Ambush on an Imperial construction module

The title of this article is conjectural. Although this article is based oncanonical information, the actual name of this subject is pure conjecture.

Ambush on an Imperial construction module

In3 BBY, thecrew of theGhost wasambushed by theGalactic Empire in anImperial construction module thatorbitedGeonosis. The rebels boarded the construction module while investigation intelligence reports from the rebellion that the Empire had been constructing something over Geonosis. Unknown to the rebels, this was theDeath Star, anarmoredbattle station capable of destroying entire planets, which had already been moved. When the rebels boarded one of the construction modules, they were quickly attacked byAgentKallus of theImperial Security Bureau and severalstormtroopers. The rebels fought their way back to theGhost, but one of the rebels,Garazeb Orrelios, remained locked in single combat with Agent Kallus. TheGhost departed while Orrelios headed for anescape pod, but he was followed by Kallus, who also boarded the departing pod.

TheGhost and Imperial forces engaged in a firefight outside of the module, which damaged the escape pod and sent it crashing ontoBahryn, anicymoon of Geonosis. Orrelios and Kallus were forced to work together in order to survive. In the process, they learned more about one another's pasts and motivations, and Kallus began to recognize the cold realities of serving in the Empire.

Prelude[]

In3 BBY,^[2] during theGalactic Civil War between theGalactic Empire and the growing rebellion, intelligence gathered by the rebellion suggested that the Empire was building something inorbit of theplanetGeonosis,^[1] the world on which theClone Wars hadbegun many years earlier.^[3] SeveralImperial construction modules were in orbit of Geonosis, which at one point—unknown to the rebels at the time—^[1] were used to support the construction of theDeath Star,^[4] anarmoredbattle station capable of destroying entire planets.^[5] The station was moved following the rise of the Empire,^[6] and thepopulation of Geonosis wasdestroyed.^[7]

Thecrew of theGhost, who were part of the rebellion, traveled to Geonosis to investigate the reports from rebel intelligence. They found the construction modules and deduced that whatever was being built, it had to have been massive to justify building it in space rather than on the surface of the planet. The rebels also learned, throughPadawanEzra Bridger's connection tothe Force, that there was no sign of life on the planet. To investigate further, the rebels boarded one of the construction modules.^[1]

The ambush[]

After docking aboard the construction module, four of the rebel crew members—Bridger, theJediKanan Jarrus,Lasat warriorGarazeb Orrelios, andMandalorian warriorSabine Wren—departed theship. The crew's leader,CaptainHera Syndulla, remained behind in order to keep theGhost ready to depart in the event they needed a quick exit. CaptainRex also remained behind. As the rebels began making their way through the module, where they intended to check the primarydatabanks to see if they could uncover what the Empire was building, they were spotted by an Imperial astromech droid. The droid was there as part of a trap set byAgentKallus of theImperial Security Bureau, who had lured the rebels to the station and intended to ambush them.^[1]

Just as the rebels began to suspect that they were walking into a trap, the droid closed the blast doors behind them and separated the rebels from theGhost. Kallus then revealed himself, flanked by manystormtroopers. Most of the rebels contended with the stormtroopers, while Orrelios engaged Kallus in single-combat; the two had a long-standing rivalry, as Kallus was involved in thedestruction of Orrelios' people andplanet. Jarrus contacted theGhost to let them know what was happening, so Rex ordered the rebelastromech droidC1-10P ("Chopper") to leave the ship and assist the rebels. Chopper found the Imperial astromech droid, pushed it out of the way, and began opening the doors. The Imperial droid fought back, but it was ultimately defeated when Chopper electrocuted it. This allowed Chopper to open the doors, letting most of the rebels return to theGhost. Orrelios remained locked in combat with Kallus, however, and told the others to leave while he headed for anescape pod. Syndulla agreed and theGhost flew out of the module, flying past threeAll Terrain Defense Pods that were stationed on the outside of the facility.^[1]

Orrelios boarded one of the pods, but so too did Agent Kallus, and the two continued their struggle as the escape pod blasted away from the station. As it made its way towards Geonosis, threeTIE/ln space superiority starfighters attacked theGhost. TheGhost was able to fend them off, while Orrelios and Kallus scuffled aboard the escape pod. Their fight caused damage to the craft, knocking it off course and sending it towardsBahryn, anicymoon of Geonosis. The pod crashed beneath the surface of the moon, while theGhost successfully destroyed the Imperial forces.^[1]

Aftermath[]

The escape pod's crash onto Bahryn broke Kallus'leg. Orrelios and the injured agent found the craft'stransponder, but the signal was not strong enough to make it through the ice. They had to reach the surface in order to transmit a distress signal, though it was unclear who would arrive first: the rebels or the Empire. The two also faced dangers in the form of the rapidly dropping temperature and ice creatures known asbonzami. As they worked to survive, Orrelios and Kallus began to learn more about one another and how they were both warriors fighting for causes that they believed in. Kallus also revealed that his role in the fall of Lasan was exaggerated, and that his actions there were based on the horrors that aLasat mercenary once inflicted on his unit on the planetOnderon—forging a belief that Lasats were dangerous. The two were finally able to escape when they climbed up a pillar that held the ice up, escaping from two bonzamis as they did so. Once on the surface, they transmitted their distress signal.^[1]

TheGhost found Orrelios the next morning. Orrelios told Kallus that the rebels would treat the agent fairly if he chose to leave with them, but Kallus decided to take his chances in the cold and wait for the Empire to find him. The two bade one another farewell, having come to an understanding, and Kallus witnessed the warm reception that Orrelios received when the Lasat returned to theGhost. Once Kallus was rescued and returned to aStar Destroyer, Orrelios' reception was starkly contrasted when Kallus received a cold reception.AdmiralKassius Konstantine did not acknowledge his rescue and safe return, and Kallus retreated to his quarters alone.^[1]

Kallus's newfound sympathies towards the rebels soon developed into the initiative to provide assistance for their cause. He became aFulcrum agent and provided Phoenix Squadron with Imperial intelligence,^[8] including that of would-be defectorsWedge Antilles,Derek Klivian, andRake Gahree at theSkystrike Academy^[9] and reports regardingGrand AdmiralThrawn's search for Phoenix Squadron'sbase.^[10] During theBattle of Atollon, after his rebel allegiances were discovered, Kallus defected from the Empire^[11] and joined the Rebel Alliance at theirbase onYavin 4.^[12]

Behind the scenes[]

The ambush on the Imperial construction module appeared in "The Honorable Ones," an episode of thesecond season of the animated television seriesStar Wars Rebels.^[1] The event formed the basis for the story between Garazeb Orrelios and Agent Kallus, which was designed to show different aspects of the conflict between the rebellion and the Empire and how perceptions of one's enemies are not always accurate.^[4]

Appearances[]

• Star Wars Rebels — "The Honorable Ones"(First appearance)
• Star Wars Rebels — "Ghosts of Geonosis"(Mentioned only)

Sources[]

• "The Honorable Ones" Episode Guide | Star Wars Rebels onStarWars.com(backup link)
• Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles(Picture only)
• Star Wars: Card TraderSet:2020 Base Series, Card:Alexsandr Kallus(Indirect mention only)
• Star Wars: Timelines

Notes and references[]