View source for Hija/Legends

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{{Character
|type=Galactic Empire
|image=[[File:Hija-ANH.jpg]]
|name=Hija
|homeworld=
|birth=
|death=
|species=[[Human/Legends|Human]]<ref name="ANH">{{Film|IV}}</ref>
|gender=[[Gender/Legends|Male]]<ref name="ANH" />
|height=
|mass=
|hair=[[Color/Legends|Brown]]<ref name="ANH" />
|eyes=
|skin=
|cyber=
|affiliation=*[[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire]]<ref name="ANH" />
**[[Imperial Navy/Legends|Imperial Navy]]<ref name="ANH" />
|masters=
|apprentices=}}
{{Quote|There goes another one.|Lieutenant Hija, to Gunnery Captain Bolvan|<ref name="ANH" />}}
'''Hija''' was a [[Human/Legends|Human]] [[Gender/Legends|male]] [[Lieutenant/Legends|lieutenant]] of the [[Imperial Navy/Legends|Imperial Navy]] during the early stages of the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]]. He served as the [[Chief gunnery officer/Legends|chief gunnery officer]] aboard the [[Imperial I-class Star Destroyer/Legends|Imperial Star Destroyer]] [[Devastator/Legends|''Devastator'']], under the command of [[Dark Lord of the Sith/Legends|Lord]] [[Anakin Skywalker/Legends|Darth Vader]]. In [[7 BBY/Legends|7 BBY]], Vader commanded Hija to conduct an [[Bombardment of Falleen|orbital bombardment]] of the [[Planet/Legends|planet]] [[Falleen (planet)/Legends|Falleen]] in order to stop an [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Imperial]]-produced [[Flesh-eating bacterium|bacterial plague]] from spreading out of control. Later, in [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]], Hija participated in the ''Devastator''{{'s}} [[Battle of Tatooine (Galactic Civil War)|capture]] of the [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Rebel]] [[CR90 corvette/Legends|CR90 corvette]] [[Tantive IV/Legends|''Tantive IV'']], during which he spotted an [[Escape pod/Legends|escape pod]] fleeing from the impounded Rebel [[Starship/Legends|vessel]]. However, [[Gunnery captain/Legends|Gunnery Captain]] [[Bolvan/Legends|Bolvan]] ordered Hija not to fire on the pod because the ''Devastator''{{'s}} [[Gunner/Legends|gunnery]] [[Sensor/Legends|sensors]] detected no lifeforms aboard.

==Biography==
{{Quote|Prepare for an orbital bombardment of Falleen&mdash;centering on the research facility, and everything within 40 kilometers.|Darth Vader, to Lieutenant Hija|<ref name="TLE">{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=The Lesser Evil|stext=''The Lesser Evil''}}, p. 33</ref>}}
[[File:Bolvan-Hija-ANH.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Gunnery Captain Bolvan instructs Hija not to fire on the escape pod.]]
The [[Human/Legends|Human]] [[Gender/Legends|male]] Hija was a member of the [[Galactic Empire/Legends|Galactic Empire's]] [[Imperial Navy/Legends|navy]] during the [[Imperial Period]].<ref name="ANH" /> By [[7 BBY/Legends|7 BBY]],<ref name="SOTES">''[[Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook]]'', p. 32</ref><ref name="Note">''[[Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook]]'' reveals that the [[bombardment of Falleen]] was ten [[Standard year/Legends|years]] before the events of ''[[Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire]]'', which occurred in [[3 ABY/Legends|3 ABY]], according to ''[[The New Essential Chronology]]''.</ref> he was serving under [[Captain/Legends|Captain]] [[Bolvan/Legends|Bolvan]] as a [[Lieutenant/Legends|lieutenant]]<ref name="TLE" /> aboard the [[Imperial I-class Star Destroyer/Legends|''Imperial I''-class Star Destroyer]]<ref name="BTM">''[[Star Wars: Behind the Magic]]''</ref> [[Devastator/Legends|''Devastator'']], commanded by the [[Dark Lord of the Sith/Legends|Dark Lord]] [[Anakin Skywalker/Legends|Darth Vader]].<ref name="TLE" />

Hija was the [[Chief gunnery officer/Legends|chief gunnery officer]]<ref name="SWE">''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]'' {{C|''"Hija, Lieutenant"''}}</ref><ref name="TCSWE">{{CSWECite|II|42|Hija, Lieutenant}}</ref> aboard the ''Devastator'' when the [[Star Destroyer/Legends|Star Destroyer]] arrived at the [[Planet/Legends|planet]] [[Falleen (planet)/Legends|Falleen]] in 7 BBY as a part of Vader's exploration tour visiting Imperial weapon development projects.<ref name="Fact File 69">Non-Canon Ref</ref> After hearing Bolvan's report on an accident in a [[Bacteriological research outpost|biological research facility]] and the following spread of a [[flesh-eating bacterium]] across Falleen's surface, Vader ordered an [[Orbital bombardment/Legends|orbital bombardment]] of the surface to halt any further spread of the leaking [[Bioweapon/Legends|bioweapon]].<ref name="TLE" /> Hija was responsible for firing the devastating [[Turbolaser/Legends|turbolaser]] [[Bombardment of Falleen|bombardment]] from the ''Devastator'' that destroyed the weapons facility<ref name="TCSWE" /> and everything within forty [[Kilometer/Legends|kilometers]]<ref name="TLE" /> to cover up the mishap.<ref name="TCSWE" /> Among the 200,000 [[Falleen/Legends|Falleen]] [[Death/Legends|casualties]] in the ensuing destruction was the [[House Sizhran|family]] of [[Prince/Legends|Prince]] [[Xizor/Legends|Xizor]], who later led the [[Black Sun/Legends|Black Sun]] criminal organization.<ref name="SOTES" />

In [[0 BBY/Legends|0 BBY]],<ref name="NEC">''[[The New Essential Chronology]]''</ref> during the [[Galactic Civil War/Legends|Galactic Civil War]],<ref name="ANH" /> Hija was still serving as the chief gunnery [[Officer/Legends|officer]] of the ''Devastator'', under the direct command of the now&ndash;[[Gunnery captain/Legends|Gunnery Captain]] Bolvan.<ref name="TCSWE" /> After [[Alliance to Restore the Republic/Legends|Rebel]] agents transmitted the stolen [[Death Star plans/Legends|plans]] of the [[DS-1 Orbital Battle Station/Legends|first Death Star]], a new Imperial [[Superweapon/Legends|superweapon]], to the Rebel [[CR90 corvette/Legends|CR90 corvette]] [[Tantive IV/Legends|''Tantive IV'']], [[Senator/Legends|Senator]] [[Leia Organa Solo|Leia Organa's]] [[Consular ship/Legends|consular ship]], the ''Devastator'' pursued and [[Battle of Tatooine (Galactic Civil War)|captured]] the Rebel [[Starship/Legends|vessel]] over the planet [[Tatooine/Legends|Tatooine]]. Several [[Escape pod/Legends|escape pods]] were jettisoned from the ''Tantive IV'' during the battle. Hija spotted the pod that, unbeknownst to the Imperials, contained the Rebel [[Droid/Legends|droids]] [[C-3PO/Legends|C-3PO]] and [[R2-D2/Legends|R2-D2]], the latter of whom carried the stolen [[Death Star/Legends|Death Star]] plans in his [[Memory core|memory banks]].<ref name="ANH" /> However, since the ''Devastator''{{'s}} [[Gunner/Legends|gunnery]] [[Sensor/Legends|sensors]] detected no lifeforms within the escape pod, Bolvan ordered Hija to hold his fire in order to conserve power, allowing the droids to escape.<ref name="ANH novel">[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (novel)|''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' novelization]], ch. 1</ref>

==Personality and traits==
When [[Darth/Legends|Darth]] Vader ordered Hija to conduct the orbital bombardment of Falleen that would kill thousands, the lieutenant did not hesitate and carried out his duties at once.<ref name="TLE" /> Later, when Bolvan instructed him to refrain from firing on the ''Tantive IV''{{'s}} fleeing escape pod, Hija followed the command of his superior unhesitatingly.<ref name="ANH" /> Hija chose to wear the prominent sideburns that were popular among [[Imperial officer/Legends|Imperial officers]] around the [[Time/Legends|time]] of the [[Battle of Yavin/Legends|Battle of Yavin]].<ref name="tjas">''[[The Jedi Academy Sourcebook]]'', p. 61</ref>

==Behind the scenes==
The Hija character first appeared in the [[December]] [[1976]] [[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (novel)|novelization]] of [[Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope|''Star Wars'': Episode IV ''A New Hope'']],<ref name="ANH novel" /> ghostwritten by [[Alan Dean Foster]].<ref name="ANH novel SE">[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (novel)|''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' novelization]], [[The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition|''Special Edition'']] foreword by [[George Lucas]]</ref> Although he was not credited, actor [[John Forgeham]] claimed to have played the character in the [[1977]] film, according to the fan Web site [http://www.starwarsautographs-online.de/ Star Wars Autographs Online].<ref>{{Cite_web|url=http://starwarsautographs-online.de/originaltrilogy/forgeham_john.html|title=Star Wars Autographs Online|archivedate=20160305072141}}</ref> However, Forgeham would later on acknowledge he had in fact played Bolvan, with actor [[John Wreford]] acknowledging the role of Hija.<ref name="Planet Dagobah Forgeham">{{Cite_web|url=http://planetdagobah.com/autographclassitrilogy.htm|title=Autograph Classic Trilogy|date=2012-07-25|work=JMY'S PLANET DAGOBAH|publisher=planetdagobah.com|quote=John Forgham (sic): Captain Bolvan (ANH); Imperial Gunner (ANH)|archivedate=20171115021856}}</ref><ref name="Planet Dagobah Wreford">{{Cite_web|url=http://planetdagobah.com/autographclassitrilogy.htm|title=Autograph Classic Trilogy|date=2012-07-25|work=JMY'S PLANET DAGOBAH|publisher=planetdagobah.com|quote=John Wreford : Lt.Hija (ANH)|archivedate=20171115021856}}</ref>

The ''A New Hope'' novel refers to Hija as "one of" the chief gunnery officers under Bolvan's command aboard the ''Devastator''.<ref name="ANH novel" /> However, later sources, including the ''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]'', ''[[Star Wars: Behind the Magic]]'', and ''[[The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia]]'', state that Hija was "the" ''Devastator''{{'s}} chief gunnery officer.<ref name="BTM" /><ref name="SWE" /><ref name="TCSWE" /> In the revised fourth draft script of ''A New Hope'', as presented in ''Star Wars: Behind the Magic'', Hija is identified as "Chief Pilot," despite managing the Star Destroyer's weapons.<ref name="BTM" />

==Appearances==
*''[[The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader]]'' {{Imo}}
*{{WEGCite|book=Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook|story=The Lesser Evil|stext=''The Lesser Evil''}}
*[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (novel)|''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' novelization]] {{1st}}
*[[Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (junior novelization)|''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope'' junior novelization]]
*{{Film|IV}}
*''[[Star Wars: A New Hope - The Special Edition 1]]'' {{Voice}}
*''[[Star Wars Manga: A New Hope 1]]''

===Non-canon appearances===
*''[[William Shakespeare's Star Wars: Verily, A New Hope]]''

==Sources==
*''[[A Guide to the Star Wars Universe]]''
*''[[A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded]]''
*''[[Shadows of the Empire Sourcebook]]''
*''[[The Art of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope]]''
*''[[Star Wars: The Annotated Screenplays]]''
*''[[Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''
*''[[Star Wars: Behind the Magic]]''
*{{FFCite|8|TAN2, ''Tantive IV and Escape Pod''}} {{Imo}}
*{{FFCite|10|HUN1, ''The Hunt for the Droids''}} {{Imo}}
*{{FFCite|69|XIZ2, ''Prince Xizor''}}
*{{SWArchive|url=episode-iv/explore/visualguides/chp04.html|text=Visual Guide Chapter 4: Artoo's Mission|archivedate=20070905060422}}
*''[[The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia]]''

==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}

{{Interlang
|de=Hija
|hu=Hija
|nl=Hija
|pl=Hija
|ru=Хиджа
}}

[[Category:Chief gunnery officers]]
[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:Imperial Navy officers of the Galactic Empire]]
[[Category:Males]]