- "Alphabet Two, standing by."
- ―Alphabet Two
"Alphabet Two" was the callsign of a individual who served as part of the Citizens' Fleet, a fleet of starships from around the galaxy which collaborated to destroy the Sith Eternal's navy at the planet Exegol[1] in 35 ABY,[2] after Lando Calrissian sent a broadcast across the galaxy to muster help against the Sith Eternal. After the citizens' fleet arrived at Exegol, Alphabet Two was among the starships which reported in. The fleet ultimately destroyed the Sith Eternal's navy, and many of the vessels returned to the jungle moon Ajan Kloss.[1]
Behind the scenes
- "Why "Alphabet 2" specifically? Callsigns like that never appear in the trilogy, so it keeps it vague. Plus, its interesting and creates a cool storytelling opportunity if you ever did explore the identity of Alphabet 2. Why suddenly that designation, decades later?"
- ―Tom Hoeler, on the creation of Alphabet Two
Alphabet Two's voice appeared in the 2020 novel Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition, written by Rae Carson.[1] According to Del Rey editor Tom Hoeler on a Twitter thread, the mention of Alphabet Two was an easter egg to the Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron,[4] a trilogy written by Alexander Freed which was based largely around the New Republic pilots of Alphabet Squadron,[5] to reflect the idea that the whole galaxy was arriving to Exegol.[6] However, Hoeler added that they avoided attributing the callsign with one of the Alphabet Squadron members as it would lock in their survival in the trilogy and at that time,[4] the 2021 novel Victory's Price: An Alphabet Squadron Novel,[7] the final book in the trilogy had only been mapped out but not finalized.[4]
Wishing not to limit Freed's decisions with his novel-in-progress,[8] Hoeler and his colleagues spoke with the author to ensure at least one member of Alphabet Squadron survived the trilogy, although the detail did not matter too much to them as even without the named characters an explanation could be made for the appearance of Alphabet Two.[9] "Alphabet Two" was chosen as a means to be vague[3] as they believed a callsign like Alphabet Leader or Alphabet Five might elude to a specific character.[10] Hoeler believed Alphabet Two did not have that same issue as Alphabet Squadron did not have the same leadership at all times and offered enough flexibility that any member could have used that callsign.[11]
In an interview with video creator "Star Wars Explained" on YouTube, Freed was asked whether Alphabet Two was part of Alphabet Squadron, to which he stated that at least one of the squadron's members was present at the Battle of Exegol, although he felt his statement could not confirm Rae Carson's intent of including Alphabet Two.[12]
Appearances
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition (and audiobook) (First appearance) (Voice only)
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition
- ↑ Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary dates the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, which includes the Battle of Exegol as taking place one year after the Starkiller Incident, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 34 ABY. Therefore, the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker must take place in 35 ABY.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1
Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "Why "Alphabet 2" specifically? Callsigns like that never appear in the trilogy, so it keeps it vague. Plus, its interesting and creates a cool storytelling opportunity if you ever did explore the identity of Alphabet 2. Why suddenly that designation, decades later?" (backup link)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "So we gathered references from across Star Wars. Including Alphabet Squadron. Victory's Price was largely mapped out, but not final. Putting a name down would lock a character into surviving the trilogy, plus their future as some level of circumstance brings them to Exegol" (backup link)
- ↑
Spoiler Talk: Alexander Freed on the Alphabet Squadron Trilogy on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑
Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "Okay, so when the novelization was in process and we reached the "more of us" reveal we saw a place for the book to augment the film. A fun place to reward/nod to continuity across SW media. Plus, it makes sense if the "whole galaxy" is part of this fleet, right?" (backup link)
- ↑ Victory's Price: An Alphabet Squadron Novel
- ↑ Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "Connectivity is GREAT, but there are moments when you need to recognize that a fun Easter Egg isn't always worth closing off a larger story. Sometimes it is. That's def happened in SW and will happen again. But here, it didn't make sense to limit Alex Freed's decisions." (backup link)
- ↑ Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "So, we talked with Alex to ensure that it was likely at least 1 member of Alphabet would survive, and the vague "Alphabet 2" was used. (Even if no one would have survived the reference still works. It just creates a diff story path as to who is there/why they use that callsign)." (backup link)
- ↑ Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "Using "Alphabet 1/leader" or "Alphabet 5" would tip too much toward being a specific member of the team. IE: 1/leader is prob Yrica/Wyl, and again, we wanted to avoid any chance of specificity." (backup link)
- ↑ Tom Hoeler (@DarthInternous) on Twitter (post): "You might argue that using "2" has the same issue, but when you read the trilogy, who is leading the squad at different times + how each member see themselves within the squad lent enough flexibility that it could really be anyone." (backup link)
- ↑ Alexander Freed Talks Shadow Fall, the Conclusion of The Alphabet Squadron Trilogy, and More! on the Star Wars Explained YouTube channel: "I got the chance to speak with Alexander Freed about his Star Wars novels, specifically the recent release, Shadow Fall!" (backup link)
