First Order

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Following the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, disorganized Imperial forces retreated to a heavily fortified redoubt on the fringe of the Outer Rim. The New Republic deemed liberating these sectors too costly and forced the Empire to accept the Galactic Concordance, a humiliating armistice imposing strict disarmament. Over three decades, fugitives reorganized into an isolationist hermit kingdom, secretly re-arming in violation of the treaty while pushing into the Unknown Regions to seize undeveloped worlds for resources. The transition to the "First Order" officially occurred about six years before The Force Awakens when many Centrist worlds seceded from the New Republic to reunite with these remnants. Admiral Rae Sloane, introduced as a captain in A New Dawn (2014), and Commandant Brendol Hux served as de facto founders; Sloane coined the term "First Order" after achieving the rank of Grand Admiral. During this period, conspirators revealed Leia Organa was Darth Vader's daughter, severely damaging her political standing.

In Their Own Story

The First Order operates under a "survival of the fittest" philosophy where soldiers who fail their duty are culled to strengthen the ranks. Unlike the Empire's swarm tactics, they prioritize quality over quantity, deploying Resurgent-class Star Destroyers that are nearly twice as large as old Imperial-class vessels and feature thirty years' worth of technological advances. Their TIE/fo fighters utilize white solar panels on dark frames, while elite Special Forces use heavily armed TIE/sf variants. A major turning point involves the development of hyperspace tracking technology, allowing them to chase enemy vessels through jumps until fuel depletion. The faction is led by Supreme Leader Snoke, a Force-wielder secretly created by Palpatine who seduced Ben Solo to the dark side. After slaughtering Luke Skywalker's apprentices and destroying the new Jedi academy, Solo became Kylo Ren, serving as Snoke's right hand before overthrowing him.

Reader's Guide

The Resistance, led by Leia Organa with support from former Rebel Alliance members like Admiral Ackbar, serves as the primary opposition. Formed as a private army after the New Republic Senate refused to recognize the First Order's military buildup, the Resistance operates with plausible deniability maintained by the Senate, though some Senators privately channel funds and resources to them. The relationship is described by comic writer Charles Soule as a "cold war" with occasional skirmishes prior to The Force Awakens. Key figures include General Hux, who appears as a child in Empire's End and is inferred to be mentored by Sloane, and Kylo Ren, whose technical designation for his elite TIE/vn fighter (TIE silencer) reflects its inspiration from the TIE Defender and TIE Advanced x1 prototype.

Did You Know?

• Admiral Rae Sloane coined the term "First Order" after achieving the rank of Grand Admiral.
• The First Order officially reorganized into a new government only about six years before The Force Awakens.
• TIE/fo fighters feature reversed color schemes compared to Imperial models: white solar panels on a dark metal frame.
• Kylo Ren's elite TIE silencer is designated as "TIE/vn" and is heavily inspired by the TIE Defender.
• The First Order developed hyperspace tracking technology, allowing them to chase ships through jumps until one runs out of fuel.