Amilyn Holdo was born on Gatalenta and met Leia Organa on Alderaan when the two were teenaged apprentice legislators training for Senate careers. Holdo’s unconventional Gatalentan fashions and blunt ways struck Leia as odd, but the two became good friends. Holdo discovered Leia’s support for the nascent Rebellion, and helped her warn rebel operatives of danger from the Empire.

Holdo joined the Resistance, serving as an ally and sounding board for her old friend. As a vice admiral, she commanded the Ninka. During a supply mission to the Atterra system using Resistance bombers, Holdo learned of the destruction of Hosnian Prime and the attack on Starkiller Base. She immediately made plans to bring the bombers back to D’Qar aboard the Ninka.

When Leia was injured in a First Order attack on the Raddus, Holdo took over command of the Resistance fleet. Poe Dameron grew frustrated when Holdo treated him brusquely, refusing to share her escape plan with him and telling him to follow her orders.

Worried that Holdo had no real plan, Poe agreed to help Rose and Finn slip away in hopes of shutting down the tracker the First Order was using to keep the Resistance ships from escaping. He and Kaydel Ko Connix deceived Holdo while Rose and Finn made their getaway.

Holdo banned Poe from the bridge, but the impetuous pilot wouldn’t be stopped. When he discovered Holdo was fueling up transports for an evacuation, Poe accused her of being a traitor. An angry Holdo ordered soldiers to remove him.

With the evacuation ready to begin, Poe revealed Rose and Finn’s mission and insisted that Holdo give them more time. When she refused, he and his fellow mutineers drew their blasters. Poe hurried to the Raddus’s bridge, giving Holdo an opening. A firefight began, although both sides limited themselves to stun blasts.

Poe’s mutiny ended when a recovered Leia entered the bridge of the Raddus and stunned him. The evacuation would continue – as she and Holdo had planned. But Holdo had to remain behind to fly the cruiser. She and Leia parted sadly, with Holdo assuring her old friend she would bear up under the weight of yet another loss. After all, Leia had taught her how.

To Holdo’s horror, the First Order had discovered the Resistance’s plan, and began blasting the helpless transports. Desperate to buy time, Holdo altered the Raddus‘s course so the cruiser was aimed at the pursuing Supremacy. She then made the jump to hyperspace.

The impact tore through the First Order flagship and several of the other warships. Amilyn Holdo had sacrificed her life to ensure the Resistance would have every chance to survive and continue the fight.