Calamarian Revolt

"We forced the Empire off our world once. They fought with blasters and fighters, destroying cities at will. We fought with whatever we had - kitchen utensils, industrial tools, our bare hands. We won that time."

- Gial Ackbar

The Second Battle of Mon Calamari was fought only a year before the Battle of Yavin. After nearly two decades of enslavement at the hands of the Galactic Empire, the citizens of Mon Calamari rose up and fought back against their oppressors. The resulting battle liberated the Mon Calamari and Quarren from the Empire and led to their eventually joining the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

19 BBY–1 BBY
During the nearly two decades of Imperial control of the planet, the Mon Calamari and Quarren maintained a low scale resistance. One of the founders of the resistance, the Mon Calamarian Gial Ackbar, had spent the preceding years working with other like minded people to oppose the Imperial control of their homeworld. The techniques of the early resistance were not openly violent or apparent- ranging from industrial slowdowns, acts of sabotage, and defiant protests. The Empire struck back- though with propaganda rather than force. Imperial xenobiologist Obo Rin published several works claiming that the Empire had first discovered Mon Calamari, in an effort to erase the worlds past history and connection to the Galactic Republic. Still, the Mon Calamari and Quarren refused to submit to Imperial rule. Even the long animosity between the Quarren and the Mon Calamari was set aside, as Quarren leaders rallied their people beside their "planet-brothers." Ironically, one of these Quarren leaders was Seggor Tels, who had been led by jealousy of the Mon Calamari to sabotage Calamari's planetary shields to pave the way for the Imperial conquest of the planet.

Tiring of the acts of defiance, the Empire decided to make an example by executing an orbital bombardment of three floating cities. The attacks were swift and severe, incinerating the cities and their inhabitants. It was believed that this show of force would cow the world’s population. In reality, it provided the catalyst for open rebellion to Imperial rule.

Battle
"The Mon Calamari have thrown off Imperial control and attacked the Empire's fleets orbiting above them."

- Mon Mothma

Imperial occupation forces were caught off guard by the reaction of the Mon Calamari and Quarren. Across the planet Dac the long oppressed fought back. At first, many fought Imperial forces with nothing more than kitchen utensils or hand tools fashioned into weapons. Yet, thanks to early efforts of resistance leaders like Ackbar, numerous secret weapons caches that had been secreted away over the previous two decades were deployed against Imperial forces. Secret ship construction sites located beneath the seas of Calamari outfitted privateer craft which plagued Imperial forces in the Calamari Sector. Workers in the Mon Calamari Shipyards sabotaged Imperial warships in dock and diverted captured materials to the resistance. Caught completely by surprise by the ferocity of the rebellion, Imperial forces abandoned the sector entirely. The united peoples of Mon Calamari had finally achieved their long sought goal of freedom from enslavement by the Empire. Their victory became a beacon of hope for the downtrodden peoples of the galaxy, garnering the attention of the Rebel Alliance.

Imperial pilot DS-61-4 distinguished himself in the battle.

Aftermath
"The Empire has wasted no time in assembling a fleet to retake the planet. If they were to reach Mon Calamari, the devastation to the planet would be catastrophic."

- Mon Mothma

The Mon Calamari and Quarren realized that Imperial forces could return at any moment. After securing their sector, the Mon Calamari Shipyards began modifying various exploration cruisers into combat ready capital warships. These new MC80 Star Cruisers defended the Calamari Sector, ever vigilant for reprisal. Shortly after the signing of the Corellian Treaty, Alliance leader Mon Mothma negotiated a treaty with the Calamarian Council to supply warships to the Rebel Alliance. Immediately Rebel warships were dispatched to the sector, while numerous technicians arrived to work with the Mon Calamari in developing warships. The Council approved, though it did not vote to fully join the Alliance, in part due to Quarren fears of an alliance with another Human dominated group. Still, a fleet of Mon Calamari Star Cruisers were donated to the Alliance. Ackbar, recently freed from Imperial enslavement during a Rebel attack on Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin’s shuttle, became a member of the Alliance. Following the Rebel victory at the Battle of Yavin, Mon Calamari voted to become a full member of the Alliance. Their native son Ackbar was promoted to full admiral and the position of Supreme Commander of the Rebel Alliance Fleet. With the support of Mon Calamari, the Rebel Alliance gained the cruisers to challenge Imperial fleets, as well as a secure base and construction site.

Following the battle, the Calamari Defense Force was established.

An Imperial fleet then tried to reconquer the system but it was defeated by Admiral Ackbar.

Behind the scenes
The release of the game Star Wars: Empire at War has caused some continuity problems in regards to the liberation of Mon Calamari. A level on the Imperial campaign of the game shows a much different version of the battle, set right before the Battle of Yavin. The battle itself contradicts numerous previously established sources, including the Rebel Alliance Sourcebook, Geonosis and the Outer Rim Worlds, and The New Essential Guide to Characters. The mission is most likely only designed for game play, not to represent the actual historical liberation of Calamari. Until a continuity VIP clarifies the role of the game's campaign levels in regards to canon, this entry will refrain from adding specifics from that level.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Empire at War