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"My men are exceptionally trained, programmed from birth."
―Armitage Hux[2]

The First Order military was the armed forces of the First Order. Under the First Order military first policy, it was the central institution of the state. It consisted of the First Order Army and First Order Navy and the Stormtrooper Corps, as well as Special Forces.

It origins were from the officers, nobles, technologists that fled into the Unknown Regions during the collapse of the Galactic Empire, and undertook a vast militarization program and developed a technologically superior military.

Overseen by First Order High Command, along with Snoke, who was the Supreme Leader until Kylo Ren killed him and took his place. The First Order fleet stood almost unchallenged due to the New Republic's push for galactic disarmament.

History[]

Origins[]

"Through my manipulation of Snoke, I began gathering forces, building an army capable of opposing the New Republic that had arisen in my absence. Through Snoke, I would make certain that the First Order would be mine to control."
―Darth Sidious[9]
JakkuLitterbugs-TFAT2

The First Order military traced its roots to the Imperial forces that lost the Galactic Civil War.

Over the years following the defeat of the Galactic Empire, former officers, nobles, technologists founded the First Order, located in the far corners of the Unknown Regions,[5] and began rapidly rearming—intending to eventually reclaim the galaxy from the New Republic—in clear violation of the Galactic Concordance and Republic laws.[1] Keeping its build up secret within the Unknown Regions,[10] military bases and shipyards were constructed in those regions to churn out some of the technologically superior weapons and starfighters utilized by the military, with many of the Old Empire's greatest secrets falling into the hands of the First Order.[1]

To avoid treaty restrictions banning the sale of weaponry to the First Order, galactic arms manufacturers BlasTech Industries and Merr-Sonn Munitions, Inc. spun off a subsidiary known as the Sonn-Blas Corporation, which manufactured much of the First Order's weaponry within First Order space, while Sienar-Jaemus Army Systems and Aratech-Loratus Corporation provided spacecraft and vehicles to the Order.[1] As the regime lacked the same resources of the Old Empire, the First Order defined its military focus on mobility and increased firepower per starship.[10]

The road to rearmament[]

"They're flying state-of-the-art TIEs, they're using commando boarding parties and latest generation attack shuttles in clear violation of the Galactic Concordance."
―Poe Dameron[5]
Starkiller Base parade grounds

The First Order carried out a policy of rearmament in spite of the Galactic Concordance peace treaty.

In violation of New Republic laws regarding capital ships, the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer was developed by Kuat-Entralla Engineering. It featured more than 1,500 turbolasers, point-defense laser cannons and ion cannons, and was specifically designed to evoke the fearful image of the Old Empire's Imperial-class Star Destroyers.[1] Although the First Order's military might had been suspected to be significantly large, not even General Leia Organa's worst-case estimates conceived of just how large the First Order built up their military.[11]

Thirty years after the Battle of Endor[2] one of the military's primary bases of operations was the Starkiller Base, an ice planet converted into a First Order stronghold. Utilizing it as their unofficial headquarters, the base was armed with a superweapon capable of destroying entire star systems by firing a planet-destroying beam through hyperspace.[12] By then, the military was led by a triumvirate of General Armitage Hux, Kylo Ren and Captain Phasma.[13]

First Order-Resistance War[]

A new galactic war[]

"Today is the end of the Republic! The end of a regime that acquiesces to disorder! At this very moment, in a system far from here the New Republic lies to the galaxy while secretly supporting the treachery of the loathsome Resistance. This fierce machine which you have built, upon which we stand, will bring an end to the Senate! To their cherished fleet! All remaining systems will bow to the First Order! And will remember this… as the last day of the Republic!"
―Armitage Hux[2]

Shortly after the Hosnian Cataclysm, Starkiller Base was destroyed in a Resistance attack. Before its destruction, the Supreme Leader ordered Hux to evacuate the base and return to him with Ren.[2]

ScorchZetaLeader-SWZ

The First Order military struck back at the Resistance following the destruction of Starkiller Base.

A First Order fleet then attacked the Resistance base at D'Qar. Although their dreadnought, the Fulminatrix, was destroyed, the First Order annihilated the base, destroyed the Resistance's entire bombing fleet, and forced them to flee to the Crait system. General Hux then used new hyperspace trackers to confront the Resistance with their massive flagship, the Supremacy. Attacks by Ren and his squad of TIE fighters destroyed the Resistance's starfighter squadrons, including Poe Dameron's own Black One, and its entire leadership team with the exception of General Leia Organa. They also destroyed their medical frigate and the Ninka.[3]

Although former stormtrooper Finn and Resistance mechanic Rose Tico tried to deactivate the main hyperspace tracker on the Supremacy, with the help of the thief DJ, they were captured by First Order security bureau officers and stormtroopers. DJ later told General Hux about the Resistance's plan to flee in cloaked transports in exchange for money, who, upon which confirming the information, ordered the Supremacy to destroy the transports.[3]

However, Admiral Amilyn Holdo turned the cruiser Raddus towards the Supremacy and made a hyperspace jump that cleaved the ship in half. This also stopped the execution of Finn and Rose, who later escaped on a stolen shuttle after defeating Captain Phasma and a few dozen stormtroopers. This sacrifice allowed the remaining Resistance transports to flee to the old Rebel outpost of Crait.[3]

First Order forces including All Terrain MegaCaliber Sixes at Crait

In a display of military might, the First Order deployed its forces against the Resistance in the Battle of Crait.

Meanwhile, Ren brought the Force-sensitive scavenger Rey to Snoke in his Throne Room, upon which Snoke tried to get the location of Luke Skywalker out of her. Despite her resistance to his methods, including torture, Snoke ordered Ren to kill the restrained scavenger. However, Ren ignited Luke's lightsaber into Snoke's side and pulled it towards Rey, thus killing him and chopping his body in half. After defeating Snoke's guard, Rey rejected Ren's offer of ruling the galaxy together, instead trying to take Luke's lightsaber. The lightsaber split in two, but Rey recovered both parts and escaped the Supremacy. Meanwhile, Ren declared himself new Supreme Leader after Force-choking Hux. He then ordered the First Order to assault the Resistance base on Crait.[3]

The First Order brought a massive superlaser siege cannon to destroy the massive door. Despite a desperate Resistance counterattack with ski-speeders, the door was destroyed. However, a Force projection of Luke Skywalker delayed First Order forces by confronting Ren, which allowed time for the Resistance to escape on the Millennium Falcon.[3] Meanwhile, the Battle of Grail City began when a First Order Maxima-A class heavy cruiser known as the Fortitude attacked the world of Ikkrukk, which was caught in a civil conflict between Ikkrukk's government and local First Order sympathizers. Black Squadron engaged the First Order cruiser and its flight of TIE fighters, destroying the attacking forces and keeping the planet safe.[14]

Final Order[]

"Forgive me, sir, but these allies on Exegol…they sound like a cult. Conjurers and soothsayers."
"They've conjured legions of Star Destroyers. The Sith fleet will increase our resources ten-thousandfold. Such range and power will correct the error of Starkiller Base."
Domaric Quinn, to Kylo Ren, and Enric Pryde, to Domaric Quinn[4]
Xyston-engines

The Final Order was created as a fleet of warships that would enable the First Order to restore military rule across the galaxy.

In 35 ABY,[15] Darth Sidious—the architect and leader of the "Old Empire," who had returned from the dead via cloning a new body for his spirit[16]—issued a broadcast to the galaxy, vowing revenge. Supreme Leader Kylo Ren tracked Sidious to the hidden Sith world of Exegol where the Sith Lord and his Sith Eternal cultists had built a massive armada of Xyston-class Star Destroyers known as the Final Order. The Emperor offered the Sith fleet and his position to Ren in return for killing his granddaughter Rey.[4]

Since Ren's flagship Finalizer had sustained damage over Batuu, another Resurgent Star Destroyer Steadfast became Ren's flagship.[8] First Order military forces attempted to capture a Resistance team led by Dameron on two occasions at the Sinta Glacier Colony and Pasaana. Though they failed to prevent the Resistance from learning about the Emperor's return, they captured Chewbacca on Pasaana after sustaining several casualties. Later, Chewbacca's comrades include Finn, Poe, and Rey rescued him with the aid of the disaffected General Hux, who resented Ren's leadership.[4]

The Uprising on Jakku

The Resistance victory on Exegol inspired the galaxy to overthrow the First Order's military rule.

After Ren returned to the light side of the Force and embraced his former identity as Ben Solo, Allegiant General Enric Pryde pledged his allegiance and the First Order to the Sith Lord. To demonstrate his loyalty, Pryde dispatched the Xyston-class Star Destroyer Derriphan to destroy the planet Kijimi as a show of military force. The Sith Eternal's forces saw action against the Resistance and the Citizens' Fleet during the Battle of Exegol, which saw the deaths of the Emperor and the redeemed Solo. The Steadfast along with the entire Sith armada was destroyed during the battle. Following the Battle of Exegol, various worlds, including Endor, Jakku, and Bespin rose up in rebellion against the First Order, leading to the destruction of several Resurgent-class Star Destroyers.[4]

Organization[]

Overview and leadership[]

"We have 10,000 troops ready to fight."
―Captain Phasma, during the war against the Resistance[17]
CaptainPhasma-3-MayhewVariant textless

Kylo Ren and Captain Phasma were major leaders of the First Order's military might.

Although smaller than its predecessor, the Imperial Military, the First Order military's individual units and groupings nevertheless followed the same Order of Battle.[8] By the time of the Battle of Crait, the First Order's army branch alone had 10,000 troops ready for combat.[17] Overall command of the military fell to the Supreme Leader, with the likes of General Hux and Captain Phasma operating under the current head of state. The alien named Snoke commanded the might of the First Order until his execution at the hands of his own apprentice, Kylo Ren.[3] Ren already exercised great control within the First Order[18] but was always subservient himself to Snoke. Following Snoke's execution, Ren assumed command of the First Order and its military forces despite Hux's objections.[3]

During his rule, Ren assembled the First Order Supreme Council.[8] In secret, Snoke had been a pawn of the resurrected Darth Sidious. Through Snoke, Sidious had controlled the First Order and its military.[19] Following Ren's return to the light side of the Force, Allegiant General Pryde continued leading First Order forces from Ren's former flagship, the Steadfast. Pryde himself, however, pledged his loyalty to Sidious,[4] cementing an alliance between the Sith Eternal and First Order.[20] The Battle of Exegol, however, would see the destruction of the Sith Eternal and the Steadfast, with Sidious and Pryde falling with each, respectively.[4]

Ground forces[]

"Project Resurrection. Kidnapping children."
"Rescuing. Forging them into an army the likes of which this galaxy has never seen."
Iden Versio and Gideon Hask[21]
First Order Military

First Order stormtroopers were modeled on the original stormtroopers that served the Galactic Empire.

Like its predecessor, the First Order employed stormtroopers, including variants such as snowtroopers. It also utilized specialists including megablaster heavy assault troopers, flametroopers and riot control stormtroopers and selectively had one of the three variants placed in every ten-member stormtrooper squad. Unlike the inconsistent academy standards of the previous Galactic Empire, training of the new generation of stormtroopers emphasized improvisation and counterinsurgency operations, including guerrilla tactics. With the First Order lacking the numerical superiority of the Galactic Empire, better-equipped and -trained soldiers resulted in higher trooper proficiency than the previous Galactic Empire. Soldiers were often trained on capital ships and underwent vivid simulations to create the most loyal soldiers, which was an extension of the ideas of Commandant Brendol Hux and his Commandant's Cadets.[1]

Battery Ram Cannon

The First Order Army maintained the requisite vehicles and equipment necessary for military operations.

In addition to its stormtroopers and ground tactics like maneuver 0927,[22] the First Order utilized differing vehicles to help their infantry in various environments. For snowy terrain the Order deployed Light Infantry Utility Vehicles and fast snowspeeders,[1] while they used 125-Z treadspeeder bikes for desert environments.[4] More armored were the All Terrain Mobile Artillery used, for example, on Starkiller Base.[2]

Naval forces[]

"You will see how the First Order has created state-of-the-art TIE fighters, attack craft, and new classes of Star Destroyers that not only enforce its will in First Order space, but also threaten neutral worlds in the galactic borderlands."
―Leia Organa[23]
Might is All

The First Order Navy fielded next-generation Star Destroyers, TIE fighters, and other military vessels derived from the Imperial Navy.

The First Order Navy was mainly based on battle cruisers like its Imperial predecessor, with the Navy at its height constructing capital ships numbering well into the hundreds through Project Resurrection. Resurgent-class Star Destroyers were the threatening capital ships deployed against the First Order's targets, but the Resistance believed that vessels even larger than them existed.[1] The First Order also used older Imperial-class Star Destroyers and smaller ships compared to Resurgent-class Star Destroyers, as Lancer-class frigates, Maxima-A class heavy cruisers, Dissident-class light cruisers and Nebulon-K frigates.[5]

For ground assaults the Order made a great use of Atmospheric Assault Landers; a hundred of them could be carried by Resurgent-class Star Destroyers. They also used Upsilon-class command shuttles. To achieve space superiority the Order deployed TIEs in two variants: TIE/fo space superiority fighters and its two-seated version, the TIE/sf space superiority fighter, this one used by the First Order's Special Forces.[1]

Other[]

"We can and will chase every rumor, every scrap, every vapor trail across the galaxy! We will mobilize every bounty hunter and informant and turn over every rock to find all of them…and wipe every one of them out of existence!"
―Kylo Ren, to Armitage Hux[24]

Although its military acted as the face of the First Order, proxy elements such as double agents, hired thugs, and spies helped to spread its influence to an even greater extent.[8]

Appearances[]

Non-canon appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Before the Awakening
  6. TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
  7. StarWars-DatabankII First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter in the Databank (backup link)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary
  9. Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith
  10. 10.0 10.1 SWInsider "A Certain Point of View" — Star Wars Insider 220
  11. Star Wars: The Last Jedi: The Visual Dictionary
  12. StarWars-DatabankII Starkiller Base in the Databank (backup link)
  13. StarWars-DatabankII Captain Phasma in the Databank (backup link)
  14. Poe Dameron 31
  15. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary dates the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker to one year after the Starkiller Incident, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas dates to 34 ABY. Therefore, the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker must take place in 35 ABY.
  16. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition
  17. 17.0 17.1 Star Wars Battlefront 2 : The Last Jedi Season Trailer
  18. SWResistanceLogo Star Wars Resistance — "The Children from Tehar"
  19. Star Wars: The Secrets of the Sith
  20. StarWars-DatabankII Darth Sidious Biography Gallery in the Databank (backup link) (Image 28 caption)
  21. Star Wars Battlefront II
  22. IDWStarWarsAdventuresLogoSmaller "Pest Control" — Star Wars Adventures (2017) 3
  23. The Last Jedi: Bomber Command
  24. Allegiance 1
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