Airen Cracken

"Who's your friend?''" "''General Airen Cracken. Head of Security and Intelligence for the Rebellion."

- Han Solo and Leia Organa

Airen Cracken was a male human who served as a general and as Chief of Rebel Intelligence in the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Galactic Civil War.

Biography
"This is the pilot causing us so much distress? I'm underwhelmed to say the least."

- Airen Cracken upon meeting Han Solo

Even before the Alliance to Restore the Republic was established, the male human Airen Cracken was an accomplished freedom fighter. It was he who led the planetary militia that freed his homeworld from the oppression of the Galactic Empire, which led him to be fast-tracked to a general's commission within the Alliance Military.

By the time of the Battle of Scarif, Cracken served as the Chief of Rebel Intelligence. Cracken was personally involved in setting up spy networks throughout the Outer Rim, so Rebel Intelligence was represented on the rebel council by one of his trusted field operatives, General Davits Draven. Despite his absence, he still compiled a dossier regarding Operation Fracture at Mon Mothma's request.

Sometime after the Battle of Yavin, while serving in his capacity of Head of Security and Intelligence and confronted with the responsibility of rescuing three rebel spies in danger of capture by the Empire, Cracken showed reluctance in recruiting smuggler Han Solo for the mission. However, he was convinced by Princess Leia Organa, citing the fact that they were running out of options and out of time.

During the Battle of Endor, Cracken served aboard the Millennium Falcon with Lieutenant Blount. The two were initially in the ship's cockpit with its pilot, General Lando Calrissian, co-pilot Nien Nunb, and a navigator, but they soon manned the ship's quad turrets and served as gunners.

Behind the scenes
In Star Wars Legends continuity, the character of General Airen Cracken was created for the 1991 sourcebook Cracken's Rebel Field Guide, and an unnamed Rebel aboard the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, played by Michael Stevens, was later consolidated with that character. Current Star Wars continuity has maintained the identity of General Cracken for that Rebel from Jedi.

Continuity
The 2018 reference book Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary, New Edition states that Cracken was a spy and colonel who flew missions for General Crix Madine's Rebel Commandos during the Galactic Civil War and was later promoted to general and Chief of Rebel Intelligence. This, however, contradicts various sources including Star Wars: The Rebel Files that had established Cracken was already Chief and a general since the early days of the Alliance.

Appearances

 * Han Solo, Part I
 * Han Solo, Part III
 * Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure
 * Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi