Running a rebellion isn’t easy, but it’s nothing compared to running a government.
That’s what Mon Mothma learned in the days following the Battle of Endor, where the Rebel Alliance defeated the Empire and marked a decisive turning point in the Galactic Civil War. They formed the New Republic, which would see the fight through the end of the war, with Mothma remaining as its leader. But this New Republic meant more concerns to manage.
That has shown up in a significant way in the recent Star Wars: Battle of Jakku comic, in the first issue of the Republic Under Siege mini-series (written by Alex Segura). The issue shows Leia on Chandrila, speaking with the Wookiee Kerrithrarr, wondering how things are going on Kashyyyk, and inquiring about her husband. For those unaware, shortly after the Battle of Endor Han Solo resigned his commission in the New Republic and went off with Chewbacca to liberate Kashyyyk from Imperial rule. The New Republic was unable to aid in this, which is why Han resigned from any formal role with the government. But it also leads to an insightful conversation between Leia and Mothma.
Mon: “Leia, you know as well as I do — we’re spread too thin. Especially now that Adelhard is more than a distraction. He’s a deadly threat to the Republic. To what we’re building here.”
Leia: “Do we suspend what we believe in while we build it? Isn’t that the first step in going down a different path? A darker path?”
Mon: “I understand, Leia — but governance rarely holds the same idealistic wonder as revolution. The team we sent to the Anoat Sector to assess the Adelhard threat has come back battered and reeling. So, our task is clear — we not only have to build this New Republic, from the ground up — but we must do it while defending the ideals that brought us here.”
Leia: “Then that’s our mission, Mon. We’ll continue to fight, but we’ll continue to build, too. And that means finding help, finding people who understand what a Republic is — and what it stands for.”
That’s a really interesting conversation, and one that I’m glad the comic gives attention to. We are just beginning to scratch the surface of stories about the formation and building of the New Republic, but what we know already is that it wasn’t easy. Mon Mothma was in many ways an exemplary leader who did a remarkable job steadying the ship throughout the Galactic Civil War and into a brand new government, but forming a galactic system of government encompassing numerous systems is an incredibly difficult task. And it’s difficult, in part, because of the very questions Leia brings up: do you sacrifice what you believe in for a greater good in building a government that can, you believe, help you accomplish what you believe in more broadly? It’s easy to see why there would be nuanced opinions, and why there might be some disagreement.
And the occupation of Kashyyyk is a prime example. It’s an important world, and liberating the planet is exactly what the New Republic should be all about. Yet the New Republic has limited resources and therefore has to prioritize other battles for the time being. But how do you reconcile that need with the very real, and very good, intention of liberating Kashyyyk?
I love getting to see more of the political side of the galaxy, especially in regards to the formation of the New Republic. I think it’s really fascinating, and conversations like this one between two beloved and widely respected heroes illustrates why.
Star Wars Thoughts 