Jesko Balta was a Jedi Knight from Alderaan during the Clone Wars. Unlike many Jedi, he was sarcastic, cynical, and prone to furious anger when provoked (after the destruction of Alderaan in 0 BBY, he had to be stunned and shackled to prevent him from charging to attack the nearest Imperial base). When Order 66 came down, he and his Padawan, Lara Haddon, were en route back to Coruscant aboard their shuttle, Thranta, from a short espionage mission to Kessel. They were about to rush back after receiving an emergency beacon call telling all Jedi to return to the temple on Coruscant when Jesko got a message, not from the Force, but from his own cynicism. Against Haddon's protests, he dropped out of hyperspace to scan Holovid news bulletins, one of which mentioned an attack on the Jedi Temple.