Iolo Arana Iolo Arana was a Keshian male starfighter pilot who served as a lieutenant in the New Republic Starfleet and as a member of Rapier Squadron . He would ultimately join the Resistance — along with fellow squadron members commander Poe Dameron and lieutenant Karé Kun — during its conflict with the First Order . As a member of the Resistance , he was promoted to the rank of captain and given command of Dagger Squadron . Biography . New Republic service . Iolo Arana was a starfighter pilot who flew in the New Republic Defense Fleet ' s Rapier Squadron , which flew T - 85 X - wing s in the Mirrin sector . He answered to the callsign Rapier Three and his comrades included Commander Poe Dameron , Lieutenant Karé Kun , and Muran . During one of their routine patrols in the Mirrin sector , Iolo and his squadron responded to a distress message from the freighter " Yissira Zyde " near Suraz 4 . Rapier Squadron were subsequently caught up in a dogfight with First Order TIE / fo space superiority fighter s which ended with the death of Muran . Despite Major Lonno Deso ' s orders , Poe was determined to avenge Muran and to track down the stolen freighter . While on a routine patrol , Poe got Iolo and Karé to upload all telemetry from the Suraz engagement into his droid BB - 8 . Iolo and Karé agreed to cover for Poe while he departed on his errant mission . Following the Skirmish in OR - Kappa - 2722 , Poe was recruited by General Leia Organa into the Resistance , a private paramilitary offshoot of the New Republic military that monitored the First Order ' s activities . Joining the Resistance . With Iolo and Karé facing disciplinary action for helping Poe , the two also joined the Resistance . Iolo became the captain of Dagger Squadron , which was stationed aboard the MC80 star cruiser " Echo of Hope " . Due to their friendship with Poe , Iolo and Karé took part in , a secret mission to steal the New Republic Senator Erudo Ro - Kiintor ' s yacht " Hevurion Grace " . General Organa suspected that Erudo was colluding with the First Order and wanted to access his ship ' s logs . For the mission , the three pilots posed as members of the Irving Boys and flew vintage Z - 95 Headhunter s . The Resistance pilots ambushed the " Hevurion Grace " in space . Iolo managed to disable the yacht with modified concussion missile s , allowing Poe to board the ship and drive Erudo and his crew into the escape pod . Before they could return to the " Echo of Hope " , the Resistance pilots were attacked by a large First Order fleet . Following a pursuit , Iolo and his comrades managed to outrun their First Order pursuers including a " Resurgent " - class Star Destroyer and flee into hyperspace . Due to their successful mission , the Resistance obtained irrefutable evidence of Ro - Kiintor ' s treason and discovered that the explorer Lor San Tekka was still alive . Believing that Tekka held the key to finding her lost brother Luke Skywalker , General Organa dispatched Poe to find Lor San Tekka . Personality and traits . Iolo Arana was a male Keshian , a baseline humanoid species with large and oddly colored eyes , allowing them to detect a broad spectrum ranging from ultraviolet to infrared . As a starfighter pilot , this gave Iolo an advantage in dogfights . Iolo was loyal to his friend Poe Dameron . He and Karé followed Poe into the Resistance and took part in Operation : Sabre Strike . While in New Republic service , Iolo found the routine patrol flights in the Mirrin sector boring and longed for real combat . Iolo was able to fly various starships including T - 85 X - wings and vintage Z - 95 Headhunters . Behind the scenes . Iolo Arana first appeared as a secondary character in Greg Rucka ' s junior novel " Before the Awakening " , which was released on December 18 , 2015 in conjunction with " " .