Prior Episodes | 7975 (2 BBY) | Next Episodes
Continuity & Analysis

Star Wars: Rebels - Zero Hour (2017) [S3E21-22]
While the rebels plot to attack the Imperial stronghold on Lothal, Grand Admiral Thrawn
discovers the location of their secret base, leading to an epic clash.




CONTINUITY
These two episodes are a single story about the Battle of Atollon. Three worlds are seen in these episodes:

These episodes take place near the end of 7975 (2 BBY). Ezra has now been Kanan's apprentice for over three years.

- Moff Tarkin assigned Admiral Thrawn to deal with Phoenix Cell's activities in and around the Lothal Sector at the beginning of this calendar year.
This was shortly after Phoenix Cell established its base on Atollon. It has taken most of a year for Thrawn to prepare his final move.

- Massassi Group is "one of the largest rebel cells" at this point, and is led by General Jan Dodonna. They have been operating since some point
before this calendar year, as the the Spectre's stole Y-wings for them about 10 or 11 months earlier 'Steps Into Shadow' (S3E1-2).
In addition to fighters and troops, Massassi Group has a small fleet based around Nebulon-B frigates, Corellian corvettes, and Braha'tok
gunships. Massassi Group's base is on Yavin 4, which has likely already become Rebel headquarters based on the discussion after
the battle. This means the first Rebel headquarters on Dantooine only served for a few months at most before being abandoned.


- At this point in galactic unrest and the growing rebellion, there have not yet been any coordinated attacks by multiple rebel cells.

- Thrawn has yet to determine the location of the nearby Rebel base, due mostly to Atollon having been erased from his target list by Rebel spies
months earlier. Thrawn is able to determine their location by triangulating Kallus' transmission and the trajectory of Massassi Group's fleet.
At some point in their journey, Dodonna's fleet was detected by Imperial spies, probably using monitoring stations or ships scanning
hyperspace routes in the area. Even travel off of the major hyperspace routes will at times come into proximity of standard Imperial
monitoring, and some areas of space not usually scanned will be by additional patrols which cannot be planned for. Thrawn knows this is
the location, despite there being no planet there according to Imperial starcharts, since he learned of it by studying the art of "the ancient
people of this sector", and had previously added it to his list of planets to search. Atollon was apparently lost to the interstellar community
at some point in history, something which has been seen to happen with some regularity to remote Outer Rim planets.
Main Article: Hyperspace Travel


Why didn't Thrawn send an expedition to Atollon months ago after discovering the existence of a lost planet in the Lothal
Sector? The Imperial droid which surveyed Atollon for Thrawn months earlier in 'Warhead' (S3E14) stated the name of
the world and that its assignment there was intentional. Thrawn now asserts that Atollon does not appear on Imperial
starcharts, apparently having been lost to history. The Rebels had apparently surveyed this world while searching for
a base, and the fact that the Empire did not remember it was part of the reason it was chosen. As one of the survey
droids was directly assigned by the Empire to go to Atollon, this suggests that Thrawn's study of art had already led him
to rediscover this world at the time of the probe survey. Atollon is only known to informed locals, is very near to Lothal,
and has no colonial or Imperial presence. It would have taken a minimal effort to visit this system, and considering its
unique situation and Thrawn's discovery through research, it makes very little sense that he did not investigate it,
especially after it still remained on his reduced target list. Ezra and Kallus successfully erased Atollon and replaced it on
the list with another planet weeks later in 'Through Imperial Eyes' (S3E17), thus providing a reason why the Empire had
not come across the base. This still does not explain why the Empire is so slow at sending ships to 100 starsystems to
survey them in person, or explain why Thrawn didn't bother to explore this one planet which makes a likely candidate
for a rebel base, and which was discovered by his careful study of art related to Lothal and the Spectres.


- The most important part of being a Jedi teacher, or indeed any kind of teacher, is the wisdom one shares with their student, and the personal
example the set as a role model. The actual skills are also important, but could be learned from a recording or from a teacher who isn't
a good example. The role of a Jedi master is to pass on to their apprentice the spirit of the Jedi, and the values which the Jedi stand for.

- The Empire's fleet jams long-range transmissions to and from Atollon after their arrival. This is certainly possible due to the size of their fleet,
although it is probable a single destroyer could accomplish this itself, particularly if parked in orbit above the base they are jamming.
Main Article: Hyperspace Communication

- Commander Sato employs a "Danaan tactic" during the Rebel attempt to punch a hole in the Imperial blockade over Atollon. This arranges
ships in a spearhead formation, with warships positioned between the unarmed transports the Imperial line of fire. Thrawn observes
that this is a "bold" tactic considering the Empire's superior forces, but is not surprised because he considers Sato to be "the best
commander to ever come out of the Mykapo system." This may imply some notable actions of Sato's prior to joining the Rebellion,
however it could be simply based on his successes since. Thrawn's response is to reinforce his center and send in waves of fighters.

- Konstantine and Thrawn are examples of the two primary kinds of Imperial military leaders, Konstatine being the impatient political climber
who prefers blunt force, and Thrawn being the patient tactician who pefers subtlety and detail. This has been a common thread all along
which has repeatedly led to Konstatine's failure and Thrawn's success, however limited. Thrawn's study of the Rebels has allowed him to
arrange a showdown on his terms, where all the details have been arranged to counter Rebel tactics. Konstatine's desire for personal
glory and disdain for Thrawn's patient tactics lead him to not only ruin Thrawn's planning, but also to get himself and his crew killed.
Thrawn also cares about advancement, however he is wise enough to know that achieving results for the Emperor will best achieve this.


- The Bendu's great powers with the Force have left him both disconnected and with a sense of superiority in regard to mundane beings,
although he does have a small amount more respect for fellow Force wielders like Kanan. He describes himself as "beyond your
worrying and wars", and as "unseen, unknowable, like a rock in the river." It is clear from this episode that Bendu's corporeal form
is not the full extent of his being, and that his lifespan is far greater than that of an organic being. The implication seems to be that
Bendu advanced to this state long ago and will remain long after. Bendu suggestion that Atollon was not hard to find by "chance"
heavily suggest that he and his great powers have something to do with the reason why Atollon became lost to galactic civilization.
His desire to preserve this world for nature, and therefore the Force, causes his great displeasure with a battle being fought there.

- The shield generator the Spectres stole from Geonosis generates what is only described as a "shield", one which is identical to the localized
shields used on planets throughout the Clone Wars. These are a kind of static energy shield, who spread their strength out evenly across
their projected surface, which can be expanded or retracted. The smaller the area they are protecting, the greater their resistance at
any point. Their total strength is limited by the energy generating potential and output capacity of their shield generator. They can be
overtaxed by a continual bombardment of sufficient strength, which leads their generator to overheat attempting to absorb more
energy fire than it can reflect. A generator that has been severely taxed by fire cannot generate a full-strength shield unless given time
to recharge. A generator which has been damaged by overheating is unlikely to last long if its shield is once again taxed.
Main Article: Shields, Deflectors, and Ray Shields


Zeb is upset that their shield only reflects energy fire, and that Imperial ground forces can pass through it, and exclaims,
"we need Sabine to invent a shield you can't walk through!" Why has no one in this series ever heard of a ray shield, and
doesn't seem to know how they work? Ray shields are seen often in this series, and despite constantly encountering
them, Ezra didn't know what they were called, and now Zeb seems to have forgotten they exist at all. Ray shields cannot
be passed through by solid matter, one of the reasons they are often used in security situations and for prison doors.
Setting up a ring of ray shields around even as small a facility as Chopper Base would be very energy intensive, which
would require a large power generator and a complex array of shield generators positioned around the perimeter of
the base. Such an effort would not be worth the resources needed to employ it in almost any situation, for a number of
reasons, not the least of which is that a ray shield cannot be generated in a bubble over an airspace, and thus an enemy
can simply fly over it. It could be that Zeb means he wants Sabine to invent a bubble energy shield which also prevents
matter from passing through it, which would be novel. His statement is therefore either dumb or imprecise.
Main Article: Shields, Deflectors, and Ray Shields


- The Mandalorian civil war has been going on now for between 3 and 5 months. Clan Saxon's Imperial loyalists with the Empire's support are
battling Clan Wren's alliance of rebel clans, whose forces are "stretched to their limit just to protect what ground we have." Considering
Saxon's Imperial backing, the fact that the rebel movement has held on this long suggests it has significant Mandalorian support.


Kanan once again leaps up and slices right through the legs of an AT-AT walker in a single motion while in midair. This was
first seen in 'A Princess on Lothal' (S2E12), where it what was shown is problematic based on other SW material. In this
instance, he powers right through a back leg without his flight being slowed, and proceeds to do the same to the front
leg. Based on the known resistance of metal armor, all other examples of a lightsaber's cutting abilities, and the related
physical effect on a Jedi's momentum caused by resistance during cutting, these two instances are probably not canon.


- The appearance of the Bendu leads Thrawn to suspect what is going on is some kind of "Jedi devilry." This shows that supernatural events
are automatically assumed to be the work of a Jedi if one is around, and also that even someone as well-educated as Thrawn is unlikely
to suspect the intervention of a Force wielder other than a Jedi. It appears that the Bendu can be hurt, or at least temporarily
countered, by firepower as intense as the Empire's. Thrawn seems to think they have mortally wounded Bendu, but since he is not
entirely a corporeal being, he is apparently going to be alright. This encounter is one of a few instances which show that Thrawn is
jealous of Force wielders, despite usually keeping his confident and composed bearing. Force wielders have access to a kind of power
he cannot achieve, and someone as powerful as Bendu is even more frustrating, because Thrawn cannot defeat him even wielding
the great power of the Imperial military. Bendu's vision through the Force has revealed to him Thrawn's defeat in the events of this
series' finale, which he describes as "your defeat, like many arms surrounding you in a cold embrace."
Main Article: Awareness of the Jedi and the Sith

- In order to prevent local tracking stations from monitoring one's destination, a ship must first jump to unrelated coordinates to throw the Empire
off their trail. Making at least two jumps to points other than the actual destination will significantly decrease the chances of multiple tracking
stations from piecing together a given ship's journey, especially since any systems near the jump points are not expecting a ship and actively
attempting to track it. A scan revealing a small part of the route of unidentified ships traveling from an unknown origin point are unlikely to
raise the alarm with the Empire or lead to discovery of their destination point if investigated. Rex suggests that "if we want to cover our tracks,
we should make it three", as that many stops makes the likelihood of being tracked by stations to destination nearly zero.
Main Article: Hyperspace Travel

ANALYSIS
The building up of Rebel forces to the point of readiness for an operation like the assault against Imperial facilities on Lothal took time, which they
also used to train and study Imperial defenses. The Empire successfully took advantage of that time to conduct their own study of the Rebel forces,
their tactics, and to prepare themselves accordingly. Thanks to Thrawn's strategic approach, the Rebels in the Lothal Sector were allowed to achieve
minor successes in which the Empire's response was convincing enough to build their confidence in their operational capacity. This exposed them
to examination and ultimately gave clues which led the Empire to discover their hidden base. The Rebels are willing to risk gathering some of their
disparate forces for the opportunity to conduct a strike which will be of great strategic value while also making a strong statement to the galaxy
suggesting Rebel strength and Imperial weakness. The TIE defender factory is the "most important facility" of the Empire in the northeastern region
of the Slice in the Outer Rim, and thus is valuable enough of a target to entice General Dodonna's Massassi group to participate. Thrawn's plan was
always to wait until he believed the entire Alliance could be located together before moving in force. This turns what would have been the first
attack by a combined Rebel force into a potential disaster which would cripple their movement in its infancy. Moff Tarkin's desire to capture Rebel
leadership is motivated by his political concerns, as it is vital to "make examples" of those who organize and lead rebellion in order to discourage
others from taking their place. Those who die a hero's death in battle become martyrs, whereas capture and trial represents a public humiliation
and shaming, as well as providing both proof of Imperial strength and the value of order, and the fate of those who resist its authority. The Rebels
paint themselves as republican revolutionaries, and the Empire needs to demonstrate to the public that they are merely criminals and terrorists.

The Battle of Atollon is the first true naval battle between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire, and is sometimes considered to be the first official
battle of the Galactic Civil War. While the case can be made that the war had already begun, or that it won't actually begin until the Battle of
Scarif about a year and a half after this battle, this was the first time that a sizable fleet composed of ships from the unified Alliance would do
battle with a fully-formed Imperial armada. The line-ahead battle tactics used in starship combat make it difficult for the Empire to ensure it
can prevent the escape of all Rebel ships without the aid of its Interdictor ships. These vessels make an Imperial fleet a very effective net when
placed around an opposing fleet pinned against a planet. The Imperial approach to the battle is geared towards capturing Rebel prisoners, and
thus there were a couple of points in the battle where the Empire could have pressed its advantages and won a crushing defeat which Thrawn
bypassed to carry out Tarkin's directive. Thrawn also has an arrogant motive for executing the battle in this manner, as he wishes to gloat over
his most cunning opponents by theatrically ensuring they have to watch their forces fall and then admit that Thrawn wins by surrendering to
him. The Rebel tactics are geared towards escaping with as much of their force intact as possible. This required the strategic sacrifice of most
of their larger vessels, including their flagship carrier and their frigates which were their most powerful warships, in order to allow one of their
ships to escape to bring back reinforcements. The Empire's tactics fail to prevent this escape due to a combination of lack of discipline amongst
Imperial commanders and surprise suicide tactics by the Rebel forces. Otherwise, the Imperial strategy was highly successful, driving the Rebels
back to their base where the Empire's superior ground forces easily overwhelmed them. If not for the Bendu, a factor of Jedi interference
which could not have been accounted for, the Empire would have succeeded in capturing the Rebel leaders and destroying their forces.

The Empire incorrectly believes that the Rebel forces at Atollon constitute the entire rebel fleet, which provides the Alliance forces trapped there
with hope of reinforcement. Mon Mothma is unwilling to commit the other resources of the Alliance to the battle as exposing their remaining
forces which the Empire is unaware of would turn a major success for Thrawn into a total defeat for the Alliance. Mothma takes the situation
at Atollon as evidence that the Alliance is ill-prepared to fight a single major engagement, let alone a full-scale war, which is a position Senator
Organa has been advocating. Although the actual Rebel Alliance is unwilling to help its own forces in a time of peril, the Alliance's efforts to
build a network of unaffiliated partners amongst local rebel movements result in important parts of two Rebel groups surviving what would
have otherwise been a total defeat. The Alliance's assistance to rebel Mandalorians results in reciprocol aid at a key turning point, which will
soon result in further Rebel assistance to the uprising on Mandalore. This connection between the united rebel groups of the Alliance and
the larger rebellion in the galaxy lays the groundwork for a much larger rebel structure which will be necessary to successful fight a full-scale
war with the Empire. The threat which even small numbers of Mandalorians represent is clearly shown here, as their prowess in war is precisely
why their planet has been targeted by Palpatine for over two decades, and why this alliance with the Rebels is of great concern to the Empire.


FURTHER ANALYSIS
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