Kupalo Kupalo was a Human male Rebel tactical officer who was captured during the Battle of Hoth and brainwashed into becoming an Imperial double agent . Biography . Shortly before the Battle of Hoth , Kupalo served onboard the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser " Defiance " as Commander and Tactical Officer under Admiral Nammo . Kupalo was recognized as highly competent and capable officer , earning the respect of his superior . Kupalo was present on the surface of Hoth at the time of the infamous defeat for the Rebels . He was unable to escape , and was taken prisoner by the invading Imperials . The Empire was able to discover Kupalo ' s status within the Alliance and hatched a plan to get a high placed agent within the ever - growing revolutionary group . Kupalo underwent extensive Imperial ' conditioning ' , a process that not only created total obedience and loyalty to the Empire among its victims , but left them " empty shells of their former selves " . Getting the new double agent back into the Alliance , in his former position , without arousing suspicion was a challenge that took careful consideration on the part of the Empire . The answer they came upon was simple , but ultimately effective . They leaked information of an Imperial prisoner Dreadnaught , " VTR - LX " , that was on its way to a penal station and carrying Rebel prisoners of war . The Dreadnaught and its attendant vessels , Assault Gunboats from Tau Squadron and " Delta " - class JV - 7 escort shuttles from Manticore Squadron , stopped off at a civilian spaceport for refueling . It was here that the Rebels chose their moment to strike . X - Wings from Red Squadron , including pilot Ace Azzameen , along with Y - Wings from Green Squadron dropped out of hyperspace just as the Dreadnaught was finishing its refueling at " Calast " space station . Though the fighters were able to destroy the Gunboats , the Dreadnaught itself and the Escort Shuttles were able to escape into hyperspace , along with the POWs . Quick thinking on the part of Tactical Officer Commander Devers meant that the Rebels could locate the only penal station on the Dreadnaughts hyper vector , the XQ2 Platform Bundil II . The fighters took off in fast pursuit , entering the area almost right on top of the Dreadnaught . Red Squadron quickly dispatched the Escort Shuttles and proceeded to engage the TIE Fighters that had left the hangars of the platform , while Green Squadron attacked the Dreadnaught , as per their orders to disable the starship . When its shields finally gave , a furious ion cannon bombardment from the Y - Wings disabled the Dreadnaught , making a boarding action possible . Effectively defenseless , the Dreadnaught was unable to prevent the assault transport carrying elite commandos of Storm Unit from boarding the crippled vessel . With the fighters flying cover from attacking TIEs , the commandos were able to retrieve the POWs and escape back to " Defiance " . Unbeknownst to the Rebels , their greatest prize was in fact a secret weapon for the Empire . With the Mon Calamari Cruiser " Liberty " tasked with hunting the cause of the shipping attacks in the Vilonis sector , Ace Azzameen ' s Squadron were transferred to the lone capital ship to replenish crewmen lost in a recent engagement . The ship also needed a new Tactical Officer , it was the perfect position for the newly reclaimed commander . Together , " Liberty " and her new recruits were able to put a stop to the TIE Experimental Project . However , Kupalo was not to remain in place for long . " Liberty ' s " next campaign was to bring in an Imperial defector , Commander Zaletta . Kupalo chose his moment well . With Rebel forces jubilant from their success , Kupalo called in an " Imperial I " - class Star Destroyer and Interdictor Cruiser , hoping to destroy the Nebulon - B Frigate " Redemption " , Zaletta and possibly even " Liberty " herself in glorious , swift stroke . It is also possible that with Zaletta ' s intricate knowledge of secret Imperial projects ( including some information regarding construction of the Death Star II ) and would have known about Kupalo ' s involvement with the Empire , so Kupalo would have wanted to eliminate him ; this , however , is pure speculation . Nonetheless , because of the valiant efforts of the starfighter pilots and the crew of the " Liberty " and " Redemption " , the trap failed and the Rebels were able to escape . Kupalo was able to temporarily cast blame on Zaletta , but he knew it would not hold for long . He realized he had to escape , and render Zaletta ' s defection useless to the Rebellion . He decided to steal Zaletta ' s shuttle , " AA - 23 " , which contained all the information Zaletta had brought to the Alliance . Blasting his way out of the hangar bay , Kupalo also planted charges that destroyed much of the hangar , putting it out of commission for some time . He eluded three pursuing X - Wings by launching homing mines from a hidden compartment on the shuttle ' s ventral surface , destroying them , and then escaped to hyperspace . Knowing he would no doubt make multiple jumps to hinder pursuit , Ace Azzameen and wingmate Olin Garn were dispatched in A - Wings to pursue him . They were able to catch him at the first exit point he made and , despite a group of Gunboats and another barrage of homing mines , the pair were able to damage his engines and force him into submission . Kupalo , however , had yet another contingency plan . He called in the Star Destroyer " Imperator " , hoping to be picked up . Fighting courageously , Garn and Azzameen were able to single - handedly destroy a huge number of attacking TIE Starfighters , preventing them from reaching the shuttle and the Assault Transport sent to recover it . Kupalo was brought back to " Liberty " , where he was imprisoned and treated , being replaced in his duties by Commander Zaletta himself . As expressed by " Liberty ' s " commanding officer Admiral Yamarus , it is doubtful whether he ever fully recovered .