Betseedan Resistance Forces

## Betseedan Resistance Force

Nez Rennoc

Nez Rennoc

Arrow Squadron

## **Overview**

The **Betseedan Resistance Force** (BRF) was a small group of anti-Imperial soldiers and pilots led by former Republic Senator Madeline Gren that fought to liberate their planet, Betseeda Prime, from 0 BBY - 2 ABY during the Galactic Civil War.

## **Formation**

Shortly after the Imperial occupation of Betseeda, Senator Gren returned home from Coruscant in 5 BBY with the intent to begin the foundations of resistance. Without much of a plan, she spent the earliest years of the occupation observing Imperial weaknesses and keeping a low profile; a former Senator, the Emperor was watching her every move, looking for signs of dissent.

Slowly, but surely, she began to develop a small coalition of like minded individuals who wanted to figure out a way to push the Imperial forces off their world. It took time, years in fact, for the BRF to form into a tangible fighting unit with thousands of members.

One of the primary challenges during the early days of the unit was obtaining weaponry. Betseeda Prime had been effectively de-militarized by the Imperial occupation. Gren and her deputies worked to steal and buy whatever weapons they could get their hands on. As a result, the BRF was armed with a wide range of weapons and gear.

Developing cells in every major city on Betseeda Prime, Gren waited for the right opportunity to strike.

## **Arrival of Arrow Squadron**

> "*The Rebellion sends a dozen fighters and a hot shot flyboy to our system when what we really need is a fleet.*"
> ― Madeline Gren to her deputies
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Naturally suspicious of anyone who could betray their small partisan band, Gren treated the arrival of a small Rebel Alliance fighter squadron in her sector with a grain of salt. The Rebel Alliance had offered no direct support of the BRF up to this point and she was fairly convinced that the Alliance considered Betseeda only from a tactical standpoint, not a personal one.

Eventually, through intermediaries, she made contact with the young Lieutenant of Arrow Squadron, Tolamael Benere. Nearly three times his age, she was concerned about his combat experience, or lack thereof, but impressed by his zeal. Moreover, he offered her something the BRF desperately needed: air support. The BRF had a few star fighters, but nothing that could tangle with the waves of TIE fighters patrolling the planet. Gren was seeking a much larger relief forces and bristled at the arrival of limited reinforcements. Despite the words of her second in command, Colonel Hooper Croix, she only begrudgingly agreed to work with the pilots.

Deciding on a firm plan, the BRF and Arrow Squadron launched their coordinated ambush during an annual planet wide holiday, when they knew the Imperial forces would be caught off guard.

## **First Battle of Betseeda Prime**

Under the command of Senator Gren, and Arrow Squadron member Udas, the BRF launched a series of raids and attacks against Imperial installations throughout Betseeda Prime. Caught off guard by the attacks, the light Imperial presence on the planet melted in the face of a coordinated attack. BRF forces were able to successfully defend against Imperial counterattacks and proved their bravery. Arrow Squadron provided aerial support and within hours, the vast majority of key facilities had been overrun. Casualties were high, including the death of Senator Gren.

Command of the newly emboldened BRF fell to her deputy and veteran soldier Hooper Croix.

## **The War Continues**

Croix and the BRF saw their ranks swell after the successful First Battle of Betseeda Prime. The Speaker of the Chamber, the leader of the government in Tazion, also secretly endorsed the BRF for the first time. This resulted in a wave of new supplies and weapons arriving at BRF training depots across the planet. While Croix worked to train his new influx of recruits, he also looked to expand the BRF's presence to other worlds.

Appointing his deputy, Nez Rennoc, a veteran rebel soldier and native Betseedan, to the planet of Myyribod, he hoped to increase the group's effectiveness. Myyribod held the highest concentration of Imperial loyalists. Rennoc would effectively be operating well behind enemy lines.

During this time, Arrow Squadron fought the Battle of Faan Shaarada and continued to establish strong ties with the BRF. The two forces learned to mesh and operate with one another under Croix's leadership.

The BRF also began to resemble a proper military group with distinguished units, ranks, and responsibilities. While technically still a paramilitary organization and with only secret support coming in from the government of Betseeda Prime, supplies and materials were always an issue. Arrow Squadron did its best to assist when possible.

Nez Rennoc's forces on Myyribod were able to return the favor by rescuing and returning the Arrow Squadron pilot Vid Paratool who had been shot down and feared dead during the Battle of Myyribod. This move helped solidify the respect and working relationship between the two groups. Additionally, BRF groups performed well during the trying Siege of Tazion. The BRF protected civilians and infrastructure from repeated Imperial attacks on the ground while Arrow Squadron held them off in the air. Supplies and equipment were desperately low during the siege and, collectively, the Arrows and BRF leadership realized something dramatic must take place to break the stalemate.

## **Breaking the Siege**

> "*I don't like it any better than you do, Nez, but we are out of options.*"
> ― Hooper Croix to Nez Rennoc prior to the assault on the Salient
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During the earliest parts of the First Battle of Betseeda Prime, BRF commandos had managed to steal a Lamba-class shuttle. The ship was docked in the spaceport during the battle and had been abandoned by it's Imperial pilots when fighting began. Croix and his forces had kept the shuttle secure during the campaign, but now, it would serve as their way into the belly of the Imperial beast.

Obtaining security codes from a defecting Imperial officer aboard the Star Destroyer Salient, Croix and Lieutenant Benere worked to develop a strike plan. A hand picked team of BRF commandos and Arrow Squadron pilots would use the shuttle to breach the Salient and disable as many key systems as possible. Croix had, at one time, served aboard a Star Destroyer and was familiar with their layout and weaknesses. Leading about 30 BRF commandos and Arrow Squadron members Idolon Jdre, Sorshara Bray, Cedric Rex, Udas, Tozin X'ala and S'Hral Glaso, the latter three posing as prisoners, the BRF launched their most ambitious and dangerous plan to date.

The shuttle was able to dock successfully on the Salient using the stolen codes. From there, BRF forces split up and attacked several key stations aboard the Star Destroyer. Havoc ensued. Croix and his team managed to plant bombs on the firing controls and detonated their explosives. This rendered the Salient's heavy cannons, which had been pummeling the surface of Betseeda Prime, inoperable. Other teams also managed to disrupt flight controls, environmental systems, and partially disrupt the engines.

The Imperials, although initially confused, responded with force and several of the BRF commandos, including Croix, were killed in the action. X'ala and Glaso were wounded, but managed to escape with the survivors back to Betseeda Prime. The Imperial forces under Admiral Ensah were forced into ye another embarrassing withdrawal.

## **A New Day**

Command of the BRF fell to Colonel Nez Rennoc. A veteran soldier and disciple of Croix, he maintained the strong relationships between the Arrows and the BRF. He also supported the additional training of a small fighter force. Arrow Squadron member Kostan Stodl had been training some BRF recruits to be pilots. A hodgepodge of ships including some Z95 Headhunters and four outdated Bespin Motors Cloud Cars were retrofitted for combat and used as the backbone of a BRF Fighter Wing. These fighters would be ready in time to assist the Arrows in the Second Battle of Betseeda Prime. Fighting admirably, they helped route the Imperial attacks once again.

## **Transitional Operations**

> "*These men and women have given us so much. They've given their lives for strangers in a strange system. They've given their time and their energy to make us independent. But they've also given us the hope that we can stand up for ourselves.*"
> ― Nez Rennoc to Arrow Squadron during their farewell ceremonies
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With the defeat of the Imperial occupation at the Battle of Jonquil Station in 2 ABY, the liberation of the Betseeda System was officially complete. However, Rennoc and others understood that thousands of Imperial loyalists remained throughout the system and their efforts on Myyribod in turning the population had proven difficult at best.

In a lavish ceremony for the surviving Arrow Squadron pilots just prior to their departure for the Chommell Sector, Rennoc heaped praise upon the Arrows, but also told them that the fight to liberate all the worlds of the Betseeda System was only just beginning. A massive operation to retake Myyribod was underway, but the Arrows had given the BRF the tools, the training, and the hope to perform these actions on their own.

Arrow Squadron member Kostan Stodl retired shortly after the conclusion of the Hutt Campaign and returned to Betseeda Prime to train their fledgling air corp. Additionally, the Rebel Alliance began routine shipments of supplies to Colonel Rennoc and the BRF to support their attack on Myyribod. However, Rennoc was clear that only Betseeda soldiers should and would be used on the campaign.

As such, the BRF morphed itself from a partisan band of rebels into the official standing military of Betseeda Prime and the Betseeda System.