Incursion: An inside look into a Rebel SpecForces mission.

The extreme height of the forest canopy provided cover from above, while dense undergrowth provided cover on the ground. In fact, the team had been using the extensive micro terrain to their advantage, moving in its shadows all the way to their objective.

They had been dropped off dirtside seventy-two hours prior, being inserted by a sixty at night during a rainstorm.

The mission planners had timed the insertion down to the second, calculating phases of the moons, along with predicted weather patterns to cover their infil.

They used the intense lightning as cover, knowing that it would wreak havoc on the Imperial outposts sensor array.

The pilots in turn jumped in system over the southern pole, and flew below sensor range all the way into the LZ.

They had to mount external drop tanks to the ventral engine pylons just to get the team in and hoped they had enough fuel to make it back to the RV with the fleet.

Two systems away was a Mon Cal cruiser on alert ten, with the QRF and air support ready to go if needed.

Three days of crawling and humping through the forest, and the four-man SpecForces team was nearing their objective.

They had been sent in to take out a Weequay communications specialist who had defected to the Empire. General Madine had given the green light to Captain Maven Therrell, and he picked three of the best shooters in the unit to go along for the ride.

Now, they were nearing the outer perimeter of the Imperial outpost. The facility itself was built into the side of a ridge, with a large plateau to the rear that had been converted into an elevated landing platform.

The armored structure had several turbolaser batteries scattered around the perimeter for air defense, along with ground to air missile batteries.

Outside of the turbolaster batteries was a twenty meter tall ferrocrete armored wall that encapsulated the entire facility.

The team paused, and took a knee behind a fallen tree on the edge of the forest. Captain Therrell signaled for the team to hold, while he moved up to conduct recce.

He used a small pair of macrobinoculars to observe and record the base. He took great care to inspect the guard towers atop the wall, noting that they were spaced every three hundred meters.

He could see Imperial army officers augmented by Stormtrooper patrols, as well as heavy blaster cannons mounted on pintels in each tower.

He also noted the small comlink antennas atop each tower, that would serve as repeater relays for the security element.

Further back at the main complex, he could make out larger aerial antenna arrays pointed up at the sky.

“Blast this” He thought to himself, shaking his head. Captain Therrell moved back to the team and briefed them on what he had observed.

They all knew that the odds were against them before they ever left the briefing for this op, and they volunteered anyway.

“Alright ” Captain Therrell whispered, “switch to our alternate FFP” he stated, referring to their final firing point.

The team slowly moved away from the edge of the forest and selected a route that would allow them to handrail the perimeter of the base from five hundred meters away.

It took them all evening and into the night to make their way around to the back side of the plateau. There, they found a ridge line with a line of sight to the landing pad.

Once they set-up shop, the combat controller extended the large antennas from his backpack mounted ground to air comlink.

He began coordinating with the Alliance Prowler in orbit, setting up the air package for the strike. The other three members of the team set up their Blastech A392R designated marksmen rifles.

Careful not to break noise discipline, they deliberately extended the bipods on the rifles, and moved into prone positions side by side.

They waited and watched all night, until zero three forty five hours when the platform lights switched on at the landing pad.

Then, high up above the team could hear a high pitched whine as a Lambda-Class shuttle dropped out of the sky. The Imperial transport quickly flared, then dropped down onto the pad.

“Stand by” Captain Therrell whispered, “I have control.” The team watched through their rifle scopes as the ramp lowered, and an Imperial security team rushed down the boarding ramp.

They formed a semi-circle at the base of the ramp and then signaled someone the team couldn’t see. Captain Therrell watched as a shadow preceded a short Weequay in black traditional garb, slowly making his way down the ramp.

“Execute, Execute, Execute” Captain Therrell called out. In unison the three SpecForces snipers took the slack out of their triggers, their rifles recoiling from the blast of each round.

Captain Therrell watched as his round raced across the five hundred meters to the landing platform, and split the Weequay’s chest apart with hot plasma. The other rounds hit him as well, sealing the deal.

The Imps immediately reacted, but it was too late. The Alliance shooters were already picking off targets on the landing platform, buying time for the combat controller to their rear.

Suddenly a series of red lances raced down through the cloud bank, striking the Imperial base’ communications and targeting arrays.

The missile batteries came to life, but they were playing catch up. Rebel X-Wings raced by overhead, pummeling each one with micro proton torpedoes and concussion missiles.

As the X-Wings peeled away, the combat controller continued to direct fire onto the base from the orbiting prowler.

The stealth corvette raked the Imperial base with salvo after salvo from its turbo laser batteries, leveling the facility while detonating its power generators.

The SpecForces team remained in position, conducting damage assessment, before being ordered to exfil the area.

As quietly as they had arrived, they stepped away one at a time, back into the forest. As the sun began to rise, the team made their LZ and boarded the sixty for the ride out.

Captain Therrell looked out of the armored viewport, watching the Empire’s science experiment burn to cinders in the morning sun.

Dead or Alive: Bounty Hunters and Mercenaries in the Age of the Empire

In the ensuing chaos of the fall of the Republic, the Galactic Empire finds itself facing a very disturbing reality, resistance. In nearly every sector throughout the galaxy, there are bands of resistance to the Empire’s rule.

In less than two decades, those independent resistance cells begin to coalesce into a far greater thorn in the Emperor’s flesh, an Alliance to restore the Republic. The thought of such a vain attempt may have seemed laughable at first, but the Empire would soon learn the cost of their miscalculation.

All across the galaxy the Rebel Alliance and it’s allies engage in hit and run tactics against Imperial forces. On the ground they strike armories, supply depots, listening posts, and relay stations. In the skies above they strike at the heart of the Imperial fleet; it’s shipyards, scoring critical victories that cripple their foes.

The Empower did not take any of this lightly and ordered the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) to use whatever means where necessary to end the rebel insurgency. ISB tacticians studied the rebel attacks for weaknesses and decided to engage in their own asymmetric warfare campaign. They began planting agents on planets in the outer rim, gathering firsthand intelligence of rebel activity, but they didn’t stop there.

The ISB turned to the shadows and began hiring bounty hunters and mercenaries to do their bidding. They kept their contracts off of official Imperial records, by creating a separate, hidden file in their database. These contracts would be known only to the ISB and privately funded from their own sources. They would conceal these transactions as legitimate business payments in order to provide immutability to the Empire.

The ISB would provide support in the form of Intelligence, while the actual work would be carried out by the bounty hunters or mercenaries themselves. Often these contracts would focus on capturing high ranking members of the Rebel Alliance, in order for them to be interrogated by the ISB itself. For other High Value Targets like Rebel pilots, they wanted them eliminated to send a message back to their leaders.

Once this operation was underway, whispers began to circulate in the Outer Rim. Alliance informants, soldiers, and spies turned up missing or dead. It didn’t take long for Alliance Intelligence to ascertain what was going on. Their informants engaged in a deadly game of counterintelligence against Imperial spies, passing on what they had learned.

*A Trandoshan bounty hunter tracks a Rebel operative on Cloud City*

In the process, Rebel Intelligence would begin building target packets on the Empire’s hired hands. It became a real-life version of Dejarik, only the moves weren’t played out on a holoboard, and there was no respawn, and no second chances. Every step taken must be calculated and planned.

The Alliance knew that they needed a way out of any location before they ever went in, or else they risked being captured or killed. The bounty hunters and mercenaries themselves may have dared venture into shady business dealings with the Empire, but they would soon find the rebels to be unwilling participants in their quest for fortune and fame. Their easy ticket to retirement wouldn’t be punched as quickly as they thought.

Often their quarry would lead them on high-speed pursuits across towns and into the unexplored wilderness, while others demanded pursuit into the skies. These seedy characters began racking up the credits, as well as a reputation amongst their peers. It became a sick game that only the most ruthless enjoyed.

Their time of pleasure, however would soon find them under the watchful gaze of those more skilled in hunting and killing. The Alliance would not allow the Empire to go unrewarded. They would watch and wait, and set their own timetable for reciprocity. When Imperial spies and mercenaries began turning up dead on worlds like Bothawui and Tatoonie, the Bounty Hunters Guild took notice.

Rebel Alliance SpecForces were sending a clear message: back off or die; it’s just that simple. To make a point, they would leave holos of the Bounty Hunter’s families, their homes, their ships in a hanger. Now the tables would be turned, and they would soon realize that their dark deeds had attracted a cost that they were not willing to pay.

Their entire business and lives were datamined by the best slicers in the Alliance and exposed on the Holonet for the entire galaxy to see. The Rebel Alliance engaged in a multi-facetted attack on its enemies, that would draw blood no matter which direction they turned. The war may continue for years, but that pales in comparison to the price of forfeiting one’s personal security for inflicting temporary pain on a much deadlier adversary.

Blades in the Shadows: Female Operatives of the Alliance SpecForces

Throughout the history of the galaxy, women have played a vital role in warfare. That is no less evident than among the ranks of the Rebel Alliance. Spacecraft techs, communications specialists, interpreters, and even line officers all have women among their ranks.

It is the women who make up the ground forces however, who often find themselves being recruited as candidates for the Alliance SpecForces. Founded and led by General Crix Madine, the Alliance SpecForces are the tip of the spear of ground warfare.

These units are the most highly trained and well equipped with the Rebel Alliance and are used exclusively for high-risk missions in non-permissive environments. Often working alongside Alliance Intelligence operatives, the SpecForces are tasked with such missions as reconnaissance, sabotage, and direct-action missions against high value targets, or HVTs.

Often times SpecForce operators must infiltrate Imperial controlled worlds, under the guise of civilians. They must blend in with the local populace, in order to gain access to target locations, where they carry out ISR, or Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance. These operations are critical to building target packets for future follow-on operations.

At the heart of these operations are the blades, female operatives who are integrated with their male counterparts. Female SpecForce operators are trained in advanced communications, surgical shooting, and hand to hand combat. They are uniquely qualified to deploy behind enemy lines in hostile environments, where their skills are put to use.

By nature, women are less likely to be viewed as a threat by security forces, including Imperial patrols. Their ability to blend into most environments allows them access to positions that their male counterparts may find less accessible, and even lead to their cover being compromised.

Utilizing female operatives is critical on planets where cultural beliefs and practices restrict male and female interactions, placing male soldiers at a disadvantage. By integrating female SpecForce operatives on these missions, they can more readily establish communication and trust with local female citizens, which could lead to valuable insight and intelligence being provided, that would not be accessible any other way.

In addition to these roles, female operators also fill the ranks of the Alliance’s most classified special missions unit, Black Spear. A highly controversial detachment, Black Spear is known to only a few within the Alliance hierarchy and is comprised of volunteers who are selected from the Alliance SpecForces units.

Little is known of the Female operatives within Black Spear, except that they fill every role within the unit, including detachment and troop commanders, long gunners, and support specialists. They are the most elite soldiers within the Rebel Alliance, who carry out it’s most covert assignments.

Often when these female shooters tour is winding down, they will be presented with another opportunity to continue their service to the Rebel Alliance, as members of Alliance Intelligence. Under the command of Colonel Airen Cracken, Alliance Intelligence operatives conduct clandestine missions of their own across the galaxy.

Often operating in advance of and alongside the SpecForces, Alliance Intelligence relies heavily upon it’s female operatives. These are seasoned combat veterans, who find themselves infiltrating some of the most dangerous hot spots in the galaxy. Tatoonie, Nar Shaddaa, and even Corsucant to name a few.

Operating under the guise of doctors, dancers, pilots, and even slaves, the female operatives of Alliance Intelligence place themselves at great risk, for a greater cause. Their success behind enemy lines is often what makes or breaks the next mission, and often leads to overwhelming victory, in spite of insurmountable odds.

The women of the Rebel Alliance SpecForces have been, and will continue to be the blades in the shadows.

Adults who collect toys

An inside look at a misunderstood world

Intro

By now it should be obvious that I am extremely cynical and sarcastic, and I try to make it a point to offend people who do not like me. So, since I’m bored and pissed off, I need a way to vent, and today it’s going to be writing this blog.

I’ve been stuck in writer’s block for months, until recently when I had an idea for a post that I considered worthy enough to delve into. Most people out there have some sort of hobby or interest that they engage in for any number of reasons in their spare time. To one degree or another, most people also collect stuff.

That being said, I don’t think there is an interest out there that causes so much consternation and second glances, as adults who collect toys. It would appear (and I can speak from my own personal experience) that there are people on this planet that have a problem with grown ups who have as their passion collecting toys.

After all, toys are designed and marketed for kids, right? Well If you believe that, then you might want to keep reading. Every one of us has grown up watching cartoons and our favorite television series as a child. Be it Tom Corbett Space Cadet, BraveStarr, or G.I. Joe A Real American Hero. Kids from the fifties through the nineties have grown up in the golden age of cartoons, comics, and yes, toys.

In fact, many of the cartoon series from the eighties and nineties were intentionally produced as a marketing scheme to sell the toy lines. G.I. Joe A Real American Hero, Transformers, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe were among those that were. Others included Thundercats, Bravestarr, M.A.S.K. and Silverhawks to name just a few.

Kids grew up wanting the toys, because they represented a physical connection to the on screen universe. The play features provided a sense of excitement and reward in having them, as kids would play out their favorite scenes. Toys, however were not just limited to cartoons. Live action movies and television series also offered their own entry into the childhood world of wonder.

The A-Team, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, and Star Wars were among the many movies and television series that capitalized on the profit of producing tie -in toy lines. Like any marketed merchandise, there were toy lines that were successful, and others that were short lived.

The desire for connection

As time passed, children moved on to the next great toy, the next stage in life, and soon what was once the center of their world, became a distant memory. Toys were replaced by appliances and tools, and life as it does steals our innocence.

As years slowly passed, and decades emerged, some adults found that in moments of change, challenge, crisis, or even loss that their childhood memories came to the surface. In those moments, the sudden emergence of memories becomes a bridge connecting us to a much better time in our lives.

Its a place of happiness and peace; a place of comfort and safety where the imagination knew no ends to the pleasures of collecting and playing with toys. It might happen while walking down the toy aisle of a brick and mortar store, or scrolling past an ebay auction online. Whatever the means, a door is presented that opens to the heart of who we really are.

Its that emotional connection that stirs us to seek out that first physical connection. Whether its in buying a new comic or toy, or vintages ones from our past. Some may be fortunate enough to have theirs boxed away in an attic, while others like myself who have suffered the loss of all things must start anew.

However it begins, that sense of awe and wonder returns, and just for a moment you can feel the exact same feeling that you experienced as a child; It is to say the least, an incredibly moving experience. Again, note that I said this was the case for some adult collectors, but perhaps not all.

So, we look back at a particular cartoon, television show, movie, or toy that connects us to our past. We come across it in our basement or attic, or buy one on eBay; then what? Well naturally, most of us are drawn to the thrill of collecting more toys. Be it others in a series, a separate theme, ext. There’s always a desire to collect more.

Personal experience

At least for me, there’s a sense of comfort and satisfaction that is derived from having them. I have very few childhood memories that I can recall, due to the trauma of abuse and bullying that I was subjected to on a daily basis. The only place that I felt safe was at home with my great-grandmother, and my toys. They were my world.

I was bullied everyday in school; beat up nearly every week. Jumped in the bathroom and shoved into puddles of pee. I was slapped in the back of the head sitting in my desk, as well as when I would stand in line. I was spat on, hit, and kicked for no reason, other than the fact that I was not liked. I was beat up constantly by black kids, and some whites.

I would be beat on in the cafeteria, then on the playground. When I would go back to my class, my book bag would be torn, and my books would be ripped in half, lying on the floor or in the trash can. It was a daily thing. I hated school, and everyone there. It didn’t stop in high school, as I got jumped often while walking to school and walking home, so I quit.

I grew up being afraid of older men because of being abused and molested, and I was very insecure. I had great difficulty in social interactions, and preferred to be alone and work alone; I still do. In 1997 I began collecting the Star Wars Power of the Force toy line by Kenner, it brought a sense of comfort to me in the midst of some very bad things that I was forced to live in.

I didn’t collect a lot or for very long, choosing to give my collection to a co-worker for her three children. It would be seven years before I would begin collecting again as an adult, and since then I have collected and sold my toy collection half a dozen times. I have gone through periods where I simply lost interest, and found that it was due to external circumstances that made me feel that way because of depression.

So, you can see from my own experience how collecting toys not only provided an emotional connection to my childhood memories, but also provided a practical mechanism for coping under extreme circumstances as an adult. This is certainly not everyone’s experience, but it is part of how and why I got into collecting.

Determining Valuation

So now that I have offered some insight into the why of collecting toys, let’s take a look at some numbers and stats. To begin, toy collecting as an intentional hobby has been around since at least the eighties. There’s evidence to support this by the number of sealed toys from that era that are auctioned on the secondary market, by third party sellers.

It is an intentional act of buying a toy (or multiples of one) and keeping it sealed in the box, and then placing it in long term, protective storage. A person may do this to give as a gift to future generations, to have themselves, or to sell. Whatever their motivation, it is intentional, and becomes an act of collecting.

This also would be highly unusual for a child to engage in, since their minds are not mature enough to look at a toy and consider the value of it, how to properly care for it long term, or how to preserve it for future value. All of these would be the actions of an adult, which infer that the adult is engaged in collecting on some level.

So, for what we classify as vintage toys to be available in a mint and sealed condition today, would imply that someone took the time to intentionally protect and store that toy for some reason.

Typically speaking, toy values are derived from a set of variables that I will attempt to explain here. For the purpose of this post, we are going to presume that the toy is mint and sealed new in the box, with no damage, discoloration, fading, or worn edges on the packaging. That then, means it is mint, as if it were just removed from the shipper.

Take the 1976 Tomy Drive Yourself Crazy electronic handheld game, mint in the box, which sold for five dollars and twenty-five cents. This is roughly the MSRP of most brick-and-mortar stores at the time, and continued into the early eighties when I had one (the dollar in 1976 is equivalent to nearly six dollars in today’s market).

Rarity

Simply put, the rarer a toy is, particularly mint and sealed in the box (or packaging), the more it is worth.

Condition

Toys that are mint on card, or mint in a sealed package without damage always command higher values than those that have damaged packaging or which are loose.

Brand and/or Series

When you look at toys from a specific brand like McFarlane Toys, those figures are designed and produced intentionally for adult collectors and thus are worth more value than a similar figure by Hasbro or Mattel.

Toys that are part of limited or specific series, like chase or rare variants, also command more money than those that are mass release versions.

Historical Relevance

Toys produced for specific events in history, or that are part of something like an initial movie toy line, sometimes demand higher values than others, but this isn’t a steadfast rule for all toys. It is simply a consideration when trying to determine current valuation.

Current Market Demand

This is my single piece of advice to those who ask, and that is that toys are worth what you are willing to pay for them. You can use auction sites like eBay as a guide, but you have to be aware of the fact that professional resellers know what they are doing.

Most of them ask far more (2-5 times) the value of what the actual toy is worth. It takes patience, research, and some time to figure out what they are really worth paying for, and often if you wait, you can and will find someone offering what you want at a reasonable price.

By the numbers

The toy industry is one of the largest in the world, with sales in 2024 totaling 114 billion U.S. dollars https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/toy-market, with forty billion attributed to sales in the U.S. alone. At the heart of those sales are adult consumers, who account for nine billion dollars in revenue on toyshttps://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/adults-are-buying-toys-s-biggest-source-growth-industry-rcna62354.

To further narrow our look at the adult collectors, I want to focus on one of the three largest toy companies in the world. Hasbro is the parent company for brands such as G.I. Joe Classified Series, Marvel Legends, Star Wars, and Transformers. All of these brands are carried not by parents shopping for their children, but by adult collectors.

Ninety percent of all sales for just the four brands that I listed above are from adult collectors. That’s why the design and marketing teams behind these brands focus on the adult collector community, by offering highly detailed replica toys, with distinct features and realism.

Both Jazwares and Mattel do the same, and there are dozens of third-party companies that market exclusively to adult collectors alone. In short, the toy industry is kept alive by the grown-ups that you make fun of, but more on that in a moment.

Discrimination and harassment

There are unfortunately, many who have taken the stance that adults who collect and play with toys must be mentally ill. You know we must be leaning in on the Autistic, Down Syndrome, we’re a threat to society tag because we collect and play with toys, right? I mean, shouldn’t we all just watch ESPN and go to the gym?

The fact is, there is nothing further from the truth. I am certain that there are disabled collectors out there, and I’m even more certain that many of them have been, and continue to be, the target of bullying to some degree.

The attempts by deranged individuals to destroy them for their interests is perverted in every sense of the word. The reality is everyone does not share the same hobbies or interests. Not everyone wants to go to the club, the gym, or be a part of whatever.

In doing research for this article, I spoke to two comic bookstore owners, and they both concurred that ninety percent or more of their customers were adults. Some of which were identified to me as lawyers, bankers, sitting judges, ext. In other words, people from all walks of life collect comics and toys. Sorry nerds, we aren’t alone it seems.

When I inquired from the store owners about the disposition of their customers, they both told me that their adult customers were normal people. Both store owners also shared with me how the above stereotypes couldn’t be further from the truth, and told me their thoughts on it. In conclusion, there’s no medical or scientific evidence to prove that adults who collect comics and toys are mentally ill. If you disagree, put it in writing and let’s take it to court.

Conclusion

I hope this post gives you the reader insight and understanding into the world of adults who collect toys. This is not meant to be an all-inclusive article on the subject, as there is far more detail than what I covered in a few paragraphs.

I am by no means an expert; I am a collector and fan, and my toys will continue to be at the center of my life until the day that I die. Heck, I’m in a common law marriage with my Jyn Erso action figure, so that should tell you how good it is!

The Dark Banner

Living under the flag of the Empire as a civilian

*The flag of the Galactic Empire flying over a city on Chandrila*

Decades after the Emperor ascended to power and vanquished the Old Republic, the Galactic Empire reigns in its stead. The once stable democracy of the Republic has been replaced by a totalitarian regime, that we are told will ensure our prosperity and security for ages to come.

The reality however, is much darker and far more sinister than many have been led to believe. What began as a promise to end a war and bring peace to a crumbling republic, quickly evolved into a tyrannical galactic power.

In the Core worlds, and much of the Mid Rim, the rule of the Empire was accepted and even welcomed by the elite upper class of citizens. It is here that much of the galaxy’s food supplies,manufacturing facilities, and thus wealth are derived.

These mega conglamarotes and thier investors see in the Empire an opportunity to exchange freedom for profit. In so doing they escaped the worst of the Empire’s over reach, and their worlds remain largely ignored by the Emporer.

On the fringes of the Mid Rim lies Hutt space, which the Emporer has left alone. They serve his purposes when paid, while their criminal activites go largely ignored, unless they hamper the plans of the Empire.

In the farthest reaches of the Mid Rim we find worlds which connect the major trade routes of hyperspace into the fringes of the Outer Rim.

It is on these worlds where many of the galaxy’s poorest reside, and to which much attention has been devoted by the Empire.

Nearly all of the galaxy’s alien species have been discriminated against by the Empire, and their worlds annexed and subjucated for it’s use. Many species like the Wookies have been enslaved across the galaxy, in order to fulfill manual labor for the Empire’s war machine.

Others like the Twi’leks find themselves in the ownership of Moffs and other Imperial leadership, serving as cooks, waiters, and personal attendants in their homes. They by and large are spared the worst of the humilation, so long as their behavior and performance are deemed acceptable.

It may seem then, from first glance that the Empire has favored humanity from its racial bigotry, but nothing could be further from reality.

From the moment that an Imperial star cruiser enters orbit around a planet, life on that world is forever changed. Whatever freedoms it’s citizens once held, will be immediately stripped away by the enforcement of Imperial laws.

Many have learned the hard way, that all that is required is to piss of an Imperial stormtrooper, before they are placed in binders, and charged with some fictitous crime that never existed.

Others have been stopped on the streets, bullied and beaten until they can no longer stand or walk. Others still have their businesses and homes raided, their children left screaming in terror while blasters are pointed in their face.

People have quickly learned that their way of life has ended, as Imperial engineers assemble pre fabricated garrisons on their planet.

Within a matter of weeks, lush thriving worlds find themsleves under the darkened banner of Imperial oppression. Their governments and it’s leaders are now nothing more than puppets on display for the public, with the Empire pulling their strings at will.

Stormtroopers patrol the streets and highways, while AT-STs and tanks are positioned at intersections. TIE fighters howl from overhead, as they carry out combat air patrols.

For some planets, the presence of the Empire is overwhelming, while on other worlds it is an ever present threat looming in the shadows.

Imperial Intelligence agents with the ISB find their way into every strata of galactic society, blending in with the local populace, living under the guise of familiarity.

They build rapport with the locals, establish their own cover, and then use that to gain intelligence. They wait and they watch, looking for those who would breed resistance to the Empire’s presence and rule.

As powerful as the Empire may appear, their fear and hubris leave them hamstrung to the efforts of those who have been pushed too far.

It always begins with one person; one individual who has had enough of being bullied, profiled, and watched by the Empire. They too lie in patience, watching and learning from their enemies.

They begin to take notes, and build their own network of contacts who are like minded. Perhaps not everyone sympathetic to their cause is able or willing to actively oppose such a daunting enemy, but there are always those who are.

They begin by meeting in secret, at random locations and times, passing on information to each other, until one day they find a opportunity of weakness, and exploit it.

It might begin by stealing Imperial communications equipment and weapons, before advancing to more complex hesist and raids.

Soon the Imperial forces find themselves at a disadvantage, as the tables are turned, and they find that they are no longer the predator, but the prey. The initial confusion and shock is replaced by anger, so they take it out on the local populace.

The Empire always makes the innocent suffer, in an effort to motivate those sympathetic to the acts of rebellion to capitulate and betray their cause. Some do, but the wiser do not.

They understand the cost of freedom, and that personal sacrifice is a necessary hinge upon which liberty must swing. It is with these types of people, that the Rebellion finds it’s cause.

As local resistance mounts, there comes a day when the Empire is dealt a mortal wound. Corellian Corvettes and Mon Calamari cruisers drop out of Hyperspace, pummeling the few Star Destroyers that may be in orbit.

They are struck with Ion cannons, overwhelming their systems, and leaving them dead in the cold waters of space.

Their hulls are raked with turbo lasers, until their reactor cores are hit, shattering them into a maniature sun. Meanwhile, down on the surface of the planet, Rebel Alliance fighters begin reclaiming the skies, while chasing TIE fighters to their deaths.

On the ground, the rebels do what they do best; killing the Empire one stromtrooper at a time. With controlled discipline they communicate, move, and shoot together as one.

Moving from house to house, building to building, using every angle and every piece of cover to their advantage. Their losses will be many, but when the day is done, the battle will be won.

In the city square Imperial officers are publicly hanged, and their rule comes to an end. Meanwhile, the Imperial bases are raided by the rebels. Every piece of usable equipment and weapons are taken, and they give the Rebel Alliance a fighting chance to reclaim the galaxy, one world at a time…

Vel Sartha

Luthen Rael’s blade of vengeance

In 2022 fans were introduced to origins of the Rebel Alliance in Tony Gilroy’s live action Disney Plus series Andor.

Though the series follows the journey of the titular character, the series has much more depth than the shallow character found in Cassian Andor.

The curtains are drawn back, allowing us to see the dark and dangerous work involved in building the Rebel Alliance, and the worlds where it unfolds.

We quickly find that the people who have forsaken their families, their homes, and their lives, for the cause of the Alliance are not always as they seem.

Allegiances are temporary for many, with mixed motives and questionable ethics being the tools used to forge cohesion. Often we find the lines blurred between friend and foe.

It is a dark time across the galaxy, and cells of insurgents are formed at the threat of totalitarian domination by the Empire.

It is within this setting that we find a Rebel operative on the fringes of chaos. At first glimpse we are not certain what to think of Vel Sartha.

Her presence on Aldhani leaves us with more questions than answers. The tone of the scenes playing out are reminiscent of the IRA and its campaign of terror.

Indeed, an insurgency is an asymmetric conflict waged by a small group of irregular forces against a formal government with an organized military.

The traditional good versus evil perspective of the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire are removed, as we are introduced to a darker, grittier, realm of existence.

It’s in this setting that we see a glimpse of the resolve of this young woman, willing to go to any extreme to accomplish the mission with which she has been given.

In Vel Sartha we see a new leader of a small cell of fighters. She struggles with insubordination from her team, while she questions those in authority above her.

Her skills and leadership speak of professional military training from her past, while her determination drives her towards an uncertain future.

As the series progresses we learn that Vel is a cousin of Senator Mon Mothma, and that both women are heirs of profound wealth on their home world of Chandrila.

We discover that like Mon, Vel is a wealthy socialite, who has chosen to secretly join the fledgling Rebel Alliance.

Though her reasons for doing so are not spoken of, her allegiance to the cause is certain.

Unlike many, Vel seems to take no thought for the boundaries of ethics and morals which must be broken, in order to free the oppressed.

Her actions are tempered by quiet resolve, leaving us to ponder what might her motivations be? What horrors have driven her to abandon a life of luxury?

On Coruscant we see her frustration as she is kept in the dark by her handler, the mysterious Kleya Marki, whose own roll remains unknown.

On Ferrix we find Vel apparently frustrated with Luthen’s decisions, as he keeps Vel at a distance, continuing to withhold the answers that she seeks.

Her actions make her a prominent contender as a future leader in a war without end. Time and chance will forge her character, as failure imparts wisdom if she survives the day.

Vel Sartha is every bit the preferred weapon for Luthen Rael; whether she continues to allow him to use her as such remains to be seen.

What if Jyn Erso survived?

Looking back on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, I don’t know of too many fans that didn’t want Jyn Erso to survive. Time and time again I have heard how people loved her character, and thought that she was the new hero of the Rebellion.

In fact, you could argue that Rogue One is the most successful Star Wars project to date, since the mouse acquired Lucasfilm. Having said that, there is an entirely different version of the movie that we most likely will never see, and in those edits Jyn Erso does in fact, survive.

This question then, bears relevance for many reasons, and it is one that I began to consider several years ago. It started me on a journey, which resulted in two years of work on the manuscript for a new Star Wars Legends novel entitled Cold Apex.

That novel is now complete and waiting to be approved by Del Rey and Lucasfilm. Though I won’t offer any spoilers on the plot of the book, what I will do is share how Jyn made it off of Scarif. In the third act of Rogue One, we see the Rebel fleet jump in system directly over Scarif, where they begin moving into position to attack the planetary shield gate.

Admiral Raddus, leading the fleet from the Mon Calamari MC-75 frigate Profundity, Orders Blue Squadron to get to the planet. General Merrick then orders the squadron to follow him through the gate, and bringing up the rear are two Incom UT-60D U-Wing gunships.

We clearly see one of them fly through the shield gate before it closes, but what about the other one? Once they fly through and hit the Blue, they begin to provide air cover for the Pathfinders on the beach below. General Merrick then orders the “U-Wings” plural, to reinforce the troops on the beach. He continues by ordering the fighters to follow him and provide air cover for “them,”plural again, referring to the U-Wings.

U-Wing dropping Rebel soldiers on the beaches of Scarif in search of Jyn Erso.

We know that one U-Wing was shot down and destroyed, but where is the other one? In Cold Apex we find the second U-Wing has landed in an outcropping of trees. A small squad of soldiers deploys from the ship, with orders to find Cassian Andor and Jyn Erso. The rebel troops fight their way through the Citadel base, only to find the missing rebels out on the beach.

They are attacked by Imperial troops as the Death Star fires on the planet, with the U-Wing dropping in and saving the squad from certain defeat. With the shield gate down, they make a blind jump into hyperspace while in the skies over Scarif. So, if Jyn survives, what happens to her next?

Well, you’ll have to wait and read the book to find out! I’ve been told that if approved for publishing, the tentative release date will be in late 2026. I’ll share more when I know more from the publisher.

Transformers Rise of the Beasts: a review

I have been a lifelong fan of the Transformers since their debut in 1984. When I first saw the trailers for the first live action movie in 2007, I was hooked.

Since that time I have eagerly sought every piece of spoilery Intel that I could find on each of the films, while hunting down every toy before the film’s release.

When I first learned of Transformers Rise of the Beasts, I was admittedly not enthusiastic about the film incorporating the Maximals.

I was not a fan of Transformers Beast Wars, and didn’t think much of the concept. As time went on however, I learned more about Rise of the Beasts, which piqued my curiosity.

I became intrigued enough to want to see the film for myself. I was to say the least, curious, and perhaps even optimistic that the movie would not be a disappointment.

So, this afternoon I had the opportunity to go and watch Transformers Rise of the Beasts in the theater; What follows is a very conservative and unbiased review of that film from a fan of the franchise.

Opening Sequence / First Act

I thought that it was very disappointing to have a different character do the voice over for the intro. The monologue by Peter Cullen has become synonymous with the Transformers franchise, and something that I really look forward to.

I was really impressed by the opening sequence, and how it introduced the Maximals, despite not being a fan of their alt mode.

Apelinq’s reference to other worlds was something of importance, in connecting it to an identical statement made by Optimus Prime in Bumblebee.

The fact that there are other worlds in the galaxy to which Autobots have fled for refuge, or otherwise have been created like Cybertron, is a key plot device for the franchise moving forward.

It gives lateral creative storytelling that hasn’t been seen before in the live action continuity. What I found shocking was the choice of music for this movie.

That is particularly disturbing in view of it being made by a toy company, that is supposed to be family oriented.

It would have been taken much differently if the music were confined to one scene, to introduce a single character, as in previous films, but that unfortunately was not the case.

The Director’s choice for music was singular to a specific part of American culture and society, and it felt as if this genre of music were being forced on us against our will.

It in my opinion detracted from the movie, and was impossible to ignore. All throughout this film was some really impressive cinematography, as well as scenes with tremendous gravity.

Unfortunately, it was all ruined by the rap music blasting away behind the action and the dialogue. It really detracts from and stands in contrast to the emotion being portrayed in some of the scenes in which it is featured.

If you go back and review the previous Bayverse movies, the score sets the tone for the scenes being depicted.

What we hear as an audience is as important as what we see. Unfortunately, the Director’s choice for the music inherently make the film appear to be a hip hop interpretation of alien robots waging a war on the Earth.

In my opinion, a franchise like this is best at telling the story through the use of instrumental scores, rather than modern day music of any genre.

Cursing is also much more prevalent in this movie than any of the previous live action movies before it, with even the robots themselves using curse words.

The unbridled use of vulgar speech implies that the Director believes it’s acceptable for children and youth to hear such vulgarity.

It presumes that their lives are inundated by it, and that their parents should accept it as normal when it is anything but that.

It really undermines the very moral foundation and principals that characters such as the Transformers have been used to portray over the decades.

It odd almost as if the director was deliberately attempting to pervert these characters and what they stand for, into a subliminal message from the woke culture.

Second Act

The battle sequence at the history museum has to be one of the best ever done in a live action film. The interaction between Optimus and Scourge was some of the best dialogue that we’ve seen yet between protagonists and antagonists in a Transformers film.

Woke Perspective

There is unfortunately an overwhelming attempt to push woke ideology in this film that depicts white people in a negative light.

This was really disheartening to see depicted in a Transformers live action movie, and it was clearly done to again promote woke ideology and racism against white people in America.

It begins with a derogatory statement made by Ms. Diaz about white people, and Is followed by Elena’s interaction with her boss, a white female.

The last attempt to push this down our throats is an interaction between Noah, and a potential employer who is also a white man.

Though the scenes may have depicted fictional events, It all had very racist undertones within its context, and should never have been included in a family friendly movie.

This alone was enough for me to decide that my son could not watch this film. It is really disappointing to me that Hasbro would allow such a move on the part of the Director.

This is in opposition to the fact eighty percent of their revenue is going to be from the sales of adult Caucasian consumers between the ages of eighteen and forty five years of age!

This isn’t to imply that only Caucasians buy and collect toys; nonsense! What it does imply, is that two thirds of their revenue comes from a group of people that are intentionally and unfairly portrayed in a negative context.

They are for all intents and purposes indoctrinating viewers of the movie with racism. This type of thing is really disappointing to see perpetrated on the impressionable minds of children and young people.

It does nothing to promote fun, peace and unity, as the Transformers themselves have done for the past forty years through storytelling. Instead, it maligns the innocent and causes a tear in the koral fabric of our society.

Third Act

Most of the scenes in the final act were good, and the introduction to the Maximals on Earth by Optimus Primal was really awesome.

The way that their backstory is explained makes them a much more plausible race of Transformers within the live action continuity.

One of the standout characters in this act is Airrazor, and throughout the movie she serves as a plot device of sorts.

Both Cheetor and Rhinox were under used in the film, but what we did see of them was very intriguing.

The final battle scene was tremendous, but once again ruined by two scenes: the first being with Bumblebee’s appearance overwhelmed by rap music, and his use of cursing.

This was completely inappropriate when considering that children would be watching this movie.

The final nail in the coffin for me on this film was the use of a mech suit for Noah from a dead Mirage.

It was the most ridiculous use of a human character in any of these movies to date, and it seriously detracted from the story.

The movie ends with a much-reduced speech for Optimus Prime, and goes on to include a speech by you guessed it, Noah! It was deplorable, and at that point I stood up and left the theater.

Final thoughts

Transformers Rise of the Beasts had tremendous potential to become a pivot point for the franchise.

Instead, it blundered its way through two hours of non stop inundation to the woke culture, while the film itself was unwatchable due to the cursing and blaring rap music.

Surprisingly the visual effects were sub par, and failed to resemble anything like the previous iterations of the Transformers.

The greatest tragedy of all with this film is that it should have done more to honor the life and legacy of Peter Cullen, whose voice over work in this film was his last as the voice of Optimus Prime.

He deserved to be honored in this film, and to have Optimus at the foreground. Instead, Optimus was relegated to a grumpy old Transformer who just wanted to go home.

It is truly disappointing to see this direction left in the hands of a racist director, who used this movie to weave bigotry and hate into its narrative.

I cannot in good conscience recommend Transformers Rise of the Beasts to fans of any age, or to parents. If anything, Transformers has stood as a foundation for ethics, morals, and values for children from all over the world, for the past forty years.

Rise of the Beasts was a missed opportunity to continue to promote family friendly fun, through a classic franchise.

Till all are one…..