- "We are not insurgents. We are partisans. We are a rebellion. I bring battle-hardened fighters. I bring experienced tacticians. I bring pilots, a squadron of them. I bring the means with which to fight back. I am inviting you, both of you, to join me in this."
- ―Saw Gerrera, to Baze Malbus and Chirrut Îmwe
The Partisans, also known as Saw's guerrillas, Saw Gerrera's militia, Saw Gerrera's splinter group,[27] and Gerrera's partisan fighters,[28] were a militant insurgent group who enacted armed brutal campaigns against the Galactic Empire during the Imperial Era. Led and founded by Saw Gerrera in 19 BBY, the Partisans played a part in destabilizing Gerrera's homeworld of Onderon from the Empire's occupying forces and eventually became a rebel cell allied with the Alliance to Restore the Republic. However, some, like Rebel Alliance founders Mon Mothma and Bail Organa, distanced themselves from Gerrera's faction due to their willingness to resort to extreme tactics, such as torture and attacks on civilian targets.
In 1 BBY, the militia had very little communication with the mainstream Alliance, and Gerrera's militia besieged the holy moon of Jedha with the intentions of purging the Imperial occupation. However, the campaign took a major blow with the destruction of the Holy City by the Imperial Death Star battle station's superlaser, and the death of Saw Gerrera himself.
The Partisans were also responsible for enough attacks resulting in civilian casualties that the Galactic Empire in response made a propaganda poster denouncing the Rebel Alliance as a terrorist group. The campaigns of the Partisans were later mentioned by New Republic Senator Ransolm Casterfo as an example of the Rebels' so-called terrorist tactics during the war, and also demanded of Leia Organa to know if she condoned it or not, with Leia simply saying he did what needed to be done without saying either way regarding her views on the matter.
Description[]
Ruthless rebels[]
- "You think I'm crazy? Yes, I am. Revolution is not for the sane. Look at us. Unloved. Hunted. Cannon fodder. We'll all be dead before the Republic is back and yet… here we are. Where are you, boy? You're here! You're not with Luthen. You're here! You're right here, and you're ready to fight! We're the rhydo, kid. We're the fuel. We're the thing that explodes when there's too much friction in the air. Let it in, boy! That's freedom calling! Let it in. Let it run! Let it run wild!"
- ―Saw Gerrera, to Wilmon Paak
Established out of the Onderon rebels of the Clone Wars,[29] the Partisans were one of the earliest rebel cells to emerge after the formation of the Galactic Empire. Fighters in the Partisans were recognized as fierce warriors known for their ruthlessness, capability in achieving successful jobs, and eagerness to fight against the Empire by any means necessary.[6][28] The Partisans' ruthlessness had its roots in the activity of the Onderon rebels, although the Onderon rebels had not gone as far as their successors.[29]
Initially, Gerrera only wished to see the liberation of Imperial-occupied worlds, starting with Onderon,[29] but he eventually desired to see the Empire overthrown in its entirety[7] via revolution. He understood that the logical endpoint of the struggle would be the restoration of the Galactic Republic, yet he did not expect to survive long enough to see that day.[10] Early rebel organizer Luthen Rael also identified the Partisans as anarchists.[15] Due to their more extreme nature and use of methods such as torture and including civilian targets, the rebel cell was often considered too extreme and later detrimental to the rebellion.[6] Despite this, the rebellion continued communication and working alongside for the Partisans[11] until Mon Mothma's official censure around the time of the public, official formation of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.[6]
Operations[]
- "You target civilians, kill those who surrender, break every rule of engagement! If we degrade ourselves to the Empire's level, what will we become?"
"There she is! That's the leader the Rebellion needs! Where is that fire, that passion, when your people need it most? I hope, Senator, after you've lost, and the Empire reigns over the galaxy unopposed, you will find some comfort in the knowledge that you fought according to the rules." - ―Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera
While primarily operating in the Outer Rim near the Corellian Run,[6] the Partisans had several different headquarters and outposts in the galaxy; this was an intentional design by Saw Gerrera, believing that multiple outposts and headquarters ensured the Empire could not cripple his operations in the event they found his base of operations.[11] The rebel group often sought out uncomfortable but defendable strongholds that function as a first line of defense despite it's adverse health effects overtime.[31]
Much of their funding and weaponry originated from criminal contacts first established during the Clone Wars[29] and looted equipment from raids against corporate and Imperial factions.[31] The Partisans also partnered with other cells and exchanged their services for equipment.[15] However, the Partisans were not as well-funded as the rebel cells later making up the Alliance and their equipment were sometimes rustic.[31][32] Encoded communications allowed the Partisans to be kept appraised on galactic developments.[31]
Unethical and ruthless in their methods[33] and ignoring the rules of engagement,[30] Partisan guerilla fighters employed assassination, torture, and invasive interrogation on their enemies, ignoring collateral damage[33] and even actively targeting civilians.[30] Similarly, Partisan starfighter pilots employed sudden and brazen attacks on vulnerable targets, a preferred tactic from their leader, and starfighters were sometimes modified for maximum destruction. Among their ranks, disloyalty carried a heavy penalty, which included summary execution.[31]
Unaffiliated opportunists who copied their violent methods sometimes claimed to be Partisans, which caused confusion in the ranks of both Imperial and rebel intelligence. If effective, Gerrera approved of such imitation.[31]
History[]
Formation[]
- "If we give up now, everything we fought for, everyone we lost will have been for nothing. I won't let that happen. The Clone War may have ended, but a civil war is about to begin."
"With a handful of fighters and limited firepower, you don't stand a chance."
"Not alone we don't." - ―Clone Force 99 and Saw Gerrera on the changing state of the galaxy
Following Onderon's Civil War and the Galactic Republic's transformation into the Galactic Empire Saw Gerrera reformed the Onderon rebels into the Partisans.[22] Governor Wilhuff Tarkin sent Clone Force 99 to eliminate them, claiming they were a Separatist remnant, but they disobeyed orders and decided to desert upon learning the truth.[12] Later, a new squadron led by Crosshair, who had left the Clone Force 99 due to their defection from the Empire, arrived to finish the mission to eliminate Saw and his militia. However, Saw was already gone, and the only ones left were some militia members and some civilians. All were killed, including the Elite Squad Trooper ES-01, who refused to execute the civilians, which was seen as treason by Crosshair.[9] When the Empire sent ISB Agent Kallus and his squad to bring peace to Onderon, Gerrera and a Lasat mercenary ambushed them. The Lasat then mercilessly executed the squad and left Kallus alive.[34]
Armed resistance[]
- "I'm fighting for you and everyone else not to lose what they've got. And I won't apologize for how I do it."
- ―Saw Gerrera
Saw and the Partisans helped to liberate Wookiees on Kashyyyk.
In 14 BBY,[36] the Partisans led an incursion against the Empire on Kashyyyk, in an attempt to weaken the Empire and free Wookiee prisoners. They assisted the Jedi Padawan Cal Kestis and the crew of the starship Stinger Mantis in locating Wookiee Chieftain Tarfful. They were overwhelmed by Imperial forces after finding him, forcing the majority of them to retreat the planet. Saw offered Kestis a place in the Partisans, but Kestis refused because was on his own mission. Saw said it was an opened invitation.[4] Over the next few years, Kestis stayed in touch with Gerrera and the two worked together on missions against the Empire.[37]
In 13 BBY,[38] Gerrera took Jyn Erso and accepted her into the partisans.[7] By 5 BBY,[39] Erso was one of the best fighters among the partisans. However, Gerrera was forced to abandon her due to her father, Galen Walton Erso, being an Imperial collaborator.[7]
Sometime later, Gerrera and his Partisans were hired by Arane Oreida and her group of partisans to infiltrate the Sakoola blossom festival on Inusagi. Using flechette launchers, the partisans massacred the festival and the outcome involved the deaths of Maia, the Inusagi chieftess, several Imperials including governor Cor Tophervin, and many Inusagi civilians. Some of Gerrera's members left the Partisans for less extreme rebel groups following the ordeal.[11]
In 9 BBY, Gerrera received Imperial military information obtained by Kestis, who stole it from Imperial Senator Daho Sejan's private starship on Coruscant when he faked capture to be taken to the senator.[37] At some point, the Partisans undertook a raid within the Ryloth capital of Lessu City, where they encountered and freed the[1] Twi'lek rebel Beezer Fortuna, who joined the Partisans as a strategist.[40]
In 5 BBY[41], Gerrera and his Partisans were at their base on Segra Milo. There, Benthic and Gerrera met with Axis network leader Luthen Rael. Rael wanted Gerrer to meet with Anto Kreegyr and his group in exchange for a full set of Imperial drive adapters and three sealed Steergard targeting deflectors. Gerrera refused to work with Kreegyr due his former status as Separatist nor with the Maya Pei's Brigade. Despite Rael's insistence, Gerrera refused to work with anyone.[15] Rael returned and Gerrera agreed to support Kreegyr's raid on Spellhaus. However, Rael told Saw that ISB knew about the raid, that it was trap and told Gerrera not partake in the attack. Rael refused to name his ISB source and convinced Saw and Benthic not to partake in the attack, let alone warn Kreegyr about ISB's trap.[42]
In 3 BBY[43], the Partisans established a new base on D'Qar.[16] However, the base was abandoned when Gerrera discovered that Pluti was a Imperial spy.[10]
Galactic Civil War[]
Uneasy alliance[]
- "You target civilians, kill those who surrender, break every rule of engagement! If we degrade ourselves to the Empire's level, what will we become?"
"There she is! That's the leader the Rebellion needs! Where is that fire, that passion, when your people need it most? I hope, Senator, after you've lost, and the Empire reigns over the galaxy unopposed, you will find some comfort in the knowledge that you fought according to the rules." - ―Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera
Gerrera clashed with Mon Mothma over tactics.
In 3 BBY,[44] a member of Saw's Partisans planted a bomb in the chalet of Moff Quarsh Panaka, governor of Naboo, on the moon Onoam. The explosion destroyed the building and killed Panaka, but also nearly killed Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, fellow rebel Bail Organa's adopted daughter, and Naboo's reigning Queen Dalné, both of whom escaped death by mere moments. Panaka's assassination caused a full lockdown of the sector and infuriated Bail, both because Panaka had been one of the select few Imperials who was neither corrupt nor cruel and because his daughter was very nearly killed.[19]
With the brutality of his campaigns clear to her,[7] Senator Mon Mothma, Chief of State of the emerging Alliance to Restore the Republic, presented a resolution of censure against Gerrera to the Alliance Council, which passed her motion shortly before the Alliance's official foundation[6] in 2 BBY.[17] The motion officially cut contact between Gerrera's fighters and those organized under Mothma[7] and condemned his conduct.[6] As such, Gerrera found himself at odds with Mothma in terms of how the war was to be fought.[20] In 1 BBY,[17] Gerrera made contact with the Alliance to debate Mothma. Soon after, he assisted the rebels in their mission to the Jalindi Station, with he and Benthic in their U-wing. Gerrera dropped proton bombs on the relay to destroy it and rescued the Spectres from their mission. Wren and Bridger joined Gerrera on a mission to Faos Station.[20]
Jedha insurgency[]
- "Save the Rebellion! Save the dream!"
- ―Saw Gerrera, to Jyn Erso
The Partisans and the Empire street fighting on Jedha.
Around 1 BBY,[17] the Partisans also undertook a mission to the Imperial Metal Factory on Dooma 4 after learning that the factory provided components for an secret Imperial project.[2] Gerrera relocated his militia to Jedha, a small desert moon which orbited the planet NaJedha, feeling that it was an appropriate place to bring his rebellion, as it was a sacred world to many different galactic religions.[26][1] Furthermore, he had discovered the Empire's secret project had a connection to the system from a prisoner during his mission with Wren and Bridger.[20]
From his new base of operations in the Catacombs of Cadera, Gerrera began recruiting and organizing the local insurgencies under the umbrella of his Partisans.[45] Over several months, the Partisans attacked the Imperial occupiers, leading to harsher and harsher reprisals from the Empire increasing significantly.[26] Joali Andit and Jalice Andit maintained loose ties with the Partisans, whom they fought alongside.[1]
Post-Yavin[]
- «You asked the Partisans to join you. Do not be surprised when they act like the Partisans.»
- ―Benthic, to Luke Skywalker
Benthic led the Partisans during the later part of the Galactic Civil War
Following the death of Gerrera, the remaining Partisans under the leadership of Benthic continued his extremist legacy to thwart the Empire at any cost.[21] Meanwhile, another cell of Partisan survivors came to operate as the Dreamers. After the theft of the Death Star plans and the battle station's destruction, the newly formed Inferno Squad was ordered to infiltrate and eliminate the Dreamers, which they did.[5]
When the rebellion began looking for a new base, another group of surviving Partisans were then approached by Leia, Jedi Luke Skywalker, Captain Han Solo, and Chewbacca after rescuing Partisan Ubin Des and Chulco Gi from the Imperials. The Partisans were attempting to stop the Empire from extracting more kyber crystals from what remained of Jedha. Des and Gi then took the Millennium Falcon to the Partisans' new base on Jedha. There, they were brought before Benthic, who believed they should kill the Rebels, but agreed to listen to her. He then agreed to accept her supplies and spoke with her about re-joining the Alliance.[21] Skywalker and Benthic then boarded the drill citadel. Benthic forced one of the technicians to lower the shields so that the Partisans and the Falcon could attack the citadel.[47]
After the mission, the Falcon dropped off the surviving Partisans and refugees on NaJedha. Benthic promised that he and his partisans would guard Jedha until it was gone. Leia agreed to have the Partisans work with the Alliance once again. Ubin Des was then given the Medal of Bravery by Solo in recognition for her actions.[48] Following their joint effort with the Rebel Alliance in the mission to Shu-Torun, Benthic and his fellow Partisans went to Salobea.[49]
Legacy[]
Over twenty years after the end of the Galactic Civil War and the rise of the New Republic in 28 ABY, both Saw Gerrera and the Partisans were brought up by junior senator Ransolm Casterfo of the Centrist faction, remembering them as political extremists that represented the worst aspects of the Rebel Alliance and cited Saw's actions as proof of alleged atrocities committed by the rebels during a discussion with his political rival, senior senator Leia Organa of the Populists.[18]
