Vanguard Five (pilot)

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"Your commander says you have talent. Enough to steal a Star Destroyer and get away with it."

―Wedge Antilles^[1]

A pilot served as a member of the Rebel Alliance in Echo Squadron, and later Vanguard Squadron, of the New Republic under the callsign Vanguard Five.

Biography[]

Fostar Haven[]

"Echo Four, leave that Quasar for now! Focus on TIEs."

―Echo Leader, to Echo Four at Fostar Haven^[1]

EchoFourMidRim-Squadrons — Echo Four's X-wing in the Mid Rim

This individual gained skill in piloting and joined the Alliance to Restore the Republic. Around the time of the destruction of Alderaan, the pilot flew with the Rebel Alliance's Echo Squadron under the callsign Echo Four.^[1]

While on a Mid Rim patrol in X-wing starfighters, Echo Squadron intercepted a distress signal from an Alderaanian refugee convoy under attack at Fostar Haven. Admiral Gial Ackbar ordered Echo Squadron to intervene, deploying them as the first wave with the time-sensitive nature of the distress call. The squadron arrived at Fostar to see the refugee convoy being harassed by Imperial TIE fighters and a blockade of larger ships, including the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Vigilance. In the chaos of the battle, Echo Squadron managed to hold off the enemy forces until the rest of the Alliance Fleet arrived. Worried about the safety of the refugees, Imperial defector Lindon Javes requested Echo Four's assistance in an attack run on the Vigilance. The pair successfully destroyed the Star Destroyer's targeting system, allowing the convoy and the fleet to jump to hyperspace. Echo Four was commended for this act of bravery and rewarded with a safe posting on Chandrila.^[1]

Vanguard Squadron[]

"Ardo, meet our new Vanguard Five."

―Commander Lindon Javes, introduces Ardo and Vanguard Five^[1]

Following the Battle of Endor, Lindon Javes, now a ranking officer of the New Republic, requested the pilot to be assigned to Vanguard Squadron aboard the Temperance. The pilot was welcomed aboard by Javes and Ardo who referred to the pilot as "The one who saved Lindon in Fostar Haven" and introduced to their new squadron and the chief mechanic Zerelda Sage. As Vanguard Five, their first assignment with the squadron was to investigate the disappearance of a group of scouts investigating signal loss in the Bormea sector alongside Grace and Frisk.^[1]

Vanguard Squadron soon found itself in a battle against the Imperial forces responsible for discovering the destroyed remains of the scouting party's X-wing fighters. The squadron triumphed, destroying the Empire's jamming ships, and restoring communications across the sector.^[1]

Capturing the Victorum[]

"I have a Star Destroyer problem."

―Wedge Antilles^[1]

Onboard the Temperance, Vanguard Squadron met Captain Wedge Antilles, a veteran of the destruction of both the first and second Death Stars. Antilles had worked with Talus Group to chase away the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Victorum from a medical convoy, pinning it in Yavin's upper atmosphere with a non-functioning hyperdrive. However, the Star Destroyer's complement of fighters proved too much for Talus Group alone, and they required the help of Vanguard Squadron to capture it.^[1]

Antilles briefed the squadron on the situation and the plan to disable the Star Destroyer and seize control of it. Vanguard Five would again prove invaluable during the mission, breaching the Star Destroyer's hull, taking out many of its gun emplacements, and escorting the boarding party into position. Once the mission was complete, Vanguard returned home.^[1]

Through Enemy Lines[]

"Empire corrupts the energy of every planet it touches, but I can always feel the good buried beneath that."

―Keo Vanzee^[1]

Aboard the Temperance, Five engaged in conversation with Keo Venzee about their previous mission and with Kierah Koovah about fighting on Mimban and the possible plans the New Republic had for the Star Destroyer. As they prepared for their next mission, they discovered a growing unease as Javes refused to give any information on the purpose of the captured Star Destroyer, claiming it was not his call and that all he could tell them was "the basics."^[1]

The conversation was interrupted when the Victorum sent a Code Yellow and Vanguard were called in for an emergency briefing. The Star Destroyer's hyperdrive had failed and ditched them behind enemy lines, and with no cover, they'd be sitting ducks until it was brought back online. Vanguard was deployed to run protection against the advancing imperial fleet. The pilot was assigned to fly an A-Wing for the mission.^[1]

After a few engagements with the enemy, a lull in combat allowed Keo to teach Five how to drift the ship, which they had learned during their time racing. The pair annoyed the Republic crew aboard the Victorum by buzzing the bridge. The Victorum attempted a jump. However, after a few kilometers, it again dropped out of Hyperspace, leaving Vanguard frustrated and concerned. As more repairs were attempted, Vanguard fought off another wave of Imperial raiders.^[1]

Jumping out with the captured Star Destroyer, Vanguard found themselves incredibly close to the Ringali Nebula, flying past the various husks of salvaged Star Destroyers, and were awestruck by the size of the prototype Starhawk.^[1]

New Republic[]

Later, they were assigned to protect Project Starhawk, a secret new project for the New Republic, where for the first time Vanguard Squadron was able to visit, at the Nadiri Dockyards.^[1]

Vanguard Squadron then fought to protect Project Starhawk from the Imperial Titan Squadron. Thanks to the pilot's efforts and the rest of The Squadron, Project Starhawk was saved, and Titan Squadron was deceived into thinking the project was in ruins. The actions of Vanguard Five and the rest of The Squadron meant that The New Republic could win the war.^[1]

Behind the scenes[]

ForTheNewRepublic — A possible depiction of the Vanguard Squadron pilot

The pilot appeared in the campaign of the 2020 video game Star Wars: Squadrons as the player character of the New Republic story. Their features were fully customizable; appearance, gender, name, species, and voice all being player determined.^[1]

In the gameplay reveal trailer for the game, the name of the pilot was "Rao Highmoon."^[2]