View source for Garm Bel Iblis/Legends

{{Top|leg}}
{{Character
|type=GFFA
|image=[[File:Garmgarmgarm.jpg]]
|name=Garm Bel Iblis
|homeworld=[[Corellia/Legends|Corellia]]<ref name="egtc">''[[The Essential Guide to Characters]]''</ref>
|birth=
|death=
|species=[[Human/Legends|Human]]<ref name="egtc" />
|gender=[[Gender/Legends|Male]]<ref name="egtc" />
|height=1.75 [[Imperial standard meter|meters]]<ref name="height">This is the height given in ''The Essential Guide to Characters'' and ''Star Wars: Behind the Magic''. Bel Iblis' databank entry gives a height of 1.7 meters.</ref>
|mass=
|hair=Dark brown;<ref name="hnn2">{{Hnn|47|news/13314_1.html|Corellia Closes Borders|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728185456/http://www.holonetnews.com:80/47/news/13314_1.html}}</ref> later gray<ref name="egtc" />
|eyes=Brown<ref name="hnn2" />
|skin=Tan
|cyber=
|affiliation=*[[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]]<ref name="egtc" />
**[[Galactic Senate/Legends|Galactic Senate]]<ref name="hnn2" />
*[[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]]<ref name="dl">''[[Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader]]''</ref>
**[[Imperial Senate/Legends|Imperial Senate]]<ref name="dl" />
*[[Corellian Resistance/Legends|Corellian Resistance]]<ref name="rd">''[[Rebel Dawn]]''</ref>
*[[Garm Bel Iblis's movement]]<ref name="dfr">''[[Dark Force Rising]]''</ref>
*[[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Alliance to Restore the Republic]]<ref name="egtc" />
*[[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]]<ref name="dfr" />
**[[Fleet Group Two]]
*[[Galactic Federation of Free Alliances]]<ref name="tfp">''[[The New Jedi Order: The Final Prophecy]]''</ref>
|masters=
|apprentices=}}
{{Quote|Who better to send than Bel Iblis?|[[Grodin Tierce (clone)|Grodin Tierce]]|<ref name="votf">''[[Vision of the Future]]''</ref>}}
'''Garm Bel Iblis''' was a [[Gender/Legends|male]] [[Human/Legends|Human]] [[Senator/Legends|senator]] representing [[Corellia/Legends|Corellia]] in the [[Galactic Senate/Legends|Galactic Senate]] during the final [[Time/Legends|years]] of the [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]]. Charismatic and independent, he strongly opposed the power being gradually built by [[Supreme Chancellor/Legends|Supreme Chancellor]] [[Palpatine/Legends|Palpatine]], and invoked an [[Contemplanys Hermi|ancient Corellian proviso]] in order to keep his [[Homeworld/Legends|homeworld]] out of the [[Clone Wars/Legends|Clone Wars]]. When Palpatine reorganized the Republic into a [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]] and declared himself [[Emperor/Legends|Emperor]] in [[19 BBY/Legends|19 BBY]], Bel Iblis served in the [[Imperial Senate/Legends|Imperial Senate]], but continued to publicly speak out against the man in spite of strains that it placed on his [[Marriage/Legends|marriage]] with a pro-Imperial wife. When [[Agent/Legends|agents]] of the Empire [[Assassin/Legends|murdered]] his wife and children, the senator went into hiding and founded a militaristic [[Corellian Resistance/Legends|resistance movement]] with which to fight the Imperial war machine. Although Bel Iblis was a skilled military leader, he saw the need to merge his rebellion with other resistance movements, and, after being rescued from the clutches of a [[Bounty hunter/Legends|bounty hunter]] by [[Galen Marek]], invited the [[Alderaan/Legends|Alderaanian]] and [[Chandrila/Legends|Chandrilan]] Senators [[Bail Prestor Organa/Legends|Bail Organa]] and [[Mon Mothma/Legends|Mon Mothma]] to Corellia, at a meeting where a [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Rebel Alliance]] was formally [[Corellian Treaty|declared]]. The meeting was interrupted, by the Emperor's apprentice [[Anakin Skywalker/Legends|Darth Vader]], whom Marek had secretly been working for. The rebel leaders were taken to the Empire's [[Superweapon/Legends|superweapon]], the [[Death Star/Legends|Death Star]], but were freed by Marek in an [[Battle on Death Star I|act of rebellion]] against his master, and began operating the Rebel Alliance.

When Organa was [[Destruction of Alderaan|killed]] in [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]], tensions that had been escalating between Bel Iblis and Mothma came to a climax, and the Corellian left the Rebellion, forming his own [[Garm Bel Iblis's movement|private war]] against the Empire. Remaining mobile, the movement performed hit-and-run tactics against the Empire for years, and was eventually strengthened by six [[Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser|Dreadnaughts]] from the fabled ''[[Katana fleet]]''. When the Empire was [[Battle of Endor/Legends|overthrown]] and the Rebellion became a [[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]], Bel Iblis remained in hiding, expecting a power-hungry Mothma to declare herself Empress. On assignment for the New Republic, [[Han Solo/Legends|Han Solo]] and [[Lando Calrissian/Legends|Lando Calrissian]] discovered his base in [[9 ABY/Legends|9 ABY]], and convinced him to aid their government in its [[Thrawn campaign|conflict]] with the resurgent Imperial [[Grand Admiral/Legends|Grand Admiral]] [[Mitth'raw'nuruodo/Legends|Thrawn]]. Bel Iblis joined the New Republic's [[Combined Defense Forces of the New Republic|military]] as a [[General/Legends|general]] and proved vital in [[Battle of Qat Chrystac|several]] [[Battle for the Katana fleet|battles]]; he made amends with Mothma, swallowing his trademark pride and becoming a permanent fixture in [[New Republic High Command/Legends|New Republic High Command]], leading a [[Second Battle of Coruscant|retreat]] from [[Coruscant/Legends|Coruscant]] and doing [[Battle of Calamari|battle]] with forces of a reborn Palpatine [[Battle of Columus (Galactic Civil War)|and]] later [[Admiral/Legends|Admiral]] [[Natasi Daala|Daala]].

When the [[Caamas Document Crisis]] erupted in [[19 ABY/Legends|19 ABY]], Bel Iblis was in command of a small [[Fleet/Legends|fleet]] and the elite [[Starfighter/Legends|starfighter]] unit [[Rogue Squadron/Legends|Rogue Squadron]], and used his forces to mediate growing conflicts between feuding New Republic member states. When he was too late to stop a [[Leresai]] fleet from destroying a [[Bothan/Legends|Bothan]] [[Space station/Legends|space station]], he grew furious, and was reassigned to the important task of obtaining a complete copy of the [[Caamas Document]] from an Imperial [[Ubiqtorate/Legends|Ubiqtorate]] base at [[Yaga Minor/Legends|Yaga Minor]]. Securing the services of the [[Smuggler/Legends|smuggler]] [[Booster Terrik]] and his [[Star Destroyer/Legends|Star Destroyer]], the ''[[Errant Venture]]'', he [[Battle of Yaga Minor (Galactic Civil War)|attacked]] the base, but his forces were caught in [[Tractor beam/Legends|tractor beams]] and trapped by Imperial reinforcements. They were saved, however, and the crisis averted, when information quickly arrived revealing two of the Imperial [[Sinister Triumvirate|leaders]] to be frauds, concurrently with a copy of the Caamas Document being discovered on [[Nirauan/Legends|Nirauan]].

==Biography==
===Senator===
{{Quote|The Corellian sector, one of the founding fathers of the Republic, is not seceding. However, Corellia will not participate in what it deems a profound error that threatens its sovereignty.|Bel Iblis, to the media|<ref name="hnn2" />}}
The [[Gender/Legends|male]] [[Human/Legends|Human]] Garm Bel Iblis was born on the [[Planet/Legends|planet]] [[Corellia/Legends|Corellia]] during the waning days of the [[Galactic Republic/Legends|Galactic Republic]]. He was extremely patriotic, toward both Corellia<ref name="db">{{DB|character|garmbeliblis|Bel Iblis, Garm|archivedate=20100209154614}}</ref> and the Republic,<ref name="TFUdb">[[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (video game)#The Force Unleashed Databank|''The Force Unleashed'' Databank]]</ref> and was said to embody the [[Corellian/Legends|Corellian]] spirit of independence.<ref name="db" /> Bel Iblis served in the military for a time, learning how to operate [[Blaster/Legends|blasters]] and rudimentary weaponry.<ref name="iad">''[[Interlude at Darkknell]]''</ref> In [[35 BBY/Legends|35 BBY]],<ref>''[[The Essential Guide to Warfare]]''</ref> he was elected as Corellia's [[Senator/Legends|representative]] in the [[Galactic Senate/Legends|Galactic Senate]],<ref name="hnn2" /> proving to be a popular and charismatic leader and making many allies in the Senate.<ref name="tlcs">''[[The Last Command Sourcebook]]''</ref> Among them was [[Fang Zar/Legends|Fang Zar]], the senator of [[Sern sector/Legends|Sern sector]], who was a close friend to Bel Iblis and shared his views on many things.<ref name="dl" /><ref name="holonet">''[[Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 15:3:02]]''</ref> As a young and idealistic senator, Bel Iblis was determined to preserve freedom throughout [[The galaxy/Legends|the galaxy]].<ref name="TFUdb" /> He [[Marriage/Legends|married]] a woman named [[Arrianya Bel Iblis|Arrianya]], who bore two of his children. His senatorial aide was [[Sena Leikvold Midanyl]], whom Bel Iblis was very close to.<ref name="iad" />

Bel Iblis was one of few voices to speak out against [[Palpatine/Legends|Palpatine]], a charismatic senator<ref name="TFUdb" /> from [[Naboo/Legends|Naboo]]<ref name="SWCL">[[Star Wars: Complete Locations (2005)|''Star Wars: Complete Locations'']]</ref> who ultimately became [[Supreme Chancellor/Legends|Supreme Chancellor]] of the Republic in 32 BBY.<ref name="TPM">{{Film|I}}</ref> When the threat of [[Count/Legends|Count]] [[Dooku/Legends|Dooku's]] secessionist [[Confederacy of Independent Systems/Legends|Confederacy of Independent Systems]] caused Palpatine to enact the [[Emergency Powers Act/Legends|Emergency Powers Act]] in [[24 BBY/Legends|24 BBY]], eliminating Chancellor term times,<ref name="loe">''[[Labyrinth of Evil]]''</ref> Bel Iblis grew more concerned with the Chancellor. He saw the<ref name="tlcs" /> [[Naboo (people)/Legends|Naboo man]]<ref name="SWCL" /> as a force of destruction, and suspected that Palpatine would not relinquish his power unless it was wrested from him. Bel Iblis raised his concerns with many of his peers in the Senate, and was initially successful until Palpatine bit back, doing his part to discredit Bel Iblis and lose him influence in the Senate.<ref name="tlcs" /> [[22 BBY/Legends|Two years]] after Palpatine had been granted Emergency Powers, many [[Star system/Legends|systems]] were seceding to the Confederacy, and the Supreme Chancellor scheduled a vote on the greatly debated [[Military Creation Act/Legends|Military Creation Act]] for two months' [[Time/Legends|time]]. The Act would allow the formation of an [[Grand Army of the Republic/Legends|Army of the Republic]]&mdash;something which had not existed in nearly a thousand years&mdash;to be used against the Confederacy should a war break out.<ref name="AOTC">{{Film|II}}</ref> Bel Iblis strongly opposed the Act; while many of his fellow senators, such as [[Tendau Bendon]], opposed based on purely ideological grounds, Bel Iblis was more pragmatic about the situation. He asked [[HoloNet News/Legends|HoloNet News]] reporters how exactly such a military would be [[Galactic Credit Standard|funded]], and stated that he would not allow the Corellian taxpayer to fund both the Republic army and the [[Corellian Security Force]].<ref name="hnn1">{{Hnn|46|news/1337_1.html|Palpatine Sets Army Vote Date|https://web.archive.org/web/20130728124227/http://www.holonetnews.com/46/news/1337_1.html}}</ref> Bel Iblis continued to be an outspoken critic of the impending vote for weeks in the Senate, as was the entirety of Corellia.<ref name="hnn2" />
[[File:YoungBelIblis.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Bel Iblis leaves the Grand Convocation Chamber after invoking ''Contemplanys Hermi''.]]

Prior to the Military Creation Act vote, Bel Iblis arranged private talks with Corellia's [[Diktat]], [[Shyla Merricope]], to discuss the vote and Corellia's role in the future of the Republic. Ultimately, they enacted a little-known proviso called ''[[Contemplanys Hermi]]'', which translated into [[Galactic Basic Standard/Legends|Basic]] as "meditative solitude." The proviso allowed Corellia and its constituencies to unilaterally withdraw from all Senate activities for as long as they wished, and had not been used in over 450 years. Bel Iblis announced his and Merricope's decision in a meeting of the Senate, to the uproar of most of his fellow senators. He was ushered out of the [[Grand Convocation Chamber]] by CorSec personnel amid cries of secession and disloyalty, and he refused to answer any questions posed by the media. He informed HoloNet News that Corellia was not seceding, but that it could not be part of a something which Bel Iblis and Merricope felt threatened the planet's independence. Bel Iblis returned to Corellia, but was criticized by many back on [[Coruscant/Legends|Coruscant]], including Palpatine and Senator [[Orn Free Taa/Legends|Orn Free Taa]].<ref name="hnn2" />

Corellia's actions sparked Palpatine to make a public address to Dooku, hoping to negotiate their differences peacefully, but Dooku spurned the offer. Ultimately, the Military Creation Act was passed, and a Grand Army of the Republic, consisting of [[Clone trooper/Legends|clone troopers]], was created after the [[Clone Wars/Legends|Clone Wars]] [[First Battle of Geonosis/Legends|began]].<ref name="nec">''[[The New Essential Chronology]]''</ref> Bel Iblis hoped to maintain Corellia's neutrality for the duration of the conflict but, just seven days after the Battle of Geonosis, Republic-allied [[Jedi/Legends|Jedi]] clashed with Separatist forces on his [[Homeworld/Legends|homeworld]].<ref name="ee">''[[Elusion Illusion]]''</ref> While Bel Iblis remained opposed to the war, the Grand Army, and Palpatine on the Senate floor, he did help the Republic during the conflict. He organized his own, personal militia, consisting of members of CorSec, and assembled a large [[Fleet/Legends|fleet]] of Corellian [[Cruiser/Legends|cruisers]]. Bel Iblis helped repel Separatist advances on the [[Mid Rim]] throughout the war; he and his fleet often arrived in the nick of time to rescue outnumbered Jedi forces, or provided cover for Republic commandos on ground missions. Bel Iblis became a skilled military tactician during the war, although he received no decorations or official recognition for his aid.<ref name="TFUdb" /> Later in the war, full-scale conflict came perilously close to the [[Corellian system]], with neighboring [[Duro/Legends|Duro]] falling to the Separatists in [[20 BBY/Legends|20 BBY]]. Bel Iblis was strongly criticized for not lending the support of Corellia's fleet during the [[Battle of Duro (Clone Wars)|Battle of Duro]], though Corellia was not without its vocal allies, such as Fang Zar.<ref name="holonet" />

Although he was not attending regular sessions of the Senate during the war, Bel Iblis often met with other senators, including [[Bail Prestor Organa/Legends|Bail Organa]], [[Mon Mothma/Legends|Mon Mothma]], and Fang Zar, who shared his views on Palpatine. Together, they began laying the groundwork for a political alliance publicly opposed to Palpatine's rule.<ref name="nec" /> In [[19 BBY/Legends|19 BBY]], with the threat of the Separatists almost vanquished, a group of senators, titling themselves the [[Delegation of 2000]], signed a [[Petition of 2000|petition]] asking Palpatine to step down; they also had serious qualms about Palpatine's new [[Moff/Legends|moffs]], a type of regional [[Governor/Legends|governor]] which made the role of senator almost obsolete.<ref name="rotsn">[[Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (novelization)|''Star Wars'': Episode III ''Revenge of the Sith'' novelization]]</ref> Bel Iblis was among those who signed the petition,<ref name="who">{{InsiderCite|85|Who's Who in the Delegation of 2000}}</ref> though he was not in attendance when they presented it to Palpatine. However, Fang Zar was there to represent Bel Iblis' interests. Palpatine reacted angrily to the petition, calling those who had signed it traitors, though, ultimately, it did not matter: a short time later, he abolished the Republic and created the first [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]], with himself as [[Galactic Emperor/Legends|Emperor]], and began a [[Great Jedi Purge/Legends|great purge]] of the [[Jedi Order/Legends|Jedi Order]].<ref name="rotsn" /> Palpatine claimed that the Jedi had betrayed the Republic, though Bel Iblis refused to believe that.<ref name="TFUdb" /> The Senate was not dissolved, though it was in essence powerless;<ref name="rotsn" /> also, Corellia's "meditative solitude" was ended and Bel Iblis was once more compelled to attend Senate meetings.<ref name="dl" />

Some months after the [[Declaration of a New Order]], Palpatine summoned a group of senators including Bel Iblis to his chambers to discuss with them the role of the Senate in his Empire. He told them that the Senate would continue to operate for the foreseeable future, but that his say was final: the senators were simply his advisors. During the meeting, Mon Mothma and Bel Iblis squirmed in their seats, and did not hide their anger and dismay at the turn of events. Days later, Bel Iblis' friend Fang Zar was executed by the Empire.<ref name="dl" /> Palpatine's actions also strained Bel Iblis' personal life, as his wife was a firm supporter of the Empire and its ''modus operandi''. Their marriage went downhill, and their children were often witness to heated arguments between the two. Despite this, Bel Iblis still greatly loved Arrianya and planned for the two of them to go on a second honeymoon in an effort to rekindle their marriage.<ref name="iad" />

===On the run===
{{Quote|He can do anything he wants to me&mdash;can take anything away from me that he will. I'll still fight him because it's the right thing to do. Period.|Bel Iblis, speaking about Palpatine to Aach|<ref name="iad" />}}
Bel Iblis continued to serve as an [[Imperial Senate/Legends|Imperial senator]] for many years, retaining his popularity on Corellia.<ref name="dfr" /> In his capacity as senator, he opposed many of Palpatine's new policies, fighting the creation of the Imperial war machine, the subjugation of entire worlds and their populations, and the Imperialization of major galactic corporations, ultimately all in vain. Unable to contain his anger with the new, Imperial regime, Bel Iblis surreptitiously spoke out against Palpatine in his speeches, often evoking the names of the most vaunted of the ancient Jedi, to Palpatine's fury.<ref name="TFUdb" /> Bel Iblis often visited schools on his homeworld; during one occasion shortly after the formation of the Empire, an eleven-year-old boy named [[Han Solo/Legends|Han Solo]] asked a number of probing questions of Bel Iblis, about the Empire's treatment of [[Alien/Legends|non-Humans]] and about corruption in the Senate. Caught off guard,<ref name="dfr" /> Bel Iblis later asked the boy his name,<ref name="rd" /> and made an effort to monitor his progress as he matured.<ref name="dfr" /> Bel Iblis, Organa, and Mon Mothma continued to meet in secret at Organa's [[Cantham House/Legends|Cantham House]] residence on Coruscant; eventually, they decided that legitimately opposing Palpatine would never succeed, and began to discuss rebellion. Mothma was far more outspoken in her criticism of Palpatine&mdash;before long she was accused of [[Treason/Legends|treason]], and had to flee Coruscant and go into hiding, though she continued to visit resistance movements on many worlds, spreading sedition.<ref name="nec" /> Bel Iblis was next on Palpatine's list.<ref name="iad" />

[[File:Rebel_Leaders.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Bel Iblis and the other Rebel leaders]]
The senator prepared a speech for an event at the [[Treitamma Political Center]] on the planet [[Anchoron]], in which he would denounce the Empire and reveal Palpatine's dark motives. Bel Iblis was extremely nervous about the speech, as his pro-Imperial wife would be present. Just before he was scheduled to address the congregation, he received a message in his office from "[[Aach]]," the alias of [[Alderaan/Legends|Alderaanian]] Senator Bail Organa's prime messenger and agent. The message told Bel Iblis to meet with Aach at the building's northeast exit immediately; worried, Bel Iblis complied and rendezvoused with Aach, who relayed a message from Organa: he had discovered information pertaining to the location of a top-secret Imperial project overseen by [[Grand Moff/Legends|Grand Moff]] [[Wilhuff Tarkin/Legends|Wilhuff Tarkin]], and needed Bel Iblis to send his most trusted aide to collect a [[Datacard/Legends|datacard]] on the planet [[Darkknell/Legends|Darkknell]]. A courier would be at the [[Continuum Void]] [[Tapcafe/Legends|tapcafe]] on Darkknell with the datadisk, and was demanding payment for the disk. Aach told Bel Iblis to give him whatever he demanded.<ref name="iad" />

Their meeting was interrupted by a large explosion in the Treitamma Political Center, as [[Agent/Legends|agents]] of the Empire had planted explosives in Bel Iblis' office, intending to kill him. Aach wrestled Bel Iblis to the ground in order to avoid the blast, and the Corellian senator was distraught at the loss of his wife and children. Aach eventually calmed him down and persuaded him to follow him to his ship, telling Bel Iblis that nothing could be done for Arrianya and the children. Aach gave Bel Iblis permission to use the Alderaanian's ship to flee, as he intended to stay on Anchoron to investigate the bombing. Bel Iblis offered to journey to Darkknell and carry out the mission, to which Aach reluctantly agreed.<ref name="iad" />

Wearing a basic disguise, Bel Iblis traveled to [[Xakrea]], Darkknell's [[Capital/Legends|capital]] [[City/Legends|city]], making his way to the Continuum Void to meet with the courier of the datadisk. The datadisk had been stolen earlier that day, lifted from the courier's pocket by a [[Moranda Savich|female thief]], and the courier fled Darkknell soon after meeting with Bel Iblis. The Corellian senator would not give up, and decided to pay a visit to [[Seb Arkos]], a [[Slicer/Legends|slicer]] whom Aach had told Bel Iblis about, hoping that he could forge Bel Iblis a false identity so that he could attempt to track down the thief. Upon arriving at Arkos's store, he noticed CorSec [[Inspector/Legends|Inspector]] [[Hal Horn]] and [[Imperial Intelligence/Legends|Imperial Intelligence]] agent [[Ysanne Isard]] departing the establishment, and suspected they were searching for him. He was relieved when they left without noticing him but deduced that Isard's presence meant that [[Director of Imperial Intelligence]] [[Armand Isard/Legends|Armand Isard]] was aware of the theft of the top-secret project's location and was hunting for it.<ref name="iad" />

While Arkos furnished a new identity for Bel Iblis, he watched as [[Trabler]], Isard's assistant, fired a blaster at a woman across the street, before the two Imperial Intelligence agents and Hal Horn departed in a [[Landspeeder/Legends|landspeeder]]. Subconsciously believing the woman might have been his wife, Bel Iblis rushed to her aid. She had a blaster wound in her shoulder, however, and fell unconscious moments after he reached her. He carried her back to Arkos, telling the slicer that she needed medical attention. Eventually, the woman recovered, identifying herself as [[Moranda Savich]] and, realizing that Bel Iblis was a rebel against the Empire, took him to her safehouse apartment in the city. Eventually, she revealed that she had been the thief who stole the datadisk, although she no longer had it in her possession, and she agreed to lead Bel Iblis to it and help him recover it in exchange for 50,000 credits. Things were complicated somewhat, by the fact that unbeknownst to the Imperial agent, the package was in Isard's speeder.<ref name="iad" />

Hoping to lure Isard and Horn to her and create a distraction that would ensure she and Bel Iblis could retrieve the datadisk from the speeder, Savich contacted [[Darkknell Defense Agency]] [[Officer/Legends|officers]] and tricked them into sending several security landspeeders to a location near her safehouse, knowing that Isard would suspect it was related to the rebel activity. When Isard and Horn neared the tapcafe where Savich and Bel Iblis were hiding, the two rebels realized that Horn was wearing a [[choke-collar]]&mdash;it would kill him if she ordered it to or if she herself died. This compromised their plan, which entailed Bel Iblis firing on Isard while Savich sneaked into the landspeeder, as Bel Iblis did not want Horn, a good and honorable man in the senator's eyes, coming to any harm. Savich adapted the plan, though.<ref name="iad" />

She contacted Horn via [[Comlink/Legends|comlink]], informing him and Isard that she had the datadisk and would hand it over for one million credits. She then recorded a message and transmitted it to Horn's comlink, ensuring that Horn and Isard would believe that they were speaking to Savich live. Savich submitted their location to Darkknell Defense, and then approached the two while the message played. Wearing a disguise, she pretended to be [[Allyse Conroy]], an old friend of Horn's, and swiped Isard's ID card while talking to the duo. When [[Colonel/Legends|Colonel]] [[Nyroska]] of Darkknell Defense arrived, Savich informed him that ''she'' was Isard and that the two others were rebels. Nyroska whisked them to the nearest cell, and Savich fled the planet after being paid by Bel Iblis, hoping to get away before her deception was discovered. Bel Iblis retrieved the datadisk from the speeder and found his way offworld, bringing the datadisk to Bail Organa.<ref name="iad" />

===The Alliance to Restore the Republic===
{{Quote|Do you understand me? I will not send my troops on a suicide attack. And I do not recognize your authority to order them to. I did not vote to place you in charge of the Alliance, and if Bail did, then he was gravely mistaken.''" <br /> "''Senator Bel Iblis, I sincerely hope that was not an ultimatum.''" <br /> "''Yes, I guess it is. This attack plan is fundamentally flawed, and you just don't have the expertise to know it.''" <br /> "''I will not have ultimatums put to me, Senator. The Rebel Alliance will no longer require your services.|Garm Bel Iblis and Mon Mothma|<ref name="tts">''[[The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook]]''</ref>}}
[[File:Garm_Bel_Iblis_TFUCG.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Bel Iblis in 2 BBY]]
Aided by Organa and Mon Mothma, Bel Iblis went into hiding,<ref name="TFUdb" /> with many Corellians<ref name="db" /> and the galaxy at large believing him dead. This was further cemented when Isard used his supposed [[Death/Legends|death]] as part of an elaborate story to absolve herself of any blame for her failure on Darkknell, claiming that her father, Armand Isard, was a rebel and that he had ordered Bel Iblis' death in advance of Bel Iblis reading a pro-Imperial speech.<ref name="iad" /> The Empire scoured the galaxy for Bel Iblis, but was unable to locate him.<ref name="TFUdb" /> It took a great deal of time for Bel Iblis to overcome the loss of his family; whereas before their deaths he had been considered something of a political maverick, after it he became withdrawn and sullen for many years.<ref name="tts" /> The Corellian senator made preparations for his own open rebellion, and although he maintained contact with Mon Mothma and Bail Organa,<ref name="db" /> his group remained separate from theirs,<ref name="rd" /> as his methods for dealing with the Imperials were more direct than those of his pacifist peers.<ref name="db" />

His [[Corellian Resistance/Legends|Corellian Resistance]] was quite successful, but Bel Iblis recognized that neither it nor any of the other resistance movements were equipped to effectively deal with the Empire single-handedly. At Bel Iblis' suggestion, meetings were held between the various leaders, including Mon Mothma of the [[Chandrilan resistance]], Bail Organa of the [[Alderaanian Resistance]], [[Sian Tevv/Legends|Sian Tevv]] of the [[Sullustan resistance movement]], and [[Duros/Legends|Duros]] resistance fighter [[Jenssar SoBilles]], with the young idealist [[Bria Tharen]] acting as Bel Iblis's representative. Fearing Imperial repercussions, Tevv and SoBilles shyed away from a formal alliance. During a meeting taking place high above [[Bespin/Legends|Bespin]] in the [[Gas giant/Legends|gas giant's]] [[Cloud City/Legends|Cloud City]], Tharen convinced [[Winter Celchu|Winter]], the adopted daughter of Organa who was appearing as his representative, to persuade her father of the necessity of joining together to fight against a common cause.<ref name="rd" />

[[File:CorellianTreaty-TFUComic.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The signing of the Corellian Treaty united rebel groups into the Alliance to Restore the Republic.]]
Open rebellion against the Empire had been declared,<ref name="TFU" /> and although Bel Iblis was instrumental in the Alliance's founding, Mon Mothma was credited by historians for its creation,<ref name="db" /> and she quickly became its de facto leader.<ref name="nec" /> Bel Iblis would provide the Alliance with ships, Mothma with soldiers, and Organa with funds.<ref name="TFU" /> Bel Iblis and Mon Mothma's talents complemented each other&mdash;he was a keen military strategist, she an inspirational public speaker&mdash;and the Alliance grew and grew under their and Organa's leadership.<ref name="egtc" /> Bel Iblis had distinct views on how the Rebellion should operate,<ref name="db" /> which made he and Mon Mothma frequently at odds.<ref name="egtc" /> Many times, he advocated a military attack while his two opposite numbers vetoed him.<ref name="tts" /> Bel Iblis feared that Mothma was becoming addicted to power,<ref name="egtc" /> though Organa often acted the mediator, ensuring that relations between the two rebel leaders were decent. Organa was one of few beings who could make Mon Mothma change her mind, or, in Bel Iblis's eyes, see reason. However, Bel Iblis was increasingly relegated to a more backseat role in the Alliance, while his peers made important decisions.<ref name="dfr" />

In [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]], Bail Organa was killed when his homeworld of Alderaan was [[Destruction of Alderaan|destroyed]] by the Death Star, leaving Bel Iblis as the only Rebel senior enough to stand up to Mon Mothma. She siphoned off more and more power for herself, and Bel Iblis suspected that, should they overthrow Palpatine, she would take his place.<ref name="dfr" /> Bel Iblis stayed with the Rebellion for several months, losing many friends<ref name="tts" /> and finding his name on an Imperial arrest list.<ref name="aj">{{Journal|4|Galaxywide NewsNets}}</ref> Some time later, Mothma gave the go-ahead for an Alliance [[Attack on Milvayne|attack on an Imperial garrison]] at [[Milvayne/Legends|Milvayne]] in the [[Gyrica system]] without seeking the approval of Bel Iblis or any of her other military advisors. Before the attack was enacted, Bel Iblis called Mothma out for her actions at an Alliance conference, requesting that she postpone and reconsider the attack. Mothma overruled him, but a livid Bel Iblis questioned her motives in ordering the attack, claiming it was simply part of a grab for power on her part. The two traded thinly veiled insults, with Bel Iblis eventually stating that none of his troops would have a part in the attack. He felt that Mothma's Intelligence was flawed, as his own sources informed him it was in fact a heavily fortified Imperial [[Ubiqtorate/Legends|Ubiqtorate]] base, which his men would be unable to deal with. For his dissent, Mothma told Bel Iblis that the Rebellion no longer required his services. He stormed out of the chamber and took his loyal supporters, including Sena Leikvold Midanyl and another aide, [[Irenez (Human)|Irenez]], away from the Alliance.<ref name="tts" />

===A man apart===
{{Quote|You're wondering why I didn't join the Alliance. Why I chose instead to run my own private war against the Empire.|Garm Bel Iblis, to Lando Calrissian|<ref name="dfr" />}}
[[File:GarmBelIblis-SWR.png|left|thumb|Bel Iblis during the early days of the Rebellion]]
Bel Iblis waged his own [[Garm Bel Iblis's movement|private war]] against the Empire. With Midanyl and Irenez at his side, he planned many hit-and-run attacks on the Empire, sniping from a distance but causing no real overall damage. The movement's forces continually changed bases so as to avoid detection from the Empire;<ref name="dfr" /> one of the bases was the [[Aratech Repulsor Company/Legends|Aratech]] [[520 Battle Platform]] ''[[Gargantuan]]'', which Bel Iblis's forces stole from an Imperial testing facility.<ref name="Forces of Corruption">''[[Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption]]''</ref> Eventually, they hit a goldmine when they discovered that an old [[Gambling/Legends|gambler]] on the [[Pantolomin/Legends|Pantolomin's]] famed luxury cruiser, the ''[[Coral Vanda]]'', knew the location of the fabled [[Katana fleet|''Katana'' fleet]], a group of Old Republic [[Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser|dreadnaughts]] that had disappeared years before the Clone Wars. The gambler's name was [[Hoffner]], though he never revealed his identity to Bel Iblis. The former senator's personnel bartered with Hoffner until he agreed to retrieve some of the dreadnaughts for them, which he did without revealing their location. Over time, Bel Iblis built up his supply of the dreadnaughts until he had six of the two-hundred-strong fleet in his arsenal. The former senator's [[Flagship/Legends|flagship]] was one of the Dreadnaughts, named [[Peregrine (Dreadnaught-class)|''Peregrine'']].<ref name="dfr" />

During the height of the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]], Bel Iblis' army's crowning achievement was a successful assault on the world of [[Tangrene/Legends|Tangrene]], where his forces sabotaged and completely destroyed an Ubiqtorate base and escaped the world under the noses of three Imperial [[Star Destroyer/Legends|Star Destroyers]] without incurring any major losses or damage to their ships. While the attack was a resounding success, it opened the Empire's eyes to the threat posed by Bel Iblis' movement, and from then on they necessarily treaded carefully in an effort to ensure that the Empire could not track their movements and locate their base. Shortly after the mission to Tangrene, they established a new base, known as ''[[Peregrine's Nest]]''. Bel Iblis later met [[Borsk Fey'lya]], a [[Bothan/Legends|Bothan]] member of the [[Alliance High Command/Legends|Alliance High Command]] who had designs on leading the Alliance. Knowing that Bel Iblis despised Mothma, Fey'lya channeled credits into the Corellian's account and helped him establish the ''Peregrine's Nest'', hoping that Bel Iblis would prove a useful ally should the Bothan ever attempt a coup.<ref name="egtc" /><ref name="tts" />

In [[4 ABY/Legends|4 ABY]], Mothma's Rebel Alliance was victorious at the [[Battle of Endor/Legends|Battle of Endor]], where Darth Vader and the Emperor both perished. The Empire was thrown into disarray, and the Alliance began a push for Coruscant. Bel Iblis believed that once the remnants of the Empire were fended off, Mothma would become an Empress in all but name. Deciding that Imperial attacks would likely cease following the Emperor's death, he made ''Peregrine's Nest'' a permanent base on a planet within 150 [[Light-year/Legends|light-years]] of [[New Cov/Legends|New Cov]], and stockpiled resources and ships should he need to step in and stop Mothma. For over three years they waited for Mothma to install herself as a dictator; Bel Iblis' top lieutenants recognized that she never would, and deep down, so did he, even if he would never admit to it. In [[8 ABY/Legends|8 ABY]], [[Grand Admiral/Legends|Grand Admiral]] [[Mitth'raw'nuruodo/Legends|Thrawn]] returned from the [[Unknown Regions/Legends|Unknown Regions]] to spearhead an Imperial [[Thrawn campaign|campaign]] against Mothma's [[New Republic/Legends|New Republic]]; with both sides desperate for new ships, Bel Iblis knew that if Thrawn discovered ''Peregrine's Nest'' he would take its armaments and dreadnaughts and destroy it. Bel Iblis' forces clashed with the Imperials at [[Linuri]], though it was their last foray into Imperial space for several months.<ref name="dfr" />

Soon thereafter, Midanyl was meeting with [[Bothan/Legends|Bothan]] Council-Aide [[Tav Breil'lya]] on New Cov to discuss Fey'lya and Bel Iblis' allegiance when an Imperial [[Victory I-class Star Destroyer/Legends|''Victory I''-class Star Destroyer]] [[Battle of New Cov|attacked]] the planet. Concurrent with the attack, former New Republic [[General/Legends|Generals]] Han Solo and [[Lando Calrissian/Legends|Lando Calrissian]] stumbled upon the meeting, and Breil'lya wished to execute them before they could inform the [[New Republic Provisional Council]]. Midanyl contacted Bel Iblis, who ordered her to bring the former generals to him at ''Peregrine's Nest''; he sent three Dreadnaughts to deal with the Star Destroyer and cover Midanyl, Calrissian, Solo, and Breil'lya's escape.<ref name="dfr" />

[[File:GarmBelIblis.jpg|thumb|right|210px|Han Solo and Lando Calrissian are brought before Bel Iblis at ''Peregrine's Nest''.]]
When Solo and Calrissian arrived, Bel Iblis arranged an appointment with the former, introducing himself and explaining to the former general that he remembered him from their meeting many years previously and had been tracking Solo's career since. Solo was amazed to learn that Bel Iblis was still alive, and was extremely respectful of the former senator, referring to him as "sir." Bel Iblis then invited Calrissian and Solo to a lounge so that they could exchange questions and answers, but Solo's companion was far less respectful and trusting of Bel Iblis, asking him why he hadn't joined the Alliance. Bel Iblis told them very little aside from his connections to the Bothans, but promised to fill them in at a later time, when it suited him. In return, he asked them a number of questions about Mothma's role in the New Republic. Solo was married to Bail Organa's daughter Leia, who was a member of the New Republic Provisional Council; Solo was accordingly well-versed in New Republic politics and informed Bel Iblis that Mothma had less power than during the Rebellion. Bel Iblis eventually escorted the two men to temporary living quarters; Calrissian still distrusted the former senator, believing that the ''Peregrine's Nest'' might be a ruse orchestrated by Thrawn.<ref name="dfr" />

In their quarters, Calrissian identified Bel Iblis' dreadnaughts as belonging to the ''Katana'' fleet, and the two eventually ran into Midanyl. She told them of Bel Iblis' falling out with Mothma and asked them to use their influence to persuade Mothma to ask him back, knowing that the former senator would never ask Mothma himself. She also provided them with the location of the man who had given Bel Iblis' resistance movement the dreadnaughts. Bel Iblis realized they were not at their quarters, and was waiting for the trio when they arrived at Calrissian's ship, [[Lady Luck/Legends|''Lady Luck'']]. Solo told Bel Iblis that the New Republic was in need of good [[Commander/Legends|commanders]] and that he should make amends with Mothma, but the Corellian refused, believing that he would look like a beggar and an old fool if he asked to be let in. Upset at Midanyl and Solo's betrayal, he left them, and the two former generals departed in ''Lady Luck''.<ref name="dfr" />

===Re-emergence===
{{Quote|I thought you and Mon Mothma had patched all that up.''" <br /> "''Oh, we have. More or less. She's invited me back into the New Republic, I've accepted her leadership, officially all is well. But old memories fade slowly.|Lando Calrissian and Garm Bel Iblis|<ref name="tlc">''[[The Last Command]]''</ref>}}
Bel Iblis pondered his decision for several days, until Midanyl received a message from Han Solo stating that he and Calrissian had located the ''Katana'' fleet, and that the New Republic task force sent to its location had been ambushed by a larger Imperial force. Solo requested that Bel Iblis send whatever forces he could muster to the task force's coordinates immediately, and the Corellian obliged. He took his six dreadnaughts to the [[Battle for the Katana fleet|battle]], announcing himself upon his arrival. Leia Organa Solo was aboard one of the New Republic vessels, and she informed Bel Iblis that Solo's request for assistance had not been sanctioned by the New Republic; however, she made the request official. The vessel's captain, [[Sarin Virgilio]], expressed his pleasure at Bel Iblis' re-emergence, but nevertheless gave the Corellian authority to attack the Imperial force as he pleased.<ref name="dfr" />

Bel Iblis ordered his dreadnaughts to surround [[Judicator/Legends|the lone]] Imperial Star Destroyer remaining, sending swarms of [[Ion cannon/Legends|ion cannon]] fire while his ships' [[Deflector shield/Legends|shields]] absorbed the damage sent at them by the Imperials. Suddenly, [[Peremptory|a second Star Destroyer]] arrived in system, and Bel Iblis split his forces to occupy the two warships. Even with ion cannons, three dreadnaughts would be unable to fend off a Star Destroyer for long. Han Solo was aboard the ''Katana'' fleet's flagship, the ''[[Katana]]'', which was [[Slave circuit|slave-rigged]] to the remainder of the unoccupied dreadnaughts, and sent one of the other empty dreadnaughts into a collision with the newly arrived Star Destroyer, crippling it and slightly damaging one of Bel Iblis' ships. [[Brandei|The captain]] of the remaining Star Destroyer, realizing that the battle had turned in the favor of the New Republic, retreated. However, Grand Admiral Thrawn had gotten hold of over one hundred and fifty dreadnaughts of the ''Katana'' fleet prior the arrival of the New Republic.<ref name="dfr" />

[[File:Bel_Iblis_Solo_and_Calrissian.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Bel Iblis confers with Solo and Calrissian.]]
Bel Iblis was welcomed back to the New Republic by Mon Mothma, although each was too proud to admit past failings and make amends. The Corellian provided the New Republic with all of his contacts throughout the galaxy, and rather than being given a place on the Provisional Council, he was inducted into the [[Combined Defense Forces of the New Republic|military]] and made a general. Some members of the Provisional Council, such as [[Admiral/Legends|Admiral]] [[Gial Ackbar/Legends|Ackbar]], wanted him on the Council, but Mothma maintained that he was needed on the battlefront, claiming that she had every intention of inviting him onto the Council when the threat of Thrawn had been vanquished. General Bel Iblis retained command of the ''Peregrine'', and the prestigious [[Starfighter/Legends|starfighter]] unit [[Rogue Squadron/Legends|Rogue Squadron]] was assigned to his command.<ref name="tlc" />

Bel Iblis' first [[Battle of Qat Chrystac|conflict with Thrawn's forces]] occurred soon after his appointment to general, where a fleet comprising fifteen [[Capital ship/Legends|capital ships]] under his command was ambushed by an [[Immobilizer 418 cruiser/Legends|Interdictor cruiser]] that barred the fleet from entering [[Hyperspace/Legends|hyperspace]] and fleeing from the planet [[Qat Chrystac/Legends|Qat Chrystac]]. Using the Interdictor's [[Gravity well projector/Legends|gravity well projectors]], Thrawn used a new tactic, dubbed the [[Thrawn Pincer]], to pull other Imperial warships out of hyperspace at the exact coordinates of the skirmish. Before long, Bel Iblis' ''Peregrine'' and other ships were facing over twenty Star Destroyers,<ref name="tlc" /> including Thrawn's flagship, the [[Chimaera/Legends|''Chimaera'']],<ref name="sotp">''[[Specter of the Past]]''</ref> and dreadnaughts, as well as swarms of [[TIE/LN starfighter]]s. Bel Iblis sent Rogue Squadron to deal with the enemy starfighters at the edge of the system, and had an [[RZ-1 A-wing interceptor/Legends|A-wing]] squadron ready to enter the fray. Using a new tactic, later dubbed the [[A-wing Slash/Legends|A-wing Slash]], Bel Iblis ordered [[Rogue Leader/Legends|Rogue Leader]] [[Wedge Antilles/Legends|Wedge Antilles]] to cut thirty degrees to portside on his mark. When they did so, he sent the A-wing squadron into the space they had occupied moments prior; as a result, the Imperial fighters were caught flat-footed attempting to track the Rogues, and the A-wing squadron picked them off easily. By this point, Bel Iblis' fleet was being pummeled by [[Turbolaser/Legends|turbolaser]] fire, and had lost one third of its ships. Bel Iblis used the A-wing slash once again to distract Thrawn's forces while the [[Mon Calamari Star Cruiser]] ''[[Orthavan]]'' accelerated toward the Interdictor. Knowing that the Interdictor might not survive the encounter, Thrawn had its gravity well projectors turned off. Bel Iblis ordered an immediate retreat to Qat Chrystac's surface,<ref name="tlc" /> where the New Republic had established a heavily fortified ground base.<ref name="tts" />

His men spent some time recuperating on Qat Chrystac, and while they were there, Bel Iblis received a distress signal from Lando Calrissian, whose [[Nomad City|mining colony]] on [[Nkllon/Legends|Nkllon]] was being raided by Imperial forces. Bel Iblis accompanied a small task force to Nkllon, but by the time they arrived the Empire had already fled. Calrissian informed Bel Iblis of the repercussions: over three million credits worth of stockpiled resources had been stolen, and Nomad City, which had previously been mobile in order to avoid being melted by the [[Star/Legends|sun's]] rays on one side of the planet, had been badly damaged. Calrissian knew that it would take more than twenty days to repair Nomad City, and, in twenty days, the dawn line would catch up with them, ruining the city and killing its inhabitants. Bel Iblis offered to transport the inhabitants to Qat Chrystac, and promised to take Calrissian directly to Coruscant to petition Leia Organa Solo to send a large ship to Nkllon to transport Nomad City offworld before it was destroyed.<ref name="tlc" />

They arrived on Coruscant several days later, and were granted an audience with Admiral [[Hiram Drayson]]. Calrissian requested an [[Assault Frigate Mark I|Assault Frigate]] for ten days so that he could relocate his mining colony, and Bel Iblis showed the admiral eight task forces around the galaxy that could easily spare such a ship for several days. Drayson, however, was adamant that Thrawn would take advantage of any missing ships, and repeatedly refused Calrissian's request; he was also a firm supporter of Mon Mothma, and Bel Iblis believed that may also have influenced his decision. Recognizing defeat, the two men left Drayson, hoping that Ackbar might return to Coruscant in time for Calrissian to call in a few favors.<ref name="tlc" />

===Defense of Coruscant===
{{Quote|At a guess, I'd say our old Corellian adversary has just been put in command of Coruscant's defense. I wonder what took them so long.|Grand Admiral Thrawn|<ref name="tlc" />}}
As they made their way back to their quarters, Bel Iblis noticed the absence of any guards in the [[Imperial Palace/Legends|Imperial Palace]], and when Calrissian's [[Comlink/Legends|comlink]] was jammed, his suspicions that something was amiss were confirmed. The two made their way toward Calrissian's quarters to retrieve the former general's blaster, but en route they ran into [[Mara Jade Skywalker|Mara Jade]], a former [[Emperor's Hand/Legends|Emperor's Hand]] who was being kept in the Palace. Bel Iblis believed that she was responsible for the missing guards and communications disruption, but she informed him that a group of Imperials had [[Raid on Coruscant (Thrawn Crisis)|infiltrated]] the palace. Jade accompanied them to pick up Calrissian's blaster; the group then split, with Jade and Calrissian traveling up one floor to try to warn Leia and Han Solo, while Bel Iblis went down one to try to muster up some reinforcements.<ref name="tlc" />

He found six well-armed security guards, and led them to where he had left Calrissian and Jade. They eventually found Jade facing off with a number of Imperials, whom Bel Iblis' men forced back, although their progress was impeded. An [[E-Web heavy repeating blaster]] was in the process of being transported upstairs by additional security forces, but Bel Iblis knew that by the time it arrived, the Imperials would have reached the Solos and their newly born [[Solo twins|twins]]. He ordered his men to try to advance and take out as many of the Imperials as they could; when the infiltrators located on the above floor arrived with hostages, he hoped to have as few enemies to deal with as possible. They took out one after several minutes, but three remained. Jade's time as an Emperor's Hand gave her an intricate knowledge of the palace's secret passageways, and she left Bel Iblis, hoping to intercept the other Imperial agents and catch them unexpected.<ref name="tlc" />

[[File:Garmdefends.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Bel Iblis just before assuming command of the defense of Coruscant]]
Jade succeeded, and the Imperials were all killed, bar one: [[Major/Legends|Major]] [[Molo Himron]], whom Bel Iblis believed to be their leader. Along with Solo and Calrissian, Bel Iblis interrogated Himron, asking him how he entered the palace. Himron told them that Jade had granted them access by opening several entrances from the inside. Himron was barely conscious, and the [[Medic/Legends|medic]] refused to allow Bel Iblis ask any additional questions. Bel Iblis had her temporarily arrested, despite the objections of Solo, who believed she was trustworthy after stopping the Imperials from kidnapping his children.<ref name="tlc" />

Several days later, Thrawn [[Siege of Coruscant|launched]] a major offensive against a key New Republic world: Coruscant. A small force of Imperial ships arrived in [[Coruscant system/Legends|the system]], including two interdictors, which arrayed themselves in a position that would allow more Imperials ships to be dragged out of hyperspace at a later time. With Ackbar offworld inspecting various military bases, Admiral Drayson was placed in charge of defending Coruscant, even if most of his subordinates suspected that Bel Iblis would have a better chance of outwitting Thrawn. Midanyl urged him to offer his help to General [[Carlist Rieekan/Legends|Carlist Rieekan]], Drayson, and the other military commanders attempting to combat Thrawn's tactics, but he refused, stating that he would only take command if Mon Mothma asked him. He went to the observation gallery, alone, where he monitored the battle and realized that the Imperials' interdictors would mimic the tactic used at Qat Chrystac. Leia Organa Solo arrived moments later, hoping to take up where Midanyl had left off, but he told her to contact Drayson and inform him of the Thrawn Pincer maneuver. Organa Solo was unable to get through to the Admiral, and by the time she reached one of his subordinates it was too late. Two ''Victory''-class Destroyers arrived, ambushing a [[Golan III Space Defense NovaGun]].<ref name="tlc" />

Both Organa Solo and Bel Iblis suspected that Drayson was no match for a being of Thrawn's tactical nous; she attempted to persuade him to take command down below, but he refused. He had realized that Mon Mothma's continual gathering of power for herself was not because she wished to become a tyrant, but because so many lives were at stake and she was unable to hand over the responsibility for them. He told Organa Solo that he would only work with Mothma if she trusted him completely and asked him back. Mothma herself arrived at that moment, telling Bel Iblis that they had had their fair share of differences but that she was ready to overcome them. He accepted, and requested that he take command of Coruscant's defense.<ref name="tlc" />

Bel Iblis immediately pulled all forces away from the Golan defense platforms and back towards Coruscant, as the platforms could take considerably more damage than Drayson had anticipated. In pulling back the dreadnaughts defending the platforms, he gave Thrawn the option of staying put and fighting with the Golans or following the ships back toward the surface and coming within range of the ground artillery. He sent the Dreadnaught ''[[Harrier]]'' to cover them. One of his subordinates informed him that the ''Chimaera'' was using all of its launching [[Tractor beam/Legends|tractor beams]], even though its hangar bay was empty of any starfighters or other craft. Realizing they may have launched a [[Cloaking device/Legends|cloaked]] ship, Bel Iblis ordered his forces to monitor the vector it would have left on and focus their sensors on its path. During their search, the [[EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate/Legends|EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate]] ''[[Evanrue]]'' was struck and badly damaged by a large, unidentified object. Believing Thrawn may have launched cloaked [[Asteroid/Legends|asteroids]], Bel Iblis ordered his ships to fire ion cannons towards where they estimated the object that had struck ''Evanrue'' to be, hoping to knock out the asteroid's cloaking device and take it intact.<ref name="tlc" />

===Searching blind===
{{Quote|It almost doesn't matter how many are up there. Eventually, their orbits will decay, and letting even one hit ground would be a disaster. Until we've cleared them out, we can't risk lowering the planetary shield.|General Carlist Rieekan|<ref name="tlc" />}}
Thrawn's forces left Coruscant soon thereafter, having seemingly launched over two hundred asteroids into Coruscant's [[Orbit/Legends|orbit]]. Bel Iblis, knowing how expensive cloaking devices were to construct, was of the opinion that Thrawn had only launched a few asteroids and had used his launching tractor beams to fire nothing and trick the New Republic. A conference was called between Bel Iblis, Rieekan, Drayson, Mothma, and Organa Solo. Rieekan informed them that, even if Bel Iblis' suspicions were correct, there was still a great danger: the asteroids would eventually leave orbit and collide with Coruscant, killing many. Thus, they could not risk lowering the [[Planetary shield/Legends|planetary shield]].<ref name="tlc" />

During the meeting, [[Colonel/Legends|Colonel]] [[Jak Bremen]] interrupted them to inform them that Mara Jade, who was still being held in custody in the palace, had escaped. Mothma ordered Bremen to prepare a search party to confirm their suspicions that Jade had left the palace, but Organa Solo told him not to bother, as she knew where Jade was. Thrawn had been making use of [[Cloning/Legends|clones]], and Jade believed she knew where the [[Mount Tantiss/Legends|cloning facility]] [[Wayland]]was located]]. As there was currently an information leak, dubbed [[Delta Source]], in the palace, she, her brother [[Luke Skywalker/Legends|Luke Skywalker]], and Han Solo had opted not to inform anyone, and Skywalker and Solo had accompanied her in her search for the cloning facility. Many in the room, including Bremen and Drayson, wanted to punish Organa Solo for her duplicity, but Mothma returned their focus to the defense of Coruscant, and gave Bel Iblis a new set of tasks.<ref name="tlc" />

[[File:Thehuntfordeltasource.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Bel Iblis worked closely with Leia Organa Solo in rooting out Delta Source.]]
In the following days, Bel Iblis helped Organa Solo in her attempts to unearth who or what Delta Source was. He used his influence to help her set up an operations room for expert slicer [[Zakarisz Ghent]] to monitor the transmissions made in the palace and locate Delta Source. Bel Iblis was also involved in the formation of the [[Stardust plan]] along with Drayson and Rieekan, which they hoped would neutralize the threat of the cloaked asteroids. They sent several transports, including the ''Harrier'', into orbit and had them drop dust particles in the vicinity of where they suspected the asteroids to be. The ships then fired negative ion beams into the dust and charged toward it, their sensors looking for turbulence that the visual displays and the [[Eye/Legends|eyes]] alone could not detect. On their first try, they located an asteroid and disabled its cloaking system, but it exploded soon thereafter&mdash;the Grand Admiral didn't want anybody researching his coveted technology.<ref name="tlc" />

While the other commanders continued with the Stardust plan, Bel Iblis focused on his work with Organa Solo in rooting out Delta Source. They determined that it was not an advanced recording device, as regular counterintelligence sweeps turned up nothing, and that it wasn't a person, as Ghent had cross-referenced the information sent to Thrawn by Delta Source and those who were privy to it, with no positive results. Bel Iblis, Organa Solo, and the princess' aide, Winter, noted that all of the recorded conversations occurred in the palace's [[Grand Corridor]], and concluded that Delta Source may have been a [[Droid/Legends|droid]], programmed to leave the Corridor whenever palace security were carrying out their counterintelligence sweeps. Organa Solo and Winter went to the Corridor during the next sweep, observing to see if any droids left, but none did. Organa discovered the real Delta Source: the [[ch'hala tree]]s that lined the entire corridor. Jak Bremen had a team dig them up, and they discovered an advanced recording system, undetectable by his counterintelligence sweeps.<ref name="tlc" />

Bel Iblis and his peers were moderately successful with the Stardust plan, locating and destroying twenty-one asteroids. They determined that the only way to be entirely sure they had not missed any was to obtain a [[crystal gravfield trap]]. [[New Republic Intelligence Service|New Republic Intelligence]] located three, all under Imperial control, and Ackbar prepared a plan to [[Battle of Bilbringi (9 ABY)|attack]] the Imperial [[Shipyard/Legends|shipyards]] at [[Bilbringi VII]] and steal a crystal gravfield trap from there. However, shortly before the assault on Bilbringi was due to occur, smuggling kingpin [[Talon Karrde]] contacted Leia Organa Solo and Bel Iblis, informing them that he and a group of fellow [[Smuggler/Legends|smugglers]] had recently been in the [[Bilbringi system]] and had witnessed Imperial forces loading twenty-two asteroids onto Thrawn's ''Chimaera''. As Bel Iblis' team had already destroyed twenty-one, and Thrawn had destroyed one himself during the attack, Karrde deduced that there were none remaining. The New Republic, fearful that Karrde's information was inaccurate, decided to go through with its attack regardless, but Ackbar was tricked by Thrawn&mdash;the Grand Admiral had anticipated the attack and was waiting for the Republic fleet at Bilbringi. However, Thrawn was killed by the blade of his [[Bodyguard/Legends|bodyguard]] [[Rukh/Legends|Rukh]], and the New Republic was ultimately successful in the battle. With Thrawn's death, it appeared as if a time of peace was beginning.<ref name="tlc" />

===The fall and rise of Coruscant===
{{Quote|Coruscant is surrounded. Our defenses have been forced to retreat. We estimate the planetary shield will fall by morning&hellip;We'll be pulling out tonight&hellip;We have no choice. There's no way to get word to our fleets in other sectors, and even if we did, they couldn't get here before the shield fails&hellip;The New Republic will survive. Only its headquarters will move. We don't want Coruscant destroyed too, when all the Empire wants is to destroy us. Once we're off planet, the populace ought to be safe enough&hellip;We need all the lifting capacity we can beg, borrow, or steal for the evacuation.''" <br /> "&hellip;''The New Republic can't just hijack my ship!''" <br /> "''Actually, we can. And we will.|Garm Bel Iblis and Taryn Clancy|<ref name="rfc">{{Journal|7|Retreat from Coruscant}}</ref>}}
[[File:GarmBelIblis-DFR3.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Garm Bel Iblis]]
Bel Iblis was given a place in [[New Republic High Command/Legends|New Republic High Command]]<ref name="js">''[[Jedi Search]]''</ref> and placed permanently in charge of Coruscant's defense.<ref name="rfc" /> [[10 ABY/Legends|One year after]] the conclusion of the Thrawn crisis, he was a signatory of the document ''[[Why Do We Fight the Empire?]]'' and commanded an independent task force designed for "fire brigade" tasks.<ref name="des">''[[Dark Empire Sourcebook]]''</ref> When the remaining Imperial [[Warlord/Legends|warlords]] banded together and launched a major offensive on the New Republic. They caught Bel Iblis completely unawares when a massive Imperial force [[Second Battle of Coruscant|assaulted]] the Republic's capital, bombarding the planetary shield and laying siege to the planet. The Republic presence in the system was easily picked off by the Imperials, and no reinforcements could arrive in time. Mon Mothma gave the order to evacuate the world before the shields fell, and Bel Iblis was tasked with overseeing the evacuation.<ref name="rfc" />

The upper echelons of the New Republic decided upon the location of a new base, but they had no way of safely transmitting the coordinates to other portions of their fleet. Bel Iblis used whatever ships he could find to pierce the Imperial [[Blockade/Legends|blockade]] and rendezvous with other elements of the fleet; when all New Republic Intelligence vessels had left the system, he called on civilian couriers and [[Freighter/Legends|freighters]] for assistance. A captain of one such courier ship, [[Taryn Clancy]], was less than content with the situation, exclaiming that the New Republic could not just take her ship. Bel Iblis told her that he would, whether she was on it or not, and she ultimately agreed. Bel Iblis got as many ships as he could in the air before eventually lowering the shield so that they could flee and enter hyperspace. The evacuation mostly succeeded, and Bel Iblis was one of the last to depart<ref name="rfc" /> for the new headquarters of the New Republic on [[Dac|Mon Calamari]]. The New Republic later learned that Palpatine had returned to [[Operation Shadow Hand|lead the Empire]] in a cloned body, and his forces [[Battle of Calamari|laid siege]] to the [[Ocean/Legends|ocean]] world. Bel Iblis, along with General Wedge Antilles, coordinated various aspects of the planet's air defense. Ultimately, they repelled the Imperials and their planet-eating [[World Devastator]]s; nearly [[11 ABY/Legends|a year later]], the reborn Emperor was vanquished, and his war machine broke apart, its various leaders once again resorting to [[Imperial Civil War|infighting]].<ref name="des" /> The New Republic reclaimed its former power in short order,<ref name="Empire's End">''[[Star Wars: Empire's End]]''</ref> and Coruscant once more came under their control.<ref name="egtc" />

{{Expand}}

In the wake of a devastating and combat-heavy year, Bel Iblis<ref name="jasb">''[[The Jedi Academy Sourcebook]]''</ref> and other senior military officers<ref name="js" /> found themselves in the New Republic [[Inner Council (New Republic)|Inner Council's]] [[New Republic High Command/Legends|High Command]], Bel Iblis as one of the [[New Republic Senate/Legends|Senate]] Representatives,<ref name="jasb" /> along with [[Hrekin Thorm]].<ref name="da">[[Dark Apprentice (novel)|''Dark Apprentice'']]</ref> Bel Iblis was present when Luke Skywalker appeared before the Senate asking for their blessing to [[New Jedi Order|reestablish]] the Jedi Order.<ref name="js" /> When Ackbar, now the [[Minister of Defense (New Republic)|Minister of Defense]], caused an accident on [[Vortex/Legends|Vortex]] killing hundreds, Bel Iblis and the rest of the High Command debated how to respond. Bel Iblis disapproved of Thorm's idea of sending Ackbar back to Vortex for relief operations, as the Corellian thought that the [[Vor]]s would disapprove of Ackbar's presence. Ackbar resigned his commission before the Command could reach a decision.<ref name="da" /> When it was discovered that Ackbar's nephew [[Terpfen]] has sabotaged his uncle's ship, Ackbar was reinstated as Minister of Defense.<ref name="cotf">''[[Champions of the Force]]''</ref> [[17 ABY/Legends|Six years later]], Bel Iblis was still serving in the Command.<ref name="The New Rebellion">''[[The New Rebellion]]''</ref> In that year, the Imperial Admiral [[Natasi Daala|Daala]] [[Battle of Columus (Galactic Civil War)|attacked]] the New Republic in the [[Deep Core/Legends|Deep Core]], but saw her ships trapped by Bel Iblis in a pair of [[CC-7700 frigate/Legends|CC-7700 frigates]]. One of her ships desperately rammed a CC-7700, destroying it, before Daala made a blind hyperspace jump and fled the battle.<ref name="nec" />

===Keeping the peace===
{{Quote|New Republic force! What are you doing? You have no right to move against me.''" <br /> "''On the contrary, Speaker Plarx. I have every right. You have just opened fire on New Republic spacecraft. Surrender immediately, or prepare to be destroyed.''" <br /> "''I protest! Your ships provoked us into defending ourselves.''" <br /> "''Last chance, Speaker. Surrender or face the consequences.|Plarx and General Garm Bel Iblis|<ref name="sotp" />}}
In [[19 ABY/Legends|19 ABY]], the New Republic discovered a partial copy of the [[Caamas Document]], an Imperial [[Special Files|file]] which revealed that a group of Bothans had been complicit in an [[Orbital bombardment/Legends|orbital bombardment]] of Caamas in the aftermath of the Clone Wars that had nearly driven the [[Caamasi|species]] to extinction. The identities of the individual perpetrators remained unknown. The galaxy slowly spiraled into a [[Caamas Document Crisis|crisis]], secretly and subtly fueled by the machinations of a [[Sinister Triumvirate]] in the leadership of the [[Imperial Remnant]]. A sizable number of New Republic member states wanted to punish the entire Bothan species harshly for the actions of several of its members. The New Republic fleet, including Bel Iblis, attempted to reduce the tensions and act as mediators throughout the crisis. Prior to any serious escalations, Bel Iblis was stationed at a prominent New Republic starfighter base on [[Morishim]], accompanied by a small fleet and Wedge Antilles' Rogue Squadron, which had become permanently attached to the general's command. While there, a [[CR90 corvette/Legends|CR90 corvette]] arrived, followed closely by [[Relentless (Dorja)|an Imperial Star Destroyer]], which intercepted it and snagged it via a tractor beam. The Star Destroyer fled the system before Bel Iblis could scramble any fighters, but the base personnel picked up fragments of a relayed message from the corvette, in which the words "Bel Iblis" could clearly be heard. Unbeknownst to the general, Grand Admiral [[Gilad Pellaeon/Legends|Gilad Pellaeon]] of the Imperial Remnant was suing for peace with the New Republic, and had sent the Corvette to request a rendezvous with Bel Iblis at [[Pesitiin]]. His efforts were being undermined, however, by the triumvirate.<ref name="sotp" />

[[File:Garm_Bel_Iblis_SWA.png|thumb|left|150px|General Bel Iblis]]
Lando Calrissian and Wedge Antilles presented the recording to Bel Iblis, although it was incoherent and undecipherable. Bel Iblis was mystified as to what the corvette was attempting to do, and his subordinates theorized that it may have been a theft-and-defection from [[Imperial Space]] gone awry. Bel Iblis believed it was something more, though, as he knew that the Imperial Remnant did not have enough Star Destroyers to spare to send one on such a simple mission. Bel Iblis and his staff also isolated the word "Vermel" in the recording, and he recognized it as the name of one of Pellaeon's top lieutenants, [[Meizh Vermel]]. Although most of his comrades disagreed with him, he believed it was something more than a theft-and-defection, and dedicated all of his efforts into deciphering the message.<ref name="sotp" />

Those efforts had to put aside for a time, when the general was assigned to help deal with [[Vengeance (organization)|Vengeance]], an anti-Bothan [[Terrorist/Legends|terrorist]] group that had been at the center of many riots, including a disastrous one on the Bothan homeworld, [[Bothawui/Legends|Bothawui]]. Many suspected it was an Imperial group aiming to destabilize the New Republic. Bel Iblis was also tasked with discovering what the term "[[Hand of Thrawn]]" meant, after it was found on [[Datacard/Legends|datacards]] in the [[Imperial Library]] on Wayland. Above-the-board investigations proved fruitless, so Bel Iblis had Commander [[Corran Horn]], who also held the callsign of [[Rogue Nine]], meet with his father-in-law, [[Booster Terrik]], an [[Information broker/Legends|information broker]] and smuggler with a far reach and many information sources throughout the galaxy. Terrik knew no more than the New Republic about Vengeance, and Horn returned to Bel Iblis with no additional information about the group. He provided limited information about an [[Nssis-class Clawcraft|unidentified starship]] that had flown past Terrik's personal Star Destroyer, the ''[[Errant Venture]]'', and transmitted a message in a [[Chiss/Legends#Language and names|foreign language]]. The message mentioned Thrawn's full name&mdash;Mitth'raw'nuruodo&mdash;and Horn believed that it might have been linked to the "Hand of Thrawn." Bel Iblis relayed the information to his superiors in turn.<ref name="sotp" />

Soon thereafter, Bel Iblis' fleet got a panic call from the [[Sif'kric system]], pleading for New Republic intervention. They had few details about the situation, but Bel Iblis responded to the call without waiting to seek authorization from Coruscant. The fleet arrived to find that a large [[Frezh]]lix force had [[Blockade of Sif'kric|blockaded]] [[Sif'kric]], preventing the [[Sif'krie]]s from exporting their most valuable export, [[pommwomm]]s, which had to be processed offworld within thirty hours or their medical effects would be rendered useless. Bel Iblis ordered the men under his command to avoid head-to-head confrontation with the Frezhlix at all costs, as he was unsure of his legal bounds. He spoke with the Frezhlix leader, [[Plarx]], who informed him that the New Republic had no place stepping in, as the matter was between the two species, one of which, the Sif'kries, had stopped the Frezhlix senator from supporting the anti-Bothan [[Drashtine Initiative]].<ref name="sotp" />

Bel Iblis was informed, both by Plarx and by his own personnel, that it would be illegal for them to interfere without an official request from the Sif'krie senator. The general, however, had a plan. He contacted Corran Horn on a secure channel, and bid him run a scan for any of the blockaded freighters that belonged to Booster Terrik. Horn identified the ''Sycophant Jolly'', actually named ''[[Hoopster's Prank]]'', as one of Terrik's ships, and as such Bel Iblis was within his rights to have it impounded. He sent Rogue Squadron to the freighter, who had to fly through the Frezhlix fleet to reach it. Bel Iblis explained the situation to Plarx, but the Corellian's opposite number opened fire on the Rogues, which allowed Bel Iblis to legally intervene and disperse the blockade. The general ordered his fleet to maneuver into attack formation, and demanded that Plarx surrender immediately. The Frezhlix refused, and Bel Iblis ordered his forces to open fire. They quickly defeated the smaller fleet.<ref name="sotp" />

===The siege of Yaga Minor===
{{Quote|The final line of the situation is that any serious New Republic presence over Bothawui at this point would be construed as support of the Bothans against their critics.''" <br /> "''It would be nothing of the sort. It would be a voice of calm and reason in the middle of a very dangerous flash point. There are sixty-eight warships here already, all of them engaged in a twelve-way glaring contest with each other, all of them ready to jump if any of the others so much as sneeze. There has got to be someone here who can mediate any problems before they collapse into all-out war.''" <br /> "&hellip;''You will not be the one chosen for the dubious honor of mediator. President Gavrisom has already selected another task for you&hellip;If Bothawui is the flash point, then it is the Caamas Document which is the spark. President Gavrisom has therefore concluded that the New Republic's best chance of defusing the controversy is to obtain an intact copy of the document. To that end, you are to proceed immediately to Ord Trasi, where you will begin assembling a force for an information raid on the Imperial Ubiqtorate base at Yaga Minor.''" <br /> "''With all due respect, Admiral, President Gavrisom must be joking. Yaga Minor is possibly the most heavily defended system in Imperial or New Republic space.''" <br /> "''The President is fully aware of the challenges involved. I'll be honest: I don't like this any more than you do. But it has to be tried. If war breaks out over this issue, we don't have enough ships or troops to either force or maintain a peace. The entire New Republic could conceivably collapse into total civil war.''" <br />"''Yes, sir. Unfortunately, I'm forced to agree with your assessment.''"<br />"''I may also say, that if there's any way this can be done, you are the one who can do it.|Admiral Ackbar and Garm Bel Iblis|<ref name="votf" />}}
[[File:Bel_Iblis_TTS.png|thumb|right|180px|Garm Bel Iblis]]
The Frezhlix government was up in arms over Bel Iblis' actions, and Admiral Ackbar contacted him aboard the ''Peregrine'' hours later. Bel Iblis gave the Mon Calamari his own recollection of events, and although Ackbar saw it his way, he informed Bel Iblis that New Republic [[Chief of State (New Republic)|Chief of State]] [[Ponc Gavrisom]] might not, due to political pressures. Their conversation was suddenly cut short when Ackbar's [[Hologram/Legends|hologram]] disappeared, and Bel Iblis' communications officers informed him that a [[HoloNet/Legends|HoloNet]] relay on nearby [[Mengjini]] was not functioning. They then received a call for help from Mengjini, informing them that dissident elements had sabotaged the relay and were attacking them. Bel Iblis' fleet traveled there and solved the problem, before later being summoned to intervene in a small conflict by the [[Di'tai'ni]]; however, he suspected that this was a ruse by the Bothans to keep his task force close to Bothawui.<ref name="sotp" />

Bel Iblis kept his fleet at Di'tai'ni for a time, as he had a hunch that there would be trouble of some sort, and had his fighter [[Pilot/Legends|pilots]] sleep in their [[Cockpit/Legends|cockpits]] so that they could respond to any distress calls with maximum efficiency. He was proven right when the Bothans sent a signal to the ''Peregrine'' informing the general that a [[Leresai|Leresen]] fleet had arrived at Bothawui. Rogue Squadron reached the system before Bel Iblis' capital ships could, and Antilles spoke with the Leresen, who informed him that Bothan security guards had killed two of their kin during a riot, and that, per their native custom, twenty innocent Bothan lives must be taken in retaliation. The [[Laser/Legends|lasers]] on the Rogues' starfighters had been sabotaged, and they found themselves unable to stop the Leresen fleet destroying a Bothan [[Space station/Legends|space station]]. taking twenty-one lives. Bel Iblis was too late, and the ''Peregrine'' task force arrived long after hostilities had ceased.<ref name="sotp" />

Soon after, the Leresen proudly admitted to tampering with the Rogues' lasers, and a furious Bel Iblis contacted Gavrisom and told him that he would not allow the New Republic to be used in the political game of its various feuding member states.<ref name="sotp" /> Bel Iblis and Antilles were subsequently requested to meet Admiral Ackbar face-to-face aboard the ''Peregrine''. The general intended to request that his task force be sent to Bothawui to mediate [[Battle of Bothawui (Galactic Civil War)|the growing conflict]], but expected to be turned down and his fleet reassigned to another location. As such, he hoped to persuade Ackbar to allow Antilles perform a covert mission on Bothawui's surface. As expected, Ackbar denied Bel Iblis' request; while he personally agreed with the general's position on the matter, the Senate and [[New Republic High Council|High Council]] believed it would be construed as support for the Bothans. The Admiral promised to continue attempting to persuade them otherwise, and informed Bel Iblis that it would no longer be of his concern: Gavrisom had chosen the Corellian for a different task.<ref name="votf" />

Assuming that a complete version of the Caamas Document implicating the guilty parties in the [[Caamas Firestorm]] would assuage the current tensions in the galaxy, Gavrisom ordered Bel Iblis to raid an Ubiqtorate base orbiting the Imperial world of [[Yaga Minor/Legends|Yaga Minor]] in an effort to obtain one. Bel Iblis's task force was supposedly sent from Bothawui to the nearby [[Kothlis system]], but in reality headed to the [[GaTir system|Mrisst system]] to recruit Booster Terrik for the mission. Bel Iblis, together with two hundred New Republic personnel, partially refitted the ''Errant Venture'' and supplemented the crew, taking control of the vessel but leaving a stubborn Terrik in the captain's chair. Antilles and Horn, meanwhile, performed their mission on Bothawui's surface, hoping to uncover information regarding a rumored plot to lower the world's planetary shields. After a period of time with no leads, the two Rogues were recalled by Bel Iblis. At a council of war, the general informed his fleet of the plan: The ''Errant Venture'' would arrive in [[Realspace/Legends|realspace]] outside of Yaga Minor impersonating the Star Destroyer ''[[Tyrannic]]'', with Bel Iblis's task force pretending to chase it and engaging the base's perimeter defenses. A slicer team would be sent to the station to download a copy of the document, and if the ruse was discovered, the ''Errant Venture'' would try to hold off the Imperial forces just long enough to transmit a copy of the document to the New Republic forces in the perimeter before surrendering. Bel Iblis felt that obtaining a complete copy of the document would end the current crisis, and was serious about the mission, despite the daunting defenses that Yaga Minor presented. The general was willing to go through with the plan, in spite of his belief that neither he nor the ''Venture'' would survive the mission. He ordered all of his forces, including the Rogues, not to attempt to cover the ''Venture'', but to strictly engage the base's perimeter defenses.<ref name="votf" />

The [[Battle of Yaga Minor (Galactic Civil War)|raid]] began, but in an unlucky coincidence, the ''Tyrannic'' had recently been sent to the [[Both system]] under the Triumvirate's direct orders; the Triumvirate was in-system aboard the ''Relentless'', and the ruse was thus seen through immediately. The ''Errant Venture'' was caught in tractor beams deployed by the base and its defenses, and a group of [[Immobilizer 418 cruiser/Legends|Immobilizer 418 cruisers]] arrived in-system to trap the rest of the task force in [[Interdiction field/Legends|interdiction fields]]. Bel Iblis correctly surmised that the Imperials wanted to capture the ''Venture'' and use its crew as hostages, and, accepting the probability of being killed, ordered the ship to destroy the tractor beam emplacements holding it and to ram the ''Relentless''. His aim was to disable it long enough for a slicer team to get inside the Ubiqtorate base, before downloading and transmitting a copy of the document. He also hoped that at least some of his task force would be able to escape.<ref name="votf" />

Before the general's plan could be put into motion, Talon Karrde's smuggling vessel, the ''[[Wild Karrde]]'', arrived in-system, having just returned from the planet [[Exocron]] in the [[Kathol sector]]. With him were Pellaeon, as well as records discrediting two members of the triumvirate: [[Major/Legends|Major]] [[Grodin Tierce]] was a flawed clone, and the resurrected Grand Admiral Thrawn whom the Imperial Remnant had rallied behind was in fact the [[Con artist/Legends|con artist]] [[Flim]]. Antilles ordered his forces to allow the ''Wild Karrde'' to move through their forces and dock with the ''Relentless'', where the triumvirate's charade was exposed, and a relieved Flim ordered the Imperial forces to stand down, turning command over to Pellaeon. Pellaeon and Bel Iblis went on to at last discuss peace between the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant. The Ubiqtorate base did not end up possessing a complete copy of the Caamas Document, but Luke Skywalker's [[Astromech droid/Legends|astromech droid]] [[R2-D2/Legends|R2-D2]] discovered one on [[Nirauan/Legends|Nirauan]], which brought an end to the crisis and stopped a [[Battle of Bothawui (Galactic Civil War)|major battle]] from occurring at Bothawui. The [[Pellaeon–Gavrisom Treaty]] was signed by Pellaeon and Gavrisom, establishing peace between two sides that had warred for over two decades.<ref name="votf" />

==Personality and traits==
[[File:Garm_Bel_Iblis_signature.png|thumb|left|200px|Garm Bel Iblis' signature]]
As a senator, Bel Iblis was extremely patriotic towards both the Old Republic<ref name="TFUdb" /> and his home planet, and was said to embody the Corellian spirit of independence.<ref name="db" /> He was considered a political maverick,<ref name="tts" /> and his charisma won him many allies in the Senate. Believing that the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic was power-hungry,<ref name="tlcs" /> Bel Iblis was not afraid to speak out against him, doing so out of a determination to preserve freedom in the galaxy. For this reason, he was opposed to the Republic's participation in the Clone Wars.<ref name="TFUdb" /> He continued to speak out against Palpatine even after the Chancellor declared himself Galactic Emperor,<ref name="TFUdb" /> and remained staunch in his opposition to the Empire despite the strain it put on his marriage. Bel Iblis made many efforts to save the marriage, and was distraught at the deaths of his wife and children,<ref name="iad" /> becoming withdrawn and sullen for many years.<ref name="tts" />

Bel Iblis was very pragmatic, both in his roles as Galactic Senator<ref name="hnn1" /> and military General.<ref name="Star by Star" /><ref name="DW" /> He opposed the creation of a Grand Army of the Republic due to its costs,<ref name="hnn1" /> and during the Yuuzhan Vong War, ordered his forces to fire on civilian targets that stood between he and the enemy, believing that the targets would die regardless.<ref name="Star by Star" /> When he felt that the New Republic was incapable of effectively fighting the Yuuzhan Vong, he established a private war against the invaders in order to be free of the Senate's political scheming.<ref name="DW" /> Bel Iblis founded and operated his first private rebellion based on direct confrontation with the Empire,<ref name="db" /> and was pragmatic enough to realize the necessity of merging it with other rebel groups.<ref name="rd" /><ref name="TFU" /> When he felt that an intact copy of the Caamas Document would save the galaxy from a major civil war, he was willing to sacrifice his life and those of people serving under him in order to obtain it.<ref name="votf" />

A keen military strategist<ref name="egtc" /> and an astute observer, Bel Iblis was skilled at thinking on his feet during space battles,<ref name="tlc" /> and ordered his pilots to sleep in their cockpits in anticipation of a coming conflict on at least one occasion. In his capacity as a New Republic General, he was unafraid to speak his mind to the government's Chief of State.<ref name="sotp" /> The Corellian was often wary of the ambition of others, believing that first Palpatine<ref name="tlcs" /> and later Mon Mothma were addicted to power.<ref name="egtc" /> Although he was correct in the former case,<ref name="rotsn" /> his fears that Mothma would declare herself Empress of the galaxy<ref name="tts" /> were only let go of five years after the founding of the New Republic. He was too proud of a man to admit his mistake,<ref name="dfr" /> and even after joining Mothma's New Republic, held onto his pride and refused to make amends with her or to admit his past failings. When Coruscant came under attack by Grand Admiral Thrawn, he was too proud to help defend the planet unless Mothma herself requested it of him (though that was mainly because Mothma was unwilling to trust Bel Iblis with the lives of the people under her command).<ref name="tlc" />

==Behind the scenes==
Garm Bel Iblis was created by author [[Timothy Zahn]] and first appeared in his [[1992]] hardcover novel ''[[Dark Force Rising]]''.<ref name="dfr" /> The character was conceived when Zahn was seeking a role for Han Solo in the book, and was then worked into the overarching plot of [[Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy|the trilogy]] of which ''Dark Force Rising'' made up the middle chapter. Zahn wrote Bel Iblis as contributing to the plot of the trilogy's final chapter, ''[[The Last Command]]'', in what he saw as a solid fashion.<ref name="zahn interview">{{Cite_web|url=http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/interview/timothyzahn.asp|title=Jedi Council Interviews - Timothy Zahn|work=[[TheForce.net]]|archivedate=20200602130156}}</ref>

Later published works expanded upon the character and his role in the founding of the Rebellion, including various sourcebooks<ref name="tlcs" /><ref name="tts" /><ref name="egtc" /> and the [[2008]] video game [[Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (video game)|''The Force Unleashed'']].<ref name="TFU" /> In both ''The Force Unleashed'' and [[Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption|''Empire at War: Forces of Corruption'']], Bel Iblis is voiced by [[Kristoffer Tabori]].{{Fact}} In the latter's Galactic Conquest and Skirmish modes, he can be found on any Rebel-controlled world, as well as on Tatooine and Sullust in the game's Campaign mode.<ref name="Forces of Corruption" /> Other inconsistencies surrounding the character involve the spelling of his last name; several sources assert "bel Iblis" while the [[1994]] novel ''[[Jedi Search]]'' spells it "Bel-Iblis."<ref name="js" />

==Appearances==
{{Scroll_box|content=
{{Mediacat|imagecat=Images of Garm Bel Iblis}}
*''[[Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[The Paradise Snare]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Interlude at Darkknell]]''
*''[[Rebel Dawn]]'' {{Mo}}
*{{Journal|4|Galaxywide NewsNets}} {{Mo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=The Last Command Sourcebook|story=Differences of Opinion}}
*[[Star Wars: Rebellion (video game)|''Star Wars: Rebellion'' video game]]
*''[[Dark Force Rising]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[The Last Command]]''
*''[[X-Wing: Isard's Revenge]]''
*{{Journal|7|Retreat from Coruscant}}
*''[[Jedi Search]]''
*[[Dark Apprentice (novel)|''Dark Apprentice'']]
*''[[Champions of the Force]]''
*''[[I, Jedi]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[The New Rebellion]]''
*''[[Specter of the Past]]''
*''[[Vision of the Future]]''
}}

==Sources==
{{Scroll_box|content=
*''[[Dark Force Rising Sourcebook]]''
*''[[Dark Empire Sourcebook]]''
*''[[A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded]]''
*''[[The Last Command Sourcebook]]''
*''[[The Essential Guide to Characters]]''
*''[[The Jedi Academy Sourcebook]]''
*''[[The Thrawn Trilogy Sourcebook]]''
*{{Journal|15|Special Military Unit Intelligence Update}}
*''[[Star Wars: Rebellion: Prima's Official Strategy Guide]]''
*''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Behind the Magic]]''
*{{InQuestCite|50|Star Wars Episode VII: Rise of the New Republic}}
}}

----
{{Start_box}}
{{Succession_box
|title=[[Senator/Legends|Senator]] of the [[Corellian sector/Legends|Corellian sector]] ([[Galactic Senate/Legends|Old Republic]]/[[Imperial Senate/Legends|Imperial Senate]])
|years=[[35 BBY/Legends|35]]&ndash;c. [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]]
|before=[[Com Fordox]]
|before-years=c. [[33 BBY/Legends|33 BBY]]
|after=[[Doman Beruss (Corellian)|Doman Beruss]] (in [[New Republic Provisional Council|Provisional Council]]/[[New Republic Senate/Legends|New Republic Senate]])
|after-years=}}
{{Succession_box
|title=[[Senator/Legends|Senator]] of the [[Corellian sector/Legends|Corellian sector]] ([[New Republic Senate/Legends|New Republic Senate]])
|years=[[11 ABY/Legends|11]]&ndash;c. [[16 ABY/Legends|16 ABY]]
|before=[[Doman Beruss (Corellian)|Doman Beruss]]
|before-years=
|after=[[Chelch Dravvad]]
|after-years=}}
{{Succession_box
|title=[[Commander/Legends|Commander]], [[New Republic Fourth Fleet|New Republic Fourth Battle Group]]
|years=c. [[18 ABY/Legends|18 ABY]]
|before=Eventually [[Willham Burke]] as commander of the [[Rebel Alliance Fourth Battle Fleet]]
|before-years=
|after=[[Gilad Pellaeon/Legends|Gilad Pellaeon]] as Commander of the [[Galactic Alliance Fourth Fleet]]
|after-years=}}
{{Succession_box
|title=[[Commander/Legends|Commander]], [[New Republic Second Fleet|New Republic Second Battle Group]]
|years=&mdash;[[28 ABY/Legends|28 ABY]]
|before=
|before-years=
|after=Himself as Commander, [[Galactic Alliance Second Fleet]]
|after-years=}}
{{Succession_box
|title=[[Commander/Legends|Commander]], [[Galactic Alliance Second Fleet]]
|years=[[28 ABY/Legends|28]]&ndash;[[29 ABY/Legends|29 ABY]]
|before=Himself as Commander, [[New Republic Second Fleet|New Republic Second Battle Group]]
|before-years=
|after=Eventually [[Tarla Limpan]]
|after-years=}}
{{End_box}}

==Notes and references==
{{Scroll_box|width=100%|content={{Reflist}}}}

==External links==
*{{WP|Garm Bel Iblis}}

{{DEFAULTSORT: Bel Iblis, Garm}}
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