Maren Kelsome

"Outpost Beta here. I have a visual now. These things look like&hellip;animals. They're huge, maybe ten, fifteen meters high, four-legged, and, and their heads move. They're made out of metal. They have extremely heavy armor and armament. I&mdash;I count six of 'em so far."

- Maren Kelsome reports the first sighting of AT-AT walkers

Maren Kelsome was a soldier in the Rebel Alliance. He served at Echo Base on the planet Hoth.

First assignment and transfer to Echo Base
Young Maren Kelsome's first assignment with the Alliance to Restore the Republic was to the ice world Akuria II as a scout under the command of Colonel Odan. Kelsome was responsible for sweeping up retreating Imperial troops from a gutted garrison that Odan and his ragtag forces previously wiped out with the help of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa during a battle just weeks after the Battle of Yavin. Kelsome performed adequately, removing the Imperial presence, and helping the native Akurians to reclaim their homeworld. Odan promoted Kelsome from private to corporal for his actions.

When the call for soldiers trained in arctic survival to protect the Alliance's new Echo Base reached Odan, Kelsome volunteered and transferred to the ice planet Hoth. At Echo Base, Kelsome served under field commander Colonel Ledick Firest, who taught Kelsome formal military structure, which he found to be quite a departure from Odan's undisciplined group on Akuria II. Kelsome was assigned to one of the regular scouting patrols around Echo Base's outer perimeter.

Battle of Hoth
With the onset of the Battle of Hoth in 3 ABY, Kelsome was one of the base's many soldiers who were thrust into first-time combat duty. He served as the Alliance's forward scout at Outpost Beta, the outermost manned station on the base's perimeter. When the Empire arrived in the Hoth system, Kelsome and the other advance outposts were notified, with instructions to observe and relay any information on the Imperial invasion force they could, and then to fall back before being overrun.

Behind the scenes
Kelsome was an example of a standard Echo Base trooper, and was only given roleplaying stats in Galaxy Guide 3's first edition. The expanded second edition included a full profile of the character.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back radio drama
 * Star Wars 40: The Empire Strikes Back: Battleground Hoth