Jyn Erso

"This is a rebellion, isn't it? I rebel."

- Jyn Erso

Jyn Erso was a human female soldier and former criminal who fought for the Alliance to Restore the Republic as a sergeant during the Galactic Civil War. She was recruited by Mon Mothma, a leader of the Rebel Alliance, to take part in a mission that eventually lead to theft of the Death Star plans. After successfully transmitting the plans to the Rebel Fleet, Jyn Erso died on the planet Scarif as a result of the deployment of the Death Star to destroy the military facility located there.

Biography
"We have a mission for you. A major weapons test is imminent. We need to know what it is and how to destroy it."

- Mon Mothma

Jyn Erso was born to the scientist Galen and Lyra Erso whilst in captivity on the planet Vallt in 21 BBY. When she was six months old, Jyn, Galen and Lyra were rescued by Orson Krennic, an old friend of her father's and a member of Republic Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine's top secret Death Star project. Jyn was separated from her parents at the age of six, when Krennic killed her mother and arrested her father, so that Galen could continue working on the Death Star. Hiding from Krennic, she was found by Saw Gerrera, trained and fought with him until the age of sixteen, when Saw abandoned Jyn to prevent her from ever becoming a hostage and being used against him. Having developed a reckless and rebellious streak, she had a number of incidents on her record, including the forgery of Imperial documents, possession of stolen property, aggravated assault, and resisting arrest.

Almost two decades into the Empire's reign, Erso was broken out of Imperial prison by the Rebel Alliance. With Gerrera having intercepted a recording from her father, indicating that a major weapons test was about to occur, Erso was given another chance and was recruited by a leader of the Alliance, Mon Mothma, to mediate between Gerrera and the Alliance in order to learn more about the weapon test. As a result, Erso became a sergeant of the Alliance and ultimately died in a superlaser blast on Scarif, but not before her team of volunteers successfully stole and transmitted the plans to the Death Star, an armored battle station capable of destroying entire planets, which would ultimately lead to the destruction of the station during the Battle of Yavin.

Personality and traits
"On your own from the age of fifteen. Reckless, aggressive, and undisciplined."

- Mon Mothma

Jyn Erso was a human female with short brown hair, green eyes, and light skin. She grew up on her own from the age of fifteen and, as a result of her upbringing, developed fighting skills and a keen knowledge of the galactic underworld. She was considered "reckless, aggressive, and undisciplined" by Mon Mothma. Having little patience for debate with Alliance High Command, she preferred to take matters into her own hands.

Behind the scenes
Jyn Erso was created by John Knoll for the 2016 film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Knoll created the character as a role model for his daughters. She was developed as part of his original story for the film, circa 2003. Felicity Jones was announced to play the role on March 12, 2015, The first photo of the character was released during the 2015 D23 Expo, and the first footage of the character was shown in the Rogue One teaser trailer on April 7, 2016.

Appearances

 * Catalyst
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novel
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – A Junior Novel
 * Star Wars: Rogue One Secret Mission
 * Star Wars Battlefront