The endeavor to liberate Wookiee captives was a covert operation executed by the rebellious group operating from their base in the vicinity of the planetary body Lothal during the galactic year 5 BBY. The rebels received intelligence indicating the supposed location of the Wookiees, who were being held in servitude by the forces of the Galactic Empire. They launched a daring attempt to extract the Wookiees from Transport 651, an Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser. Unbeknownst to the rebel contingent, they were walking straight into an elaborate trap orchestrated by Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau. They quickly discerned that the Wookiees were not on board the designated vessel, compelling the rebels to make a hasty retreat from Kallus and his pursuing forces. During their escape, one of the rebels, Ezra Bridger, was apprehended, thereby necessitating a subsequent return mission by the remaining crew to secure his release. While held captive, Bridger discovered the Wookiees' true destination: the spice mines located on the planet Kessel.
The rebels soon made their way to Kessel's spice extraction facilities, where their starship, the Ghost, unleashed a barrage of laser fire upon the Imperial stormtroopers guarding the enslaved individuals. The rebels successfully infiltrated the mine complex, engaging the stormtroopers in combat and liberating the imprisoned Wookiees. They were confronted by Kallus and his squad, who initiated a firefight against both the rebels and the freed Wookiees. As the Ghost became embroiled in an aerial dogfight with pursuing TIE fighters, the rebel commander, Kanan Jarrus, activated his lightsaber, revealing himself as a Jedi who had managed to survive the purge of the Jedi Order. While Jarrus and other members of his crew ensured the safety of the majority of the Wookiees, Bridger pursued the Wookiee child Kitwarr, who was being hunted down by a stormtrooper. Jarrus intervened, saving them both from Agent Kallus, and the Ghost departed Kessel with the Wookiees, effectively ending their period of enslavement.
Following the rebels' successful Wookiee rescue operation, Kallus contacted the Grand Inquisitor, an Imperial operative tasked with hunting down Jedi, to inform him that the rebels were being led by a Jedi Knight. This revelation resulted in numerous subsequent encounters with both Kallus and the Inquisitor as the rebels continued their anti-Imperial activities.
In the galactic year 5 BBY, a rebellious faction was active in the vicinity of the Outer Rim planet Lothal, where they launched various attacks targeting the operations of the Galactic Empire. With the goal of expanding their movement beyond Lothal and acquiring new allies, the rebels received information regarding potential recruits from Cikatro Vizago, a criminal overlord and the leader of the Broken Horn Syndicate on Lothal. The rebels' vessel, the Ghost, rendezvoused with the ship of these potential allies, only to discover that the other ship was in a damaged state. Upon boarding, the rebels determined that it was a Wookiee starship. It seemed logical to the rebels that the Wookiees would be eager to join the fight against the Empire, given that the Imperials had seized control of their homeworld of Kashyyyk. As the crew explored the vessel, they learned that one of the Wookiees was Wullffwarro, a veteran soldier who had fought for the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. The rebels also located an injured Trandoshan slaver on board, who confessed that the Trandoshans had sold the Wookiees into slavery under the Empire's control. Hera Syndulla, the owner and pilot of the Ghost, contacted Vizago to inform him of the situation, and the crime lord promised to investigate the matter.
In the interim, Vizago presented the rebels with another assignment: to pilfer crates filled with blasters from the Empire in Capital City on Lothal. They successfully stole the weapons, along with food supplies intended for refugees on Lothal. However, the blasters were subsequently stolen by Ezra Bridger, a street urchin from Lothal. Three of the rebels—Kanan Jarrus, the rebels' leader and a Jedi survivor of the destruction of the Jedi Order; Sabine Wren, a Mandalorian explosives specialist; and Garazeb Orrelios, a Lasat warrior—pursued Bridger in an effort to recover the stolen goods. They chased him out of the city while simultaneously evading Imperial stormtroopers and TIE/ln space superiority starfighters. Bridger managed to evade the rebels but was nearly eliminated by a TIE fighter before it was shot down by the Ghost, piloted by Syndulla. Jarrus allowed Bridger to escape aboard the Ghost, which entered space and fought off pursuing TIE fighters before jumping into hyperspace.
Following the rebel attack, Agent Kallus of the Imperial Security Bureau—who had been dispatched to Lothal after the rebels attracted the attention of the ISB—conducted an investigation into the events in Capital City. Commandant Cumberlayne Aresko, who was present during the heist, recounted the details to Kallus. The ISB agent explained that the rebels had previously targeted other Imperial operations on Lothal, which he feared could trigger a larger rebellion on Lothal. Kallus then initiated the planning stages for a trap designed to capture the rebels. Meanwhile, the rebels delivered the stolen supplies to the refugee settlement known derisively as Tarkintown, named after Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, Governor of the Outer Rim Territories; Tarkin had forcibly displaced the refugees from their homes in Tangletown, a Lothal farming community. Upon arriving in Tarkintown, the rebels distributed the food to the refugees, while Jarrus and Syndulla transported the stolen blaster crates to Vizago. The crime lord compensated them with both money and information: the supposed location of Wookiee prisoners. Unbeknownst to the rebels, this information was intended as bait for Kallus's trap.
Although Vizago was unable to confirm the identities of the Wookiee prisoners he had located, and thus could not ascertain whether they were the ones the rebels had intended to meet, Jarrus formulated a plan to enable the crew to rescue the enslaved Wookiees. The Ghost traveled to the location of Transport 651, an Imperial Gozanti-class cruiser, where Vizago's information indicated the Wookiees were being held. The Ghost emerged from hyperspace near the cruiser, and when contacted by the cruiser, Syndulla claimed that they were delivering another Wookiee slave. The Imperial officer on the other end of the communication had no record of such a transfer, so Syndulla fabricated a story, stating that she was under orders from Governor Tarkin to deliver the Wookiee and that, if the officer doubted her, he could address his concerns with Tarkin directly. Consequently, the cruiser granted the Ghost permission to dock.
Upon docking, two stormtroopers greeted the rebels at the ship's entrance. Jarrus and Wren presented Orrelios to the stormtroopers, attempting to disguise him as a "rare hairless Wookiee." Anticipating that their deception would not be believed, Orrelios attacked the stormtroopers, rendering them unconscious and allowing the rebels to proceed. Jarrus and Orrelios advanced toward what they believed to be the location of the Wookiees, but in reality, they were heading straight into an Imperial ambush, as Kallus had meticulously planned a trap for the rebels. Meanwhile, Wren made her way to a control room with the astromech droid C1-10P, also known as "Chopper," to deactivate the cruiser's artificial [gravity](/article/gravity].
As the mission progressed, Kallus's Star Destroyer, Lawbringer, dropped out of hyperspace, signaling to Syndulla and Bridger, who was also present in the Ghost's cockpit, that they had fallen into a trap. The Star Destroyer ensnared the Ghost, which remained connected to Transport 651, and Kallus and his stormtroopers prepared to board the freighter to confront the rebels. Syndulla instructed Bridger to warn the others on the cruiser about the impending trap, but Bridger initially refused, claiming he was not willing to risk his life for people he had only just met. However, after a moment of contemplation, Bridger sprinted to the cruiser, where he located Jarrus and Orrelios and alerted them to the imminent attack.
Unfortunately, Bridger's warning came too late, and the trio was swiftly ambushed by stormtroopers. As Agent Kallus approached, Wren and Chopper successfully disabled the artificial gravity, throwing the Imperials off-balance and providing the rebels with an opportunity to escape. The gravity was restored by the time the rebels reached the airlock, and they began boarding the ship. Bridger attempted to board as well, but he was pushed aside by Orrelios, who was trying to board the ship first. Consequently, Bridger was captured by Agent Kallus, forcing Orrelios to abandon the boy so that the rest of the rebel crew could escape. As the Ghost departed, Wren detonated an explosive device she had planted in the Gozanti cruiser, resulting in its destruction.
Following his capture, the Imperials confined Bridger to a cell, where he was approached by Agent Kallus, who informed the boy that he would be used as bait to lure the rebels back to Lothal. Although Bridger—who sarcastically identified himself as crime lord Jabba the Hutt—dismissed the plan as foolish, doubting that anyone would risk their lives to save others, the Ghost crew nonetheless held a vote to determine whether to return for Bridger. Orrelios and Wren both believed that it was too late for the boy and that he would be used as bait, while Syndulla and Chopper voted in favor of a rescue mission. The deciding vote was cast by Jarrus, who decided that they would return to the Star Destroyer and attempt to rescue Bridger.
Not expecting to be rescued, Bridger tricked the stormtroopers guarding him into entering the cell. Once they were inside, Bridger slipped out and locked the stormtroopers inside, before making his way to a storage room. He retrieved his gear that the Imperials had confiscated and stole an Imperial cadet helmet, which allowed him to eavesdrop on communications aboard the Lawbringer—including the information that the Wookiees were being transported to work in the spice mines of the planet Kessel. While listening, Bridger also overheard one of the troopers he had tricked, LS-005, reporting that the boy had escaped. Bridger made his way into the ship's ventilation system, while Kallus learned that the rebels had returned, catching Bridger by surprise.
The Ghost docked in one of the ship's hangars, and the Imperials immediately advanced toward their position. Jarrus, Wren, and Orrelios left the ship to locate Bridger, while Syndulla remained behind to guard the Ghost. Before exiting the hangar, Wren painted her personal symbol, an orange starbird, onto the hangar floor, which also served as an explosive residue. The rebels barely managed to leave the hangar before Bridger jumped down from the ventilation shaft, and the Imperials caught up with them. With Kallus closing in, the rebels and Bridger retreated back to the Ghost. Kallus and his stormtroopers opened fire on the ship, but it nonetheless initiated its escape. Once the rebels were aboard the Ghost, Wren detonated her explosive, which tore a hole in the hangar and ejected numerous stormtroopers into the vacuum of space; Kallus narrowly escaped death before the hull breach could be sealed. Amidst the chaos, the Ghost was able to escape.
After fleeing the Lawbringer, the Ghost jumped into hyperspace, and Bridger informed the crew that he had learned the Wookiees were being transported to Kessel. The rebels explained to Bridger, who was unfamiliar with the nature of spice mines, that working in the harsh mines was essentially a death sentence for the Wookiees, who were native to a jungle planet. The rebels resolved to launch another rescue attempt, a possibility that Kallus had anticipated, as he had discovered that the communication system on the helmet Bridger had worn on the Lawbringer had been active while the Imperials were discussing the Wookiee prisoners.
The rebels arrived at Kessel, where the Wookiee prisoners had been transported to spice mine K76. The stormtroopers guarding the slaves, including Wullffwarro and his son, Kitwarr, led the prisoners toward the mines as the Ghost descended from the sky, unleashing a barrage of laser fire on the Imperial troops. The Ghost hovered above the mine, allowing Jarrus, Orrelios, Wren, and Bridger to disembark and engage the stormtroopers. The three veteran rebels fired on the stormtroopers, keeping them occupied while Bridger snuck around them, using the distraction as an opportunity to begin freeing the Wookiees. With the Wookiees liberated, the former prisoners joined the fight against the stormtroopers, which helped the rebels defeat them.
Shortly after the Wookiees were freed, three TIE fighters approached and fired upon the Ghost. Although the Ghost shot one of them down, they were soon joined by Agent Kallus and his troops, who were aboard another Gozanti-class cruiser. The Ghost led the TIE fighters away, while Kallus and his stormtroopers emerged from the cruiser. As the Ghost engaged and destroyed the TIE fighters, the stormtroopers pinned the rebels and the Wookiees down behind a group of crates, which the rebels and Wookiees used for cover. Jarrus and Syndulla spoke over their communicators and Jarrus told her to flee, but she refused to leave them behind. Instead, Jarrus told her to perform a 22 pickup, which would see the rebels and Wookiees hide in a cargo container that could then be picked up by the ship.
To provide the others with an opportunity to conceal themselves in the containers, Jarrus stepped in front of the Imperial troops and ignited his lightsaber, revealing his identity as a Jedi. Kallus and the stormtroopers focused their fire on Jarrus, while the rebels and Wookiees were able to enter the cargo containers. Bridger, meanwhile, ran off after Kitwarr, who had fled the area and was being pursued by a stormtrooper. The pursuit led them to a bridge overlooking the deep mines. As they reached the top, the rebels successfully entered the containers with the Wookiees and were picked up by the Ghost, which had fought off the TIE fighters. On the bridge, Bridger was able to escape the stormtrooper by shooting him with his energy slingshot, sending the trooper over the edge. Bridger and Kitwarr were briefly cornered by Kallus, who—after witnessing Bridger use the Force to leap over the stormtrooper—assumed that the boy was Jarrus' Padawan learner. Bridger and Kitwarr were rescued when Jarrus, standing atop the Ghost, arrived to save them. With everyone on board, the Ghost fled Kessel.
Having escaped Kessel, the Wookiees—including Kitwarr and Wullffwarro—were reunited aboard the Ghost. The ship was met by a Wookiee Auzituck anti-slaver gunship, which docked with the Ghost and brought the freed Wookiees on board. In gratitude for the rebels securing their freedom, Wullffwarro told them that, should the rebels ever require assistance, the Wookiees would be there to help. The Wookiee ship departed, and the Ghost returned to Lothal, where the rebels intended to return Bridger to his residence. However, given that Bridger had no family and due to his evident Force-sensitivity, Jarrus offered the boy the opportunity to remain with the crew and undergo training in the ways of the Jedi. Bridger had to contemplate whether he wished to leave with the rebels, and he ultimately chose to accept the offer, becoming Jarrus' apprentice.
Due to the presence of a Jedi among the rebels, Kallus contacted the Grand Inquisitor, a Jedi hunter tasked by the Empire with locating and eliminating any Jedi who had survived the destruction of the Order. Kallus informed the Inquisitor that Jarrus was the leader of the rebel cell, information that the Inquisitor used to further the objectives of his master, Darth Vader, which were to destroy all surviving Jedi. This led to subsequent encounters with the Inquisitor, who attempted to kill Jarrus and Bridger on the planet Stygeon Prime, as well as in a confrontation on Fort Anaxes, an asteroid base that had once been used by the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. The rebels also went on to attract the attention of Senator Bail Organa of the planet Alderaan, as well as the rebel movement that he helped lead throughout the galaxy. Organa would become one of the founders of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, an organization that the crew of the Ghost would later play a role in establishing.