Derek Klivian

Life Story

Formative Years

Coming from the planet of Ralltiir, Derek Klivian displayed exceptional flying talent from a very young age. He acquired the nickname "Hobbie" during his childhood. Preferring this moniker, he always introduced himself as Hobbie and expressed his dislike for the name Derek, requesting to be addressed by his nickname.

Skystrike Training

Klivian refined his abilities at Skystrike Academy, a prestigious aviation school situated on Montross, where he was instructed by Flight Instructor Goran. He imparted his knowledge of asteroid maneuvering and instrument-free navigation to others. Klivian encountered fellow pilot Wedge Antilles one day during a Sabacc game in their living quarters. He also became acquainted with Rake Gahree. Klivian, along with several others, eventually sought to connect with the burgeoning rebellion and utilize his skills for their cause.

Antilles and Gahree shared Klivian's dissatisfaction with the Empire's trajectory and formulated plans to defect. This information was relayed to a Fulcrum operative, who served as Klivian's essential link. Fulcrum then communicated the information to the Phoenix Cell.

The Imperial Security Bureau also took notice, prompting Governor Arihnda Pryce of the Lothal sector and agent Kallus to investigate. Klivian, Antilles, and Gahree were suspected of planning a defection. However, cadet Ria Talla, secretly the rebel Sabine Wren in disguise, overheard and offered her assistance to Antilles.

Later, Klivian and his comrades found an opportunity to escape when Goran ordered the cadets to engage in a simulated combat exercise in space. Wren arranged for her rebel allies Ezra Bridger and Kanan Jarrus to position their CR90 corvette near the planet. Upon Wren's signal, Klivian and his comrades directed their flight toward the rebel corvette. Pryce, however, disabled the TIE fighters' solar panels, rendering them adrift. Pryce also instructed Captain Vult Skerris to destroy one of the TIE pods as a warning, resulting in Rake's demise. Klivian, Wren, and Antilles were subsequently apprehended by Imperial forces.

Following their capture, Antilles and Klivian were confined to a holding cell by Kallus. Inside, they debated their escape strategy, with Antilles suggesting a surprise attack on the guards. Klivian, feeling discouraged, doubted their chances due to the absence of a detailed plan. Fortunately, Wren rescued them after subduing Governor Pryce. The defectors and Wren fled down a corridor, only to encounter Agent Kallus. However, the ISB agent, having experienced a change of heart after a previous encounter with Wren's rebel cell, allowed them to escape.

They proceeded to Hangar 24, where Klivian and his companions escaped aboard a TIE bomber. They successfully entered the atmosphere but were pursued by Captain Skerris. At the last moment, Bridger's CR90 corvette came to their rescue, allowing them to escape. Klivian, Antilles, and their rebel rescuers journeyed to the Phoenix Base on Atollon. There, Commander Jun Sato greeted Antilles and Klivian, formally welcoming them into the rebellion. They soon distinguished themselves in several early engagements.

Service in Phoenix Cell

Training Mission

Shortly after defecting from the Empire, Klivian, along with the Spectres and Phoenix Squadron, participated in a training exercise. Before their departure, Klivian and Antilles were conversing in the hangar, running behind schedule. They were startled by Syndulla's call and collided in their haste to prepare. During their absence, Chopper Base was infiltrated by the E-XD-series infiltrator droid EXD-9, who was searching the Outer Rim Territories for rebel bases. The Lasat Garazeb Orrelios, the inventory droid AP-5, and the astromech droid Chopper managed to capture and reprogram the droid as a makeshift bomb, which destroyed an Imperial Star Destroyer.

Joining the Rebel Alliance

Atollon

Eventually, all the individual rebel cells united, reorganizing into the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Just as Phoenix Squadron was preparing to attack the Imperial factory on Lothal, Grand Admiral Thrawn discovered the location of Chopper Base and launched an all-out assault to neutralize the rebel activities, which had become a significant threat to the Empire. During the ground assault, Klivian, Antilles, and two other rebel pilots launched their A-wing starfighters to counter the AT-AT walkers stationed on the planet's surface. With Antilles leading the way, the duo attempted to attack the walkers; however, Thrawn quickly noticed their maneuver and deployed TIE fighters to intercept them. The A-wings and TIE fighters engaged in a dogfight. Towards the end of the battle, the two managed to escape, along with the remnants of Phoenix Squadron and General Jan Dodonna's Massassi Group, to Yavin 4.

Rand Ecliptic Revolt

Around this period, Klivian went undercover and enrolled at the Prefsbelt Fleet Camp with Biggs Darklighter. They were both assigned to the Imperial starship Rand Ecliptic, where Darklighter was commissioned as first mate. Similar to Wren years prior, Klivian assisted Darklighter in defecting to the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

The Galactic Civil War

Scarif

By 0 BBY, Klivian was a member of Red Squadron, stationed at Base One on Yavin 4. During the mission to steal the blueprints of the secret Death Star weapon, he was the standby for Red Six, though Jek Tono Porkins ultimately filled the position. Klivian attempted to comfort Antilles, who was disappointed at being excluded from the battle roster.

Yavin

Days later, Antilles returned the favor by comforting Klivian, who learned that he would not be participating in the Yavin engagement.

Mako-Ta

Months later, he and Antilles participated in a training exercise sponsored by Syndulla, where they encountered Zev Senesca. The trio forged a friendship. As the rebellion recovered and gathered at Mako-Ta Space Docks, the pilots met up with Red Squadron and aspiring Jedi Luke Skywalker in Mess Hall IV. Shortly after, the Galactic Empire launched an attack on the Alliance's base. Klivian was aboard the Star Cruiser Republic with other pilots, including Skywalker, Antilles, and Senesca. Thanks to Han Solo, the Rebel starfighters were able to launch into battle, with Klivian serving as a member of Rogue Squadron, a unit created by Skywalker during the battle to honor Jyn Erso's actions.

Hoth

Following the Battle of Yavin, Skywalker invited Klivian to join Rogue Squadron. Klivian accepted, becoming a core member of the elite group along with Antilles. Klivian and Antilles flew together in numerous engagements, including the Distilon engagement, the Perimako Major engagement, and at least a dozen other battles.

The Rebel Alliance eventually established a base at Echo Base on Hoth. After Darth Vader's Death Squadron discovered the rebel presence, Klivian and other fighter pilots attended a briefing by Princess Leia Organa before the Hoth fight. Klivian and Rogue Squadron were to pilot T-47 snowspeeders, while the squadron's X-wing fighters remained in reserve for the escape from Hoth, to delay the Imperial ground troops while the rest of the station evacuated. Once this was done, the pilots would escort each transport ship away from the base, past the Imperial blockade. Skeptical that two fighters could break through an Imperial Star Destroyer, Organa assured him that the base's v-150 ion cannon would provide sufficient cover for the escape.

During the battle against the Empire's AT-AT walkers, Klivian served as Skywalker's wingman, remaining in the air longer than most rebel pilots. In addition to high casualties, the rebels also lost their base's shield generator to General Maximilian Veers's walker, Blizzard 1. After his snowspeeder was crippled, Klivian chose not to eject, instead crashing it into the head of Blizzard 1, resulting in his death. By destroying the walker, Klivian saved many rebels from its cannons and slowed the Imperial advance.

Lasting Impact

Klivian shared a close bond with Antilles, having defected from the Empire together. He was also friends with squadron members like Luke Skywalker and Wes Janson. Klivian once helped create a citrusy, potato-based liquor, brewed in a hollowed-out R2 astromech droid. After Klivian's death, Antilles and Janson continued the operation, eventually naming the drink "Klivian." While unappetizing to most, they continued to drink it as a palate cleanser and in remembrance of Klivian.

Personality and Characteristics

Klivian, a human male, stood at 1.75 meters. Initially aligned with the Galactic Empire at Skystrike Academy, Klivian and others grew dissatisfied with the regime. Thanks to agent Fulcrum, he joined the rebel Starfighter Corps, serving as an X-wing pilot.

Skills

Having been a pilot since childhood, Klivian was skilled enough to be in Rogue Group, a unit of X-wing aces in the Rebel Fleet.

Behind the Camera

Derek Klivian was played by Richard Oldfield in Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, credited as "Hobbie (Rogue 4)." Klivian appears as an Imperial cadet in Star Wars Rebels, voiced by Trevor Devall.

Klivian was originally meant to die in The Empire Strikes Back by crashing his T-47 airspeeder into the "head" of Blizzard 1, the AT-AT leading the assault on Echo Base. The scene was unfinished and not included in the final film. Preliminary footage was later released as part of the enhanced edition of The Making of The Empire Strikes Back. Sources like the Databank on StarWars.com or Star Wars: Card Trader claim Klivian ejected before the crash, while Star Wars: On the Front Lines says Klivian died during the Battle of Hoth. Author Daniel Wallace clarified that the Lucasfilm Story Group directed him to the planned scene, so he could incorporate it. He also speculated that the planned scene took precedence over Star Wars Legends, where Klivian survived the battle.