Walex Cantwell Blissex I

Walex Cantwell Blissex I was a legendary human starship designer who served as an officer in the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Blissex's work included designing the Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor, the Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter, the RZ-1 A-wing interceptor, the Gladiator I Star Destroyer, and other powerful destroyers of the Galactic Republic. The Galactic Empire's Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser was named after Blissex.
Blissex had a daughter, Lira Wessex, who was a ship designer in her own right. Prior to the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, Blissex joined members of Alliance High Command and other personnel aboard the Alliance flagship Home One for the briefing detailing their plans to destroy the Empire's DS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station, a planet-destroying superweapon.
==Biography==
===Early works===
Walex Cantwell Blissex IStar Wars: Dawn of Rebellion: The Visual Guide operated in the Republic Era, during which he designed the Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor, which entered service by 42 BBY. establishes the events of Mace Windu 1, which depict a Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor, takes place prior to Mace Windu's entry into the Jedi High Council, which is depicted in "Choices." As the episode occurs prior to Dooku's departure from the Jedi Order, which Star Wars: Timelines dates to 42 BBY, Mace Windu 1 must take place by that year, and the Delta-7 must also have been in use by the same year. The renowned Blissex went on to design another model of the Delta-series;Collapse of the Republic the Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter. The latter was used by the Galactic Republic's starfighter forces during the Clone Wars, seeing use by 19 BBY. depicts an Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter during the Battle of Coruscant, which Star Wars: Timelines dates to 19 BBY. Therefore, the V-wing must have been in service by that time.
When designing the V-wing, Blissex used his knowledge of the special modifications that Jedi Generals Plo Koon, Saesee Tiin, and Anakin Skywalker made to their own Delta-7 starfighters and complemented them with his own new ideas. The designer understood that Delta-7s flown by the Jedi frequently left their V-19 Torrent starfighter squadrons behind due to their advanced speed. As such, he sought to resolve the issue and oversaw the creation of contemporary computer flight systems based on complicated tactical flight routines installed in V-wings. This modification allowed the clone pilots flying the V-wings to finally keep up with their Jedi leaders. The V-wing had other variants, including the Alpha-3B "Besh" and Alpha-3E "Esk". Additionally, Blissex designed and conceived the Gladiator I Star Destroyer as a Star Destroyer escort to be used in heavy battle lines during the Clone Wars,Friends Like These and to serve in multiple roles such as bombardment, patrol, siege, and attack ships. Blissex also designed other powerful destroyers of the Republic. He eventually had a daughter, Lira Wessex, who became a ship designer herself.
===Imperial Era===
With the Republic's transformation into the Galactic Empire, Blissex's V-wing design continued to see service in the Imperial Military. The foundation for the Empire's new TIE/ln space superiority starfighter could be traced to Blissex's V-wing and other Republic craft.Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide The Empire's Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser, which was active by 13 BBY,Star Wars: Timelines dates the prologue of Solo: A Star Wars Story, which features the Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser, to 13 BBY. was named for Blissex. Blissex also designed the RZ-1 A-wing interceptor, a starfighter based on the R-22 SpearheadStar Wars: The Last Jedi: Incredible Cross-Sections which was rejected by the Empire but used by the rebel Phoenix Cell by 4 BBY.Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal, in which the RZ-1 A-wing interceptor appears, to 4 BBY. The RZ-1 was pressed into wider service with the Alliance to Restore the Republic.Star Wars: The Rebel Files Although it did not witness action during the Clone Wars, Blissex's Gladiator I design was also used by the Empire, which had repurposed its role to that of a patrol craft, with it in use by the time between 2 BBY and 4 ABY.Friends Like These establishes that the Gladiator I Star Destroyer Blood Ambition participated in battle against the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Battle of Xorrn. According to Star Wars: Timelines, the Alliance was established in 2 BBY and reorganized into the New Republic in 4 ABY. Therefore, the Gladiator I must have been active by the time between 2 BBY and 4 ABY.
By 4 ABY,Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of to 4 ABY. during the Galactic Civil War, Blissex served as an officer of the Rebel Alliance and joined members of Alliance High Command and other personnel aboard the Alliance flagship Home One to set forth the Alliance plan of attack against the DS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station, a planet-destroying superweapon. Blissex spoke with several Alliance personnel prior to the briefing and stood behind Chief of State Mon Mothma, Admiral Gial Ackbar, and General Crix Madine as they delivered their presentation. The Rebel Alliance emerged victorious at the subsequent Battle of Endor. At one point as an Alliance officer, Blissex observed the designs of the RZ-1. In contrast, Blissex's daughter, Lira, had served the Galactic Empire. Blissex and Wessex shared their names with the "Blissex-head" and "Wessex-head" bit-drivers, respectively.Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary
==Personality and traits==
Walex Blissex was a human with fair skin, dark eyes, and graying fair hair.
==Skills and abilities==
Blissex was a highly renowned engineer and starship designer, capable of recognizing design issues with starfighters and overseeing complex computer technology. He was knowledgeable in designing starfighter craft as well as larger ships such as the Gladiator I Star Destroyer.
==Equipment==
Blissex donned an Alliance officer military uniform, which included a blue collared shirt with pins, worn under a beige military tunic. He also wore a brown utility belt and black boots.
==Behind the scenes==
Walex Cantwell Blissex I debuted in the final film of the original trilogy, 1983's Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, portrayed by an uncredited actor. Blissex was subsequently identified in the current Star Wars canon in the twenty-fifth issue of De Agostini's Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon magazine, which was released around June 24, 2015. The 2023 reference book Star Wars: Dawn of Rebellion: The Visual Guide by Pablo Hidalgo and Emily Shkoukani further expanded Blissex's name to Walex Cantwell Blissex I, sharing the name of famed Star Wars concept artist Colin Cantwell. The Cantwell-class Arrestor Cruiser was named after Colin Cantwell, which, in-universe, is named after Blissex.
Blissex originated in the Star Wars Legends continuity, where he was first mentioned in The Star Wars Sourcebook authored by Bill Slavicsek and Curtis Smith and published in 1987 by West End Games for use with Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game.The Star Wars Sourcebook The 2000 Death Star II Limited set in the Star Wars Customizable Card Game later retconned Blissex as one of the officers appearing in Return of the Jedi.
The shooting of scene fifty-four—the large rebel briefing in which Blissex's character appeared—was filmed on the INT. HEADQUARTERS — MAIN BRIEFING ROOM set located on Stage 5 at Elstree Studios between Friday, February 12 and Monday, February 15, 1982. The scene included the principal characters, including Admiral Ackbar, Mon Mothma, and General Madine, and the call sheet listed seventy-three other characters. Among these, seven "Rebel Generals" were included. For the scene's filming, extras that were already established as Imperials were given masks to wear, and the extras in the filming of scene fifty-four were mostly actors who David Tomblin, first assistant director, had previously relied on.The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
==Appearances==
*Friends Like These 
* 
==Sources==
==Notes and references==
Category:Alliance Military officers
Category:Engineers
Category:Humans
Category:Individuals of unspecified gender
Category:Individuals with he/him pronouns
Category:Vehicle designers