The Alliance to Restore the Republic stood as a defiant organization against the oppressive Galactic Empire and its [New Order](/article/new_order], but its origins stretched back before the Empire's formation, during the Galactic Republic's final years. During the Clone Wars, a conflict between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Jedi Order played a role in establishing resistance groups on Separatist-controlled planets, following a plan proposed by Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. The Onderon rebels serve as one such example. However, it would take several more years before these scattered rebel cells would unite into a singular Rebellion with a unified command structure.

Also during the Clone Wars period, Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine successfully accumulated significant emergency powers from the Galactic Senate. This accumulation of power caused concern among some members of the Chancellor's own Loyalist Committee, including Bail Prestor Organa from Alderaan, Padmé Amidala from Naboo, and Mon Mothma from Chandrila, who began to voice their concerns about the Chancellor's actions. These dissenting senatorial representatives eventually formed the Delegation of 2,000. They collectively signed the Petition of 2,000, a formal document expressing their concerns regarding Palpatine's governance and urging him to relinquish his emergency powers as soon as possible. Senator Meena Tills of Mon Cala was among those who signed the petition.

Shortly afterwards, the Clone Wars came to an end. Instead of giving up his dictatorial authority, Chancellor Palpatine unilaterally dissolved the Republic in front of the entire Senate and declared himself the Galactic Emperor, thereby transforming the democratic government into an authoritarian regime known as the Galactic Empire. Unbeknownst to most of the galaxy, Emperor Palpatine was secretly the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, who had orchestrated the Clone Wars to seize power and overthrow the Republic. The Emperor immediately began to undermine democracy throughout the galaxy and branded the peacekeeping Jedi Knights as enemies of the state. In the immediate aftermath of the Clone Wars and the death of Senator Amidala at the hands of her husband, Darth Vader—the identity assumed by Anakin Skywalker upon becoming Sidious's Sith apprentice—Senators Organa and Mothma began secretly collaborating to overthrow the Empire.

With little significant opposition, the Galactic Empire flourished during the early years of Palpatine's rule. It amassed a large military and used it to instill fear in the civilian population. However, public opinion and the perceived power of the Imperial Senate remained crucial until Palpatine could fully consolidate his power. Nevertheless, the reformed Senate, even less effective than during the Republic's final years, did nothing to curb the massive military buildup. Meanwhile, in utmost secrecy, the Empire developed the Death Star, a moon-sized battle station capable of destroying entire planets. Although many people resented the Empire, few dared to take action. Those who did often acted solely in their own self-interest, which hindered the emergence of a genuine, organized rebellion.

A notable example of organized resistance against the Empire was Cham Syndulla's Free Ryloth Movement, which aimed to end the Imperial occupation of Ryloth. It evolved from the Twi'lek Resistance, which had resisted the Separatist occupation of Ryloth during the Clone Wars. Over time, the movement established secret bases throughout the Ryloth system and conducted raids against the Imperials. Meanwhile, Separatist holdouts remained active in the galaxy, continuing to fight in hopes of achieving independence from Imperial control. The former Separatist capital, Raxus Secundus, was occupied by the Imperial Military, but this did little to suppress the spirit of independence among its people.

As early as around 18 BBY, rumors circulated that Palpatine feared the possibility of planets and entire star systems uniting to overthrow him. Although such a potential rebellion lacked any unified leadership at that time, Palpatine and his agents were unable to act openly because public opinion remained important to his legitimacy, even if he had the excuse to occupy worlds like Raxus. At that time, a growing number of Pantorans desired true independence rather than remaining under Imperial rule. To that end, Pantoran Senator Riyo Chuchi met with the former Separatist Senator of Raxus, Avi Singh, to discuss Palpatine's fears and the possibility of an allied Rebellion. To prevent a revolution before it could begin, a clone assassin codenamed CX-1 was sent to assassinate Singh, but his efforts were thwarted by the Clone Underground, a network of clones who had rebelled against the Empire and sought to aid their brethren.

Another rebel cell emerged a year after the Clone Wars ended, when the Empire decided to severely punish the world of Antar 4 for its past connections with the Confederacy of Independent Systems. This brutal operation, led by Wilhuff Tarkin, prompted former Republic Intelligence agent Berch Teller to establish his own resistance cell. Teller hoped that their actions would contribute to a growing movement against the Empire. Four years after its formation, the insurgents managed to steal the Carrion Spike, Tarkin's personal starship, to attack various Imperial targets using information provided by an Imperial traitor, Vice Admiral Dodd Rancit. Teller's insurgents later launched an attack on an Imperial convoy transporting important parts for the Death Star project. Their plans were soon foiled by Tarkin's timely intervention, which resulted in the death of every insurgent except Teller.

However, by 5 BBY, several rebel cells had formed, operating across the galaxy as part of an early rebellion against increasing Imperial oppression, particularly in light of the Empire's ongoing expansion throughout the Outer Rim. One such cell was the Spectres, which originated on the Imperial-controlled Outer Rim planet of Lothal. Insurgencies also began in the Atrivis sector, with the Liberators seizing an Imperial garrison, only to be decisively defeated by the Imperial Navy soon after. A rebel operative named Luthen Rael played a crucial role in the early stages of forming a network of rebel cells, receiving funding from and collaborating with Senator Mon Mothma. Mothma also established a rebel cell of her own at some point.

As the Empire began to scrutinize Mothma's banking activities, Rael organized a rebel infiltration team under Mothma's cousin Vel Sartha to steal the quarterly payroll for the Imperial sector surrounding the planet Aldhani. Rael also believed that such a significant strike against the Empire would provoke the regime into retaliating harshly, inspiring more people to rebel as they suffered under a sudden surge of Imperial tyranny. However, the success of the Aldhani mission effectively froze Mothma's bank accounts under new laws, leaving her with few options to balance her accounts before the Empire launched a full investigation. Ultimately, Mothma's only solution was to marry off her daughter Leida to the son of Chandrilan oligarch Davo Sculdun. If she agreed to the proposal, Sculdun promised to deposit funds into her account, thereby covering up the missing funds she had provided to Rael.

Rael also met with Saw Gerrera of the Partisans to persuade him to collaborate with former Separatist Anto Kreegyr's group, arguing that the rebel cells, despite their political differences, needed to unite to pose a genuine threat to the Empire. By the time Gerrera agreed, the Imperial Security Bureau had discovered Kreegyr's planned raid on the Spellhaus Imperial power station. Reasoning that Kreegyr's demise would make the ISB overconfident and protect Rael's agent within the ISB, Lonni Jung, the two reluctantly agreed to sacrifice Kreegyr's forces for the greater good of their war effort. Shortly afterward, the raid resulted in the complete destruction of Kreegyr's attack party. Following the Rix Road riot, Rael formally recruited Cassian Jeron Andor into his network. The Atrivis Resistance Group, led by Travia Chan, was also active in the Atrivis sector. After careful consideration, they decided to join Mothma, becoming one of the first groups of what Mothma had begun to call "the Alliance."

Another rebel cell, Phoenix Cell, was led by Commander Jun Sato and was part of a larger rebel network led by Ahsoka Tano and Senator Organa, who had opposed Palpatine for many years. At that time, members of these cells were not supposed to know that they were part of a larger movement known as the rebellion. This was done so that if captured, they could not provide information about other rebel cells. The cells were only provided with intelligence on a need-to-know basis by Tano, using the codename "Fulcrum."

Due to the increased rebel activity around Lothal, the Imperial Security Bureau dispatched Agent Alexsandr Kallus to hunt down the Spectres. Kallus perceived the rebel activities as part of a pattern that could ignite a larger rebellion. After the Spectres thwarted several Imperial attempts to capture them, Grand Moff Tarkin visited Lothal and warned the Imperial officials and officers that while the various cells lacked unity, the rebels on Lothal were unique because they had unity, which made them a credible threat to the Empire. Tarkin warned that the failures of Imperial forces on Lothal allowed the Spectres to represent hope, and ordered the Grand Inquisitor to execute two of the incompetent Imperial officers. He warned the others that failure would have consequences.

The Rebellion's existence was finally revealed to the Empire when they captured Kanan Jarrus after he and the rest of the Spectres were able to hack and send out a rebellious transmission to Lothal and many surrounding systems. His capture prompted his fellow Spectres to launch a mission to rescue him from Tarkin's personal Imperial Star Destroyer, the Sovereign, over Mustafar. In order to save one of their cells and the only other Jedi involved in the movement other than herself, Tano led Phoenix Squadron to assist in their escape. Following the successful rescue, she informed the Spectres that their protocol of secrecy had changed. In response to the transmission sent by the Spectres and the rumors of the rebel action over Mustafar, anti-Imperial unrest began on Lothal and several other worlds. In response, the Emperor dispatched Darth Vader to deal with the issue.

Following the Siege of Lothal, the Spectres were forced to retreat from Lothal and Phoenix Cell was crippled when Vader destroyed their command ship. As a result of their encounter with Vader on Lothal, the Spectres decided to permanently join Phoenix Cell. Despite the attack, the Spectres were able to recruit retired Clone Captain Rex to their cause. Phoenix Cell was also able to acquire a prototype B-wing starfighter from Mon Calamari engineer Quarrie. Working with Rex, the Spectres were able to destroy the Imperial Interdictor. The Spectres also prevented members of the Inquisitorius from capturing several Force-sensitive children.

Later, Phoenix Cell suffered a major blow when the Empire learned they were hiding on the planet Garel. The Phoenix Squadron managed to escape but suffered some losses during the Battle of Garel. After Senator Organa learned of their losses, he sent his daughter Princess Leia Organa to deliver three Sphyrna-class Hammerhead corvettes to them on Lothal. In 3 BBY, Phoenix Cell undertook a mission to seek safe passage for the Rebellion through the Concord Dawn system. After meeting resistance from Fenn Rau's Mandalorian Protectors, the Spectres managed to kidnap him and force him to meet their demands for safe passage after a second attempt.

Afterward, the Spectres and Cham's Free Ryloth movement joined forces to steal a Quasar Fire-class cruiser-carrier above the planet Ryloth. The stolen carrier became the new flagship Phoenix Nest of Phoenix Squadron. With the help of Chopper and the former Imperial RA-7 protocol droid AP-5, Phoenix Squadron established a new base called Chopper Base on the planet Atollon.

The Emperor elevated the Imperial tactician Thrawn to the rank of Grand Admiral due to his success in annihilating the rebellious uprising within the Batonn sector, as well as capturing the strategic mind, Nightswan. Nightswan had previously considered uniting various insurgent and rebel factions into a cohesive alliance; however, as he confessed to Thrawn, he abandoned the idea due to internal strife, a lack of trust, "infighting," and egotism. Nightswan admitted he doubted his own capacity to forge a rebel alliance, acknowledging his limitations.

Believing the Empire faced a widespread insurgency, Grand Admiral Thrawn dedicated himself to studying the philosophies, artistic expressions, and histories of his adversaries to achieve victory. Governor Arihnda Pryce sought his expertise in combating Phoenix Cell's operations within the Lothal sector. Thrawn's ambition extended beyond merely eliminating Phoenix Squadron; he aimed to crush the entire rebel naval force. To this end, he strategically allowed the squadron to abscond with several pilfered Y-wings during a mission targeting Reklam Station. These Y-wings were subsequently dispatched to General Jan Dodonna's military group.

The Rebellion gained an unexpected asset in Agent Kallus, a former antagonist of both Phoenix Cell and the Spectres. Kallus experienced a profound change of heart following a friendship with Zeb Orrelios on the frozen moon of Bahryn. Adopting the alias Fulcrum, Kallus became a rebel informant, relaying intelligence to Phoenix Cell about the impending defection of several Imperial starfighter pilot trainees from the Skystrike Academy. Kallus was also instrumental in facilitating the escape of the rebel Wren alongside the defecting pilots Wedge Antilles and Derek Klivian, who would later become integral members of the Alliance's Starfighter Corps.

Following Gar Saxon's massacre of the Mandalorian Protectors, Rau ultimately committed to the Rebellion. After the Phoenix rebels successfully evacuated rebel sympathizers from the planet Mykapo, the rebel cell known as Iron Squadron formally joined the Rebellion. The Spectres later collaborated with Ryder Azadi's rebel group, the former and original Governor of Lothal, on a covert operation to pilfer Thrawn's schematics for a new advanced starfighter prototype from the Imperial Armory Complex stationed on Lothal. Throughout their operation, Agent Kallus provided invaluable assistance to the rebels.

Subsequently, Rebel Command deployed Gerrera and his Partisans on an assignment to investigate the inexplicable disappearance of the entire Geonosian species. Aided by the Spectres and Klik-Klak, a Geonosian survivor, the rebels unearthed irrefutable evidence confirming the Empire's perpetration of genocide against the Geonosians. Organa hoped to leverage this information to galvanize support for their cause by exposing Imperial atrocities and swaying more worlds to their banner. However, the crucial evidence—the very canisters used in the genocide—was lost during the Spectres' and Gerrera's forced retreat, although they did manage to capture photographic evidence of the canisters. As the Rebellion's ranks swelled, Gerrera's increasingly violent methods continued to generate friction with other rebel factions. Eventually, Mothma proposed an official Resolution of Censure Condemning Saw Gerrera of the Partisans to formally distance him from their burgeoning alliance.

Thrawn also initiated an ambitious initiative to locate Phoenix Squadron's hidden base, deploying E-XD-series infiltrator droids to meticulously scour the Outer Rim Territories for any indication of rebel activity. One particular unit, EXD-9, unearthed Chopper Base. However, Orrelios, Chopper, and AP-5 ingeniously reprogrammed the droid, transforming it into an improvised explosive device that was then dispatched back to its origin, resulting in the destruction of one of Thrawn's Imperial Star Destroyers. Despite this setback, Thrawn successfully narrowed down the search for Chopper Base to a mere 94 systems. Later, Thrawn uncovered Kallus's role as a rebel double agent and decided to exploit him to the Rebellion's detriment.

The Rebel Alliance was formally established after Mothma relinquished her position in the Imperial Senate and openly condemned Emperor Palpatine for his involvement in the Ghorman Massacre. With the assistance of Phoenix Leader Hera Syndulla and her Spectres, Mothma eluded Thrawn's pursuing forces by navigating the treacherous Archeon pass to reach the sanctuary of Dantooine. Upon arrival, Mon Mothma delivered a HoloNet address, urging the galaxy to unite in rebellion against the oppressive Empire. Mothma's impassioned plea resonated with rebel cells throughout the galaxy, including those on Lothal and Atollon. The disparate elements of the Rebel Fleet converged above Dantooine, and the various cells were integrated into a unified organization known as the Alliance to Restore the Republic, marking the official commencement of the Galactic Civil War.

As an element of the Attack on Lothal, Syndulla tasked the droids AP-5 and Chopper, along with former Imperial cadet Wedge Antilles, with the mission of stealing clearance codes from the Imperial Security Bureau installation situated on the moon Killun 71. During the course of the mission, Chopper was commandeered by a contingent of Imperial slicers and intelligence officers under the command of LT-319, operating from an IGV-55 surveillance vessel. LT-319 attempted to exploit Chopper to eliminate the Spectres and pinpoint the location of Chopper Base. However, Syndulla skillfully reprogrammed Chopper, initiating a data surge that annihilated the Imperial surveillance vessel.

With the acquisition of the clearance codes, Phoenix Squadron commenced preparations for their assault on Lothal. Ezra Bridger experienced a brief diversion when he embarked with Chopper on an unplanned mission to Tatooine to rescue Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi from his nemesis, the rogue Sith Lord Maul. Kenobi implored Bridger to return to the Rebellion and defeated Maul in combat. At some point during its existence, the Rebel Alliance engaged in an attack on Vivonah and the massacre on Noult, actions that were denounced as terrorist acts by adversaries of the rebellion. The rebellion maintained forces on the planet Gaulus until effecting a withdrawal.

As the final phase of the Attack on Lothal neared, General Dodonna and the Massassi Group journeyed to Atollon to link up with Phoenix Cell. However, Thrawn's informants relayed the trajectory of Dodonna's forces to the Grand Admiral. After exposing Kallus as Fulcrum, Thrawn utilized the flight paths of Massassi Group and Kallus's Fulcrum transmissions to ascertain the location of Chopper Base and Atollon. Thrawn's Seventh Fleet, employing Interdictor cruisers, established a blockade of the Atollon system, thwarting the rebels' planned assault on Lothal and swiftly disabling an EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate. Trapped within the system, the rebels were compelled to engage the blockade, employing bombing runs in an attempt to breach the Imperial defenses. Thrawn anticipated this tactic and instructed his ships to maintain their positions. He then decimated Green Squadron as they attempted to disable his Star Destroyers. He then launched a counterattack with his TIE squadrons, destroying several rebel corvettes including the Sphyrna-class corvette P2. Recognizing the futility of his approach, Commander Sato ordered the fleet to charge the blockade. The Star Destroyers obliterated a second Nebulon-B frigate and the Braha'tok-class gunship Orion almost immediately.

Bridger and Chopper managed to escape aboard the Gauntlet fighter Nightbrother after Commander Sato made the ultimate sacrifice, destroying an Imperial interdictor vessel that was preventing hyperspace jumps. Ezra appealed to Mon Mothma for assistance, but the rebel leader declined to reveal the Alliance's true strength to Thrawn. Mothma concurred with Senator Organa's assessment that the rebels were not yet prepared for open warfare with the Empire. With the Rebel Alliance unwilling to intervene, Ezra sought aid from Sabine's Clan Wren, who destroyed Thrawn's second interdictor cruiser. Consequently, the remaining rebel forces, under the command of Captain Syndulla and General Dodonna, evacuated the surface, sustaining heavy casualties in the process, and managed to escape to Yavin 4. Only a handful of vessels, including the Ghost, the CR90 corvette Liberator, two Sphyrna-class corvettes P1 and P3, and a contingent of RZ-1 A-wing interceptors and Y-wings, successfully escaped.

By 1 BBY, the Alliance had evolved into a formidable resistance movement, led by Organa and Mothma, with the latter holding the title of Chancellor. Now possessing a substantial starfleet, including T-65B X-wing starfighters, BTL-A4 Y-wing assault starfighter/bombers, A-wing starfighters, and capital ships such as MC80 Star Cruisers, at least one MC75 Star Cruiser, EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate, and various corvettes, gunships, and transports, the Alliance was finally capable of engaging the Empire on more equitable terms. At the time, the Alliance's headquarters was situated on the verdant moon of Yavin 4, within an ancient stone edifice known as the Great Temple.

Leia, the adopted daughter of Organa and the crown Princess of Alderaan, succeeded her adoptive father in the Imperial Senate while secretly serving as a member of the Alliance. Prominent Alliance war leaders during this period included General Dodonna and Admiral Gial Ackbar. Certain members of the Empire's Joint Chiefs, such as General Cassio Tagge, recognized the full extent of the threat posed by what they termed "the Rebellion." Others, like Admiral Conan Antonio Motti, remained steadfast in their belief in the Empire's invincibility. The Imperials, in an effort to suppress dissent and prevent sympathy for the Rebellion among loyal Imperial citizens, employed propaganda to conceal the true magnitude of the Alliance's threat, portraying it as merely an unorganized and vindictive terrorist group.

Following their failed assault on Lothal, which culminated in the defeat at Atollon, the Spectres returned to Lothal to support the local resistance and Azadi. They obtained intelligence regarding Thrawn's newly enhanced TIE/D Defender. Bridger and Wren stole the prototype but were thwarted by its kill switch, forcing them to escape with the hyperdrive. They dispatched Syndulla back to Alliance High Command to request an attack on the Imperial Armory Complex, a request that was granted. Syndulla was promoted to General and returned with a Squadron of X-wing starfighters and Y-wings piloted by Iron Squadron’s leader and the late Commander Sato’s nephew Captain Mart Mattin, Cleat, Duke, Secon Daree, and numerous others. However, Thrawn had anticipated their arrival and laid a trap. One by one, they fell victim to his ambush, with Syndulla, Mattin, and Daree being the only confirmed survivors. Thrawn dispatched his assassin Rukh to locate them, and he swiftly captured Daree and Syndulla.

Shortly thereafter, Bridger, Wren, and Jarrus embarked on a rescue mission to save Syndulla. Jarrus infiltrated Governor Arihnda Pryce's office and freed Hera, while Bridger and Wren, disguised as TIE pilots, sought a means of escape. Jarrus and Syndulla escaped on a glider to the Lothal City fuel depot, where they rendezvoused with Bridger and Wren in a patrol transport. Pryce then arrived in an All Terrain Armored Transport and fired upon the fuel pod. Jarrus sacrificed himself to protect the others, resulting in the destruction of the fuel depot and halting the production of the TIE/D Defender on Lothal.

After primarily relying on covert operations in the period preceding open warfare, the Alliance's first major engagement with the Empire occurred on the tropical planet of Scarif, where the Alliance secured its first large-scale victory in the War. Prior to the battle, Alliance Intelligence intercepted information indicating that renowned scientist Doctor Galen Erso was developing an Imperial superweapon capable of obliterating entire planets. Alliance leadership dispatched Galen's daughter, Sergeant Jyn Erso, and Captain Cassian Andor to investigate her father's involvement. Their subsequent efforts led to the Alliance's discovery of the Death Star's existence, as well as a critical flaw in its design deliberately inserted by Galen Erso. During the Battle, the Alliance successfully stole the blueprints of the Death Star, which had been completed after nearly two decades of development, from the Imperial satellite base on Scarif. The Death Star plans were then transmitted to Princess Leia aboard the Tantive IV.

Following the Battle of Scarif, Princess Leia's vessel was intercepted and attacked by Imperial forces over Tatooine, leading to her capture by Darth Vader and preventing her from delivering the blueprints to her father on Alderaan. However, she managed to entrust the plans to the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, who escaped the ship in an escape pod and landed on Tatooine. After Grand Moff Tarkin ordered the destruction of Alderaan using the Death Star's superlaser, Leia was rescued from the battle station's detention block by the crew of the Corellian YT-1300f light freighter Millennium Falcon, who returned her to the two droids. The group—with the exception of Kenobi, who sacrificed his life in a duel with Darth Vader—escaped the Death Star aboard the Falcon and set course for the Alliance headquarters on Yavin 4, where the plans for the Empire's superweapon were analyzed.

Having tracked the fleeing rebels, the Empire discovered the location of the Alliance base, and the Death Star moved into position above Yavin 4. The Alliance then launched its assault against the battle station, with Princess Leia monitoring the operation from the command center. Leia’s older twin brother Jedi Lieutenant Luke Skywalker joined the mission piloting an X-wing under the call sign of Red Five. However, the assault began poorly for the rebels as the stationary defenses and the TIE Fighter defenders shot down nearly the entire strike force. As the Empire prepared to annihilate Yavin 4 and the Alliance with a single blast from its superlaser, Captain Han Solo unexpectedly intervened, saving Skywalker by destroying a group of Imperial TIE/ln starfighters that were in pursuit. Skywalker managed to fire a proton torpedo into the Death Star's thermal exhaust port, exploiting its only vulnerability and destroying the battle station, killing Governor Tarkin and many of the Empire’s best forces.

In the aftermath of Yavin, the Alliance celebrated its first significant tactical victory, albeit at a tremendous cost in lives. In addition to the Alliance pilots who perished during the assault, millions of Alderaanians, including Bail Organa, were lost with their planet. Following an award ceremony during which Princess Leia bestowed medals of Bravery upon the heroes of the day, General Dodonna prioritized the evacuation of Yavin 4. With the Empire now aware of their location, a new base of operations was urgently needed. Darth Vader became consumed with finding the young rebel who had destroyed the Death Star and killed Governor Tarkin and most of the Empire’s best forces. Unbeknownst to him, until learning Luke's last name through Boba Fett, and the rebels at the time, he was in fact the biological father of both Luke and Leia.

Shortly after the Battle of Yavin, the Rebel Fleet relocated to the Pantora system. The Rebellion also disseminated footage of their victory over the Death Star via the DarkNet, and the destruction of the battle station was a boon to the rebellion's efforts: with such a major victory secured, the battle proved that victory over the Empire was actually possible. Shortly after Yavin, the Empire targeted and destroyed the Alliance's fuel refinery within the Choah Belt, only for the rebels to respond by capturing the Imperial fuel tanker Black Ice. The Black Ice was lost in a collision at some point later in the war.

Luke and Nakari Kelen were assigned the task of rescuing Drusil Bephorin, a Givin whose exceptional slicing abilities had attracted the Empire's attention. They met with a Kupohan spy named Sakhet on Denon, who directed them to Drusil. They extracted the Givin and transported her to Kupoh, where another of Sakhet's contacts, Azzur Nessin, owned a company in the capital city of Tonekh called Nessin Courier & Cargo. He repaired their ship, while they prevented one of his employees, Migg Birkhit, from alerting the Empire. They apprehended a Gotal ISB agent named Barrisk Favvin, along with Migg. Subsequently, another employee, Ruuf Waluuk, summoned a Devaronian mercenary who killed Nessin before Skywalker and Kelen eliminated both of them. They escaped the Kupoh system and traveled to Omereth, where Drusil's family awaited, having been extracted by Major Bren Derlin. However, bounty hunters intercepted them, causing their ship to crash into the ocean. They swam ashore and confronted the mercenaries. Kelen perished in the battle, but Luke reunited Drusil with her family, and she vowed to return and assist them.

Emboldened by the victory at Yavin, the Alliance leaders deployed thousands of ships and hundreds of battle groups, including Twilight Company, to advance into the Mid Rim Territories. Numerous battles ensued, resulting in significant territorial gains for the Alliance. However, after nine months, the Fleet became overextended, prompting a halt to the advance and a subsequent retreat as forces began evacuating their bases.

Shortly after achieving victory at Yavin, the rebels initiated more than a dozen significant assaults on Imperial forces, a series of events that seemed to indicate a shift in the war's momentum towards the Alliance. These included the Imdaar supply base bombing, the Kuat shipyards bombing, and the Cymoon offensive, which targeted a vital Imperial weapons production facility known as Weapons Factory Alpha. Luke, Princess Leia, R2-D2, and Han infiltrated the factory undercover, with Chewbacca providing sniper support and C-3PO piloting the Falcon for their escape. Despite a confrontation with Darth Vader, the Rebels successfully demolished the factory, dealing another major blow to the Empire.

The Empire officially dismissed the destruction of the Death Star and Weapons Factory Alpha as rebel propaganda, but rumors of the rebel victories continued to spread. During his brief encounter with Luke, Vader noticed Luke's lightsaber, recognizing it as his former weapon and initiating a search to uncover Luke's origins.

Having gathered information on the individual responsible for destroying the Death Star and eliminating Governor Tarkin along with a significant portion of the Empire's elite forces, Darth Vader recently confirmed Luke's identity as his son. Vader's rival, Commander Karbin, discovered Luke's location and disclosed it to Vader's associate, Doctor Aphra, who subsequently dispatched Vader to Vrogas Vas. There, he immediately engaged with three X-wing squadrons: Red Squadron, Blue Squadron, and Yellow Squadron, which he began to decimate. The conflict escalated when Luke crashed his X-wing into Vader's TIE Advanced, resulting in both ships crashing onto the planet's surface. The Alliance forces, stationed at the Rebel Refueling Base, then deployed a large contingent of troops, supported by numerous tanks, to hunt down Vader. Additionally, the Y-wings of Gray Squadron were deployed to attack Vader, but he countered by using the Force to hurl rocks at them, destroying them.

Vader soon found himself encircled by a significant number of ground troops, but remained unfazed. He cleverly activated their grenades, causing chaos among them. He then proceeded to eliminate more of the troops, while simultaneously deflecting tank fire and destroying the T-47 airspeeders of Cyan Squadron. Meanwhile, Dr. Aphra arrived at Vrogas Vas and successfully captured Skywalker. Organa, Solo, and Chewbacca also arrived, and Solo went to rescue Skywalker again, while Organa led a strike team to confront Vader. While Han confronted Doctor Aphra, Vader eliminated Organa's squad but allowed her to escape in order to lure more rebels to his location. Leia dispatched the Y-wings of Amber Wing to bomb the area, but they were intercepted by Commander Karbin and his forces. Karbin then attempted to capture Luke. Vader intervened, stopping Karbin's men and engaging Karbin in combat. Vader emerged victorious, while Organa, Solo, Skywalker, and Chewie escaped with a captured Dr. Aphra. With the Empire gaining the upper hand, the Alliance forces were compelled to retreat as well.

The Mid Rim Retreat involved the Empire forcing the Alliance to withdraw from the Mid Rim after their earlier advances. Units like Twilight Company, Fish Eye Company, Bitter Pill Company, and the Twenty-First were involved in defensive, diversionary, or rescue operations as part of the Alliance's withdrawal strategy.

Twilight Company initiated a campaign on Haidoral Prime as a diversion to allow the Alliance Fleet to retreat from the Mid Rim. During this campaign, Sergeant Hazram Namir and his squad extracted the defecting Governor Everi Chalis. Chalis offered her knowledge of the "Imperial war machine" as a valuable asset to the Alliance. Captain Micha Evon showed interest in her offer, but the soldiers were skeptical. One of them, Corbo, attacked her holding cell with a knife, driven by grief over the death of his pet Felinx due to one of her laws. They then encountered an Imperial patrol. However, during the Coyerti campaign, Chalis provided valuable intelligence about a distillery, which Namir and his squad subsequently destroyed. Twilight Company then endured three more attacks in the Metatessu sector and discovered that the CR90 corvette Thunderstrike's hyperdrive was leaving a detectable trail. Chalis orchestrated a raid on an Imperial heavy freighter to acquire necessary supplies. Her plan succeeded, but resulted in the loss of two sergeants, Fektrin and Maximian Ajax.

Meanwhile, the Alliance suffered significant losses during their withdrawal from the Mid Rim. While the Twenty-First fought on Bestine and Bitter Pill Company lost their transport on a waste-covered planet, the Alliance lost Unroola Dawn, Talrezan Four, and [Hope Station], and General Amrashad was killed.

Chalis and Captain Evon received an invitation to Echo Base and brought Namir, Roja, and Beak with them. The rest of Twilight Company went to the Elochar sector, where a flotilla, including the Sixmoon, was stationed. Chalis, Evon, and the others arrived at Echo Base on Hoth and met General Philap Bygar, who escorted them to a strategy conference. The other three performed various tasks around the base, and Namir had a disagreement with a Rebel Alliance Special Forces soldier named Kryndal about the Alliance's ethics. The strategy conference proceeded as planned, but an alarm signaled that the Empire had discovered their location.

In 3 ABY, one of the numerous Imperial probe droids searching the galaxy discovered the Rebels' presence. Death Squadron, Darth Vader's personal fleet, traveled to Hoth with a contingent of ground troops, intending to crush the rebellion once and for all. However, Admiral Kendal Ozzel's error provided the Alliance forces with a warning of the Empire's arrival. The Rebels activated the deflector shield protecting Echo Base, preventing orbital bombardment. As the Alliance prepared to evacuate, Imperial troops landed on Hoth's surface, beyond the shield's range. Once deployed, several legions of snowtroopers advanced on Echo Base. A squadron of All Terrain Armored Transports under General Maximilian Veers was assigned to destroy the massive generators powering the Rebel base's shield. Perimeter Outpost Delta was the first to fall, forcing Sergeant Hazram Namir, Roja, and Beak to retreat to the main base to find Captain Micha Evon and Everi Chalis.

Luke, who had been promoted to Commander by Mothma, led Rogue Squadron of snowspeeders against General Veers' armored transports. The Rebels used harpoon guns and tow cables to bring down one of the transports, but Skywalker's snowspeeder was shot down. Unlike his gunner, Dak Ralter, the Rogue commander survived the crash. Using his lightsaber and a grenade, he managed to destroy another walker. Despite the Rebels' efforts to delay Veers' armored transports, the Imperial general successfully destroyed the protective shield generator, allowing Darth Vader and his troops to enter Echo Base. While Rebel command personnel and equipment were loaded onto transports and evacuated just in time, the unprepared Alliance soldiers engaged the Imperials in conventional warfare. Namir and his two men returned to the main base to find Chalis and the unconscious Captain Evon. They then encountered Darth Vader, who killed Captain Evon, Roja, and Beak. Namir and Chalis escaped on a shuttle using Chalis' clearance codes.

Unable to reach a transport, Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and the droid C-3PO escaped in the Millennium Falcon. The Alliance delayed the Imperial troops long enough to evacuate its most important personnel, and its ground-based ion cannon temporarily disabled all ships of Death Squadron, preventing them from attacking the escaping transports. Overall, the Empire achieved a major victory on Hoth, as the Alliance was driven from its base and narrowly escaped Death Squadron's blockade. The Imperial victory scattered the Alliance, and General Philap Bygar was killed during or after the battle while fleeing the Imperials.

Organa, Solo, Chewbacca, and C-3PO fled on the Millennium Falcon. They evaded numerous Imperial-class Star Destroyers before escaping the clutches of Captain Lorth Needa. They then traveled to Cloud City on the gas giant Bespin to meet Solo's old friend Lando Calrissian. Calrissian had the Millennium Falcon repaired, but eventually betrayed them, handing them over to Darth Vader, who intended to trap Luke Skywalker. He had Solo frozen in carbonite as Skywalker arrived at Cloud City with R2-D2. Vader confronted Skywalker, defeated him in a duel, and revealed that he was his father. Meanwhile, Calrissian had his security forces turn against the Empire, and Cloud City descended into chaos.

Skywalker fled from Vader and was rescued by Calrissian and Leia as they escaped Cloud City with Chewbacca, C-3PO, and R2-D2. Boba Fett, who had tracked them to Bespin, took Solo to Jabba the Hutt. The Second Division of the Rebel Fleet established a temporary base in the Outer Rim on Panisia.

Shortly after the Battle of Hoth, the Sixty-First found itself leaderless, with Captain Micha Evon killed on Hoth and the remaining officers killed in the Elochar sector. Stranded on Ankhural while vital repairs were being made to the Thunderstrike, Chalis and Namir (who assumed command) initiated Operation Ringbreaker to force Imperial redeployments from the shipbuilding world of Kuat by attacking worlds such as Obumubo, Naator, Xagobah, and the asteroid mines of the Kuliquo belt, thus enabling the Alliance to assault its primary objective. This operation was led by the Alliance's Sixty-First Mobile Infantry, known as Twilight Company. One of the final planets in the chain before the attack on Kuat was the mining world of Sullust. The Twilight Company attacked the Inyusu Tor mineral processing facility. The facility was quickly captured, and victory seemed assured until Twilight Company's ship, the Thunderstrike, was shot down and irreparably damaged while attempting to pick up the division.

Twilight Company was forced to defend the facility until they could find another way off the planet. The Imperial-class Star Destroyer Herald and ground forces advanced on them. They received assistance from the local rebel cell led by Nien Nunb, but the tide of the battle only truly turned when Governor Everi Chalis disabled the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Herald using a shuttle and ion mines. In the following days, an interim government was established in Pinyumb, while heavy losses sustained by the Sixty-First ultimately led to the cancellation of Operation Ringbreaker, allowing the company to serve as a temporary police force for the Sullustan people. Their Braha'tok-class gunship, the Apailana's Promise, barely survived after returning to assist them against the Herald. Subsequent pirate broadcasts and intercepted Imperial signals indicated further insurrections across the planet, delaying the inevitable Imperial counterattack.

Recovering from their losses at Hoth after Operation Starlight, the Rebel Alliance publicly revealed its continued existence by attacking the Imperial Unity Day parade on Bar'leth, which was being broadcast throughout the galaxy. This victory was highly visible and demonstrated the Rebels' care to avoid harming civilians. After Rebel Command learned about the existence of a second Death Star from Skywalker, the Bothan Spynet began gathering more information. Emperor Palpatine discovered this and decided to set a trap for the Alliance. He allowed more information to be leaked to the Bothans, at the cost of many lives, while concealing the fact that the Death Star II was operational. The new information revealed the location of the Death Star II, Endor, the shield protecting it, and the shafts within it large enough for starfighters to enter the core.

Upon receiving this information, Alliance High Command launched Operation Yellow Moon to divert Imperial forces across the galaxy. This operation was led by Princess Organa and her strike team. Meanwhile, rebels on the MC80 Star Cruiser Invincible Faith intercepted a message from Moff Derrek Raythe that would reveal Emperor Palpatine's trap if decrypted in time. They also captured Commander Iden Versio of the Empire's Inferno Squad, who allowed it to happen so she could eliminate the message. She broke free, fought her way through the ship, and deleted the message to ensure the Alliance remained unaware of the trap. Versio escaped with the assistance of the other members of Inferno Squad.

In 4 ABY, the Alliance to Restore the Republic resolved to deliver a decisive blow against Emperor Palpatine's tyranny. The Alliance Fleet assembled near Sullust to plan an attack, having learned from Bothan spies that Palpatine was overseeing the final construction phases of the new battle station.

It was decided that a rebel strike team led by Skywalker, Organa, Solo, and Chewbacca would land on Endor in a stolen Lambda-class T-4a shuttle to deactivate the Death Star's energy defense shield. Unbeknownst to them, they were walking into a trap. Upon reaching the shield's bunker, they were met by the Imperial Army. In orbit around Endor, the Alliance Fleet was ambushed by a large Imperial armada led by the Super Star Destroyer Executor that emerged from hyperspace. Unable to attack the Death Star II until its shield was destroyed, the Rebel Fleet focused its attack on the Star Destroyers. Although its starfighters could easily maneuver around the Death Star II, they remained vulnerable to the battle station's superlaser, which destroyed the Liberty and the Nautilian.

On Endor, the rebel strike team allied with the native Ewoks, who used their knowledge of the forests to surprise the Imperial army. The strike team ultimately destroyed the shield generator after a prolonged ground battle, allowing the starfleet to attack the Empire's formidable superweapon. General Calrissian piloted the Millennium Falcon into the Death Star with Antilles, Norra Wexley, Keir Santage, Jake Farrell, and another A-wing pilot. They navigated through the shafts, pursued by several TIEs, which shot down Keir's X-wing starfighter. Calrissian then ordered the group to split up, and Farrell, Wexley, and the other A-wing pilot flew down another shaft to draw the TIEs away. Calrissian and Antilles reached the reactor core and destroyed the battle station's power plant before retreating as the Death Star began to detonate. During an attack on the Executor, Green Leader Commander Arvel Crynyd's A-wing was crippled and crashed into the bridge, killing Admiral Firmus Piett and his staff. Having already sustained significant damage from the Alliance's starfighters, the Executor lost control and drifted into the Death Star's gravity well, detonating upon impact.

Meanwhile, aboard the station, a different kind of blow was struck against the Empire. A captive Luke Skywalker, now a Jedi Knight, appealed to Vader's paternal love, convincing him to turn against his Master. Vader—once again Anakin Skywalker—seized the Imperial Head of State and threw him down a shaft to his death, sacrificing his own life in the process. The Death Star II soon exploded due to the damage to its core. With the loss of Emperor Palpatine and his apprentice, the destruction of the Death Star II, and significant losses inflicted on the Imperial Fleet, the Imperials were forced to retreat. The Empire suffered a decisive defeat, allowing the Rebels to celebrate their victory.

In the days following the Battle of Endor, news of the Emperor's death spread to numerous worlds across the galaxy, including Tatooine, Naboo, Bespin, and Coruscant, despite Imperial attempts to conceal the information and declare it false. While celebrations occurred, a riot erupted at Coruscant's Monument Plaza. With the Empire in disarray, the Rebel Alliance launched an assault on an Imperial outpost on the far side of Endor. This attack, led by General Solo, uncovered a wealth of data and communications regarding Imperial plans.

The Rebel Alliance was eventually reorganized into the New Republic. The new government still had to contend with Imperial holdouts. Fortunately, the Emperor's contingency plan, Operation: Cinder, plunged the Empire into chaos by turning them against their loyal planets.

One year after the destruction of the second Death Star, Republic and Imperial forces engaged in a major battle on the desert world of Jakku, resulting in a Republic victory and the end of the Galactic Civil War. The Alliance also dispatched shock troopers to eliminate former Imperials who had become warlords. These shock troopers were later assigned peacekeeping roles after the formation of the New Republic.

The symbol of the Alliance to Restore the Republic was incorporated into the insignia of the New Republic and later became the emblem of the Resistance, a military force founded by Rebel veteran Leia and composed of numerous Alliance officers, such as Ackbar and Caluan Ematt, to combat the First Order, the successor to the Empire. During the Bail Organa statue-dedication ceremony in 28 ABY, Senators Tai-Lin Garr and Organa delivered speeches reminding the audience of the sacrifices made by the Rebel Alliance, further emphasized by an air show performed by Republic X-wings.

The Archivist recorded in her holocron her belief that empires require enemies to provide their soldiers with targets and a reason to instill fear. She noted Palpatine's cunning in cultivating enemies during his time as both Supreme Chancellor and Emperor, suggesting that he created the Rebellion to maintain the cycle of violence. When her holocron was later discovered by Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa, they remarked that while the Archivist was incorrect in stating Palpatine founded the Alliance, he certainly used it to his advantage.

The Alliance to Restore the Republic was a military resistance movement led by the Alliance High Command, dedicated to upholding the ideals of the Old Republic, and included the Alliance Civil Government. The Alliance Cabinet served as the political High Command, separate from the Alliance Military High Command, and represented both civilian and military interests. It was led by a Chief of State and consisted of six cabinet posts: Minister of Education, Minister of Finance, Minister of Industry, Minister of State, Minister of Supply, and Minister of War.

The Alliance frequently relocated its base of operations across numerous worlds to avoid detection or regroup after attacks by the Galactic Empire. A diplomatic corps was maintained to foster friendly relations and secure support from various worlds. Despite this, few worlds openly declared their support for the movement, as those that did found themselves blockaded by the Empire.

Before the Alliance was formally established, the various independent rebel groups each maintained their own military forces. As these groups started to work together, joint military operations were frequently managed by leaders from different cells, including Jun Sato from Phoenix Group, Cham Syndulla of the Free Ryloth movement, and Ryder Azadi representing the Lothal resistance. Rebel groups were provided with intelligence by "Fulcrum" operatives.

The official Alliance Military benefited from the leadership of skilled military figures, such as Admiral Gial Ackbar, and received intelligence briefings via its own intelligence arm, known as the Rebel Alliance Intelligence Service. Information was also accessible through the Bothan spynet. The Alliance maintained the Alliance Fleet and Alliance Army, in addition to the Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps. Rebel troopers fought to end Imperial control of the galaxy in units like the Sixty-First Mobile Infantry and Thirty-Second Infantry, while the Alliance Special Forces comprised the most skilled commandos from the trooper ranks.

The Alliance Military welcomed individuals into their ranks, even those who had defected from the Galactic Empire to join the Rebel Alliance. These individuals often chose to switch sides after witnessing the Empire's cruel actions or experiencing personal betrayals. Imperial defectors provided significant advantages to the Alliance, including individuals such as: Han Solo, Alexsandr Kallus, Wedge Antilles, Derek Klivian, Trey Callum, Lindon Javes, Iden Versio, Del Meeko, Jan Dodonna, Bodhi Rook, Jon Vander, and numerous others.

The Commander-in-Chief oversaw the Alliance Military, which was organized into seven distinct divisions: Rebel Fleet Command, Rebel Alliance Starfighter Command, Sector Command, Rebel Alliance Intelligence Service, Rebel Alliance Special Forces, Ordnance and Supply, and Support Services.

Dave Filoni, who served as the supervising director for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, explained that he and George Lucas envisioned the Onderon rebels, featured in the Onderon story arc, as the first of many militias created by the Jedi during the Clone Wars. These militias would eventually be united by figures such as Bail Organa and Mon Mothma to form the Rebel Alliance.

The visual appearance of the Rebel Alliance in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope drew inspiration from the costumes seen in the western genre and the uniforms of the United States Marine Corps.