Smurdap

A few years prior to the Battle of Yavin, Smurdap held the position of security chief on Fornax Station. He made it a point to be aware of everything occurring on the station, utilizing droids for mundane tasks like shining boots in order to monitor for any suspicious activity. One day, two smugglers arrived at the station. While docking, Han Solo and Chewbacca detected an Imperial signal. Solo had his boots shined and inquired about stormtroopers, leaving with his boots only partially polished. The droid then contacted Smurdap. Subsequently, the two pilots went to the locker rentals, supposedly to rent their own. However, their true intention was to retrieve a package for their employer, Jabba the Hutt. As they were placing Chewbacca's bag into the locker, an alarm went off. Smurdap arrived with two security droids and demanded to inspect their bag. Solo quickly complied, revealing grooming supplies and claiming they were traveling barbers. The officer, angered, apologized and departed. After acquiring the contraband, Lashaa silk, they exited, informing the rental desk droid that they were leaving due to the insulting accusations.

Shortly thereafter, a shimmersilk wedding gown belonging to the Royal Margravine Abominelle of Vena went missing. Consequently, Smurdap prohibited all departures from the station. He then confronted the two smugglers at their ship, the Close Shave. Solo and Chewbacca met him at the boarding ramp, having set the laser cannon to automatic fire. Smurdap, smiling, presented the grooming gear they had left in the locker. Solo stalled, claiming that Smurdap had 'spoiled' the items for Chewbacca simply by touching them. Smurdap and a security droid then boarded Solo's ship for inspection, returning with Chewie's travel bag. Upon opening it, the stolen gown was revealed. Smurdap accused Solo of the theft. Solo countered by stating that Smurdap himself had stolen it. Smurdap declared that he would never be accused, despite having stolen it and framed the pilots to secure the contraband on board. Smurdap asserted that he would obtain the contraband and ensure the pilots did not leave Fornax Station alive. At that moment, Solo triggered the cannon to fire, destroying a droid. The two raced aboard and prepared for take-off. Solo manned the quad cannon and blasted open the hangar doors while communicating with Fornax Flight Control, feigning a weapons malfunction, and flew away from the station. As the two pilots attempted to enter hyperspace, they discovered it had been sabotaged with a circuit-jammer.

Smurdap contacted them, piloting an old Mu-2 shuttle, which was the source of the Imperial signal. Smurdap demanded the cargo in exchange for disabling the circuit-jammer, supported by six Drone fighters. Solo refused and entered the Five Fire Rings of Fornax. Smurdap called his bluff and deployed the drones against Solo. Through a series of maneuvers, Solo and Chewie destroyed the six fighters and contacted Smurdap. They tricked him into confessing, as Solo had Fornax Flight Control listening on the radio. They escorted him back to the station for interrogation by the new head of security.

Smurdap was preoccupied with apprehending smugglers, a mindset typical of a former Imperial. Over time, he grew disillusioned with his position and sought to enrich himself by stealing contraband from a smuggler. He was willing to eliminate competition to achieve his goals.