Pter Nyklas was a male officer within the Imperial Navy, identified as a Human.
In the year 5 BBY, Nyklas held a supervisory position over the construction occurring at the Imperial Hall of Heroes. His responsibilities also included procuring Wookiee slaves for the purpose of constructing the new wing.

During a transaction with the Trandoshan slavers who were providing the slaves, Nyklas became aware that Ssoh's spacecraft was inoperable. Nyklas gave the order for his TIE/LN starfighters, under the command of Lieutenant Han Solo, to destroy the vessel; however, Solo countermanded the order upon discovering the presence of Wookiees aboard. Nyklas then commanded Solo and his pilots to eliminate the survivors, but instead, Solo delivered Chewbacca, the leader of the revolt. Enraged, Nyklas ostensibly revoked Solo's flight privileges.
Upon their return to Coruscant, Nyklas routinely subjected Chewbacca to whippings, regardless of the Wookiee's performance. When Chewbacca reacted in anger against Nyklas, the Imperial commander produced his blaster, only to be prevented from firing by Solo. As the pair made their escape, Nyklas initiated Solo's dishonorable discharge and vowed revenge against them. Nyklas's actions of cruelty were a significant element in motivating Solo to leave the Imperial Navy, resulting in Chewbacca's life debt to the young Imperial officer, and ultimately leading to Solo and Chewbacca's service with the Rebel Alliance - a fact that one officer of New Republic Intelligence remarked with irony, suggested that the entire galaxy owed Nyklas a debt of gratitude.
Nyklas had a reputation for being the quintessential cruel Imperial. He subscribed to the tenets of Human High Culture and considered his position on the bridge of an Imperial Star Destroyer as an authorization to kill. His vessel, the Flanchard, was frequently used for slaving missions, a responsibility that Nyklas enjoyed, even though most other ship captains detested it.