Last updated July 24, 2002

History of the Rebel Alliance:
The Atrivis Resistance Group

Atrivis Sector

The Outer Rim Territories were among the boldest oponents to the new Emperor. This was primarily due to their location on the extreme edge of the Old Republic - their isolation had bred in them a stubborn independence and a remarkably strong distaste for government of any kind, totalitarian government in particular. (The fact that the Empire maintained only a token military presence in the Outer Rim might have had something to do with it, as well.)

Foremost among the territories in opposition was Atrivis Sector, a relatively small sector of space which included the Mantooine and Fest systems. These systems had long histories of petty bickering among themselves, and they distrusted each other almost as much as they hated the faraway Emperor. Resistance to the new Emperor was scattered among the different systems, each group of freedom-fighters isolated from and suspicious of the others.

Despite their many weaknesses, the Resistance was an annoyance to the Imperial forces, and before long, an Imperial garrison post was established on Mantooine, where the Resistance was most active. The Resistance group there, the self-proclaimed "Liberators," wasted no time in attacking the under-defended post and confiscating its weapons and equipment. However, instead of quickly retreating into the wilderness as an experienced force might have done, they occupied the remains of the Imperial garrison and boldly broadcast their triumph, urging all of Mantooine to join them in revolt.

Because this was the first and only Imperial presence in the system, the Liberators had thought themselves safe from Imperial retribution. They had no knowledge of the Imperial strike fleet waiting in orbit around the nearby moons of Fest. The Resistance group on Fest knew about the fleet, but they had no communication with the Mantooine Rebels. There was no way to warn them?

(click on image to enlarge)
Imperial garrison on Fest (from Rogue Squadron game)

Regrouping Atrivis

Mantooine's Liberators were decimated by the Imperial strike fleet, hunted down almost to the last man. But the Resistance group on nearby Fest remained intact and uncompromisable. Both groups now realized the value of communication and an expanded underground network. With this in mind, the Fest group formed its own Mantooine arm, as well as several other branches in various systems throughout Atrivis Sector.

The newly-dubbed "Atrivis Resistance Group" (or ARG) was far more efficient than its ill-fated predecessors. With lines of communication firmly established, the ARG was able to keep track of Imperial movement and operations throughout the Sector. The underground network worked feverishly to feed information to the ARG leaders, who had set up a hidden base of operations aboard a long-abandoned space station in the barren Gerenis sytem.

Striking from their hidden base, the ARG was able to harass the Imperial establishment in Atrivis Sector. But as confidence grew within the Resistance ranks, so did concern. The ARG leaders realized just how isolated they were from all other groups throughout the galaxy. For all they knew, the Imperials could be mounting a major offensive against them from the very next sector. They simply had no way of knowing what was happening outside their remote sector of space. That was, until Mon Mothma arrived?

Atrivis and the Alliance

Mon Mothma's visit to Atrivis Sector began a new era for its Resistance fighters. She proposed to link Atrivis' forces with countless others throughout the galaxy, integrating them into the Rebel Alliance.

The ARG's leaders were hesitant at first. It had taken them a long time to establish an efficient organization, and they were afraid to give control to outsiders. But Mon Mothma was persuasive. She pointed out the benefits to the ARG of a galaxy-wide communications net, and of the usefulness of a single galactic Resistance command as opposed to multiple uncoordinated ones. She admitted that this entailed some loss of control on the part of the ARG, but stressed that it was necessary if they were to have any chance of success against the monolithic Empire.

She also noted that the ARG would get something in return for their loss of control. As she proposed to make the base on Gerenis a key communications station linking many Outer Rim resistance units through satellite beam transmissions, the Alliance would establish a fighter outpost on Gerenis to protect the base. Up until then the ARG had had no starfighters at all.

There was mild argument over the proposition among the ARG leaders, but it quickly became obvious that the positive points of joining the Rebel Alliance far outweighed the negative. Yes, there would be an influx of foreign personnel, as well as new responsibilities and dangers,. But the promise of new weapons, equipment, and the added security of open communication with other Resistance groups was far more than enough to convince them.

The Treaty of Gerenis was signed shortly thereafter, binding the ARG to the Alliance for the Duration. The ARG was in the war.