Galactic Civil War

"That was the most pleasure I've felt in a long while. I suppose I didn't think there was time for it. Not with the Empire." "There's always time. We're fighting for freedom and liberation, after all."

- Hera Syndulla and Kanan Jarrus

The Galactic Civil War was a conflict fought between heroes of the Rebellion and the Imperial stormtroopers of the Emperor during a dark time for the galaxy. After the ruin of the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, the Emperor consolidated power with reformation acts and Imperialization across many worlds, though groups of freedom fighters fought to oppose him in increasingly daring strikes and operations. Following the Emperor's death, its impact was still felt some thirty years later.

Origins
"Freedom and liberation for all, Kanan, not just us."

- Hera Syndulla to Kanan Jarrus

Palpatine established the Empire under his New Order, and became Emperor with too few Jedi to oppose him. The Jedi Temple on Coruscant was left ruined, and many Jedi fell to the Empire and its sinister agents, though some fled into hiding. The Emperor made many reformation acts, and many planets succumbed to the iron fist of Imperialization, although some such as the Inner Rim world of Nuri maintained its lurid and exotic culture, keeping its infamous flesh markets open during the Imperial era.

Groups of freedom fighters emerged to struggle against the Imperial regime; among them were the Twi'lek Hera Syndulla and former Jedi Kanan Jarrus, whose anti-Imperial operations aboard the Ghost increased over the six years since they met on Gorse. Syndulla was inspired to fight the Empire by her revolutionary father, Cham Syndulla, and maintained a rule of "no romance" among her crew, considering there no time for pleasure during the conflict. However, their battles against the Empire typically turned into adventures which brought the pair closer. Accepting assignments from their contact Fulcrum, Hera and Kanan made love after a mission to Nuri, and continued to fight against the Empire. Kanan believed the spark of rebellion needed determined fighters like Hera to see through the dark times.

History
During the Galactic Civil War, heroes of the Rebellion fought the white-armored Imperial stormtroopers who fought for the Emperor. The Emperor ultimately died, leaving a changed galaxy behind.

Legacy
Some thirty years after the war, tales of heroism and adventure continued to circulate. Rey heard such stories, and enjoyed recalling them during her isolated existence.

Military forces
"If you'd care to blast one of those TIEs out of the galaxy, I don't think anyone would object!"

- Hera Syndulla to Kanan Jarrus

The Empire utilized TIE fighters as part of its military forces.

Galactic impact
"Careful. You've been through the wars." "Don't treat me like some spindly battle droid."

- Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla

During the reign of the Galactic Empire, individuals such as Jyn Erso struggled to survive on the wrong side of the law, although wanted little to do with either side of the struggle until the events surrounding her rescue from Wobani. She believed that both heroes and villains died alike, and it was the people who went unnoticed who survived in times of conflict. Erso's participation in the Battle of Scarif helped propel the struggle against the Empire into open warfare, and the beginning of the Galactic Civil War.

Appearances

 * SB 9614 (SBCSW59 - Inspiring Hope)
 * SB 9579 (SBCSW47 - The Rebels' Reward)
 * SB 9627 (SBCSW63 - Scoundrel's Charm)
 * SB 9580 (SBCSW48 - Leia's Prize)
 * SB 9580 (SBCSW48 - Leia's Prize)