The assault squad that landed on Exegol was under the command of General Finn of the Resistance during the Battle of Exegol. Their objective was to eliminate the navigation tower, which had the capability to allow the Final Order, the fleet belonging to the Sith Eternal, to escape from the secluded planet of Exegol, a world steeped in Sith history.
The Fortitude, a troop carrier belonging to the Resistance, provided transport for the ground invasion force. The original plan involved landing directly on Exegol's surface to disable the Sith Eternal's navigation tower, thereby preventing their fleet from launching. However, a First Order officer stationed on the Resurgent-class Star Destroyer Steadfast, commanded by Allegiant General Enric Pryde, discerned the Resistance's strategy and alerted Admiral Frantis Griss and Pryde. Pryde then made the decision to transfer the navigation signal to his own vessel, enabling them to personally guide the fleet's departure.
As the tower was deactivated, Finn, utilizing the Force, detected that the navigation signal originated from the command ship. Consequently, he redirected the ground invasion force to target the Steadfast. The troop carrier touched down on the Star Destroyer's exterior deck, deploying Company 77 who were riding Orbaks. The cavalry unit, with General Finn, Jannah, and BB-8 leading the charge, advanced toward the navigation tower. Commander Rose Tico, Captain Beaumont Kin, and Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix commanded the infantry support alongside Sidon Ithano. The team achieved their goal of neutralizing the tower, but subsequently faced an assault by Sith troopers. Connix sustained a laser bolt injury to her leg, prompting Tico and Kin to assist her. The overwhelming offensive by Sith TIE fighters, Sith troopers, and Sith Jetpack Troopers resulted in significant casualties among the Resistance troopers, compelling the remaining infantry and cavalry to withdraw to the troop carrier. BB-8 accompanied the retreating infantry, assisting Connix and Kin. Tico contacted Finn, urging him and Jannah to evacuate with the surviving soldiers, but Finn declined and instructed her to depart with the others. Following the troop carrier's departure, Finn and Jannah seized control of a cannon, employing it to target the command deck, which caused the Steadfast to crash onto the planet's surface. This resulted in the Sith fleet being trapped and destroyed on Exegol. Finn and Jannah clung to the ship as it tilted vertically, until they were rescued by General Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca aboard the Millennium Falcon.
The concept for the Exegol landing team was conceived and developed for the 2019 Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. The team received its official designation in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The Visual Dictionary, which was released concurrently with the film.