Leafar

"The Leafar have begun to challenge the Empire and are certain to face retribution. Alliance forces are therefore being sent to protect an important transfer point near their system."

- Alliance officer

The Leafar were a sentient species. Shortly after the Battle of Yavin, they began to challenge the Galactic Empire. The Alliance to Restore the Republic, hoping to gain a new ally, sent five X-wing starfighters to protect a shipping transfer point. When an attack occurred, Rebel reinforcements were called in to allow the Leafar merchant ships to escape. The Leafar later aided the Alliance by supplying them with information on a new shield technology being produced by the Empire.

History
"If we can protect their shipping from Imperial attack we will have gained a new ally."

- Alliance officer

The Leafar were a sentient species, involved in merchant shipping. Shorty after the destruction of the first Death Star over Yavin 4 in 0 ABY, began to actively challenge the Galactic Empire. When the leadership of the Alliance to Restore the Republic heard of this growing resistance, they were concerned about Imperial retribution against the Leafar, and hoped that by aiding or protecting the Leafar, the Alliance could gain a new ally. Consequently, an important Leafar transfer point located near their system was reinforced with five X-wing starfighters from Red Squadron. When an anticipated assault from the Empire materialized, numerous Leafar merchant ships were present at the transfer point, such as a group of CR90 corvettes labelled the Yavin Express and a group of BFF-1 Bulk Freighters labelled Cargo-Go.

The Imperial force was spearheaded by the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Badi Dea which launched TIE fighters to subdue Leafar and their Alliance fighter cover. The five Alliance fighters, including one piloted by Keyan Farlander, held off what forces they could, while calling for reinforcements from other Alliance forces stationed in that sector. The MC80 Star Cruiser Maria and the EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate Whitehawk responded, and the combined Rebel forces were able to hold off the Imperials long enough for the Leafar to escape.

Following this assault, the Leafar were able to supply the Rebel Alliance with some intelligence that had gained on Imperial plans. The Alliance had captured some TIE/Advanced starfighters with a new shield technology. The Leafar knew this was being developed for use with larger starships, such as Corellian Corvettes. Following receipt of this information, the Alliance eventually managed to capture the prototype Corvette, Blade 5, using it to ram the bridges of numerous Star Destroyers as part of Operation Ram's Head.

Behind the scenes
The Leafar were created for Star Wars: X-wing Tour of Duty: Imperial Pursuit, the first expansion pack for the award winning computer game Star Wars: X-wing. Created by LucasArts and released in 1994, the Leafar were connected with two missions carried out by the player; however, they never appeared on-screen and nothing is known of their appearance. The mission briefings related to the Leafar were reproduced in X-wing Collector's CD-ROM: The Official Strategy Guide, published in 1995 by Prima Games, which provided the player with a walk-through and tips for the various missions.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: X-wing Tour of Duty: Imperial Pursuit