Hera Syndulla

"If all you do is fight for your own life, then your life is worth nothing!"

- Hera Syndulla

Hera Syndulla was a Twi'lek female rebel and the daughter of Twi'lek revolutionary Cham Syndulla who lived during the reign of the Galactic Empire. An adept pilot, Syndulla was the owner of the VCX-100 light freighter Ghost. She kept a secret blaster in her boot and was close with Kanan Jarrus, whom she convinced to become a rebel.

Biography
"This thing hasn't flown in years!''" "You've got to talk to it right." "I thought I'' was a good pilot. But you&mdash;you're amazing."

- Kanan Jarrus and Hera Syndulla

Following the rise of the Galactic Empire, Hera became a first rate starship pilot. Hera then met the former Jedi, Kanan Jarrus on the planet Gorse, where she convinced him to fight against the Empire. She was inspired to become a rebel by her father, the Twi'lek revolutionary Cham Syndulla, who had fought against the Confederacy of Independent Systems in the Clone Wars and the Empire after the war's end.

After raiding an Imperial supply convoy on Kanan Jarrus' suggestion, Hera, Kanan, and C1-10P found themselves under attack by Imperial TIE fighters. After the attack disabled both the Ghost's shields and internal comm system, Hera and Kanan began giving Chopper conflicting orders over what to fix first. A comment from Kanan passed on to Hera by Chopper aggravated her enough to go on the offensive and destroy a TIE-fighter herself. Chopper wound up destroying the final starfighter, and his efforts were praised by Hera before she took the Ghost into hyperspace.

Another mission required Sabine Wren to create a diversion so the Ghost could take off. After Hera signaled Sabine that they were in position, the Mandalorian detonated an explosive in a TIE fighter landing platform, drawing attention from the departing Ghost. As the she flew away, Hera remarked to Sabine that the explosion was even visible from her position.

Stealing Crates from the Empire
Sometime later, Sabine, Zeb and Kanan were tasked with stealing some crates from the Empire. After a chase, Hera met fourteen year old Ezra Bridger. After losing the Imperials in space, they returned to the planet Lothal to give the crates to a weapons dealer. After selling the weapons and giving food to the poor people of Tarkintown, they headed in search of the Wookiee slaves. When they went to rescue the Wookiees form an Imperial transport, their transmissions were blocked. Hera and Ezra noticed a Star Destroyer coming out of Hyperspace taking them aboard. Hera told Ezra to warn the other rebels who had gone aboard. When he did, they escaped the imperials except for Ezra himself who got grabbed by ISB Agent Kallus. Hera wanted to go back and save him but Sabine and Zeb protested against it. When Chopper and Kanan voted with her they went back. After they escaped again, Hera said Ezra's parents must be worried sick and was upset to hear that he had no parents. While Ezra was on board the Lawbringer, he learned that the Wookiees were really being held in the Spice Mines of Kessel so the rebels went there to save them. Hera was forced to flee the scene when the Ghost was ambushed by TIEs. She ran a 22 pickup to rescue her comrades. Upon returning to Lothal Ezra returned Kanan's holocron he grabbed earlier and Hera noticed he opened it proving that he was strong with the Force. Kanan gave Ezra the choice to join them which he agreed.

Theft of Disruptors
As the crew of the Ghost almost ran out of supplies such as food, explosives and fuel, they decided to accept another order from Vizago to steal a weapons shipment from the spaceport on Garel. To prevent being recognized by Imperials, they went to a spaceport on Lothal, where they boarded civilian commuter shuttle Star ST-45, while Hera went directly to Garel aboard on the Ghost. When in the Star ST-45 the rebels were able to find out where the arms were and when they arrived Hera soon met with them, by landing the ship in bay 7 (where the arms were). After they escaped with the arms (that were T-7 Ion Disruptors) there was a fight between Ezra and Zeb in which the Lasat kicked the boy off their cabin, because he was still shocked by the disruptors that the Empire used to kill his people. Hera, than, ordered Ezra to come to her cockpit, to had a conversation about the T-7 Ion Disruptors, that were the arms used to kill the Lasat, Zeb’s people. When the crew landed, C-3PO, who had followed the rebels alongside R2-D2, mistaking the rebels for criminals, made an emergency call to Kallus' Star Destroyer, revealing the rebels' whereabouts. Therefore, their negotiations with Vizago were soon disturbed by the arrival of an Imperial transport ship with two All-Terrain Defense Pods and Vizago fled with half the shipment without paying. To avoid letting the Disruptors fall into the Imperial's hands, the rebels stayed at the location and Hera helped Sabine open the crates with the guns and then, to gain time, she shot the AT-DP wich started to chase her. Meanwhile Sabine and R2-D2 had already overloaded the disruptors and their explosion caused everyone to fall including Zeb, who was fighting Kallus. With this Kallus almost killed him, but Ezra used the Force instinctively by saving him. Kanan asked Hera to get the boy on board, while he himself took the Lasat on the ship. During combat Chopper had already prepared the ship, so the group could flee.

Fighter Flight
"Enough. This is my ship you're wrecking, and I want you off."

- Hera, to Ezra and Zeb

After making a mess in the cargo hold of the Ghost, Hera decided to expel Zeb and Ezra off the ship to buy supplies in a local town. Among the items Hera requested was a meiloorum, a fruit not naturally found on Lothal. Because of its rarity, Hera hoped Ezra and Zeb would be gone longer, leaving her and Kanan some time to relax. Some time later, Hera received a call from Zeb, who had stolen a TIE Fighter. Kanan then instructed them to hurry to the meeting point. When Ezra and Zeb failed to return in time, Hera began to worry. Thankfully, the two eventually returned. After hearing them out, the entire crew boarded the Ghost.

In search of Luminara
Later, the Rebels received information that Jedi Master Luminara Unduli was alive, but imprisoned in The Spire in Stygeon Prime. Despite the risks, they decided to attempt a rescue. Once they arrived, they left the Ghost behind in Chopper's hands, while the rest of the crew flew towards the prison on the Phantom, the ship's attack shuttle, but they soon realized it was a trap set by The Inquisitor to attract the surviving Jedi to their death. While waiting for her colleagues in the shuttle, camouflaged, the Phantom's sensors detect something approaching the shuttle, which Hera believed was a TIE fighter. Instead, a group of Tibidee appear, attracted to the jamming signal that they believed was a mating call. Syndulla detached the shuttle from the side of the prison and flew away, with the creatures following close behind her. Later, when his fellow rebels reached a hangar outside running away from the Inquisitor, they found a large number of soldiers assault, but Hera appeared with the herd of Tibidees (the Fleet), who attacked the soldiers thinking they were a threat and the Rebels were able to escape.

Destroying a Kyber crystal
After Ezra Bridger spent some weeks infiltrated in the Imperial Academy of Lothal in order to steal a device with the location of an imperial carriage containing a huge Kyber crystal Hera and Kanan, aboard the Ghost, received the coordinates containing the device. At the time of receiving the coordinates, they received the information that Ezra would just flee after helping Jai Kell escape before the Inquisitor could take him away.

While heading to intercept the transport, Hera reassured Kanan and urged him to focus on the mission. Kanan, aboard the Phantom distracted several TIE fighters, while Hera managed to destroy the transport carrying the Kyber Crystal.

After that, there was a huge explosion and Kanan and Hera escaped by a whisker at the last moment. Then, they went back to Lothal to join the rest of Rebels and then she helped Jai Kell and his mother to hide from the Empire.

Lando's Job
After Zeb and Kanan lost Chopper in a game of Sabacc with the gambler Lando Calrissian, Hera took on a job from the man in order to reclaim her droid, which she reminded Zeb and Kanan wasn't theirs to gamble. Lando attempted to engratiate himself to the crewmemberss one at a time while simultaneously turning them against one another, a tactic Hera quickly took notice of.

When they rendezvoused with Lando's contact Hera went aboard with Lando and the Kanan. Lando subtly informed Hera of his plan without actually giving her instructions. To everyone's shock Lando offered Hera as a bargaining chip to the gangster Azmorigan in exhangee for his mysterious piece of cargo. Hera chose to play along with Lando's rouse despite the iminentt danger it put her in. Using her natural allure she dispatched Azmorigan and his guards using a food tray, which she wryly referred to as very useful. Using the escape pod Lando mentioned she managed to escape back to the Ghost where she punched Lando in the stomach but continued his job nonthelesss.

Lando's cargo turned out to be a puffer pig which managed to prevent Hera from returning to the Ghost's cockpit by inflating itself and blocking the passage. Using the Ghost's signiture modulation, Kanan piloted the ship past the imperial blockade on Lothal, despite some difficulties brought about by Zeb and Ezra. After breaking past the imperials, Hera berated Lando for his divide and conquer tactics and asserted herself as the commander of the crew, instructing Lando to follow her command.

Exposing Trayvis
Following the latest transmission from Gall Trayvis, the crew attempted to meet with him personally, after Hera and Ezra managed to decode the senator's hidden message. After sneaking into the senate building and meeting Trayvis they were immediately ambushed by Agent Kallus and his men. Trayvis suggested they surrender, but they managed to escape capture with Sabine's aid.

The crew fled into the sewers with Kallus in persuit, but the senator's curious behavior began to arouse Hera's instincts. Trayvis lagged behind and began asking Her for information on their group and their activities. Hera had long been inspired by the broadcasts of Trayvis as a voice of resistance against the Empire, but quickly realized the senator was not what he appeared. Suspicious that his ineptitude during the escape was in fact an attempt to get them captured, she gave him her blaster and requested cover while she and Ezra deactivate a fan. Her theory proved correct as the decietful Trayvis attempted to prevent them from escaping by holding them at blaster point. Hera turned his tactics against him and coaxed him into revealing his own secrets as an imperial agent. Fortunately Hera had given Trayvis an uncharged blaster, allowing her to punch him unconscious and escape with the crew.

Disheartened by the revelation of the senator's deceit, Ezra expressed his concerns to Hera. She reassured him that things would get better as long as they had hope.

Tarkin Arrives
Hera recieved Orders from Fulcrum not to attempt to rescue Kanan and take her crew into hiding. She reluctantly complied but following Ezra's defiance of the orders, Hera, while at first furious quickly resolved rescuing Kanan was the right thing to do.

Personality and traits
Hera's personality was somewhat two-sided, while she exuded a no-nonsense style of command she was known for being a very warm and compassionate individual. As a highly capable pilot and captain, Hera took good care of her ship, as well as her crew. Upon meeting Ezra, Hera developed a sort of motherly bond with the boy as she had with the other crewmemberss. She was a true believer in the rebel cause and inspired hope in the rest of the crew. She was also the only other crew member aware of Kanan's test after Ezra stole the latter's holocron. Hera was very close to Kanan, referring to him as "love" and usually confided in him. She was more than capable of putting her foot down when she saw conflict within the crew, such as sending Ezra and Zeb out on an errand together when the two had been fighting. While an adept fighter Hera was also very diplomatic and knew how to unite others to a common goal, often within her own crew.

A smart, tactful and highly observant individual, Hera could quickly detect a threat. As Lando Calrissian successfully played her crew members off one another to his own ends, Hera caught on to his trickery and put the con-man in his place. Her skills of deduction proved invaluable when her suspicions of Gall Trayvis allowed her to expose the man as an imperial agent.

Many considered her attractive, particularly Kanan but also less savory characters as well. She knew how to use her natural charm and beauty to her advantage when necessary, as seen when she manipulated the gangster Azmorigan in order to escape his ship.

Behind the scenes
Hera Syndulla was first revealed as a character from the forthcoming animated series Star Wars Rebels at the January 2014 Nuremberg International Toy Fair, where the character was included on the packaging of a LEGO Star Wars Rebels set. A video introducing the character, who would be voiced by Vanessa Marshall, was released on February 20, 2014. Hera shares a surname with Cham Syndulla, a Twi'lek character from the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series. Cham Syndulla was revealed to be her father on February 23, 2015.

Non-canon history
Hera Syndulla appears in Angry Birds Star Wars II. At one point, she and Wren rescued the street orphan Ezra Bridger from stormtroopers. They escaped from Agent Kallus, and Syndulla let Bridger join her crew aboard the Ghost.

In the LEGO Star Wars Rebels Movie Shorts, Syndulla, Jarrus, and Orrelios were drinking in the Mos Eisley Cantina when Bridger called for a rescue. The three left aboard the Ghost and managed to rescue him. Bridger then suggested they charge the Star Destroyer's bridge and hide behind it, and eventually the warship jumped to hyperspace. At another time, the Ghost was damaged by a Star Destroyer, forcing it to go to a space station for repairs. The rest of the crew was separated, and Syndulla went to a space station to make repairs. She avoided Imperials while she and Chopper collected parts. The rest of the crew arrived in time to finish repairs to their starship.

Appearances

 * A New Dawn
 * Star Wars Rebels: Ghost Raid
 * Chopper Saves the Day
 * Sabine's Art Attack
 * Zeb to the Rescue
 * Ezra and the Pilot
 * Rise of the Rebels
 * Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion
 * The Rebellion Begins
 * A New Hero
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * A New Hero
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike
 * Star Wars Rebels: Rebel Strike

Non-canon appearances

 * Angry Birds Star Wars II
 * LEGO Star Wars Movie Short
 * LEGO Star Wars Movie Short