The opening scenes of the first Star Wars film feature a rebel hero who is more tragic than most viewers realize Raymus Antilles. The heroes of the Rebel Alliance are the stuff of legend the likes of Luke Skywalker Han Solo and Leia Organa people whose heroism inspired an entire galaxy to rise up against the Empire. But the Disney era of Star Wars has reminded viewers the real heroes of the rebellion are the countless citizens of the galaxy who risked their lives opposing the Empire many of whom suffered and died. Rogue One A Star Wars Storyrevealed the true story behind the theft of the Death Star plans the small group who lit the spark of rebellion.
The first Star Wars movie opened with the Tantive IV on the run from Darth Vader himself because Princess Leia had successfully acquired the Death Star plans. Most of the rebels were killed when stormtroopers boarded although a couple were executed personally by Darth Vader including Captain Raymus Antilles played by Peter Geddis. Antilles seniority meant the Empire initially thought he would know where the Death Star plans were but only Leia knew they had been secreted in R2 D2. The character's backstory was fleshed out in Star Wars Episode III Revenge of the Sith which revealed he'd served under Bail Organa at the end of the Clone Wars even helping spirit Yoda and Obi Wan Kenobi away from Coruscant. He'd been a rebel since the beginning, and he died a rebel protesting that Darth Vader had no right to attack a diplomatic mission.
Captain Raymus Antilles Fought For The Freedom Of His Children
The short story Raymus by Gary Whitta reveals Antilles always understood Leia was vital to the Rebel Alliance. Published in the anthology book From A Certain Point Of View this story serves as something of a bridge between Rogue One A Star Wars Story and the first Star Wars movie. It opens with the Tantive IV traveling through hyperspace and Antilles aware of a faulty hyperdrive that surely meant they would be tracked trying to write a farewell letter to his wife and daughters. This it seems is the reason Raymus Antilles served in the early Rebel Alliance he wanted his children to grow up in freedom.
Raymus implies Antilles children were relatively young, born towards the end of the Dark Times of the Empire's reign. He barely knew his daughters because he spent so much time offworld on the diplomatic missions Leia conducted as cover for her rebellion. Antilles had captained the Tantive IV through countless Imperial blockades slipping through the net on so many different occasions. This time he knew there would be no escape but he still had hope Leia's mission would succeed and his children would grow up in freedom.
Raymus Antilles never managed to write a farewell to his wife and daughter. Tragically though none of them would have ever lived to receive those last messages in any case they lived on Raymus homeworld Alderaan. Alderaan was destroyed by the Empire just a day or so after Raymus own death. He had fought for his wife and daughters to know freedom but they never did. This rebel hero paid the ultimate price for opposing the Empire and Alderaan's fate in the first Star Wars film made his story absolutely heartbreaking.
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