Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

***Rogue One: A Star Wars Story*** is a 2016 film directed by Gareth Edwards, and written by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy, based on a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta. It is the first part of the *Star Wars Anthology Series*.

## Use of Aurebesh

“

> Let's see it. "Bodhi Rook. Cargo pilot." Local boy, huh?
>
>
>

”

—Saw Gererra reading Bodhi Rooks' identicard

### Rebel helmets

The Rebel MP who leads Jyn Erso through the Great Temple on Yavin 4 at the beginning of the movie, has the initials of their title, MP, printed on their helmet in heavily stylized Aurebesh written in an alternate Aurebesh font; while the letter G, written in the same font, is printed on the arm of their shirt. This is the first of several instances of this font being used throughout the film.

During the Battle of Scarif, the Rebel pilot Red Twelve wears a flight helmet with yellow markings in the same script, with the inscription on the right side of the helmet ending with "OSS", while the one on the left began with "BOO"

*This new font was developed for the film. When asked on Twitter, Lucasfilm Story Group member Pablo Hidalgo referred to the script as "Domabesh"'. However, it has not been identified in any canon source.*

### Bodhi's identicard

The shuttle pilot's identicard reads "BODHI ROOK". The rest of the card is unintelligible.

### City signage

Signage written in Domabesh can be seen in Jedha City:

* As an Imperial announcer is heard saying, "Citizens of the Empire", "BO MEATH THE*[two characters obscured by burn marks]* SZ T E" is seen written over an archway.
* As the announcer says, "Saw Gerrera's reign of terror", Domabesh gibberish can be seen printed at the bottom of a different archway.
* In the next shot, and the shot before one of Gerrera's Partisans starts speaking into a comlink in an alien language, another inscription can be seen over a third archway. It reads "THEFORCESURROUNDS" ("The Force surrounds"), followed by a set of unknown symbols.
	+ The same inscription appears on what appears to be the other side of the archway (which is partially destroyed), in the first shot of the scene inside the city, and in the shot before Pendra Siliu, the terrified little girl, is seen crying in the streets.
	+ *According to concept art by concept designer Will Htay, the full inscription reads "THEFORCESURROUNDSUSPENETRATESANDBINDSTHEGALAXYTOGETHER", or "The Force surrounds us, penetrates and binds the galaxy together"; paraphrasing Obi-Wan Kenobi in the film* Star Wars *: Episode IV* A New Hope*, where the old Jedi Master says, "The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, it binds the galaxy together."*
* When Cassian and the Imperial stormtrooper are having a shootout, Domabesh gibberish is seen painted on a wall.
* When Chirrut Îmwe fights the stormtroopers, the inscription "THEFORZUZREF*[image ends]*" is seen at the bottom of a different archway. This is best seen in the shot where a new group of stormtroopers come running to provide back-up.
* Also when Chirrut fights the stormtroopers, an inscription set in stone appears on some railing in front of a building, but it merely produces gibberish when translated.

### Imperial container

When Cassian and Jyn are walking through Jedha City, after Cassian tells Jyn about the Guardians of the Whills, Imperial stormtroopers can be seen driving a combat assault tank through the streets, carrying an orange container. The words "HOIST HERE" are printed beneath what appears to be two fixing points at the back of the container. This can be seen as a voice is heard saying, "Imperial forces tirelessly fight Saw Gerrera's reign of terror." Note that the text is hard to decipher. It is seen more clearly while a group of Gerrera's Partisans running past the container, in the shot after an explosion makes a group of stormtroopers fly through the air while Cassian and Jyn are seeking cover.

### Death Star data screen

When the Death Star prepares to fire, the big data screen includes the text "KYWBDS" and "JEDHA". The rest of the text is illegible.

### Cassian's binoculars

The display screen on Cassian's quadnoculars reads "TRACK", "XTRAC", "XTRA" and "TRAC".

### Research team uniforms

"KC" (short for "kyber crystal") is printed on the uniforms worn by Galen Erso's research team. According to *Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide*, Kyber crystal research team is the name of the group.

### Cassian's blaster

When Cassian prepares to shoot Galen, the display screen on his blaster contains the options "SAFE", "SEMI" and "STUN", and also shows the text "XT", "XTR" and "TRA".

### Jyn's kyber pendant

“

> Jyn. You know where to go, don't you? Trust the Force.
>
>
>

”

—Lyra Erso, giving her daughter a pendant saying "TRUST IN THE FORCE"

In a close-up of Erso holding the kyber pendant as her squad is waiting to be let past the Shield Gate, the word "FORCE" (seen upside-down) is etched into the side of the pendant.

In *Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide* and a photograph from the Star Wars Databank, "TRUST IN THE" is etched into a different side of the pendant, meaning that the full inscription reads "TRUST IN THE FORCE".

### Scarif containers

When Cassian communicates with Sergeant Melshi over the comlink, the container next to Melshi is labeled "SECURE IN TRANSIT".

During the Battle of Scarif, a container is inscribed with the words "NET", "HOIST HERE" and "WAR *[illegible]*". This can be seen right before a voice says, "Attention all flight personnel, please report to your commanders immediately."

### Hand scanner

The hand scanner used by Jyn and Cassian says "VERIFY IDENT" *[sic]*.

### Scarif vault buttons

Aurebesh text next to a button used to close the Scarif vault says "CLEARANCE CODE".

### Scarif data screens

When Bodhi calls for "any Alliance ship that can hear him", the red data screen next to him says "CLASS *[illegible word]* DATA *[illegible word]*".

When the Death Star plans are being transmitted, the red monitor says "SENDING" and "DATA SENT".

### *Profundity* monitor

When the Death Star plans are being received, the blue monitor aboard the *Profundity* says "SENDING" and "DATA SEN" *[sic]*.

## Teaser trailer

In the teaser trailer for the film, there is a shot of Imperial stormtroopers driving a combat assault tank through the streets of Jedha City, with a Domabesh inscription set in stone on the building behind them, reading "BAR BELLOQ"; seemingly a nod to René Belloq, the main antagonist from the Lucasfilm production *Raiders of the Lost Ark*, that the titular character meets in an Egyptian bar at one point. This shot does not appear in the final film.

## See also

 *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* on Wookieepedia

## References

1. ↑  Bucket's List Extra: 7 Fun Facts from "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" – *Star Wars Resistance* on StarWars.com (November 25, 2019): “On the side of Venisa's helmet is her last name, "Doza" — but written in a new font developed for *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story*.” (backup link)
2. ↑  @pabl0hidalgo (Pablo Hidalgo) on X, formerly known as Twitter (May 30, 2021). "It's called domabesh, and was made for Rogue One." (backup link)
3. ↑ Htay, Will. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. HTAYDESIGN. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. (Concept art)
4. ↑ Further confirmed on the Blu-ray extra "Rogue Connections"
5. ↑  Jyn's kyber pendant in the Databank (backup link)
6. ↑  *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* Official Teaser Trailer on StarWars.com