Niya

The revolution starts now.

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"If I die tonight, was it worth it? You've done this before. You must have thought about it."
"This makes it worth it. This. Right now. Being with you. Being here at the moment you step into the circle. Look at me. You made this decision long ago. The Empire cannot win. You'll never feel right unless you're doing what you can to stop them. You're coming home to yourself. You've become more than your fear. Let that protect you."
"Thank you."

―Niya and Cassian Andor — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[1]

Niya was a human female who worked for Sienar Fleet Systems in Sienar Test Facility 73 on the planet 73. During the reign of the Galactic Empire, she joined the rebel Axis network and in 4 BBY she helped the rebel agent Cassian Andor infiltrate her workplace to steal a prototype TIE Avenger.

After she carried out a check on the starfighter, Niya met with Andor in the facility's commissary and gave him her key and the night's password. After the pair discussed Andor's cover story, one of Niya's coworkers interrupted them but soon left. Niya then asked Andor if it would be worth it if she died during the theft, and he reassured her. Crying and thanking him, she then departed, and Andor successfully stole the TIE Avenger.

Biography[]

Pre-flight checks[]

"I'm never coming back here."
"It's a big sacrifice."
"I… I've had fun here. That must sound strange."
"No, not at all."
"Now everything changes."

―Niya and Cassian Andor — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[1]

Niya was a human female^[2] who worked for Sienar Fleet Systems during the reign of the Galactic Empire. In 4 BBY,^[1] she^[2] was stationed at Sienar Test Facility 73^[1] on the planet designated 73^[4] and assigned to the upkeep of the secretive TIE Avenger prototype^[3] being developed for the Empire. Coming to believe that the Empire could not be allowed to succeed, she joined the rebel Axis network as part of a team within Sienar and helped one of its agents, Cassian Andor, infiltrate the facility disguised as a new test pilot so that he could steal the fighter prototype.^[1]

Niya, a human woman in an white and orange jumpsuit, walks away from the entry ramp at the rear of a TIE Avenger in a bright white hangar at Sienar Test Facility 73. A squat black droid approaches her in the foreground. — Niya worked on the TIE Avenger's upkeep for Sienar Fleet Systems.

Shortly before the theft was planned to take place, she entered the prototype's hangar and used a control panel to remotely lower the ship's ramp. Climbing on board,^[1] she cycled through an overhead control sequence in the vessel's cockpit then ran a scanner over various panels. After diligently completing her inspection, she paused and heaved a troubled sigh^[2] before disembarking.^[1]

Anxiety interrupted[]

"Are we safe here?"
"You're a new test pilot. You've just arrived, you're excited. You wanted to look around before you went to bed. We started flirting."
"I like that."

―Cassian Andor and Niya — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[1]

Niya hands Cassian Andor a silver clyindrical key in the Sienar Test Facility 73 commissary. — Niya aided Cassian Andor in infiltrating Sienar Test Facility 73.

Stowing the datapad she had used during the inspection on a droid in the hangar, Niya then met with Andor in^[1] the facility's commissary^[2] and informed him that everything looked good with the TIE Avenger, as it had been prepped for a test flight the following morning. She provided him with the night's password, "Kafrene," and her key, warning him that they would have to wait for her supervisor to leave, although he never stayed late.^[1]

Niya reassured Andor that they were safe in the commissary, as their cover story would be that, as a new test pilot, he had been excited and wanted to look around the facility before bed and then begun flirting with her. When Andor interrupted her to approve of the story, she looked at him and then apologized, as she had been told not to in order to avoid remembering his appearance. The agent reassured her, and they discussed the life-changing sacrifice she was making by aiding the network before being interrupted by one of Niya's coworkers.^[1]

Stepping into the circle[]

"I need a twelve minute head start."
"Is that enough?"
[Niya nods]
"I'll see you along the road."

―Niya and Andor — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[1]

In the foreground, Cassian Andor watches as Niya and her coworker whisper together in the doorway of the Sienar Test Facility 73 commissary. — Niya fooled her coworkers into thinking Andor was a test pilot.

Niya walked over to the coworker and introduced Andor as a new test pilot. After whispering to her that he was cute, the coworker then left, and Niya explained to Andor what^[1] she^[2] had whispered. She then asked how long Andor had been part of the network but then chastised herself for asking questions. The agent again reassured her and told Niya that she had earned the right to ask whatever she wanted, so she asked if it would be worth it if she died during the starfighter theft.^[1]

Telling her to look at him, Andor explained that seeing others like her join the cause and realize that they could not live with seeing the Empire succeed made it worth it. Crying, Niya thanked him and then informed him that she would need a twelve-minute head-start before he began the theft. She then left the commissary and soon after Andor used her key to enter the hangar and steal the TIE Avenger prototype, fighting through Imperial forces to escape. The Sienar team later reported to Axis member Kleya Marki that Andor had gotten away clean.^[1]

Personality and traits[]

"Sorry. I was told not to look at you. I didn't see anything."
"Hey, it's okay. It's okay."
"I'm so nervous."
"Nervous is good. It keeps us awake."

―Niya and Cassian Andor — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[1]

Niya cries as Andor offers her encouragement in the Sienar Test Facility 73 commissary. — Niya was nervous about aiding Andor.

A hard worker, Niya enjoyed working at the Sienar testing facility,^[3] but chose to aid those rebelling against the Empire. While helping Andor, she was nervous enough to shake but tried to follow the instructions she had been given not to look at him, failing only when he chuckled at her mention of them flirting. After Andor reassured her that the sacrifice she was making was worth it, she cried and thanked him before recovering her composure and continuing the mission,^[1] knowing that there would be no turning back once Andor used her key.^[3] Niya had tan skin, brown eyes, and black hair.^[1] She stood 1.61 meters tall.^[3]

Equipment[]

"How's it look?"
"It's good. It's prepped for a test flight in the morning. The password tonight is Kafrene."
"Kafrene. Got the key?"
"We have to wait for my supervisor to leave. He never stays late."

―Cassian Andor and Niya — 20?cb=20250116042720

▶️ (file info)^[1]

Niya wore an orange and white jumpsuit with black and gray boots and a black belt in the test facility and used a scanner and a datapad while inspecting the TIE Avenger. She provided Andor with a key that gave access to the ship's hangar.^[1]

Behind the scenes[]

Niya was portrayed by Rachelle Diedericks in "One Year Later," the first episode of the second season of the live-action series Andor, which was released on Disney+^[1] on April 22, 2025.^[5] Niya was first revealed prior to the release of the episode in a sizzle reel for the series exclusively shown at D23 Expo on August 12, 2024.^[6]