Ruescott Melshi

"You want to get out of here?"

- Ruescott Melshi to Jyn Erso

Ruescott Melshi was a male human soldier who served as a sergeant in the Alliance to Restore the Republic up to and during the Galactic Civil War. Melshi was the senior ranking member of Extraction Team Bravo, a military unit under the command of General Davits Draven. During the war, Sergeant Melshi, along with Bravo Team, was sent to rescue Jyn Erso from the labor camp on Wobani. He later joined Rogue One and died during the Battle of Scarif.

Rescue of Jyn Erso
With the members of Extraction Team Bravo, Sergeant Ruescott Melshi overtook one of the Galactic Empire's HCVw A9 turbo tanks that held the captive Jyn Erso. After Melshi and his men took out two stormtrooper guards, the sergeant unlocked Erso's handcuffs.

When another prisoner asked Melshi to unbind him, Jyn knocked out Melshi and his companions with a shovel before rushing from the tank, before being grabbed and thrown down by the reprogrammed Imperial droid K-2SO.

Battle of Scarif
Jyn went to the Alliance High Command to try and talk them into sending their best troops to reclaim the Death Star plans from the data vault in the Citadel Tower on Scarif. Mon Mothma, leader of the Rebellion, denied Jyn of this request.

Captain Cassian Andor came to Jyn with Melshi and a group of other Rebel troopers. Cassian told her that they wanted to help. Within a stolen Imperial cargo ship, SW-0608, the team took off and flew to Scarif. After bypassing the shield gate, Cassian placed Melshi in command of Rogue One's assault force with Lieutenant Pao and the Guardians of the Whills Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus.

Melshi led his troops from beneath a hatch in the bottom of the shuttle into the jungles of Scarif. Melshi had his troops set explosives on the various landing pads outside of the Citadel. When Cassian, Jyn, and K-2SO got into the Citadel Tower, Melshi blew the explosives and drew the Imperial forces out of the Tower. In a fierce firefight, many of the Rebels were killed by Imperial soldiers and AT-ACT walkers. The last ones to survive were Melshi, Chirrut, Baze and Lieutenant Taidu Sefla.

Corporal Stordan Tonc contacted Melshi and told him that, for Bodhi Rook to transmit the Death Star plans, a master switch needed to be turned on. Lieutenant Sefla tried to trigger the switch but was cut down by Imperial death troopers. Melshi was also killed by the troops, although Chirrut was able to trigger the switch before he and Baze both died. Their actions allowed the Rebels to score their first major victory against the Galactic Empire.

Behind the scenes
Ruescott Melshi was portrayed by Duncan Pow in the Star Wars anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. He was first revealed in the second trailer for the film on October 13, 2016.

Appearances

 * Rebel Rising
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novelization
 * Star Wars: Rogue One: A Junior Novel
 * Rogue One, Part I
 * Rogue One, Part V
 * Rogue One, Part VI
 * Star Wars: Rogue One: Secret Mission