The attack on the Vesper[3] was a event that occurred in 9 ABY, when the former Jedi Knight Baylan Skoll and his apprentice Shin Hati boarded and attacked the New Republic Defender-class cruiser Vesper to rescue Morgan Elsbeth. The cruiser was scuttled and destroyed.[1]
Prelude
During the Imperial Era, Morgan Elsbeth, a Nightsister and witch, joined the Galactic Empire's war effort, charging several of her factories and shipyards with building heavy machinery for the Imperial Navy's fleet.[4] Following the collapse of the Empire and the formation of the New Republic after the Battle of Endor, Elsbeth, a close ally of Grand Admiral Thrawn hid on the planet Corvus where she ruled as a Magistrate of the village Calodan.[5]
Several years later, former Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano began searching for Elsbeth, believing her to hold the key for Thrawn's location and fearing the former Grand Admiral's re-emergence. Discovering her whereabouts in Corvus, Tano repeatedly attempted to gain access to Calodan, but she was repelled by the village's scout guards. Eventually, in 9 ABY, Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin arrived to the planet searching for Tano after learning of her location by her former ally Bo-Katan Kryze. After finding the Jedi, Djarin asked for her help in training his foundling, Grogu, who was also a Padawan like Tano. In exchange, she asked for his help in retaking the city and capturing Elsbeth, which Djarin did. After a fierce duel, Tano successfully captured the Magistrate[5] and delivered her to the New Republic for questioning.[1]
Attack of the "Jedi"
Elsbeth was detained by the New Republic Defense Force and boarded the Vesper to be carried to Home One for questioning by New Republic officers. After dropping out of hyperspace close to Home One's position in Sector G-38, the navigation droid detected an Eta-class shuttle approaching their ship and requested their clearance codes. The shuttle transmitted an old Jedi code, much to the crew's surprise, requesting to land on board the ship and question the prisoners. Captain Hayle, suspecting the actions of Imperial collaborators, ordered the crew to allow the ship to land on the cruiser to apprehend them alongside Elsbeth.[1]
Hayle personally greeted the shuttle's occupants, Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati on board alongside eight Defense Force soldiers, and asked them to peacefully surrender. In response, Hati lunged at the soldiers, killing two of them before they had time to react, and Skoll informed Hayle that they were indeed not Jedi before killing him as well. Watching the massacre from the ship's security cameras, Executive officer Jensen Corbyt placed the ship on high alert and sealed off the bridge in an attempt to buy time until they reached the main fleet; however Skoll neutralized all defenses, slaughtering the soldiers, and Hati reached the bridge before it was secured, killing Corbyt and the crew stationed there. After joining his apprentice on the bridge, Skoll took her down to the detention cells and liberated Elsbeth, all three escaping on board their shuttle.[1]
Aftermath
- "They took out an entire security detail and scuttled one of our new starships."
- ―Hera Syndulla
The ship was discovered by the New Republic Defense Fleet, adrift in space and heavily damaged. Defense command was forced to have it scuttled. Several survivors were observed being treated in a hanger on Home One.[1]
After Elsbeth was freed, she went on to oversee the final stages of the Eye of Sion's preparations above Seatos.[4]
Behind the scenes
The attack on the New Republic cruiser first appeared in "Part One: Master and Apprentice," the first episode of the 2023 television series Star Wars: Ahsoka. The episode, along with "Part Two: Toil and Trouble," was released on August 22, 2023.[6]
Appearances
Star Wars: Ahsoka — "Part One: Master and Apprentice" (First appearance)- Ahsoka 1
Star Wars: Ahsoka — "Part Three: Time to Fly" (Mentioned only) (First identified as attack on the Vesper)
Sources
Ahsoka | Teaser Trailer | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com) (First pictured)
SWCE 2023: The Ahsoka Teaser Trailer Is Here on StarWars.com (backup link)Ahsoka | Official Trailer | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
New Ahsoka Trailer: The Former Jedi Prepares for the Return of Thrawn on StarWars.com (backup link)Ahsoka | Trick | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
Force | Ahsoka | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
Master & Apprentice: A Special Look at Ahsoka on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (article) (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
Get Ready | Ahsoka | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
Ahsoka Fan Events | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
Remember Her Name | Ahsoka | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
Rebel Crew Featurette | Ahsoka | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
Episodes 1 & 2 Now Streaming | Ahsoka | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36
Star Wars: Ahsoka — "Part One: Master and Apprentice"
- ↑
"A Certain Point of View" — Star Wars Insider 228 dates the events of "Part Seven: Dreams and Madness" to nine years after Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, which corresponds to 9 ABY per Star Wars: Timelines. Preceding episodes, also take place in that year, since they take place after Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett, which is dated to 9 ABY according to Timelines. As "Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord" takes place shortly after Part Seven, the events of Ahsoka as a whole must all take place within the same year.
- ↑
Star Wars: Ahsoka — "Part Three: Time to Fly"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1
Star Wars: Ahsoka — "Part Two: Toil and Trouble"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1
Star Wars: The Mandalorian — "Chapter 13: The Jedi"
- ↑
Star Wars (@starwars) on Twitter (post): "Thank you to all the fans who celebrated with us at our @AhsokaOfficial fan events around the world last night! We're excited to announce that new episodes of #Ahsoka will now launch Tuesdays at 6PM PT, starting with our two-episode premiere on August 22, only on @DisneyPlus." (backup link)
