Blockade

"Admiral, hurry we must if we are to aid General Kenobi."
"It will not be easy to breach the blockade, Master Yoda. Its what stopped our relief ships before."
"Last time not as many ships did you have. Get past it we must. Get past it we will."

―Master Yoda and Admiral Wullf Yularen^[11]

A blockade was when a military or another entity stationed a fleet in orbit around a planet in order to prevent the coming and going of starships.

History

Reign of the Republic

During the Emergences, the Galactic Republic established a blockade of hyperspace routes to affected areas of the Outer Rim Territories, growing the area the blockade covered whenever a new Emergence rained upon a star system. By blockading the hyperspace entry points, Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh hoped to save starships that would otherwise be traveling through hyperspace from destruction, but she did support sending supply ships into the hyperlanes if a possible crisis began. Nevertheless, the blockade hurt the economies of various Outer Rim systems.^[12]

The Corporate Alliance would blockade the planet Malastare, leading the Republic in dispatching a Jedi-led task force that would resolve the matter. It was presumed its commander, Trench, was killed as well.^[2] Ships of the Trade Federation fleet would blockade the peaceful world of Naboo in order to pressure its leader, Queen Padmé Amidala, to sign a petition treaty. This would escalate into the Trade Federation's Invasion of Naboo.^[1]

BlockadeOfRyloth-SL — The Confederacy-enforced Ryloth blockade

Years later, during the Clone Wars, Admiral Trench, the same commander from the blockade of Malastare, would lead the Separatist Alliance's blockade of Christophsis. The fleet would be annihilated after the destruction of his flagship, the Providence-class Dreadnought Invincible, by an experimental stealth ship, allowing a Republic naval fleet to destroy the blockade.^[2] The Separatist were able to send reinforcements and force the Republic fleet to retreat. However, Republic reinforcements under Master Yoda were able to force the blockade's remaining ships to retreat.^[11]

A fleet led by Captain Mar Tuuk would blockade Ryloth during the Separatist invasion of the planet. Tuuk's forces would be destroyed by the Republic, who went on to liberate Ryloth.^[13]

The Trade Federation, under Sib Canay, blockaded Pantora to force the Pantorans to join the Confederacy. However, the blockade was lifted when Canay was revealed to be behind the kidnapping of Chairman Notluwiski Papanoida's daughters, Chi Eekway and Che Amanwe.^[5]

Age of the Empire

A transit chip could be used to bypass the Galactic Empire's blockades.^[14] The Empire established a blockade around the planet of Mon Cala during the occupation. However, three ships of the Mon Cala's Mercantile Fleet under Admiral Raddus were able to break through the blockade and escape.^[15]

Ghost approaches blockade of Ibaar — The *Ghost* at the Imperial blockade of Ibaar.

The Empire later established a blockade under Admiral Kassius Konstantine around the planet of Lothal^[16] due to heavy rebel activity there.^[17] The blockade prevented entrepreneurs such as Lando Calrissian from bringing equipment to Lothal.^[18] Following the destruction of Governor Wilhuff Tarkin's flagship, the Sovereign, Lord Vader tightened the blockade in order to punish Lothal and prevent the Spectres from escaping.^[19]

Around the same time as the Lothal activity,^[20] the Empire cutoff shipping lanes to the planet Ghorman^[21] via a blockade. While Senator Mon Mothma was able to rally the votes needed to overturn the blockade, the planet continued to be the center of Imperial interest^[22] thanks to its supply of Kalkite.^[21] The Empire later sent Imperial Security Bureau Agent Alexsandr Kallus and several ships to Ibaar prevent any supplies and aid from being delivered to the Ibaarian underground network. Kallus was able to stop Phoenix Squadron during their first attack, but the blockade was broken by Captain Hera Syndulla and a prototype B-wing starfighter.^[6]

During the Lothal campaign, the blockade at Lothal was strengthened by the Seventh Fleet under Grand Admiral Thrawn.^[23] The Seventh Fleet blockaded Atollon to prevent Phoenix Squadron and the Massassi Group from escaping. Commander Jun Sato attempted to use Danaan tactics to break through the blockade, but sacrificed himself and Phoenix Nest to help Lieutenant Commander Ezra Bridger to get help. Fortunately, the survivng ships of both rebel cells were able to escape to Yavin 4 after Bridger and Clan Wren destroyed the last Interdictor-class heavy cruiser.^[24] The blockade under Thrawn's command was able to prevent Syndulla's forces from destroying Lothal's factories.^[25] The blockade was destroyed when the Ghost summoned the Purrgil to assist them.^[26]

BrokenWingBlockade-EmpireAscendant1 — The *Broken Wing* combats an Imperial blockade.

The Empire blockaded the world of Kubindi and enslaved its population, but Garindan ezz Zavor plotted to liberate his homeworld, with the Kubaz spy even buying the codes necessary to get through the blockade.^[27] After The Disaster, the Galactic Empire blockaded the Alderaanian Graveyard.^[28] At some point prior to the Battle of Hoth,^[29] bounty hunter Beilert Valance encountered and maneuvered around an Imperial blockade.^[30] After the Battle of Endor, Imperial governor Ubrik Adelhard initiated the Iron Blockade of the Anoat sector.^[7]

Reign of the First Order

"This is Dantooine. The First Order has taken control of the planet, creating a blockade and cutting off all range communications. Three shuttles carrying a handful of Resistance recruits are trying to escape to join us. Our mission to extract the shuttles and escort them back to the Colossus without the First Order catching on. With luck, we will have minimal engagement, but there are no guarantees."

―Resistance Commander Venisa Doza^[9]

During the First Order-Resistance War, the First Order blockaded the planet of Dantooine. However, the Jade Squadron and members of Ace Squadron arrived at the planet to get Resistance shuttles to safety. Although Jace Rucklin, who flying a First Order TIE fighter managed to take down one of the shuttles, the Resistance and their allies managed to successfully escort the other two craft.^[9]