“It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armoured space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.”
The story of the capture of the Death Star plans was explored many different times in EU lore. In the Radio Dramas, a rebel cell on Ralltiir alerted Princess Leia that they had captured plans associated with a new Imperial Project codenamed “DEATH STAR”, and arranged to transmit them to the Tantive IV. In the Jedi Knight series, Kyle Katarn captured them from an imperial base on Danuta at the direction of Mon Mothma. It wasn’t until the release of Rogue One that this act had a cinematic interpretation.
Rogue One has its flaws. The lack of an opening crawl feels a bit jarring, but it isn’t one of the mainline episodes – and even if it was, what would it be called? Episode 3.5? The introduction is often dinged for being too rushed. Some complain that there are too many characters, or that those characters are paper thin. There are some logical issues with plot – especially involving Saw Guerrera deciding to “run no more.” (This point almost certainly has to do with issues with the story structure and reshoots during post-production.) Even with all of these issues – I unabashedly love Rogue One. It is the only Disney Era Star Wars movie that I can whole-heartedly embrace.
I thought it might be interesting to look into why this is an important story, and what it says about today.
A NEW HOPE Prior to the Disney era, much backstory to the formation of the Rebellion had been fleshed out. In that EU lore, the Alliance to Restore the Republic was forged by Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Garm Bel Iblis. Political disagreements eventually led to Senator Iblis leaving the alliance, but the remaining factions acquired military equipment and personnel and harried the Empire whenever possible. By the time of A New Hope, it is implied that they had been harassing Imperials for at least a decade. When the EU was wiped, a reset of this formation was created. This single choice impacted Disney’s EU in one very important and satisfying way. Left unopposed (and embraced by the Galactic Core after the devastation of the Clone Wars), the burgeoning Empire was both rapacious and terrifying.
In Disney’s EU, the Empire was already quarantining and ravaging entire planets in order to strip them of raw materials for the production of the Death Star. The Empires lust for power caused them to build rapidly, crushing any who dared to oppose them. Disney actually made the Empire DEADLIER than they had been before. This in turn led to a weaker Rebel Alliance – one that was filled with squabbling factions who opposed the Empire, but had not yet decided how to do so. All agreed that opposing the Empire was necessary, but feared the consequences of doing so. No direct military actions had yet been carried out. When Jyn Ero attempts to rally the Rebels to her cause, some outright disbelieve her. Others are afraid to act.
Senator Tynnra Pamlo: We must scatter the fleet! We have no recourse but to surrender!
Bail Organa: Are we really talking about disbanding something that we’ve worked so hard to create?
Admiral Raddus: We can’t just give in!
Vasp Vaspar: We joined an Alliance, not a suicide pact!
Bail Organa: We’ve only now managed to gather our forces!
Senator Nower Jebel: Gather our forces? General Draven’s already blown up an Imperial base! General
Draven: A decision needed to be made!
Senator Tynnra Pamlo: If it’s war you want, you’ll fight alone!
Vasp Vaspar: If that’s how it’s going, why have an alliance at all?
Admiral Raddus: If she’s telling the truth, we need to act now!
Mon Mothma: Councilors, please!
Antoc Merrick: It is simple. The Empire has the means of mass destruction, the rebellion does not.
Senator Nower Jebel: A Death Star, this is nonsense!
Jyn Erso: What reason would my father have to lie? What benefit would it bring him?
General Draven: To lure our forces into a final battle – to destroy us once and for all!
Vasp Vaspar: To risk everything, based on what? The testimony of a criminal? The dying words of her father, an Imperial Scientist?
Senator Nower Jebel: Don’t forget the Imperial Pilot!
Jyn Erso: My Father gave his life so that we may have a chance to defeat this!
General Jan Dodonna: So you’ve told us.
Senator Tynnra Pamlo: If the Empire has this kind of power, what chance do we have?
Jyn Erso: What chance do we have? The question is, what choice? Run, hide, plead for mercy, scatter your forces! You give way to an enemy this evil with this much power and you condemn the galaxy to an eternity of submission. The time to fight is now! Every moment you waste is another step closer to the ashes of Jedha!
Extra #1: What is she proposing?
Extra #2: Just let the girl speak!
Jyn Erso: Send your best troops to Scarif. Send the Rebel Fleet if you have to! You need to capture the Death Star plans if there’s any hope of destroying it!
Senator Tynnra Pamlo: You’re asking us to invade an imperial installation based on nothing but hope!
Jyn Erso: Rebellions are built on hope!
Gasp Vaspar: There is no hope!
Admiral Raddus: I say we fight!
Senator Nower Jebel: I say the Rebellion is finished!
Mon Motha: I’m sorry, Jyn. Without the full support of the council, the odds are too great.
In this story, it’s important to consider the position that the members of the council were in. Most of those present had been alive during the Clone Wars. They saw planets ravaged at that time. After the supposed collapse of the Confederacy of Independent Systems and betrayal of the Jedi, the common citizen would’ve been war-weary and cyncical.
While the Empire was authoritarian, the alternative – returning the galaxy to a state of pitched war – was nearly unthinkable. While the golden age of the Republic was long past, at least uneasy peace would prevent theaw horrors – wouldn’t it? Jyn fails to rally the Alliance. It is only after she takes decisive action herself and launches a suicide mission that others rally to her cause. The Empire Really Does Strike Back:
The situation in the world today is a complex one. The world is never truly at peace, but after the end of the Cold War, it became easy to think that all of the dragons had been slain. The USSR was broken up, NATO contained Russia, and the west flourished – but what we face now is the hangover after the party. The nations of the west became complacent. Our societies have been navel-gazing for far too long – allowing our ideological enemies to build their strength and harrass their neighbors. While none should wish for war, we must be clear-eyed about the kind of evil we face. For the first time in history this week, a direct attack on nuclear energy sites was conducted.
The war in Ukraine being conducted is indiscriminate, and the bravery and courage of the Ukrainian people demands more than words. Their courage in the face of an Evil Empire recalls the spirit of ’76 in the founding of The United States – A New Birth of Liberty, if they can survive. As an American, it is galling that our leaders refuse to ramp up our own energy production and to purchase fuel from our adversaries. Yes, inflation is rampant, and high energy costs affect the poor far more substantially than those of means – but one cannot bargain with evil. It is time to remember and act upon the principles of liberty and defense of the weak. Ideals are useless if actions aren’t taken to defend them – and with virtue comes struggle.
With the blessing of Providence the support of the western nations, my hope is that Ukraine can throw off her oppressors and we can again pay attention to the things that matter – our families, our principles, and the liberty that we enjoy.
It is only with these and the blessings of the Almighty that we can truly have – Hope.
