Previous Battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon Concurrent Zaarin insurrection Battle en route to the second Death Star Next Battle of Endor Duel on Death Star II Theft on Coruscant Battle of Bespin Conflict Galactic Civil War Date 4 ABY-after the Battle of Endor Place Bespin Outcome Alliance victory Combatants Galactic Empire Alliance to Restore the Republic Bespin Commanders unknown Lando Calrissian[1] Wedge Antilles (early raids)[2] X2[3] Lobot[3] Strength Stormtroopers[4] Scout troopers[4] Phase Zero dark troopers[3] TIE pilots[4] Storm IV Twin-Pod cloud cars[4] TIE fighters[4] Several Vindicator-class heavy cruisers TIE bombers[4] Laser batteries[4] 11 Imperial Siege Balloon[2] Imperial tanker[2] Rebel troopers[4] Lando's Commandos[5] Rebel pilots[4] Bespin Wing Guard[4] Storm IV Twin-Pod cloud cars[4] T-65 X-wing starfighters[4] BTL Y-wing starfighters[4] RZ-1 A-wing interceptors[4] At least 3 GR-75 medium transports[2] Laser batteries[4] Casualties Heavy casualties Several TIE fighters and bombers 1 Vindicator-class heavy cruiser All Dark troopers Light to medium [Source]

The Battle of Bespin, also known as the Liberation of Bespin, took place in the time around the Battle of Endor during the Galactic Civil War.

Contents 1 Background 2 The battle 2.1 Early engagements 2.2 Main battle 2.3 Capturing Cloud City 2.4 Capturing the main mining platform 3 Aftermath 4 Appearances 5 Sources 6 Notes and references 6.1 In other languages

BackgroundEdit

The battle involved the population of Cloud City and other colonies, who, with extensive support of Alliance cells as well as Lando's Commandos,^[5] rebelled against the Imperial garrison which had taken control over the planet´s mining colonies.^[4][1]

Prior to the operation, information on the colony's defenses were handed over to the Rebel Alliance by Tian Chyler, a disgruntled Imperial Security Bureau agent working in Cloud City, with the aid of Alliance sympathizer Willrow Hood. This information proved vital to winning the battle.^[6][7]

The battleEdit

Early engagementsEdit

Prior to the main assault, Lando Calrissian led raids on Cloud City to gain tibanna gas for the war effort leading up to the Battle of Endor. Wedge Antilles and Rogue Squadron led an aerial assault, their primary objective being to secure as many tibanna gas platforms as possible.^[2]

They faced steep opposition from the Imperial garrison stationed on the planet, including manned gun batteries affixed to small balloon-like platforms that were scattered throughout Bespin, close to important refineries and colonies. These proved a hassle to Rebel fighter but were downed enmasse. Likewise, the Rebel Alliance also destroyed three of the power generators to remove the threat of turbolaser fire, as well as covering for the two remaining tibana gas platforms for the transports to secure. This initial victory secured shipment of vital Tibanna to the Rebel cause.^[2]

Main battleEdit

After Endor, Lando was promised all the fighters the Alliance could spare, but many resources were taken up by the defense of the temporary rebel capital at Endor, or were engaged in liberation struggles elsewhere. Nevertheless, Calrissian had some ideas of his own, and managed to get a task force together.^[1]

The main battle was waged shortly after Endor and raged both in the air and on the floating settlements of the gas-giant. It started at the defacto capital of Cloud City, and moved outwards across the various gas-refineries as the Rebels continued to gain ground.^[4] The Imperial faction ruled by the Force-sensitive clone trooper X1 also attacked the city, hoping to gain Tibanna resources in his bid for power. His brother, the Jedi Knight X2, helped Calrissian in battling the invaders.^[3] The Jedi took out a Vindicator-class heavy cruiser by destroying a nearby tibanna gas platform.

Capturing Cloud CityEdit

After destroying a large majority of the Empire's control systems, the Rebel squadron provided aerial support for those fighting on the ground, by disabling the city's power generators, which in turn deactivated the Imperial turbolasers, gun turrets, and communications. Down on the ground, Rebel soldiers captured the main carbon-freezing chamber and secured their command posts in the vicinity.^[4]

Cloud City's administrator aide Lobot was freed by the Rebels and helped them gain control over the city's main computer, locking out the Imperials.^[3] In his last attempt to gain control over the city, X1 sent a detachment of Dark troopers, but even they were unsuccessful in reversing the situation.^[3]

Capturing the main mining platformEdit

After the combined effort of the SpecForce and Rogue Squadron, the SpecForce moved on to capture the main Imperial mining platform.^[4]

The Rebel forces landed and secured the gas extractor, and pushed the Imperials back to the other side of the platform. The rebel forces moved in and captured the Imperial docks and landing platforms, trapping them in the main command center. Y-wings bombed the building, X-wings destroyed starfighters before they could lift off, and the enemy numbers dwindled. Teams of SpecForce soldiers moved in on the command building and secured the mining platform.^[4]

AftermathEdit

The citizens of Bespin gained their freedom at the conclusion of the battle, with the Empire humbled on multiple fronts, including the resulting demise of Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader during the Battle of Endor.^[8] Lando Calrissian returned to the planet later on to assume leadership of the colony.^[9]

AppearancesEdit

• Star Wars: Battlefront
• Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
• Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
• The Truce at Bakura (Mentioned only)
• Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (Aftermath, with celebration)

SourcesEdit

• The New Essential Guide to Characters
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia (under "Chyler, Tian" and "Cloud City")
• Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
• Millennium Falcon Owner's Workshop Manual
•  Chyler in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link on Archive.org)

Notes and referencesEdit