Margo Flarestream Margo " Pepper " Flarestream , a Human female born around 35 BBY , defected from the Imperial Academy to the Alliance to Restore the Republic in the early days of the Galactic Civil War . A skilled pilot , Flarestream rose to the rank of Flight Commander , flying Z - 95 Headhunters and earning the nickname " Pepper " at some point . Flarestream led the starfighter forces during the evacuation of the Alliance base at Refnar . Although the engagement at Refnar was technically a victory for the Alliance — it evacuated almost 70 percent of all forces — Flarestream became guilt - ridden after her actions led to the destruction of many transports at the hands of an Imperial cruiser . Haunted by her actions , Flarestream requested a transfer away from combat duty and was assigned to Sleeper Cell V - 16 , based in the capital city of Fabrillan on the planet Malthor . Although she descended into alcoholism , Flarestream was a capable member of the cell . She knew many of the other pilots who frequented Fabrillian ' s cantinas , and she used her personal Ghtroc Industries freighter , the " Pepper ' s Hope " , to extract Alliance operative s on the planet when the need arose . Despite Flarestream ' s emotional state , General Airen Cracken , head of Alliance Intelligence , was pleased that an individual of her caliber was still able to contribute to the Alliance , and he hoped that she would return to combat duty one day . Biography . Margo " Pepper " Flarestream , a Human female , was born around the year 35 BBY . When she was old enough , she enrolled in the Imperial Academy , but she defected to the fledgling Alliance to Restore the Republic during the early days of the Galactic Civil War . Enlisting in the Alliance Starfighter Corps , Flarestream qualified to fly Z - 95 Headhunters . Acquiring the nickname " Pepper , " Flarestream fought in several battles and eventually rose to the rank of Flight Commander . At some point prior to the Battle of Yavin in 0 BBY , Imperial forces discovered an Alliance base on the planet Refnar , in the Pakuuni sector of the Outer Rim Territories . An evacuation was ordered , and Flarestream was placed in command of the starfighters charged with defending the fleeing transports and freighters . It was Flarestream ' s first time in command . The plan was simple and familiar ; Flarestream and her pilots were to engage and delay the Imperial force — which consisted of a line cruiser and TIE / LN starfighter support — long enough for the freighters and troop transports to escape into hyperspace . The starfighters were not expected to defeat the Imperials , but to survive long enough to accomplish the mission and withdraw . Standard tactics were to deploy in a picket line , forcing the enemy fighters to pass through their formation to attack the fleeing starships . However , Flarestream had other ideas . The TIE / LN starfighter had become the standard Imperial fighter , and since its deployment , average Alliance losses during a retreat had risen sharply . Alliance tacticians expected to lose between 60 to 70 percent of their starfighter forces and 30 percent of their transports during a withdrawal . Faced with that information , Flarestream decided that she did not like those kind of odds . Flarestream deployed her starfighters in an over - under formation . Visually , it looked the same as a picket line to incoming forces but had one crucial difference ; one wing of ships would be in advance of the other , allowing the second wing to jump the TIE starfighters while they were engaged with the first wing . The TIEs assaulted the apparent picket line high and hard , striking the first group of Alliance fighters . When the first line began taking evasive action , the second Alliance fighter group struck . The Imperial starfighters , caught in a trap , were systemically destroyed by the older Rebel craft . As Flarestream led her fighters around for a second pass , she watched as the TIEs ' home cruiser lurched into action . Usually , during similar engagements , the line cruiser stayed out of range , allowing its starfighter complement to engage the enemy . However , the commander of the cruiser was caught off - guard by Flarestream ' s actions and threw his ship into the battle . Several transports were destroyed by the cruiser before they could retreat into hyperspace . Despite the cruiser ' s attack , Flarestream ' s tactics saved over 70 percent of the fleeing transports and nearly all the starfighters . However , Flarestream was broken by the battle , losing one too many of her friends to enemy fire . The image of the cruiser casually destroying the transports stayed in her mind ; the Empire , she realized , had more firepower than it needed to destroy the Alliance , and she began to believe that there was nothing she could do but fight a losing battle . With that in mind , she decided to hang up her flight suit and retire from active combat duty , requesting a transfer to a posting that she considered to be " less heroic . " Although removed from combat , Flarestream was assigned to Sleeper Cell V - 16 , based in the city of Fabrillan , capital of the planet Malthor in the Tandon sector of the Mid Rim . Flarestream was one of the five core members of the cell — which included Berren Sid Té , a street vendor and information broker ; Bakku , a Reigat enforcer ; Reginna Bel Typolla , an information gatherer ; and the Spek - Man , a droid expert — who would occasionally meet to discuss missions and operations that focused on acquiring information and assisting other Alliance operations on the planet . Flarestream , haunted by the guilt she felt over her actions at Refnar , became an alcoholic and frequented Fabrillian ' s bars as she waited for her orders . Only sober when on a mission , Flarestream descended into a drunken stupor as soon as her tasks were completed . She knew many pilots who were based in Fabrillian and used them to accomplish Sleeper Cell V - 16 ' s goals when necessary . When Alliance operative s not based on Malthor conducted operations on - planet , Flarestream was usually the one to extract them , using her personal Ghtroc Industries freighter , the " Pepper ' s Hope " . Personality and traits . Margo Flarestream was considered to be mature for her age when she was younger , and some of her Alliance contemporaries considered her to be a " visionary " for defecting from the Empire before the practice became more commonplace . An able pilot , Flarestream had experience flying starfighters , space transports , and older - model starships , and was able to operate ground vehicles and repulsorlift craft . She was also trained as a gunner , with expertise in vehicle blasters and starship and capital ship gunnery . Flarestream also had to the ability to plot courses through both space and hyperspace , and could operate communications equipment and sensors . She was knowledgeable in the operation of deflector shields aboard starships and could repair space transports if the need arose . Trained to use a blaster , Flarestream always carried a pistol with her , along with a knife . She was trained in survival and first aid , and had an interest in other cultures , languages and planetary systems . She typically wore an unmarked flight suit and blast vest . At one time a confident and capable pilot , Flarestream had also shown a talent for command , although her only experience in that regard came during the battle that would see her remove herself from combat . Flarestream ' s feelings of guilt over the deaths of many Alliance soldiers during the battle at Refnar overwhelmed her , turning her into an alcoholic . As a result , she always carried a liter flask about her person . General Airen Cracken , head of Alliance Intelligence , was aware of Flarestream ' s mental state and was saddened that a capable pilot like her had had to remove herself from front line duty . He was heartened that she was still contributing to the Alliance with her work in Sleeper Cell V - 16 , and harbored the hope that one day she would be fit to return to combat duty . Behind the scenes . Margo Flarestream was mentioned in " Cracken ' s Rebel Operatives " , a supplement for the " " that was published by West End Games in 1994 . Her only visual depiction was illustrated by Mike Vilardi .