy Crow, which was an HWK-290 light freighter, holds the distinction of being the first vessel acquired by Kyle Katarn after he joined the Rebel Alliance. His initial use of it was during his Mission to Danuta. He developed an immediate fondness for the ship, largely due to its name, which resonated with his own feelings regarding his position within the galaxy. In subsequent missions, Katarn's partner, Jan Ors, took on the role of piloting the Crow. Ultimately, it was destroyed during his mission to the Valley of the Jedi.

After the destruction of the Moldy Crow, Kyle Katarn and his partner Jan Ors continued their career with the Raven's Claw. Ors piloted the ship for Katarn, ensuring his safe insertion and extraction for his missions.

In Dark Forces, Nick Jameson provided the voice for Kyle Katarn, and his likeness is depicted in hand-drawn stills within the game's cutscenes.

The character was portrayed by actor Jason Court in the full-motion video sequences of Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. Actor and VFX artist C. Andrew Nelson served as a double for Court in close-up shots of Katarn's hands and feet. The in-game model was designed to resemble Court's appearance. Similarly, in Mysteries of Sith, Jedi Outcast, and Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, Katarn is represented solely as a polygonal model, without full motion video scenes, crafted to resemble a slightly older version of Court. In these appearances, Rino Romano provided his voice (in Mysteries of the Sith), while Jeff Bennett voiced him in Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy. Brian Bascle voiced him in Star Wars: Empire at War, and Randal Berger portrayed him for the audio dramatizations of the Dark Forces novellas. Jeff Bennett's voice acting in Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy makes him the only person to have voiced Katarn on more than one occasion.

Irrespective of the timeline, most recent depictions of Katarn draw inspiration from Jason Court's appearance. In contrast, the original Dark Forces, which is set around 1 ABY during Katarn's early involvement with the Rebellion, portrays him as a young, beardless individual wearing a brown jacket. However, later works set within the same timeframe depict him with Court's older, bearded appearance. This discrepancy is evident in the Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire novella, illustrated by Dean Williams, which is set around the same time as Dark Forces but anachronistically features Kyle with a beard and wearing the civilian attire seen in Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight. This is also the case with the Empire at War and Lethal Alliance video games.

In some of the games in which Katarn appears, his story presents alternative outcomes. While the previously mentioned narrative is considered canonical, players have the option to pursue the alternative dark side path in Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.

In this alternate version, Katarn eliminates Jan Ors when prompted and becomes Jerec's adversary. Yun, unimpressed by Katarn's descent into darkness, engages him in a solo battle after Katarn escapes the collapsing cargo ship. In this scenario, Katarn successfully lands the Moldy Crow. He rectifies his earlier error by defeating Yun in a second lightsaber duel. After defeating Jerec in the Valley of the Jedi, Katarn absorbs its power and ascends to the position of Emperor of the galaxy on Coruscant, with Sariss by his side. He orders her to crush a small Rebel uprising on Danuta, ironically the site of his first major mission for the Rebel Alliance. Subsequently, he retrieves a holo of his father, which contains the message, "I want you to remember, while you're at the academy, how very proud I am of you," the same holo he had been contemplating when his mission against Jerec commenced. He then drops it on the floor and crushes it with his boot, severing all ties to his past and the light.

The same choice is presented to Jaden Korr in Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. In this version, Korr succumbs to the dark side by killing Penin instead of choosing forgiveness and remaining in the light. Korr later confronts Katarn in a duel, overpowering his master with the Scepter of Ragnos, which he had stolen from Tavion, and subsequently escapes. Reflecting on the incident with Luke Skywalker, Katarn questions his own suitability as a Jedi, leading him to take a leave of absence in order to apprehend Korr.

The alternative ending of Jedi Academy, while non-canonical, offers insights into Katarn's psyche in the face of failure and disappointment. Failure amplifies his existing feelings of disappointment. He appears to feel guilty for having lost two apprentices (Penin is dead, and Korr becomes a Dark Jedi), and he confesses to Skywalker that he is uncertain if he should be a Jedi Master at all. However, as a final act of desperation, he resolves to personally locate Korr and rectify his failure.

Despite being created solely for a video game, Katarn has garnered considerable popularity, boasting the most appearances among all of the Inaugural Class Jedi Masters. This popularity can be attributed, in part, to the success and widespread recognition of the computer games in which he is featured. This success has been further amplified by comparisons to martial artist and action star Chuck Norris, which have inspired Star Wars-themed variations of the popular Chuck Norris facts.

Initially, Luke Skywalker was intended to be the protagonist of Star Wars: Dark Forces, with the game's narrative following the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. However, the developers of Dark Forces recognized that this decision would impose limitations on the storyline and gameplay, leading to the creation of the character Kyle Katarn instead.

According to the Dark Forces review in PC Gamer, Katarn was conceived as a "blank" game character, akin to other customizable game protagonists (such as Jaden Korr or Revan). He was intended to have a customizable name, a mysterious, unmentioned past, and an unseen face, with the aim of facilitating player identification with the protagonist. However, this concept appears to have been abandoned, as his face, name, and background history are detailed in the manual and the narrative of the final product. Nevertheless, the games still require players to enter a name in order to save their progress.

Kyle Katarn is featured as one of the hero character units in Empire at War, making him one of the few Expanded Universe characters in the game. His special abilities include "thermal detonator" and "sprint." He lacks Force powers, as the game is set before his discovery of his connection to the Force.

Katarn was originally scheduled to meet his demise in the novel The New Jedi Order: Star by Star, but the scene was removed at the last minute at the behest of LucasArts, ostensibly due to reasons related to Jedi Academy, despite the game's earlier placement on the timeline. The removal of this scene ultimately paved the way for Katarn's comic book debut in "Equals & Opposites," nearly three years after the release of The New Jedi Order: Star by Star in the United States.