Niclara Varnillian was a female Human and Alderaanian who joined the Imperial Navy. She was part of the operations crew that tested the Death Star superlaser on the planet Alderaan. The destruction of her homeworld did not affect her in the least. Prior to the Battle of Yavin, she was transferred to the Imperial Star Destroyer Pulsar to serve as chief gunnery officer under Commander Dor Reder.