A familiar face showed up in the seventh episode of Ahsoka, as C-3PO arrived to a hearing where General Hera Syndulla was on trial for disobeying orders. 3PO brought a message from Senator Leia Organa, covering for Hera and saying that Leia sanctioned the mission.
In doing so, 3PO also mentioned that Leia was unaware that Senator Hamata Xiono had called a vote on the mission without her, and that Leia was willing to overlook it if Xiono directed any further concerns to her directly – in her role as leader of the Defense Council.
This is the first time we’ve heard about the Defense Council in the new Star Wars canon (though it was the group glimpsed in the fourth episode of the series), and the first time we’ve heard of Leia’s involvement leading it. The Defense Council existed in Legends material serving much the same purpose, but it’s now canon again as well. The council of New Republic Senators is tasked with handling cases like the one Hera brings before them, with the escape of Morgan Elsbeth and the rumors of Thrawn.
Leia serves as a Senator representing the Alderaan system, and she remains a beloved figure and war hero throughout the galaxy. Importantly, she is a staunch advocate for the strength of the New Republic military. She was opposed to Mon Mothma’s moves to de-militarize the government with the Military Disarmament Act, fearing that the noble intentions that drove it would leave them vulnerable to threats down the road. Many years later (and long after the events of Ahsoka), Leia would continue to have much the same concerns. With Mothma having retired due to illness, and the New Republic Senate a corrupt group fighting amongst themselves, Leia was one of the sole voices raising alarm about rising threats in the unknown regions – threats that would become the First Order. Leia wound up resigning from the Senate after the political scandal of her true lineage was revealed, and she formed the Resistance as a paramilitary group to counter the threat she saw. Before long, Leia and her group of fighters would be the last line of defense between the First Order and galactic dominance.
I bring all of this up because it means that Leia is the perfect one to be leading the Defense Council for the New Republic. She’s a respected Senator, a war hero, and someone willing to take seriously the threats that are out there. It gives more credibility to why she’d cover for Hera, more explanation for why Xiono took advantage of her not being at the vote, and greater confidence in the New Republic’s chances to (eventually) mount an opposition to Thrawn. The rest of the New Republic might not think it’s that big of a deal, but Leia Organa does – and as leader of the Defense Council, she might be one of the best bets the government has in surviving the coming crisis.
Star Wars Thoughts 