Pharl McQuarrie
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Pharl McQuarrie
Biographical information
Descriptive information
Pronouns
Skin color
Chronological & political information
Affiliation(s)
- "Captain McQuarrie, stand by to report!"
"We've confirmed the substance to be soil from the Moorja badlands, Admiral. It's an electrostatic compound with photoreactive properties."
"In plain Basic, Captain?"
"The material clings to the shields like filings to a magnet." - ―Captain Pharl McQuarrie briefs Admiral Dron on the Separatist attack on Ukio[4]
Pharl McQuarrie was aHumancaptain in theGalactic Republic Navy during theClone Wars and later ageneral with theRebel Alliance during theGalactic Civil War. Anative of theCore WorldsplanetRalltiir, McQuarrie's Clone Wars service saw himcommand aConsular-class cruiser in theRepublic defense of the vitalagricultural planetUkio. Although the Republicrepelled the enemyConfederateincursion from Ukio,Separatist interests ultimately captured financial control of the planet nonetheless.
McQuarrie went on to serve as a respected militaryadvisor for manyyears on hishomeworld, until theGalactic Empire'ssubjugation of Ralltiir justweeks before theBattle of Yavin. After fleeing his home planet to seek assistance from the Rebel Alliance, McQuarrie returned to take command of theRalltiiri Rebel resistance movement, helping to deliver information concerning the existence of a secret Imperialsuperweapon, thefirst Death Starbattle station, toPrincessLeia Organa.
McQuarrie's efforts led directly to the subsequent Rebelcapture of theDeath Star plans and the destruction of the battlestation shortly thereafter. GeneralCarlist Rieekan later handpicked McQuarrie to serve as hissecond-in-command at the Rebellion's newEcho Base on the planetHoth, where McQuarrie was instrumental in the facility's construction. He went on to serve in the Rebel defeat at theBattle of Hoth in3 ABY.
Biography[]
Clone Wars service[]
Captain of the Republic[]
- "Is it doing any damage to the shields? Creating a weak point, perhaps?"
"No, General. It has absolutely no effect on the shield strength. But it is moving. As I said, photoreactive. It's staying aligned with the sun's path, regardless of the planet's rotation."
"Diabolical." - ―Jedi General Keelyvine Reus and Captain Pharl McQuarrie[4]
Captain Pharl McQuarrie served in the Republic Navy during the Clone Wars.
Pharl McQuarriehailed from the prosperousplanetRalltiir,[2] in theCore Worlds,[6] and served in theRepublic Navy during theClone Wars between theGalactic Republic and theConfederacy of Independent Systems.[4] Early in the war,[7] McQuarriecaptained aConsular-class cruiser as part of a Republic mission to prevent thepolitically dividedagricultural world ofUkio, a majorfood-producer for theRepublic's armies, from falling to the Confederacy.[4]
Joining atask force consisting of aVenator-class Star Destroyer and anotherConsular-class cruiser under the overallcommand ofJedi GeneralKeelyvine Reus andAdmiralDron, McQuarrie helped form anorbital patrol of Ukio in response tointelligence suggesting that the Confederacy was targeting the planet. Although Ukio boasted a powerfulplanetary shield system capable of preventing any sizable invasion orbombardment from enemy forces, the Separatists nevertheless concocted aplan to breach its defenses. The Republic task force soon detected on the far side of the planet a single ConfederateLucrehulk-class battleship that was releasing into theatmosphere a series ofseismic tanks, which in turn were dropping a strange dark cloud over Ukio'sshields.[4]
Dustup over Ukio[]
- "Captain McQuarrie. What would happen to this material if the shields were deactivated?"
"Without a surface to cling to, it would simply dissipate into the atmosphere. The winds would scatter it." - ―Jedi General Keelyvine Reus and Captain Pharl McQuarrie[4]
At Dron's prompting, McQuarrie reported to Reus and the admiral that[4] his[1]cruiser had identified the cloud to be an electrostatic soil compound with photoreactive properties from thebadlands of the planetMoorja. The compound adhered harmlessly to the shield yet moved in concert with thesystem'ssun, regardless of Ukio's rotation, thus creating an effective means of blocking out anysunlight from reaching the planet's crops. The Confederacy thereby succeeded in using Ukio's shield system against itself—as McQuarrie noted to Reus, the nativeUkians would need to lower their shields for the cloud to simply dissipate into the atmosphere and save their crop fields, but by doing so they would open the planetary surface to Confederate attack.[4]
McQuarrie fights to defend the vital agriworld Ukio from Confederate invasion.
Reus quickly conceived a plan to save Ukio. The Ukians would create an opening in their shield around the cloud just long enough for the disturbance to dissipate, while McQuarrie and the Republic task force would engage theLucrehulk battleship to keep it preoccupied and unable to launch anyvessels through the shield gap. However, the Republic attack would need to be carefully coordinated so as to counteract any complications from the Lucrehulk's powerfuljamming signal.[4]
The ensuingattack from McQuarrie and the Republic task force succeeded in destroying the Confederatebattleship, while the Ukians lowered their shields to rid themselves of the disruptive cloud. Although the Republic earned a tactical victory by eliminating the enemy presence from Ukio, negative market reports of the turbulence there caused Ukio's stock prices to plummet, allowing the Confederate-alliedCommerce Guild to purchase a controlling interest in the planet.[4]
Against the Empire[]
Ralltiiri Rebel[]
Following his active duty in the Clone Wars, McQuarrie served as a respected militaryadvisor for manyyears on hishomeworld of Ralltiir,[3] but the escalatingGalactic Civil War once again forced the formerRepublic officer into action.[8] In1 BBY, threeweeks before theBattle of Yavin,[9] McQuarrie watched as[2] theGalactic Empire enacted a brutalsubjugation of Ralltiir to clamp down on the growing number of RalltiiriRebel sympathizers. The Imperial occupation force devastated Ralltiir and its 10 billion inhabitants, even barring relief organizations by sealing off the entireRalltiir system.[6] In response, McQuarrie fled his home planet to seek aid from the Rebel Alliance.[1]
McQuarrie's diversionary raid on Ralltiir helped secret information concerning the Empire's Death Star battlestation to reach Princess Leia Organa.
Coincidentally, the Alliance had just learned that aRalltiiri Rebel cell had come into possession of information concerning the existence of the Empire's new secretsuperweapon, thefirst Death Starbattle station. Working in tandem with his close friend[1] and fellow Ralltiiri[10]Jeroen Webb, McQuarrie returned home, sneaked past the Imperialblockade of the planet, and took command of the local resistance. He staged a diversionary raid that allowed theDeath Star information to reach Rebel leaderPrincessLeia Organa ofAlderaan.[1]
The success of the Ralltiir mission led directly to the subsequent capturing of theDeath Star plans at theBattle of Toprawa as part of the Rebellion'sOperation Skyhook.[1] Thanks in part to McQuarrie's contributions,[3] the Rebel Alliance proceeded to utilize the Death Star schematics to formulate an assault that ultimately destroyed the battlestation at the Battle ofYavin.[11] Following his action on Ralltiir, McQuarrie joined the Alliance as a general.[2]
Echo Base's second-in-command[]
GeneralCarlist Rieekan later personally selected McQuarrie to serve as hissecond-in-command atEcho Base,[1] theAlliance High Command's secret headquarters on theOuter Rim Territoriesice planetHoth.[11] Once more working closely with his friend Jeroen Webb,[2] McQuarrie was instrumental in the establishment of the new Rebel base,[12] which was completed in2 ABY.[13]
General Pharl McQuarrie (background), second-in-command to General Carlist Rieekan at the Rebel Alliance's Echo Base
Echo Base had barely become operational whenCommanderTamizander Rey,[1] the facility's seniordeck officer,[14] suggested to McQuarrie that no ship be allowed to leave Hoth until the base'senergy shield was activated,[1] a plan ultimately approved by Rieekan.[15] McQuarrie went on to serve in the staggering Rebel defeat at theBattle of Hoth[1] in3 ABY.[8]
Both theRebel Alliance and Galactic Empire maintained personnel dossiers on McQuarrie, documenting his military service from the Clone Wars through the Galactic Civil War.[3][5] In particular, theImperial Intelligencedatabase reframed McQuarrie's actions at Ukio as "stirring up trouble" in opposition to the "orderly doctrine ofSupreme ChancellorPalpatine," while noting that he had been routed at Hoth with his Rebel confederates.[5] McQuarrie was also listed as a known associate of General Rieekan on the latter's Imperialwanted poster.[16]
Personality and traits[]
General Pharl McQuarrie was a respected military advisor for many years on his homeworld of Ralltiir, having previously served as a captain in the RepublicNavy during the Clone Wars. When the Empire subjugated Ralltiir shortly before the Battle of Yavin,[3] McQuarrie took command of the local resistance and orchestrated a diversionary raid to deliver data concerning the Death Star to Princess Leia Organa.[1] McQuarrie's ongoing military efforts resulted in the capture of the Death Star technical readouts and ultimately the battlestation's destruction.[3]
Pharl McQuarrie fought to free the galaxy from the rule of the Galactic Empire.
McQuarrie fought with the Rebel Alliance to save thegalaxy from the Empire.[2] He eventually earned assignment to the main Rebel base on Hoth as General Carlist Rieekan's second-in-command,[1] where he helped establish the facility[2] in afrozen environment that refused to cooperate.[1] Nevertheless, Imperial Intelligence derided McQuarrie as "a Rebel general of little distinction."[5]
AHuman Ralltiiri,[2] McQuarrie hadbrownhair,[4] which whitened with age;[1] browneyes;[2][5] and light skin. He stood 1.8meters tall and weighed seventy-ninekilograms.[3]
Skills and abilities[]
Pharl McQuarrie was highly intelligent and possessed strongdiplomacy skills. He had an advanced fighting ability with above-average strength and moderate speed. McQuarrie was weak inForce ability.[8]
Equipment[]
As a Republic Naval captain serving in the Clone Wars, McQuarrie wore the standardRepublic officer's uniform, sanscap, during the battle of Ukio.[4] Later, during histime on Hoth, McQuarrie wore the insulatedRebel uniform jacket,[2] which was reserved for Echo Base's command staff, including General Carlist Rieekan andMajorBren Derlin.[15] Additionally, he donned other articles of the Rebels' standard-issuecold-weather armor, including theset'sheadgear,anti-glare goggles,scarf,command gauntlets,belt,leggings, and boots.[2]
McQuarrie armed himself at Echo Base with aDH-17 blaster pistol, which he woreholstered at his right hip. He also preferred ablaster rifle among his weapons of choice.[2]
Behind the scenes[]
Artist cameo[]
- "They got the artists together to do a scene which was played out over a matte painting that I had done of Rebel ships parked in the ice cave. And we were going to be Rebel soldiers. I was a general (laughs) who walked by, you know, sort of crossed from screen right to screen left. You can see me if you know what to look for. Joe Johnston, and Harrison Ellenshaw, and Mike Pangrazio, the matte painters, stood in the foreground and had a few lines. They didn't trust me with lines (laughs). They knew I would flub up."
- ―Ralph McQuarrie discusses his role inStar Wars: Episode VThe Empire Strikes Back[17]
Ralph McQuarrie (center) poses with fellowStar Wars matte artists Harrison Ellenshaw (left) and Michael Pangrazio, all of whom filmed walk-on cameos forThe Empire Strikes Back.
Pharl McQuarrie first appeared in the1980original trilogy film,Star Wars: Episode VThe Empire Strikes Back.[15] The character is portrayed by none other thanStar Wars conceptual artistRalph McQuarrie, who makes a brief cameo[18] as an unnamed Echo Base general, barely visible as he moves from right to left across camera[17] with his sketch clipboard in hand.[18]
Accordingly, McQuarrie passes in front of a large self-created matte painting of severalRebel transports in the base'shangar. In fact, all of the extras appearing in McQuarrie's scene are fellowStar Wars matte artists, includingJoe Johnston,Harrison Ellenshaw, andMichael Pangrazio.[17]
Character development[]
The Pharl McQuarrie character was originally developed through theNovember1998Special Edition Limited expansion set of theStar Wars Customizable Card Game fromDecipher The set's"General McQuarrie" card first provided the character with a name and brief backstory as a commander from Ralltiir.[12] The2004Star Wars Insider 74 article "Who's Who in Echo Base," written byJosh Radke, further expanded the character'slore by coining the first name "Pharl"—an anagram of "Ralph"—and detailing his involvement in the Imperial subjugation of Ralltiir.[1]
TheStar Wars: The Clone Wars webcomicAct on Instinct, written byPablo Hidalgo and published serially onStarWars.com between2009 and2010, also briefly featured Pharl McQuarrie, establishing the character as a one-time Republic Naval captain during the Clone Wars.[4]
Inconsistencies[]
Hasbro's General McQuarrie action figure
"Who's Who in Echo Base" fromStar Wars Insider 74 mistakenly claims that General McQuarrie is not seen inThe Empire Strikes Back and that Decipher featured the character in itsStar Wars Customizable Card Game as a nod to the conceptual artist.[1] However, McQuarrie himself later confirmed his appearance in the film in an online interview.[17]Lucasfilm did not officially confirm McQuarrie's film cameo until the2007Star Wars Insider 94 article "The Empire Strikes Fact!"[19]
Although Ralph McQuarrie had brown eyes in real life,[20] artistThomas Hodges illustrated the character Pharl McQuarrie with blue eyes for theStar Wars: The Clone WarswebcomicAct on Instinct.[4] The character is alternatively shown with brown eyes via Ralph McQuarrie's set photos fromThe Empire Strikes Back[3][5][8] as well as the General McQuarrie action figure fromHasbro'sStar Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection line.[2] This article therefore asserts that the character had brown eyes.
Appearances[]
Sources[]
Star Wars Customizable Card Game —Special Edition LimitedCard:General McQuarrie) (backup link(First identified as McQuarrie)- "Who's Who in Echo Base" —Star Wars Insider 74(First identified as Pharl)
- "The Empire StrikesFact!" —Star Wars Insider 94(reprinted inThe Original Trilogy)(Picture only)
- Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection(Pack:General McQuarrie (Rebel Officer)) (backup link)
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- "Ralph McQuarrie: Dreamer & Visionary" —Star Wars Insider 134
- Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection
- "The Art of Harrison Ellenshaw" —Star Wars Insider 140(reprinted in Special Edition 2018)(Picture only)
- 2013 ToppsStar Wars Galactic Files Series 2 Card:General McQuarrie – Rebel General (backup link)
Notes and references[]
External links[]
- The Art by Ralph McQuarrie - Interview onwww.ralphmcquarrie.com (backup link archived onOctober 27,2003)