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.