Luke Skywalker is hailed as the hero of the galaxy. Thanks to him and the Rebel Alliance, the Death Star was destroyed in A New Hope, delivering one of the first major victories in the Galactic Civil War. But Rogue One gave us a different side of that story.
Before the Battle of Yavin, it was Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, and the rest of the Rogue One team who carried out the mission that made everything possible. They stole the Death Star plans, exposed its weakness, and gave the Rebellion the one shot it needed. Scarif was lost. And so were they.
Yet when we watch the Original Trilogy, their names are never mentioned. Their story disappears into the background of a larger war. Which raises the real question: Did the Rebel Alliance ever truly remember the sacrifice of Jyn Erso and her team?
Rogue One Inspired the Rebellion’s Next Generation
We don’t have to guess whether the Rebel Alliance remembered the sacrifice of Jyn Erso and her team—they did. It may not be something we see directly in the films, but it’s made clear in the Star Wars comics. One of the most powerful moments comes from Star Wars (2015) Issue #52, part of the Hope Dies arc—a storyline that directly connects the legacy of Rogue One to the Original Trilogy.
In this issue, the Rebel Alliance is facing a devastating betrayal. Queen Trios, an ally they believed they could trust, secretly sabotaged the Rebellion’s brand-new fleet. The sabotage leaves the entire armada vulnerable just as Darth Vader launches a surprise assault on the Rebel fleet stationed at Mako-Ta Base. It’s one of the darkest hours for the Rebellion—they’re pinned down, their hyperdrives disabled, and the Empire is closing in fast.
Amid the chaos, Han Solo and C-3PO are aboard the Millennium Falcon, trying to coordinate a warning to the rest of the fleet. C-3PO is launched across space in an escape pod, carrying crucial information that reaches Luke Skywalker, who’s stationed on another cruiser.
Upon receiving the emergency update, Luke realizes that waiting for orders would mean the destruction of the entire fleet. And this is where Jyn Erso’s legacy truly hits.
Luke doesn’t hesitate. He remembers Scarif. He remembers how Rogue One acted without permission, without support, and without hope—because it was the right thing to do. Channeling that same energy, Luke says:
“Well, I guess this is what Jyn Erso felt like.”
With that, he launches into battle with a group of X-wing pilots. And in that moment, Luke names the new squadron “Rogue Squadron”—a direct tribute to Jyn Erso and the original Rogue One team who gave their lives to deliver the Death Star plans.
After Luke forms Rogue Squadron and launches into battle, the momentum shifts. Despite the overwhelming odds and the Imperial fleet bearing down on them, Rogue Squadron’s surprise assault buys the Rebels just enough time. It’s messy, desperate, and chaotic—exactly the kind of fight Rogue One would’ve been proud of.
Luke’s squadron manages to draw fire away from the crippled Rebel cruisers, giving the remaining forces a window to regroup. With help from Leia and Han, they start restoring some functionality to the fleet’s systems. One by one, damaged ships begin to reactivate their hyperdrives and jump to safety.