Hamo Blastwell

Before joining the Rebel Alliance as a starfighter pilot, Hamo Blastwell originated from a remote planet, and his early life remained largely undocumented. He once mentioned meeting Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, but he was hesitant to elaborate. Within a year of joining the Alliance, and while still in his early twenties, Blastwell had risen to the rank of lieutenant and gained recognition as an ace pilot. In 1 BBY, he served as a wing leader in Red Squadron aboard the Alliance flagship Independence, where he also functioned as an orientation officer for new recruits. Among these recruits was Keyan Farlander, with whom he quickly developed a close friendship due to their shared backgrounds. Blastwell's role involved preparing recruits for the rigorous pilot proving grounds, ensuring they could anticipate and execute his commands flawlessly, even without verbal communication, before commencing simulated combat exercises.

Recognizing Farlander's potential early on, Blastwell nominated him for his inaugural mission before his combat training was complete. Continuing as a mentor, Blastwell extracted Farlander from the simulators to gain practical flight experience before the mission, designating him as his wingman. The mission, which aimed to secure data from the Imperial corvette Talon, saw Blastwell piloting an X-wing as Red Leader to support the Nebulon-B frigate Liberator in engaging TIE Fighter escorts while Y-wings from Gold Squadron disabled the Talon for boarding. Although Blastwell's R2 unit was damaged, preventing him from entering hyperspace and forcing a return to the Liberator, the mission validated Blastwell's confidence in Farlander, who played a crucial role in the data's capture.

The Empire responded to recent Rebel successes with a large-scale offensive known as Operation Strike Fear. Information regarding the Empire's plans surfaced during a raid on an Imperial convoy, when the captain of the corvette Bixby signaled his intent to defect. While Blue Squadron's Y-wings provided cover for the Bixby's defection, Blastwell and Farlander were dispatched to destroy the convoy. Shortly after the capture of the Bixby, Blastwell received a promotion to captain.

Blastwell was deeply involved in the fight against Operation Strike Fear, participating in numerous missions. Facing a shortage of astromech droids, the Rebels launched an operation to steal R2 units from the BFF-1 bulk freighter Ars Opus, unaware that the Galactic Empire had modified them to seize control of X-wings for analysis. While on a mission with Blue Squadron, Blastwell's X-wing was among three that were hijacked and directed towards a rendezvous with the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Invincible.

A swift rescue mission was organized to recover the stolen ships and their pilots before they reached the Invincible. Tracking the X-wings to the Invincible's location, three Y-wings from Red Squadron disabled them, enabling shuttles to deliver replacement R2 units and allowing the pilots to regain control and fly to the waiting Mon Calamari Star Cruiser Maximus. Although two Y-wings immediately jumped to hyperspace after disabling their targets, Keyan Farlander, knowing his friend was in one of the X-wings, engaged TIE Series fighters launched from Invincible and secured the pilots' rescue. The incident resulted in Blastwell sustaining a severe wrist sprain, temporarily grounding him.

Despite his injury, Blastwell remained involved in the campaign. In a private briefing with Commander S'man three days after the injury, Blastwell was tasked with overseeing Farlander's preparations for a mission to rescue Sullustan prisoners. The successful rescue bolstered support for the Alliance on Sullust.

Blastwell returned to active duty as Farlander's flight leader, piloting R-22 Spearheads in defense of a diplomatic meeting between the Alliance and the Sullustans near Sullust. Following the arrival of the Invincible, the two pilots stalled Imperial fighters until the meeting concluded and all ships jumped to hyperspace. However, the Invincible's attack proved to be a diversion. While the meeting transpired, stormtroopers abducted the Sullustan leader. Blastwell was once again called into action, providing cover in a Gold Squadron X-wing while Farlander disabled the shuttle carrying the Sullustan to the Invincible, and holding off Imperial fighters until a Rebel shuttle conducted a boarding operation and escaped into hyperspace. After the mission, Blastwell helped organize a party to celebrate Farlander's promotion to captain and was later among the senior officers briefed on the Alliance's plans to destroy the Invincible.

The destruction of the Invincible concluded Operation Strike Fear. However, Blastwell's celebration was short-lived, as he was reassigned off-ship. This mission led to Blastwell's promotion to commander, though upon his return to the Independence, he remained tight-lipped about the circumstances, only describing it as "a long story."

The Alliance had been investigating reports of an Imperial superweapon for some time. It was discovered that the weapon was the Death Star—a battle station capable of destroying planets. After acquiring plans to the station, the Alliance aimed to eliminate the Star Destroyer Intrepid to prevent it from reporting their success. Following a previous mission that left the Intrepid stranded, Blastwell joined Farlander, Samuel Raider, and Ernek Marskan in a mission to destroy its escort of Assault Gunboats and corvettes from Viper group. With the escort neutralized, a subsequent assault was launched to destroy the Intrepid itself.

The Death Star plans were scheduled for transport to Alderaan by Princess Leia Organa. Blastwell provided protection for the transfer of the plans to her ship, Tantive IV, and was again called upon when the ship was attacked by the Star Destroyer Immortal. Although he aided in her safe jump to hyperspace, her escape was brief, as Imperial forces under Darth Vader captured her near Tatooine.

Blastwell's promotion to commander increased his involvement in strategic planning and gave him access to information before other pilots. When the Mon Calamari pirate Tuz provided the Alliance with information about an Imperial repair facility, he delivered it to Blastwell and S'man. A mission was quickly planned to destroy the facility. Due to his mission-planning responsibilities and frequent involvement in special missions that often took him off-ship for days, Blastwell spent less time flying with Red Squadron, though he remained an official member. Farlander assumed his role as orientation officer.

One mission planned by Blastwell involved an assault on the Imperial corvette Godar, which was carrying members of the Death Star design team. After a week of planning, Blastwell selected Farlander to pilot a Y-wing to disable the vessel. Despite interference from the Immortal's starfighters, a Rebel team successfully captured the design team members, and Farlander destroyed the Godar before departing.

After another extended absence, Blastwell returned to the Independence shortly before the Battle of Yavin to discover that Farlander's experimentation with the Force had brought him dangerously close to the dark side and alienated many of the other pilots. Blastwell waited for Farlander after his return from a mission, but as he confronted his friend, Farlander collapsed due to a Force-induced vision. Upon regaining consciousness, he refused medical attention and requested that Blastwell keep the incident secret. Though he did not fully understand, Blastwell agreed and honored his word. Farlander, for his part, recognized his error and resolved to abstain from using the Force until he could control its effects.

Blastwell was among the pilots transferred to the Rebel Base on Yavin 4 to participate in the upcoming battle against the Death Star in 0 BBY. After attending the formal briefing by General Jan Dodonna, Blastwell briefed Farlander, who had been on a preliminary mission, on the plan. Though they would fly in separate groups during the battle, both were tasked with holding off Imperial fighters while others attacked the Death Star. Despite heavy Rebel losses, the Battle of Yavin was a resounding success for the Alliance, as Luke Skywalker delivered the fatal blow to the Imperial superweapon. Blastwell was presumed shot down during the battle, and despite the lack of witnesses, he was officially listed as missing and presumed dead. Blastwell's loss was particularly difficult for Farlander, but the young pilot controlled his use of the Force and eventually became a Jedi Knight.

Unbeknownst to his comrades, Blastwell survived the Battle of Yavin. Under the alias Trace, Blastwell began an undercover operation to infiltrate the Imperial Navy. By just after the Battle of Hoth in 3 ABY, Blastwell had attained the rank of captain in the Imperial Navy and was a senior pilot aboard the Victory-class Star Destroyer Protector, under the command of Admiral Harkov. The Protector was dispatched to intervene in the Sepan Civil War, and Blastwell attended Harkov's briefing on the upcoming campaign.

Blastwell participated in at least one battle of the Sepan campaign, where he assisted in rescuing a Ripoblus convoy from Dimok attacks. Following the mission, Blastwell debriefed Maarek Stele, one of the Protector's new pilots. Blastwell was impressed by Stele's piloting skills but noted that Stele had exceeded orders by investigating the convoy, discovering Imperial weapons in the process. Blastwell instructed Stele to obey orders in the future and warned him to avoid attracting Admiral Harkov's attention.

When Stele continued to disregard orders, uncovering more illicit weapons in a subsequent mission, Blastwell grew suspicious. Seeing Stele conversing with a cloaked figure, he became convinced that Stele was collaborating with the enigmatic Secret Order of the Emperor and saw an opportunity to learn more about the group. Disguising himself as a member of the order, he entered Stele's quarters one night to confirm his suspicions. However, when Stele saw through the deception, Blastwell instructed him to forget the incident and departed. Stele only saw Blastwell once more aboard the Protector when he noticed him observing from behind a bulkhead during Stele's next meeting with his liaison in the Secret Order. When Stele mentioned Blastwell's apparent interest in the Order, he was informed that they were aware of it and would "take care of him."

Soon, Blastwell was able to begin working for the Order himself. Shortly after Admiral Harkov defected to the Rebel Alliance, the Secret Order arranged for Blastwell to escape the Protector. Maintaining his guise as a loyal Imperial officer, Blastwell commandeered a TIE interceptor and rendezvoused with loyal Imperial forces on the Star Destroyer Garrett. A few days after arriving, he was reunited with Stele and attempted to reconcile, though Stele was initially cautious.

Eventually, Blastwell was promoted to major and assigned to a research facility under the command of Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin. There, he encountered Stele again. Stele had been questioning the Empire and his allegiances, doubts that were amplified by the recent defection of his friend Carith to the Alliance. Blastwell had long believed that Stele was a decent man who had yet to recognize the Empire's atrocities, and he decided to attempt to recruit the talented young pilot to the Alliance. After extracting a promise of confidentiality, Blastwell confided his identity as an Alliance officer and attempted to reveal the truth about the Empire to Stele. However, while Stele was disillusioned with the Empire, he was not yet ready to abandon it and the Imperial ideals he once held dear. Though he refused to join the Alliance and asked Blastwell to leave, he agreed to consider his position and refrain from reporting Blastwell.

Stele remained true to his word, and Blastwell remained undercover in the Imperial Navy, continuing to serve under Grand Admiral Zaarin aboard his flagship, the Star Destroyer Glory and receiving a promotion to commander. Soon after Zaarin launched a coup against Emperor Palpatine, Blastwell attempted to steal the plans for the new TIE/D Defender. Blastwell's attempt was foiled, but he managed to escape the Glory.

Blastwell, a Human male with shaggy, dark blond hair that was overgrown by months, and whose uniform was often only partially buttoned, conveyed a somewhat disheveled appearance and demeanor that seemed at odds with his military rank. This relaxed attitude extended to his command style, and Blastwell rarely insisted on being addressed by rank, typically preferring new recruits to call him by his first name. Despite his appearance, Blastwell was a dedicated orientation officer. He readily shared his extensive combat experience with his recruits, closely monitoring their training, offering reassurance when they doubted their abilities, and helping to build their confidence while reminding them of their need to continue learning. Blastwell possessed a strong belief in his ability to handle any task, and his confidence appeared to grow with each promotion.

He was also a sociable individual who enjoyed spending time with the other pilots in their ready room, frequently engaging in games of Horansi or discussing their combat experiences. His friends were important to him, and he endeavored to support them through difficult times. When Farlander was suspended from duty pending an inquest into the loss of two wingmen, Blastwell insisted on taking him for a drink to lift his spirits. Later, his concern for Farlander prompted him to confront the younger pilot when the rest of the squadron ostracized him.

Blastwell's personality would later seem out of place in the more rigid Imperial Navy. A joke he made during Harkov's briefing on the Sepan campaign elicited laughter from the other pilots, but Blastwell was summoned by Harkov after the briefing and disciplined. Harkov even struck him for his breach of discipline.

Hamo Blastwell was created by Rusel DeMaria for The Farlander Papers, the short novella which told the story of Keyan Farlander, the player character in the 1993 LucasArts video game Star Wars: X-Wing. DeMaria expanded the character, along with Farlander's story, in X-Wing: The Official Strategy Guide, published that same year. Blastwell appeared once more in DeMaria's TIE Fighter: The Official Strategy Guide (1994), this time as part of the story of Maarek Stele, the player character in X-Wing's sequel, Star Wars: TIE Fighter.

X-Wing: The Official Strategy Guide gives the impression that Blastwell was killed at the Battle of Yavin. TIE Fighter: The Official Strategy Guide establishes that he subsequently went undercover in the Imperial Navy but gives no further details about what happened to him at the Battle of Yavin.