Tobbi Dala is one of a pair of Mandalorian Protectors introduced during Marvel's only visit to the planet Mandalore. The story marks the opening chapter of Princess Leia's quest to rescue Han Solo from Boba Fett in issues 68 "The Search Begins" and 69 "Death in the City of Bone." While searching for the bounty hunter Dengar, who may know Fett's location, Leia travels to Mandalore. There she becomes entangled in the local insurgency led by Fenn Shysa and Tobbi Dala against the Imperial occupation commanded by the alien slavelord known as the Suprema. As the story opens, Dala has been arrested by the Empire, but Fenn Shysa has captured Dengar and plans to exchange the bounty hunter for his cohort's freedom. In the course of the adventure, Dala is rescued and plays a key role in the defeat of Mandalore's Imperial overlords.

This story is Tobbi Dala's only appearance, but he and Fenn Shysa have been enshrined in Star Wars' Expanded Universe's official history. For details, check out issue 80 of Star Wars Insider for "The History of the Mandalorians". Abel Peña's article is a tour de force that unravels the Gordian knot that is the various, often conflicting accounts of Boba Fett and Mandalore's famous warriors, including Fenn and Tobbi.

Tobbi Dala's appearances can be found in "Fool's Bounty", the fifth volume of Star Wars: A Long Time Ago..., Dark Horse Comics' trade paperback series reprinting the entire Marvel run.

Tobbi Dala

Dengar shook his ringing head, and rolled to his feet well away from a brand new and still smoking crater. It was another close call for someone who fancied himself one of the galaxy's elite bounty hunters. So much for the ambush he had hoped to spring on his quarry. Those damned Mandalorians had turned the tables almost instantly. As the remaining stormtroopers rallied and laid cover fire, Dengar decided to slip away before it all went sour.

He really should've known better, but the Suprema, the alien overlord of Mandalore made it sound so tempting. Who better to capture a pair of rogue Mandalorian Protectors than someone who'd worked with one himself? Dengar figured they'd be no better than that poseur who got his helmet handed to him after failing to close the contract on Adar Tallon, but it was clear this fellow was just a good as Fett.

Dengar and the stormtroopers had launched a surprise attack on a merchant caravan in hopes of drawing out the outlaws hidden in the jungle. The rebels were much closer than anyone would've guessed, and just one of the Protectors had quickly and efficiently brought the fight to the Imperials. To make matters worse, there was still one more out in the jungle somewhere.

No, it was time to go. Dengar made it to his swoop-bike, and launched off into the jungle back towards the Kedalbe starport.

It was only because Dengar had seen Boba Fett in action that he was able to avoid what happened next. The jetpack-launched rocket screamed past Dengar just as he swerved the swoop clear. The rocket detonated inside a patch of giant mushrooms, and the swoop raced through the blossoming fireball.

Coughing and wiping ash from his face, Dengar hit the accelerator. Propelled by the suit's jetpack, the Mandalorian dashed over and around the massive trees of the overgrown jungle and kept right on the bounty hunter's heels. Without any open terrain, Dengar was unable to put any distance between him and the pursuing super-commando.

Blaster bolts rang off the swoop's engine panels. Dengar knew all too well that he couldn't take much more of this. He veered off in hopes of bringing the fight to the Mandalorian.

Suddenly, something struck his swoop. This time it was no laser blast. Dengar turned and saw a magnetic hook attached to his swoop's fusion exhaust and a cable stretching back to the armored Mandalorian. Dengar's grin was a snarl. The Protector had made his first mistake. Battle armor or not, there was no way, he'd be able to out-power Dengar's favorite swoop.

Dengar looked back as he gunned the engine. Too late he realized there was no mistake. The Mandalorian anchored the line to a tree trunk, the line went taut, and suddenly the swoop stopped moving.

Dengar, however, kept going.

He landed hard, rolling over and over through the tangled bramble of the Mandalorian jungle. He cursed the cybernetic limbs that once again saved his life and stumbled to his feet. His swoop strained awkwardly against the lanyard before slamming into a nearby tree and exploding.

To Dengar losing a swoop was always a sign of a bad day, and his thoughts turned from escape to revenge. This Mandalorian Protector had everything in his arsenal that Boba Fett did, but Dengar was down to his last blaster pistol. Then Dengar had it. His bounty had a weakness that Boba Fett had long since overcome.

Dengar hoped that the explosion of his swoop could provide him enough cover to make it back to the ambush site. He scrambled through the brush back to where it all started.

Dengar could hear the Mandalorian gaining ground as he crashed onto the trail where the damaged speeders in the caravan lay in ruin. The fight had moved into the jungle, and only the wounded remained behind. Dengar rushed up to the lead skiff and dragged the driver from the wreck. The driver's leg was a bloody mess and he could barely resist.

Dengar activated a signal device implanted in his cybernetic arm and laid the business end of his blaster against the driver's forehead. A moment later the Mandalorian Protector emerged from the jungle, smoke venting from his exhausted jetpack.

"Easy, laddie, it's over," he warned as he approached.

"You've got that right, buddy," Dengar barked back. "If I see the tip of a single rocket dart, or a lick of flame from your thrower, this grubber gets it in the gray matter."

"Forget about me, Tobbi! Protect yourself!" Dengar's prisoner gasped.

Tobbi Dala dropped his blaster rifle and raised his open hands. "Don't worry, Parma, I'll get you outta here. There'll be no rewards paid today to this bountyman."

Dengar scoffed. "See this homing signal? Reinforcements are on the way: troopers, walkers, speeders, whatever else they got back at the City of Bone. That's how much they want you and Shysa. Either way, you're going down. The only question for you is whether this fellow lives to tell the tale." Dengar pressed the blaster against Parma's head even harder.

Not far away, the ringing footsteps of Imperial walkers could be heard. Dengar laughed. "Quicker than I thought. What's it gonna be, Dala?"

Dala took off his helmet and tossed it to the ground. "Let him go, and you'll have your prize."

Dengar turned his blaster on Dala and kicked Parma away. The wounded driver limped clear only after Dala nodded his permission.

Dengar shook his head. "You disappoint me, chum. I thought you super-commandoes were supposed to be the best of the best. Fett would've never been caught like this. You're weak."

"Laddie, I'm a Protector. Since the Clone Wars, I've protected this world agin the likes of you and yer kind. And me mission won't end today, whether you capture me or not. There's strength there that you'll ne'er understand."

Tobbi Dala stood calmly as several squads of Imperial Stormtroopers and a scout walker came into view and surrounded him and Dengar.

Tobbi Dala
Type: Mandalorian Protector
Height: 1.8 meters
Species: Mandalorian
Sex: Male

DEX 3D                  PER 2D+2
  Armor Weapons 7D        Command 4D+2
  Blaster 6D              Con 4D+2
  Brawling Parry 6D       Hide 5D+2
  Dodge 6D                Search 5D+2
  Grenade 4D              Sneak 6D+2            
  Melee Combat 6D         
  Melee Parry 6D 
  Missile Weapons 4D      
  Vehicle Blasters 5D
KNO 2D+1                STR 3D
  Intimidation 5D+1       Brawling 7D
  Languages 4D+1          Climb/Jump 5D
  Law Enforcement 5D+1    Stamina 5D
  Streetwise 4D+1
  Survival 5D+1
  Tactics 4D+1
  Willpower 5D+1
MEC 4D                  TEC 3D
  Astrogation 5D          Armor Repair 6D
  Beast Riding 6D         Demolition 5D
  Jet Pack Ops 7D         Repulsorlift Repair 4D
  Repulsorlift Ops 6D     Security 5D
  Space Transports 5D     Starfighter Repair 4D
  Starship Piloting 6D
  Starship Gunnery 6D
  Starship Shields 5D
  Walker Ops 5D

Force Points: 1
Move: 10
Equipment: Blaster rifle, Mandalorian Super-Commando armor.
Description: Tobbi Dala is a rugged and bald human who speaks with a 
pleasant brogue. He wears the armor of the infamous Mandalorian Super-
Commandos.
A Quote: "But this here uniform... well... it marks me fer a Mandalorian 
Protector. An' I think it's only fittin'... that I wear it... while protectin'!"

Tobbi Dala's Battle Armor
Model: Modified Mandalorian Super-Commando Armor
Type: Modified personal battle armor
Cost: Not for sale
Availability: Unique
Game Effects:
Basic Suit: Provides +3D to Strength for physical attacks, +2D for energy 
attacks. Covers head, torso and arms. No Dexterity penalties.
Wrist Laser: 5D Damage, uses Armor Weapons skill; range: 3-5/25/50
Jet Pack: 125 meters move horizontally, 80 meters, vertically; 25 Charges 
Additional Effects: Rocket Dart Launcher, Turbo-Projected Grappling Hook, 
Sensor Pod, Macrobinoculars, Sound Sensors, Internal Comlink, Broad-Band 
Antenna, Sealed Enviro Filter (for details see the Boba Fett entry in "The 
Movie Trilogy Sourcebook" or "Galaxy Guide 3: The Empire Strikes Back")

Tobbi Dala was created by David Michelinie, Gene Day and Tom Palmer.

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