Among the scarce female officers who ascended through the ranks within the Imperial Navy, reaching the esteemed position of admiral, was Betl Oxtroe. As the Galactic Civil War progressed into its second phase following the death of the Emperor Palpatine at Endor in 4 ABY, Oxtroe chose to remain steadfastly loyal to Sate Pestage, even as numerous high-ranking officers splintered off to establish their own domains as warlords.
Advocating for peaceful resolutions, Oxtroe endeavored to negotiate a settlement between the New Republic and what remained of the Galactic Empire. Her proposal involved establishing a parliamentary monarchy, potentially headed by Ederlathh Pallopides, a distant grand-niece of Palpatine, who was only eleven years old. In exchange, she sought immunity for former personnel of the Imperial Military. However, before the initial confidential discussions with the New Republic could be finalized, Admiral Oxtroe met her demise at the hands of a Noghri assassin, causing the plan to be abandoned.
During the Galactic Civil War, Betl Oxtroe served as an admiral within the Imperial Navy. She was a rare example of a woman holding a high-ranking position in the armed forces of the Galactic Empire. Following the death of Emperor Palpatine at the hands of the Rebel Alliance during the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, the Empire began to disintegrate. Many Imperials became warlords, carving out their own territories across the galaxy. Meanwhile, on Imperial Center, Palpatine's successors pushed for a continuation of the war against the rebels, who had reorganized into the New Republic. Despite this fragmentation, Oxtroe and her forces, along with officers like Uther Kermen and Gilad Pellaeon, remained loyal to Sate Pestage. She was entrusted with the defense of several fortress worlds within the Core and Colonies.
Admiral Oxtroe stood out as one of the few Imperials who favored pursuing a peace agreement with the New Republic, advocating for a parliamentary monarchy to reconcile the opposing factions. In 7 ABY, she secretly approached the New Republic, hoping to initiate discussions about establishing such a system. Oxtroe suggested Ederlathh Pallopides, a distant grand-niece of the late Emperor, as a potential heir. Given that Pallopides was only eleven years old, she would serve merely as a symbolic figurehead. The New Republic Provisional Council would wield the actual power, much like the former Imperial Advisors under Palpatine. In exchange for what Oxtroe considered Imperial concessions, she requested that the Provisional Council grant amnesty to members of the former Imperial Military. The New Republic expressed interest in negotiations, and preliminary talks commenced.
However, many Imperials opposed any peace accords. Furthermore, the resurrected Emperor Palpatine was preparing for his return, and Grand Admiral Thrawn was concealed in the Unknown Regions, awaiting the opportune moment to strike against the New Republic. Thrawn commanded the Noghri, a species of formidable warriors. Before the initial round of discussions could conclude, a Noghri assassin murdered Oxtroe, and the proposal was abandoned. Voren Na'al, a New Republic historian, suspected Thrawn's involvement in the Admiral's death, but lacked concrete evidence. Ultimately, the remnants of the Empire and the New Republic continued their conflict for more than a decade, until Gilad Pellaeon and Ponc Gavrisom signed accords in 19 ABY.
In an era where high-ranking positions were rarely given to women, Betl Oxtroe stood out as one of the few to achieve such a rank within the Empire. Despite the systemic challenges, Oxtroe was promoted to admiral, making her one of the highest-ranking women in Imperial service, alongside Natasi Daala.
Unlike many of her colleagues, Oxtroe desired peace after Palpatine's death and was willing to engage in dialogue with the New Republic, without defecting from the Empire. She devised an innovative plan to achieve peace while preserving some semblance of the Empire she had served.
Betl Oxtroe was conceived by Michael Allen Horne for the Dark Empire Sourcebook, which was published in 1993. She was later referenced in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia, a collaborative work released in 2008. In 2012, she was mentioned in The Essential Guide to Warfare by Jason Fry and Paul R. Urquhart.
Oxtroe was briefly mentioned in an early draft of Who's Who: Imperial Grand Admirals, written by Daniel Wallace and Abel G. Peña. Originally intended for publication in Star Wars Gamer magazine as Dirty Dozen: The Imperial Grand Admirals, the article was renamed and condensed for publication in Star Wars Insider 66 after Gamer's cancellation.
The earlier draft identified Oxtroe as a member of the Order of the Canted Circle, a secret society based on Coruscanti created by Paul Sudlow for Galaxywide NewsNets in the Star Wars Adventure Journal 9. An unwritten rule limited membership to eleven individuals per decade, but Oxtroe's induction was the twelfth in the decade beginning 5 BBY. Grand Admirals Rufaan Tigellinus and Thrawn were later granted exemptions by 2 ABY.
- Dark Empire Sourcebook (First mentioned)
- " L'après Endor: Background de transition " — Casus Belli 106 (Unlicensed)
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Essential Guide to Warfare