Vel Sartha was the no-nonsense leader of a rebel crew on the remote planet of Aldhani. Disguised as ghoat-herders, they trained for five months to rob the nearby Imperial garrison. Sartha didn’t appreciate the unexpected order from Luthen Rael to bring in a new person three days before the heist. “Clem” – the alias Cassian Andor chose – had to catch up quickly, as all of their lives were at stake on such a risky job.

While Andor, Karis Nemik, Arvel Skeen, and Taramyn Barcona posed as troopers and infiltrated Imperial ranks under the cover of an atmospheric event known as “the Eye,” Sartha and her girlfriend Cinta Kaz set a communications jammer on the rampart and signaled the team. The heist was a go.

Inside the garrison, the rebels held Commandant Jayhold Beehaz at blasterpoint and demanded he open the payroll vault. But when a garrison officer intercepted the crew’s communications, he stumbled upon the robbery in progress. He and his troops opened fire and Sartha barely took cover in time. The rebels managed to make it on board the ship and escaped with the credits in their cargo hold. Ultimately, only Cassian, Cinta, and Vel survived. 

Soon after, Vel returned to her normal life – as a Chandrilan socialite, paying a visit to her cousin Mon Mothma’s Coruscant home. While Sartha refused to share any details about her work for Rael, she reassured the nervous senator that what they were doing for the rebellion was for all the right reasons.