A human male ace pilot named Antoc Merrick achieved the rank of General within the Alliance to Restore the Republic. He was a key figure in the recovery of the Galactic Empire's critical plans for their ultimate weapon, the Death Star, during the Battle of Scarif in 1 BBY. As the leader of Blue Squadron, Merrick piloted a T-65B X-wing starfighter during the engagement, where he met his demise after being shot down by a TIE Striker.
Born on Virujansi in 46 BBY, Antoc Merrick's life took a turn. Before the outbreak of the Galactic Civil War, Merrick held the position of flight leader for his homeworld's planetary defense forces, known as the esteemed Virujansi Rarified Air Cavalry.
Following the formation of the Galactic Empire, Virujansi experienced significant political change as an Imperial governor replaced the existing Virujansi council. The local military, loyal to the previous government, was effectively dismantled. The pilots of the Air Cavalry received offers to join the Imperial Navy, which Merrick declined. He considered the offer insincere and viewed the Empire's TIE forces as uninspired, especially when compared to the Rebel Alliance's starfighter squadrons that showed superior teamwork and piloting skills. Instead, Merrick, along with his friend and fellow pilot Garven Dreis, chose to retire early, leave Virujansi, and seek membership in the Rebel Alliance.
Around the time of the Battle of Atollon in 2 BBY, Merrick became a member of the Rebel Alliance. He eventually achieved the rank of General and was appointed Commander of Rebel Alliance Starfighter Command. Merrick oversaw all starfighter squadrons stationed at the Rebel base on Dantooine, and subsequently at Base One on Yavin 4. As Blue Leader, Merrick directly commanded Blue Squadron, with Barion Raner serving as his second-in-command. When all of the Massassi starfighter squadrons were deployed, Merrick held authority over all other squadron leaders. In Merrick's absence, or when a ground-based command was more efficient, General Jan Dodonna took command of the fleet.
His position on the Alliance High Command allowed Merrick to significantly contribute to the early stages of the rebellion. He influenced the decision to phase out the U-wing from escort duties and establish the X-wings as the primary component of Starfighter Command. Merrick found their hardware and handling similar to the bush hoppers of his home planet, Virujansi. Both Merrick and Garven Dreis exclusively flew X-wings in combat.
Merrick frequently sent reports to Mon Mothma, detailing the capabilities of both Rebel and enemy ships. One report described the use of UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support craft as troop transports on Mantooine in the Atrivis sector. Another report compiled intelligence from Rebel Intelligence on various TIE fighter series models encountered by the rebellion, including Grand Admiral Thrawn's TIE Defender.
General Antoc Merrick was concerned that General Davits Draven's pragmatism might lead him to overlook the human element in his strategic calculations. As an intelligence chief, Draven oversaw a staff of mostly independent operators, unlike Merrick's squadrons of pilots who relied on teamwork and cohesion.
While serving as Commander of Rebel Alliance Starfighter Command and Blue Squadron, Merrick delivered a speech at the Great Temple, addressing the U-wing pilots. Acknowledging their often-underappreciated but crucial role in the rebellion, Merrick expressed his support and admiration, stating that he specifically assigned them to U-wings because he knew they were above the boasting of "hot shot" X-wing pilots. He emphasized that his praise came from his heart, not from High Command, and that he considered himself more of a pilot than a commanding officer.
Merrick deeply valued the lives of those under his command and avoided unnecessary risks. Having spent countless hours piloting U-wings, he understood the extra responsibilities and felt a particular protectiveness towards those pilots.
During Operation Fracture in 1 BBY, a covert mission to extract scientist Galen Walton Erso to testify before the Imperial Senate about the Empire's planet-destroying superweapon, the Death Star, the Alliance rescued Galen's daughter, Jyn Erso. This was to enable contact with Saw Gerrera's Partisans and to question Imperial defector Bodhi Rook about the Death Star and Galen's whereabouts. Merrick was present during Erso's interrogation at the Massassi base, where she agreed to the Alliance's demands. Subsequently, she, Captain Cassian Jeron Andor, and K-2SO departed for Jedha City.
Upon Andor's team's return to the Massassi base, Organa convened with other key Alliance members to discuss their findings. Jyn had persuaded Saw to show her her father's message, which detailed the superweapon's destructive capabilities and a deliberate weakness in the station's design. He also revealed that a copy of the weapon's technical schematics was stored in the Citadel Tower on Scarif. However, Jyn couldn't deliver the holographic recording to the Alliance due to the destruction of Jedha City. During the meeting, several Alliance members dismissed Jyn's testimony. Merrick pointed out that the Empire possessed weapons of mass destruction while the Alliance did not. Despite Jyn's efforts, the Alliance refused to authorize a mission to Scarif.
Ignoring the Alliance's denial, Erso, Andor, and their crew disobeyed orders and formed the Rogue One squad, traveling to Scarif to obtain the Death Star plans. Soon after, a technician rushed to inform Mon Mothma of Rogue One's actions, but was intercepted by Merrick. Mothma allowed the technician to speak, and when he revealed that Admiral Raddus was preparing to engage, Blue Squadron, along with the entire starfighter wing at Base One, launched to provide support. Blue Squadron engaged in combat above Scarif alongside the Rebel Fleet led by Admiral Raddus. Merrick led Blue Squadron's X-wings and U-wings through the Shield Gate to support the pathfinders on Scarif's surface. Blue Squadron destroyed several AT-ACTs that were harassing rebel forces. During the battle, Merrick's craft was shot down by a TIE striker, resulting in his death.
By 4 ABY, Merrick was celebrated as a legendary figure within the Alliance. Decades later, in 34 ABY, after the discovery of The Rebel Files, Merrick was still fondly remembered. Resistance pilot and commander Poe Dameron remarked that Merrick's piloting skills surpassed those of almost any pilot who had ever lived.
Antoc Merrick, a human male, possessed fair skin, striking steel-blue eyes, and light brownish-blond hair.
Despite extensive experience piloting U-wings, Merrick preferred to command his squadron from Blue One, his T-65B X-wing starfighter. He was a skilled and experienced leader, though he considered himself inadequate at delivering speeches.
Merrick showed concern for the U-wing pilots and deeply cared for everyone under his command. While he deferred to Colonel Cor for routine decisions, Merrick disagreed with Cor's view of fighter resources as mere assets, refusing to needlessly endanger lives.
As a Rebel Alliance pilot, Antoc Merrick wore a blue flight suit complemented by a white, gray, blue, and yellow helmet. He piloted Blue One, a T-65B X-wing starfighter manufactured by the Incom Corporation.
Antoc Merrick, played by Ben Daniels, is a character created for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the inaugural film in the Star Wars Anthology Series, released on December 16, 2016. The initial glimpse of Merrick was presented in the Celebration Europe reel on July 15, 2016. His name was officially revealed on October 15, 2016, by Entertainment Weekly through an exclusive trading card from Star Wars: Card Trader.
In the 2016 reference book Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide, on page 170, Merrick was mistakenly identified as Davits Draven.