Kanan Jarrus. Together with Lasat warrior Garazeb Orrelios, the Mandalorian Sabine Wren, Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger, and Hera’s trusty yet violent droid Chopper, they became an important Rebel cell – known as the Spectres – helping out worlds and communities in need and eventually liberating the planet Lothal from the Empire’s clutches.

Hera wasn’t just the Ghost Crew’s leader, as she was also their pilot. Her ship was the Ghost, a modified VCX-100 light freighter that served as the Spectres’ mobile home base. The ship was well-equipped for a freighter, with rear and front laser canons, a 360-degree dorsal laser canon turret, and a shuttle ship (originally the Phantom, later the Phantom II). The Ghost served Hera and her crew well during the Galactic Civil War, and it helped her climb the ranks of the Rebellion as she built a new life for herself and her found family.

Hera Syndulla Is The Daughter Of Ryloth's Greatest Freedom Fighter

Rebellion is in Hera Syndulla’s blood. Before she became the Ghost Crew’s leader, Hera was the daughter of Cham Syndulla, Ryloth’s most prominent and fearsome Twi'lek freedom fighter. Cham worked with the Jedi during the Clone Wars and refocused his efforts against the Empire once Palpatine rose to power in the wake of Order 66 (though that took some convincing). Though Hera’s relationship with her father was strained, they did care for one another. Everything Cham ever did was to protect his daughter after the death of her mother, even if he didn’t always go about it the right way.

Hera's Fight Against The Empire Started At A Young Age

Hera’s fight against the Empire didn’t start when she was an adult. As revealed in Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Hera began her rebellion when she was still just a child. Aided by Chopper, Omega, and the rest of Clone Force 99, Hera rescues her parents from the Empire, infiltrating and destroying one of their refinery bases on Ryloth. This was also the start of her obsession with flying – Omega showed her around her and her brothers’ ship, and Hera became infatuated with exploring space, piloting a small ship for the first time to save Chopper from the Empire’s greed.

Though Hera’s first flight was messy, to say the least, it was nevertheless effective. Hera’s affinity for piloting was apparent. She was destined to have her own ship someday.

Hera Met Kanan Jarrus During A Brawl

Years later, while working as an undercover operative for Senator Bail Organa, Hera Syndulla meets Order 66 survivor Kanan Jarrus, and their lives change forever. In John Jackson Miller’s novel Star Wars: A New Dawn, Hera and Kanan rescue each other repeatedly, slowly but surely uncovering an Imperial mining conspiracy supervised by the dastardly Count Vidian. Though they were initially reluctant to trust each other, Kanan and Hera struck up a partnership, which would blossom for years to come. At this point, Hera already owned the Ghost and was an incredible pilot – Kanan, a solid pilot himself, was surprised by her skill.

Before Kanan met Hera, he was forced into hiding after Order 66. Find out more about his story in The Bad Batch's pilot and the partially retconned Star Wars: Kanan comics by Greg Weisman.

She eventually s forces with Bail Organa’s undercover operative, Fulcrum. As Star Wars Rebels later revealed, Fulcrum was Anakin Skywalker’s old Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. Before Hera and Kanan could do bigger things in the galaxy, however, they needed a crew.

Hera & Kanan Formed The Phoenix Rebel Cell Over Time

After the events of A New Dawn, Hera and Kanan eventually form the Phoenix Rebel Cell. The first to Hera, Kanan, and Chopper were Zeb Orrelios and Sabine Wren. They each had good reason to hate the Empire. Both Zeb and Sabine’s people were murdered and enslaved by the Empire, and Sabine was looking to atone for her past mistakes as well. Together, they formed a formidable crew, though a lack of resources meant they were stuck working small-time jobs and cargo runs, helping people as much as they could with their rather limited power.

Soon after, the Ghost Crew took a job on Lothal, and the rest is history. There, they met Ezra Bridger, a young Force-sensitive kid living on the streets, wreaking havoc and stealing from the Empire gleefully. Once Ezra accepted Kanan’s mentorship offer and became his Padawan, the Ghost Crew’s reach and influence grew. They saved a group of Wookiee prisoners, destroyed a massively powerful kyber crystal the Empire had acquired, stole TIE fighters, exposed a corrupt senator, and more.

Eventually, Hera and the Ghost Crew learned they were part of a much bigger Rebel network than they could have ever imagined. Hera was officially given command of the Phoenix fleet, and together with those closest to her, she made a real difference in the fight against the Empire. Ultimately, the Ghost Crew and their allies even toppled one of the Empire’s most fearsome and revered tacticians – Grand iral Thrawn. Following the death of Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger sacrificed his future to liberate Lothal from the Empire’s clutches, and Hera Syndulla ensured Lothal remained free after Ezra’s disappearance.

Hera Became A General In The Rebel Alliance & New Republic

Hera was briefly mentioned in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, her ship appearing during the Battle of Scarif. As was revealed in the Star Wars Rebels epilogue, Hera Syndulla also fought in the Battle of Endor, a pivotal event that marked the beginning of the end of the Empire’s reign in the galaxy. Hera’s heroics and leadership during the Galactic Civil War earned her the rank of General, originally for the Rebel Alliance and later for the New Republic. At some point after Lothal’s liberation, Hera also gave birth to her and Kanan’s son, Jacen Syndulla.

Hera’s heroics and leadership during the Galactic Civil War earned her the rank of General, originally for the Rebel Alliance and later for the New Republic.

In Ahsoka, which takes place in roughly 11ABY (11 years after the Battle of Yavin, when the first Death Star was destroyed), Hera is still a devoted General, consulted by the New Republic’s leadership on the possibility of Grand iral Thrawn’s return and the threat of the Imperial Remnant. She’s not afraid to go against the grain, though, just like in the old days. When Ahsoka and Sabine need help finding Ezra Bridger (and Grand iral Thrawn), Hera is happy to lend them a hand and takes Jacen and Chopper along for the ride.

The New Republic’s fight against the Imperial Remnant is just beginning. Now that Grand iral Thrawn has returned, the galaxy is in peril once again. Though Sabine and Ahsoka are stranded, Ezra Bridger has at least made it back home, and together with Zeb, the remaining of the Ghost Crew, led by Hera Syndulla, will almost certainly become important players during the New Republic era.