Battle of Bespin (Galactic Civil War)

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Previous Skirmish at Carkoon Next Battle of Endor Duel on Death Star II Theft on Coruscant Battle of Bespin Conflict Galactic Civil War Date 4 ABY Place Bespin Outcome Alliance victory Combatants Galactic Empire Alliance to Restore the Republic Commanders Unknown Lando Calrissian[1] Wedge Antilles (early raids)[2] Strength Stormtroopers[3] Scout troopers[3] TIE pilots[3] Storm IV Twin-Pod cloud cars[3] TIE/ln starfighters[3] TIE/sa bombers[3] Laser batteries[3] Balloon artillery[2] Rebel troopers[3] Lando's Commandos[4] Rebel pilots[3] Bespin Wing Guard[3] Storm IV Twin-Pod cloud cars[3] T-65 X-wing starfighters[3] BTL Y-wing starfighters[3] RZ-1 A-wing interceptors[3] 2GR-75 medium transports[2] Laser batteries[3] Casualties Heavy casualties Moderate, if not light [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.^[3][1]

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

[edit] Background

The battle involved the population of Cloud City and other colonies, who, with extensive support of Alliance cells as well as Lando's Commandos,^[4] rebelled against the Imperial garrison which had taken control over the planet´s mining colonies.^[3][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.^[5][6]

[edit] The battle

[edit] Early engagements

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. This initial victory secured shipment of vital Tibanna to the Rebel cause.^[2]

[edit] Main battle

After Endor, he 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.^[3]

[edit] Capturing Cloud City

After destroying a large majority of the Empire's control systems, the 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.^[3]

[edit] Capturing the main mining platform

After the combined effort of the SpecForce and Rogue Squadron, the SpecForce moved on to capture the main Imperial mining platform.^[3]

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.^[3]

[edit] Aftermath

The citizens of Bespin gained their freedom at the conclusion of the battle, with the Empire humbled on multiple fronts.^[7] Lando Calrissian returned to the planet later on to assume leadership of the colony.^[8] However, the Imperial Remnant later invaded Bespin again. The Jedi X2 helped Calrissian in a battle with the invaders.

[edit] Appearances

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

[edit] Sources

• The New Essential Guide to Characters
• The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia (under "Chyler, Tian" and "Cloud City")
• Rebellion Era Campaign Guide
•  Chyler in the Databank

[edit] Notes and references