Wedge Antilles

Biography

Early life

Hailing from the planet Corellia, Wedge Antilles developed a strong desire to fly from a young age. As a child, he enjoyed watching digi-dramas and holonovels centered around flying, including the serious documentary Zero Hour: The Tentraxis Campaign and the memoir Fly Fast and Die Young! He spent his youth working at a fuel depot and on local farms in his free time, becoming both a skilled pilot and mechanic. Early in his life, Antilles experienced loss at the hands of pirates, leading him to use an old starfighter to pursue their gunboat. He managed to damage the ship's aft deflector shields and fired through the opening at a zero-degree angle, destroying the pirate vessel. Although initially satisfied with his first kill, he later felt remorse and was sick throughout the night.

While Antilles was transporting cargo ships from busy ports, the Galactic Empire recruited him. He accepted, finding it more appealing than simply hauling spare parts around the galaxy. Antilles then joined Skystrike Academy, located on Montross, to train as an elite TIE fighter pilot. During his time there, he befriended fellow cadets Derek "Hobbie" Klivian and Rake Gahree. He became increasingly aware of the Empire's brutality, which affected those close to him, including his family, friends, and Mala. Eventually, his desire to defect to the rebellion caught the attention of Imperial Security Bureau agent Alexsandr Kallus, who was secretly a rebel informant known as "Fulcrum" and recruited him.

Galactic Civil War

Skystrike Academy

In 2 BBY, following the massacre of a surrendering rebel transport crew by Imperial forces near Teralov, Antilles contacted Fulcrum to arrange a defection with Gahree and Klivian. Fulcrum then relayed this information to the leaders of the Phoenix Cell. They sent Sabine Wren, an explosives expert and former Imperial cadet of Mandalorian descent, on an undercover mission to rescue the cadets, with Sabine infiltrating the Academy under the alias "Ria Talla."

Antilles encountered "Talla" during a TIE fighter simulator exercise. In this exercise, they destroyed several rebel Y-wings, but hesitated to fire upon an unarmed transport. As a result, their fighters were destroyed by a simulated version of the Ghost, piloted by Captain Vult Skerris, who warned Antilles and Wren that insubordination could lead to death in combat. After the exercise, Antilles cautioned Wren that ethical concerns were not common at the Academy. Following the arrival of Governor Arihnda Pryce and Kallus to investigate defection rumors, Gahree expressed concern about the risks, but Antilles told him and Klivian to remain calm.

Defection

Later, Antilles spoke with Wren at a hangar bay, confiding his discomfort with the recent simulator exercise. He explained that he did not want to kill indiscriminately and expressed his desire to leave. Wren then revealed her true identity and assured Antilles that the rebels had received his message. She instructed Antilles and his friends to be ready to leave immediately, but when he inquired about her plan, she admitted she had yet to devise one, surprising Antilles.

An escape opportunity arose when Pryce ordered Commandant Goran to have the cadets participate in a mock combat exercise in space. When Wren's support CR90 corvette arrived, Antilles, Gahree, and Klivian followed her lead toward the rebel corvette. However, Governor Pryce disabled their solar collectors, leaving them stranded. Under her orders, Captain Skerris destroyed Gahree's fighter as a warning and forced the rebel vessel to retreat. Antilles, Klivian, and Wren were brought before Pryce, who demanded to know the identity of the rebel agent and threatened Antilles with torture. Wren identified herself to protect him. The trio was separated, with Kallus escorting Antilles and Klivian to their holding cell.

Inside the cell, the two pilots debated the wisdom of escaping without a plan. Wren then freed them after escaping from Pryce. Pursued by stormtroopers, the trio fled down a corridor and encountered Agent Kallus, who, due to his encounter with Wren's comrade Garazeb Orrelios, helped them escape by directing them to Hangar 24. There, they commandeered a TIE/sa bomber. Antilles piloted the slow-moving craft, pursued by Skerris' TIE Interceptor. Despite taking damage, the trio escaped when Wren's rebel comrades arrived in their CR90 corvette, jumping into hyperspace together. Upon arriving at Chopper Base on Atollon, they were greeted by Commander Jun Sato, who welcomed Antilles and Klivian into the rebellion.

Chopper Base

Shortly after the Ghost team's mission to Geonosis, Antilles and Klivian were sent on a training exercise away from Chopper Base by Captain Hera Syndulla, along with other Phoenix Group personnel. During their absence, an E-XD-series infiltrator droid designated EXD-9 found the base and attempted to transmit its location to the Imperial Navy. However, Garazeb Orrelios, AP-5, and C1-10P sent it back to its Star Destroyer with its self-destruct mechanism activated. Although the rebellion managed to keep the location of their Atollon base secret, Grand Admiral Thrawn used the incident to narrow down potential locations.

Killun 71

Following the reorganization of the rebellion into the Alliance to Restore the Republic, Lieutenant Antilles undertook a mission on behalf of Phoenix Leader Hera Syndulla to steal clearance codes for the Lothal strike mission from the ISB station on Killun 71. Wedge disguised himself as a TIE fighter pilot and was accompanied by the rebel droids AP-5 and Chopper. They traveled to the base in a stolen Sentinel-class landing craft.

Wedge found AP-5 and Chopper to be argumentative. Although annoyed by AP-5's meticulousness, Antilles remained focused on the mission. Using stolen clearance codes and posing as a TIE fighter pilot, Antilles successfully landed the Sentinel shuttle at Killun Station, claiming to deliver two new droids. While Antilles waited aboard the shuttle, AP-5 and Chopper infiltrated the base. AP-5 obtained the clearance codes from the central computer, but Chopper was hijacked by Imperial slicers while accessing a terminal network.

During the return journey, Antilles noticed nothing suspicious about Chopper. The Imperial-controlled Chopper gained favor with Antilles by offering him blue milk. AP-5 attempted to warn Wedge, but the young pilot dismissed the RA-7 protocol droid as paranoid. Wedge became irritated when AP-5 followed him into the refresher and accused him of conspiracy theories. Unbeknownst to AP-5 and Wedge, their movements and conversations were being monitored by the Imperial slicers, whose controller sought to find Chopper Base.

After returning to the Ghost, Antilles told Hera, Ezra, and Zeb that AP-5 and Chopper were engaged in a spy game. While Zeb and Ezra agreed with Wedge, AP-5 insisted something was wrong and warned Hera. After Hera stopped Chopper from downloading the ship's hyperspace logs, Wedge recounted his encounter with AP-5 in the refresher. Hera reaffirmed AP-5's warnings, and Antilles joined the Spectres in searching for Chopper, who had gone to the engine room.

Chopper trapped the rebels in the cargo bay and sealed the entrances. Under Imperial control, Chopper exposed the cargo bay to zero gravity space to kill the rebels. Hera manually sealed the hatch, but the rebels could not return to the cockpit. AP-5, not needing a spacesuit and having a magnetic body, was sent to open the cargo bay from outside. This allowed Wedge and the other rebels to enter the cockpit, stun Chopper, and remove the data spike used by the Imperials to download data from the Ghost's navigation computer.

Hera removed the Imperial programming from Chopper and retaliated by transmitting a large amount of data to the IGV-55 surveillance vessel used by the slicers. This data overload caused the Gozanti cruiser to explode, eliminating the Imperial threat. After restoring Chopper, the rebels rescued AP-5, who was stranded in space. Antilles was present when AP-5 reunited with the other rebels. When AP-5 insulted Chopper for apologizing, Chopper waved his appendages, one of which struck Antilles, who expressed his frustration with the droids and insisted on flying solo.

Battle of Atollon

Antilles and Hobbie later piloted A-wing starfighters during the Battle of Atollon. Wedge instructed Hobbie to follow him as they attempted to attack Thrawn's AT-AT walkers. However, they were attacked by TIE fighters. Wedge and Hobbie escaped with the remaining members of Phoenix Squadron and General Jan Dodonna's Massassi Group to Yavin 4.

Supply mission

Stationed at Base One on Yavin 4 under Syndulla's command, Antilles later flew a Y-wing starfighter on a supply mission. Because the Empire had been monitoring their movements through a relay station at Jalindi, the squadron was ambushed and damaged. Wedge and his squadron returned to Yavin 4. During the descent, Antilles dumped fuel at Hera's suggestion, surviving the landing with his starfighter.

Comradeship

During an early mission as an Alliance pilot, Antilles crashed an A-wing at the edge of a volcano, supposedly at Fulcrum's urging. The crash broke his leg in three places, nearly ending his career as a Rebel pilot. However, he convinced the Alliance leadership to let him work aboard a freighter, where he manned the laser cannons and occasionally served as a navigator. While serving the Rebellion, he became friends with pilots like Biggs Darklighter and Jek Tono Porkins.

Battle of Scarif

When a squad of Rebel soldiers called "Rogue One" decided to steal the plans for the Death Star, Alliance High Command learned of their battle on Scarif and decided to provide support. Antilles was assigned to inform flight personnel to report and redirect to Scarif, but he remained on Yavin due to his injuries.

Battle of Yavin

Despite heavy losses, Princess Leia Organa and her companions on the Millennium Falcon brought the plans to Yavin. Antilles oversaw a simulation test for Luke Skywalker, a new recruit. He explained the test, noting Skywalker's 30-second survival time on his first attempt, and advised him to listen and persevere. On his second attempt, Skywalker surpassed Antilles' highest score. When Skywalker credited Antilles' help, Antilles joked that Skywalker should include the line, “I owe everything to Wedge Antilles,” in his autobiography.

As the Death Star approached, its readouts were analyzed, and Antilles attended a briefing by Dodonna outlining the attack plan. This involved starfighters attacking the Death Star and firing a proton torpedo into a two-meter-wide thermal exhaust port.

As a member of the renowned Red Squadron, Antilles piloted a T-65B X-wing starfighter with the callsign "Red Two" when the Rebel Alliance initiated the Battle of Yavin. In the scant fifteen minutes he had, Antilles successfully eliminated several enemy targets; however, he tragically witnessed the loss of his comrade, Porkins, to enemy fire. When Skywalker found himself unable to evade a pursuing TIE fighter, Antilles intervened, destroying the TIE fighter and rescuing the inexperienced pilot in a daring maneuver that would later be immortalized as the "Antilles Maneuver."

Following the failed torpedo run by Red Leader Garven Dreis, who was subsequently killed by Darth Vader in his TIE Advanced x1, Antilles joined Skywalker and Darklighter in their perilous trench run, providing cover for Skywalker, who was in the lead. Damage to the hydraulic lines of Antilles' X-wing, sustained from a hasty repair after the Battle of Scarif, forced him to withdraw from the trench just moments before Vader eliminated Darklighter. Antilles attempted to rejoin the trench run while being pursued by a group of TIE fighters, but he ultimately aborted the attempt after Skywalker, with the assistance of Han Solo and Chewbacca aboard the Millennium Falcon, successfully launched proton torpedoes at the exhaust port. Antilles' X-wing was among the mere four ships that made it back to Yavin 4; he and Skywalker were the only survivors of the twelve original members of Red Squadron.

After the conclusion of the battle, the Alliance initiated an evacuation of the planet, anticipating swift retaliation from the Empire, now aware of their location due to the destruction of the Death Star. During the evacuation, Princess Organa, alongside Rebel pilot Evaan Verlaine and Skywalker's astromech droid, R2-D2, embarked on a mission to locate and reunite the surviving Alderaanians in the wake of Alderaan's destruction. Defying General Dodonna's direct orders, the trio commandeered a shuttle from the Rebel base and departed on their mission. Antilles and Skywalker were then dispatched to intercept the shuttle and bring the fleeing Rebels back to the Great Temple; however, Verlaine, skillfully piloting the shuttle, outmaneuvered the two X-wing pilots, and the shuttle successfully jumped into hyperspace. Organa ultimately achieved her mission's objectives.

Mission to Giju

Arhul Narra, recently appointed as Red Leader Commander, requested that Antilles and Skywalker continue their service with Red Squadron. He also explicitly stated that their survival during the Death Star encounter, even with their involvement in its destruction, would not grant them any preferential treatment. Both pilots accepted his terms. After several missions alongside Skywalker, during which they developed a strong sense of mutual trust, Antilles participated in a mission above Giju for Red Squadron, operating under the designation "Red Three." Antilles, Skywalker, and Narra provided escort for a transport vessel carrying underground rebel leaders being evacuated from the planet.

Once the transport was safely away and preparing to jump into hyperspace, the three pilots followed the designated scatter protocol, planning to rendezvous at Devaron by 2300 hours. Upon arrival, Antilles docked his X-wing with a freighter at a refueling station. He soon met with Skywalker, who was subsequently dispatched with his two loyal droids, C-3PO and R2-D2, and the Y 4 on a mission for Chancellor [Mon Mothma]. Antilles wished him well before their departure.

The Harbinger

Later, Antilles took part in an operation to seize the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Harbinger to break the blockade of Tureen VII. This operation involved the rest of Red Squadron, the Millennium Falcon, and the Rebel-aligned smuggler Sana Starros. As the operation unfolded, Antilles, along with the other members of Red Squadron, engaged the swarm of TIE fighters launched from the Harbinger, providing cover for the Falcon while Solo attempted to create a breach in the Star Destroyer's hull near the main engine reactor using proton bombs. After their success, Antilles seized the opportunity to fire proton torpedoes at the reactor in an attempt to overload it. Despite hitting the target, the reactor did not overload as anticipated, forcing Skywalker to enter the breach and overload it at close range.

As the Harbinger faced imminent destruction, its admiral ordered an evacuation, leaving Antilles and Red Squadron to intercept all Imperial vessels while the Falcon entered the Star Destroyer. When communications with the Falcon were lost, Antilles briefly worried, but the mission was ultimately successful. The infiltration team jettisoned the Harbinger's main reactor into space, avoiding the explosion, and led the Imperial evacuees to inform Imperial Command that the ship had been lost. Following the operation, Blue Squadron and Red Squadron were assigned to defend the Harbinger.

The Storms of Crait

Subsequently, Antilles joined the mission to investigate Crait as a potential location for a rebel base.

Mission to Oulanne

Eighteen months following the Battle of Yavin, Antilles, holding the rank of Lieutenant Commander, spearheaded a humanitarian mission to Oulanne. Along with fellow Rebel pilots, they delivered a significant amount of medical supplies and emergency rations after a devastating earthquake struck a portion of its megacontinent a month prior. Upon discovering that the Mighty Oak Apocalypse, representing off-world Oulannists, had also arrived to provide assistance, Antilles and his fellow pilots collaborated to distribute the supplies following a megahurricane. Impressed by the Moa's pilot, Thane Kyrell, Antilles inquired if Kyrell had previously participated in similar mercy runs (which he confirmed) and requested a private conversation after unloading the crates.

During their discussion, Kyrell revealed his past as an ex-Imperial pilot, but Antilles extended an invitation to join the Rebellion. Kyrell initially declined, but after a few hours, some Corellian ale, and a conversation with his employer, Lohgarra, he accepted Antilles' offer.

In the time following the Battle of Yavin, Antilles continued his service alongside his close friend, Hobbie Klivian. Antilles and Klivian fought together in at least a dozen battles, including the Battle of Distilon and the Battle of Perimako Major.

Battle of Hoth

In 3 ABY, Antilles was stationed at Echo Base on the ice planet Hoth, where he served alongside Skywalker as a seasoned member of Rogue Squadron, participating in numerous battles throughout the war. The base was discovered by an Imperial probe droid, leading to an assault by Imperial forces. This prompted Rogue Squadron to engage the All Terrain Armored Transports, which were advancing towards the base to destroy its energy shield and facilitate the landing of Imperial troops.

Under Skywalker's leadership, the squadron flew T-47 airspeeders. Antilles, designated as Rogue Three, and his gunner, Wes Janson, initially attempted to destroy the walkers using conventional laser weaponry. However, the AT-AT armor proved impervious to blasters. Skywalker then instructed his squadron to employ tow cables to bring them down. Antilles and Janson were assigned to the first attempt. Janson fired the tow cable onto one of the AT-ATs, and Antilles skillfully maneuvered the airspeeder around the walker, entangling its legs in the cables until the massive vehicle crashed onto the snowy battlefield. The crash exposed the walker's neck, and Antilles fired the shot that struck the weak point, destroying the AT-AT and making him the first pilot to eliminate one of the walkers in the battle.

Despite Rogue Squadron's efforts, the AT-ATs successfully destroyed the shield generator, and Imperial forces, led by Darth Vader, overwhelmed Echo Base. As this happened, Antilles and the remaining Rebels fled the ice world. Piloting an X-wing fighter, Antilles, along with Janson and Klivian, assisted the last Rebel transport, the Bright Hope, in escaping Hoth and regrouping with the Alliance Fleet at a rendezvous point aboard the MC80 Star Cruiser Liberty. There, Antilles informed Thane Kyrell about Dak Ralter's death during the Battle of Hoth, after they exchanged congratulations for the walkers they had each destroyed. Subsequently, with several key personnel missing, General Carlist Rieekan convened an emergency conference of the senior officers assigned to their section of the fleet, which Antilles was drawn into.

Rebuilding Red Squadron

After the evacuation of Hoth in 3 ABY, Lieutenant Commander Antilles and Lieutenant Wes Janson, also a member of Rogue Squadron, reunited on the flagship Home One. Antilles met with Mon Mothma before going to the Hub, where he sat with Janson and had Kommerken steak. The two reminisced about their fallen squadron members, particularly Antilles' close friend Hobbie, until S-5V3 arrived to inform Antilles that he was needed in the Chancellor's office. There, he encountered The Contessa, who tasked him with rebuilding Rogue Squadron to undertake a mission to eliminate a group of pirates disrupting supply routes. Failure would force the fleet to abandon its location and the potential to rendezvous with Skywalker, Organa, and the missing rebels. However, Skywalker and Organa would ultimately join the Fourth Division anyway.

Antilles was promoted to Commander, succeeding Skywalker as the leader of the remaining pilots of Rogue Group. Despite his reservations, he was tasked with assembling a sufficient number of qualified pilots. Antilles then met with his new executive officer, Janson, to find pilots from across the fleet. He recruited Bela Elar and [Will Scotian](/article/will_scotian], both experienced pilots, to lead their own flights within the squadron. Antilles informed Janson that he preferred not to use the Rogue Group name, given the recent losses suffered after the Battle of Hoth. Instead, Antilles decided to revive the Red Squadron name. Antilles and Janson then compiled a list of potential pilots, with Janson mentioning Aron Polstak, who was away on a special assignment. Antilles and Janson alternated suggestions, settling on a diverse group of newcomers, including Keyser Salm, the younger brother of Horton Salm, who had previously flown with them, Barlon Hightower, Cinda Tarheel, Sila Kott, Ix Ixstra, Grizz Frix, Penn Zowlie, and Tomer Darpen.

Protecting the rendezvous point

Antilles subjected the group to two days of rigorous simulation training, after which he expressed his doubts to The Contessa about their readiness. However, time was of the essence, and The Contessa assigned Red Squadron their first mission: to eliminate the pirates and their base located on an old asteroid mining station. During the battle, Hightower, Zowlie, and Ixstra were lost, but Antilles led Red Squadron to a decisive victory over the pirates.

The following day, Antilles led Red Squadron's T-65B X-wing starfighters in an assault on a nearby pirate base that threatened the safety of the Alliance rendezvous point. His flight, consisting of Tomer Darpen and Sila Kott as his wingmates, targeted the landing field, while Will Scotian's flight provided cover.

Operation Starlight

Around 3 ABY, Antilles was recruited into Starlight Squadron as part of the Fourth Division's Operation Starlight. The squadron's mission was to locate the scattered divisions of the Rebel Alliance fleet following the evacuation of Hoth, warn them that the Galactic Empire had deciphered Alliance communications, and deliver a new Trawak security code developed by C-3PO and his team. During their search, the squadron discovered wreckage of the Sixth Division near Felucia and encountered Imperial probe droids lurking nearby. The probe droids attached themselves to the astromechs of the X-wings and attempted to access their archives. Fearing that the probe droids would obtain the other rendezvous points, Antilles suggested shooting them off, but Shara Bey (Starlight Leader) questioned their chances of success. Instead, Bey ordered all pilots to set their astromech's self-destruct and eject them, even though it meant losing their nav data and their way home. With no alternative, the droids were ejected and detonated, preventing the Empire from acquiring valuable data. Before the Starlight pilots could recover, the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Tarkin's Will arrived and attacked the squadron.

Zastiga

Eventually, Antilles rose to become the leader of Red Squadron and traveled to Zastiga, where he met with Skywalker while Alliance High Command held a high-level meeting. He reunited with Nien Nunb and Skywalker for a discussion of "reconnaissance tactics," focusing on Antilles' repeated failure to buy the Sullustan a drink after saving him at Hagar Secundus.

Battle of Endor

In 4 ABY, Antilles attended a briefing on the Rebel command ship, Home One, where High Command unveiled the plan to destroy the shield generator protecting the Empire's second Death Star. They also revealed that Emperor Palpatine himself was aboard the Death Star to oversee the final stages of its construction. His squadron, along with Gold and Green Squadrons, was assigned to General Lando Calrissian's strike force, tasked with entering the Death Star and destroying it from within. For the assault, Antilles appointed Norra Wexley.

Along with the rest of the Alliance Fleet, Antilles and his squadron arrived in the Endor system only to find that the deflector shield remained operational. Lured into the Emperor's trap, the Rebel fleet found itself under attack by the Imperial fleet's TIE fighters. After a warning from Calrissian, Antilles ordered Red Two and Red Three Sila Kott to pull in as two more TIEs approached. Antilles then instructed his accompanying fighters to cut to the left while he engaged the TIE leader. Simultaneously, as the Millennium Falcon destroyed two other TIEs, Antilles noticed the remaining three heading for the EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate Redemption. Antilles then eliminated the leader, but not before two X-wings were shot down and the Falcon sustained a heavy hit to its forward deflectors. The frigate continued to be bombarded by TIE fighters until its hull began to crack.

At that point, Calrissian ordered all fighter squadrons to accelerate to attack speed and follow him towards the Super Star Destroyer Executor to draw Imperial fire away from their cruisers. Antilles, along with the remaining members of the Alliance Starfighter Corps, engaged a massive wave of TIE fighters that rushed to meet their attack.

However, General Solo and his Endor strike team successfully destroyed the shield generator on the moon below, allowing Antilles, Calrissian, Nunb on the Millennium Falcon, and the remaining members of Red and Gold Squadron to enter the superstructure, navigating a maze to reach the reactor core. As Antilles destroyed the power regulators on the north tower, the Falcon destroyed the core itself, triggering a chain reaction that forced the two pilots to race against time. Antilles escaped first, closely followed by the Millennium Falcon, just before the Death Star was engulfed in a massive explosion.

After the battle, the Alliance forces made their way to the surface of Endor, where they joined Solo, Organa, and their team in Bright Tree Village, the home of the Ewoks who had aided them in destroying the shield generator. Rebels and Ewoks alike celebrated their decisive victory over the Empire, and Antilles was present. He shook hands with Chewbacca and embraced his friend Skywalker as all the Rebel forces rejoiced in their triumph. Antilles anticipated further service with Rogue Squadron.

Mission to Malastare

Some time after the Battle of Endor, Antilles scouted an Imperial communications hub on Malastare, which would later be targeted in a mission led by Blade Squadron.

New Republic

Project Starhawk

Now a pilot and a Captain in the New Republic, Antilles was separated from Rogue Squadron and assigned by General Syndulla to assist in capturing Imperial Star Destroyers for use in Project Starhawk, while Rogue Squadron handled another classified matter. Working on the project with Talus Group, they encountered a problem when, after driving the Star Destroyer Victorum away from a medical convoy it was attacking, the ship's fighters proved too strong for the battle group.

Reaching out to Lindon Javes aboard the Temperance following the end of the communication blackout across the Bormea sector, Antilles arrived on the ship and briefed Vanguard Squadron about their mission, which he called the "Star Destroyer Problem." He took a particular interest in Vanguard Five, whom Javes described as talented enough to steal a Star Destroyer and "get away with it." He recalled his time in the Empire at Skystrike Academy and stated that defecting to the Rebellion was the best decision he ever made, but he still regretted that more of his friends hadn't joined him.

During the mission, he led the squadron with Gunny. Antilles was impressed by Vanguard Squadron, and they successfully captured the Star Destroyer. Antilles bid farewell to Vanguard and escorted Talus Group out, informing them that General Syndulla would be pleased.

Imperial Future Council

Months later, Antilles believed the Imperial forces had retreated to the Outer Rim and told Ackbar and Mothma that he had devised a plan to find the supply lines supporting the Imperials. Aboard the HH-87 Starhopper Rover, using the alias "Gev Hessan," Antilles embarked on a reconnaissance mission that took him to Florrum, Ryloth, Hinari, Abafar, Raydonia, and Akiva, where he finally found signs of the Imperial remnant. His false identity was discovered by the Star Destroyer Vigilance, which captured the Rover with a tractor beam. Antilles destroyed his ship once inside the Vigilance, avoiding capture by navigating through ventilation ducts and reaching the communications room to send a message through local channels, hoping to find a sympathizer below.

Admiral Rae Sloane found Antilles and had him arrested. She also provided medical attention while they descended to the planet, keeping him sedated during the Imperial Future Council's first meeting. After intermittent torture by Yupe Tashu, Sloane appeared in his cell and asked why Antilles had joined the Empire before leaving him alone. After another confrontation with Tashu, Antilles escaped after Sloane destroyed part of the palace with one of the turbolaser cannons positioned across Myrra to stop Norra Wexley's assault. Although Antilles discovered a secret passage to escape, he decided to stay. He fought Adea Rite over her holoscreen and sent a summons to war to the Republic channels before passing out and falling into Sloane's hands again.

The severely wounded Antilles, secured to a levitating platform propelled by a couple of stormtroopers alongside a 2-1B medical droid, was subsequently moved to the Golden Harp. There, he offered a salute to Norra Wexley, who had been endeavoring to save him. Isolated from the rest of the crew, he was liberated by her son, Temmin, following the ship's emergency landing on the Vigilance. He was then transported aboard a Lambda-class shuttle piloted by Jas Emari. As a result of their efforts, he was taken to Hanna City on Chandrila, where he underwent medical care. One week later, he convened with Ackbar and, together, they presented Norra Wexley with a medal. They also informed her about the battle's conclusion and tasked her and her Akiva team with a fresh assignment: to pursue Imperial war criminals.

A Friend to the Wexley Family

Tashu's torture forced him to stay on Chandrila until his complete recovery. During this time, he served as a liaison for Wexley's group and trained Temmin (whom he habitually called "Snap") in X-wing piloting. Antilles permitted the young man to conduct training exercises in his personal X-wing above the Silver Sea. He also started to have feelings for Norra, though he didn't express them openly. Simultaneously, he made the decision to establish Phantom Squadron.

Some months later, Leia Organa requested Antilles' assistance in locating her missing spouse, Han Solo. Antilles agreed and, following her instructions, summoned Norra Wexley to her as soon as she and her team returned from their mission to apprehend Perwin Gedde. After she accepted the mission to find Solo, Antilles informed Kyrsta Agate about it before joining Wexley aboard her MK-4 freighter, the Moth, en route to Solo's last known location, near Warrin Station. He even offered her a drink before they reached the coordinates. Although they didn't discover any sign of the Millennium Falcon, they did find wreckage and a functional Prowler probe droid, which revealed their presence to the Star Destroyer Scythe. The Concord, under Agate's command, alongside the Sunspire, soon arrived to rescue them, destroying the Imperial vessels. As the Concord hailed them, Wexley kissed Antilles.

Upon their return to Chandrila, Antilles and Agate met with both Ackbar and Organa (who faced reprimand for her request). Antilles was present when Ackbar instructed Wexley and her team to cease the search for Solo. Wexley, however, declined and relinquished her commission to continue seeking Solo with her team. Their quest ultimately led to the liberation of prisoners from Ashmead's Lock on Kashyyyk, who traveled to Chandrila aboard the Falcon. Alongside Organa, Antilles greeted Wexley upon her arrival; however, they both felt let down: Solo had stayed behind to liberate Kashyyyk, and Wexley had located her missing husband, Brentin.

Kashyyyk's Liberation

In the following month, with his leg almost entirely recovered, he was assigned to the special security detail for the approaching Liberation Day celebrations and the Imperial–Republic peace talks. On that day, Antilles was observing the day's activities from a balcony when he received a recorded message from Organa, informing him that she had journeyed to the Kashyyyk system alone with Evaan Verlaine on the Falcon, and invited him to intervene. Immediately, Antilles informed Mon Mothma of this situation but promptly departed Chandrila with Phantom Squadron.

Captain Antilles' Phantom Squadron, together with Princess Leia, engaged in combat against the three Imperial Star Destroyers Dominion, Vitiator, and Neutralizer above Kashyyyk. Their limited forces were soon bolstered by Admiral Ackbar's flagship, the Home One. Han Solo successfully hijacked the Dominion and redirected the ship's weapons towards the Vitiator and Neutralizer, destroying the former and compelling the latter to surrender. Despite their success and Organa's reunion with Solo, the Republic suffered a setback during the simultaneous attack on Chandrila, and the scattered Imperial Fleet converged on Jakku.

Following the liberation of Kashyyyk, Wedge observed his friend Temmin crash an X-wing during a computer simulation exercise. When Temmin insisted on piloting a real X-wing, Wedge explained that the New Republic military authorities had restricted access to X-wings. He also assured the boy that if he improved his simulator scores, he would arrange for Temmin to have a ship before the next moon alignment. When Temmin mentioned that his own father, Brentin, who had been implanted with an inorganic biochip, had attempted to assassinate Chancellor Mothma, Wedge inquired whether things with Norra were better.

Temmin then praised Wedge for his flying skills during the liberation of Kashyyyk. Wedge responded that Leia deserved all the credit. Wedge also added that he had done what Leia had needed him to do and also warned Snap to watch his language. Temmin addressed Wedge as "Dad" and promised to do as he said. Temmin then asked if he could go for another round on the simulator but changed his mind after receiving a message from his mother Norra. Before Snap left, Wedge told the boy that he was welcome to try the simulator again.

The Jakku Conflict

Despite receiving a medal and public recognition for his actions during the liberation of Kashyyyk, Wedge and his fellow Phantom Squadron pilots faced disciplinary action for undertaking an unauthorized mission outside the New Republic command structure. Phantom Squadron was disbanded, and Wedge was reassigned to oversee the New Republic military base on Chandrila. Wedge's fellow Phantom pilots Koko, Jethpur, and Yarra were also reassigned to support duties.

Following the discovery of Imperial remnant forces on the Inner Rim planet Jakku, Temmin sought out Wedge and requested his assistance in rescuing his mother Norra, who had infiltrated Jakku to hunt down Grand Admiral Sloane, the alleged mastermind behind the attack on Chandrila. Lacking the necessary flight clearances, Wedge informed Temmin that he was unable to help and advised the boy to wait until the New Republic deployed its military forces to Jakku. Angered, Temmin stormed out of the hangar bay.

After the Galactic Senate authorized the deployment of military forces to Jakku, Temmin revisited Wedge to enlist for the battle. Wedge replied that Phantom Squadron had been dissolved. Temmin successfully persuaded Wedge to reconsider by pointing out that his mom Norra and droid Mister Bones were on Jakku. He also reminded Antilles of his heroic deeds against the Empire and the Death Stars. Wedge realized that the boy was right and told Temmin to meet him at Hangar Forty-Seven in two hours' time. He added that Phantom Squadron was housed in that hangar.

Wedge and his fellow Phantom Squadron pilots, including Temmin, joined the Battle of Jakku after the main New Republic fleet had arrived. Given the crowded airspace above Jakku, Wedge followed Temmin's suggestion that the squadron target the Imperial air-to-space defenses to enable New Republic ground forces to land on the planet. Under Wedge's command, Phantom Squadron engaged any TIE fighters, troop carriers, and Imperial walkers they encountered. The battle shifted in the New Republic's favor when Commodore Agate succeeded in destroying the Imperial Super Star Destroyer Ravager, which served as the enemy command ship.

While pursuing TIE fighters, Wedge and his fellow pilots received word from Admiral Ackbar that the Ravager had been downed and to be cautious of falling debris. Wedge managed to evade the falling wreckage, but Temmin's X-wing was struck. Wedge and his fellow Phantom pilots survived the Battle of Jakku. Following the signing of the Galactic Concordance, Wedge was appointed as the head instructor of a new flight academy on the planet Hosnian Prime. He was accompanied by Temmin, who had become a student, and Norra, who had also secured a position as an instructor there. Following the death of Temmin's father, Brentin, Temmin believed that Wedge and Norra had developed romantic feelings for each other. At the academy, Antilles notably taught Poe Dameron, who proved to be one of his most talented students.

Post-Jakku Ventures

Following the pivotal Battle of Jakku, Wedge and Norra got married and settled back on Akiva, where they enjoyed a tranquil existence tending to their garden and their keedees.

Eventually, Temmin and his wife, Karé Kun, paid them a visit, informing them about the Battle of Crait and the deaths of Admirals Statura, Holdo, and Ackbar, alongside Luke Skywalker. This deeply affected Wedge and Norra. The pair ultimately decided to join the Resistance and participated in the mission to Wedge's home planet of Corellia.

Exegol Confrontation

Antilles answered Calrissian's call for allies, operating the gun turret of the Falcon and praising Lando's piloting during the Battle of Exegol between the Resistance and the Sith Eternal, arriving shortly after Temmin's passing. The ship subsequently landed on Ajan Kloss for the victory celebrations.

Heritage

Antilles served as the inspiration for the Antilles Intercept, a fundamental training exercise for pilots within the Resistance's Starfighter Corps.

Character Attributes

Wedge Antilles was a human male characterized by brown hair, hazel eyes, and fair skin. Although Antilles had secured a spot at the esteemed Skystrike Academy, he grew disillusioned with the Empire's practice of targeting unarmed transports. This prompted him and Derek Klivian to abandon the Empire and join the rebellion. In his younger days, Antilles could be somewhat carefree and once had to be reminded by Hera to stay vigilant for an upcoming training session. Antilles also considered the droids AP-5 and Chopper to be petty and argumentative. Nevertheless, he was a cooperative team member and collaborated with his fellow rebels to steal Imperial clearance codes and to prevent an Imperial-hijacked Chopper from transmitting the coordinates of Chopper Base to the Empire.

Through his dedication to the Rebel Alliance, he earned the respect of his fellow Rebel fighters. Composed and focused during his flights, he strongly believed that the only means of improving as a pilot was to consistently confront the impossible and push oneself to the limit; during battles, he would concentrate on maintaining his composure and trusting his instincts. Antilles disliked being away from a cockpit for prolonged periods, and while he didn't object to commanding, Norra Wexley once observed that his entire being seemed to yearn for being at the controls. Despite his skill and reputation among his fellow pilots, Antilles remained approachable and amiable to those around him.

Embittered by the Empire's actions against those he cared about, Antilles possessed an unwavering faith in the Alliance, and despite being courageous and resolute, he once resorted to bravado when faced with the prospect of being tortured to death. He was also unaccustomed to not being believed—if he believed someone was good and told them so, he really meant it as he was not one to flatter others in his own interest, and was not capable of telling others easy lies. Antilles was known to be fond of giving everyone lectures about trigger discipline, which meant not putting one's finger on the trigger until they were ready to pull it.

Wedge's loyalty to Princess Leia motivated him and his Phantom Squadron pilots to participate in an unauthorized mission to liberate Kashyyyk. While the New Republic military leadership publicly commended Wedge and his fellow pilots, they were reassigned to support roles as punishment for acting outside the official chain of command. As a result of this disciplinary action, Wedge was disheartened and hesitant to take risks. However, his friend Temmin managed to persuade him to reconsider by reminding Wedge of his past heroism during the Galactic War. Wedge was a competent commander who led his squadron in attacking Imperial ground forces on Jakku in order to aid the New Republic ground assault.

Though he was advancing in age in his later years, Wedge refused to acknowledge it, even rebuking Kare Kun when she inquired if he required assistance.

Competencies and Talents

Antilles was a celebrated pilot within the Rebel Alliance. He participated in numerous battles during the Galactic Civil War, earning him recognition from his fellow Rebels for his bravery and exceptional piloting skills, with some regarding him as legendary. During his initial flight simulator experience, he lasted less than ten seconds, prompting him to practice and heed advice from more experienced pilots. He would eventually achieve the highest scores, surpassed only by Luke Skywalker. Due to his training as a TIE fighter pilot, Antilles possessed familiarity with Imperial military protocols, which aided him during an undercover mission to steal Imperial clearance codes.

As a proficient starfighter pilot, Wedge shot down numerous Imperial fighters, transports, and walkers during the Battle of Jakku. In recognition of his contributions, Antilles was appointed as the head flight instructor of a New Republic flight academy on Hosnian Prime following the Galactic Civil War.

Production Notes

Wedge Antilles made his debut as a supporting character in the 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, where he was credited as "Red Two (Wedge)." His surname is never mentioned in any of the films, but appears in the script for A New Hope. The character's origins can be traced to early drafts of Star Wars, which depicted a young pilot named Chewie. That nickname was later given to Chewbacca, so the character that had been known as Chewie took on the name of Wedge.

Antilles was portrayed by two actors in A New Hope. During the Rebel briefing, he was played by actor Colin Higgins, but he was replaced with Denis Lawson for the scenes depicting the Battle of Yavin—both actors were overdubbed by David Ankrum for the film. Higgins was used to the rehearsal periods in television acting and had not memorized his lines for the film, leading to him becoming nervous and dispirited while shooting the scenes in the Rebel briefing. After only one day in which he struggled to film the character's scenes, he was fired from the production. Lawson was brought in to film the remaining scenes for the character, despite having been initially passed over in favor of Higgins. Higgins' brief appearance led some fans to dub him as the "Fake Wedge" and believe that Jack Klaff had played Antilles in those scenes until Lucasfilm Story Group's Pablo Hidalgo confirmed Higgins as the "Fake Wedge" in 2005 after an extensive research. In 2017, the short story collection From a Certain Point of View established "Fake Wedge" as a different character named Col Takbright.

Lawson continued to play the character in 1980's Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and 1983's Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. He was surprised to return for The Empire Strikes Back, having assumed that Antilles died in A New Hope. The initial drafts of Return of the Jedi depicted Antilles in an earlier scene in the film, where he would have infiltrated an Imperial fleet. During the sequence, he would have flown and ultimately crashed a TIE fighter, necessitating his rescue at the hands of Princess Leia. Lawson supposedly declined an offer to reprise the role for the 2015 film Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, though he later appeared at Celebration Orlando. In December 2017, Lawson revealed during an interview with Clive Anderson from BBC Radio 4 that the actual reason he did not appear in The Force Awakens was a scheduling conflict that left him unavailable. He later reprised his role in 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, and he voiced the character in the 2020 video game, Star Wars: Squadrons.

For the third season of the animated TV series Star Wars Rebels, Antilles appeared as a defecting Imperial TIE Fighter pilot and was voiced by Nathan Kress. Kress also voiced Antilles in the 2016 LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens video game. In later appearances, Wedge's helmet is seen with the word "Mala" printed on the side in Aurebesh, presumably a nod to Mala Tinero, a character from the Star Wars Legends continuity whose death was one of Wedge's main motivations for joining the Rebellion.

For the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, David Ankrum reprised his role as Antilles' voice, during which he announced flight personnel to redirect to Scarif. To avoid creating a continuity error by contradicting his "Look at the size of that thing!" line in A New Hope, Wedge was deliberately excluded from the Battle of Scarif so that the Battle of Yavin would still be the first time he had actually seen the Death Star.