"Romodi is a general in the Imperial Army, attached to the Death Star's command staff and highly favored by Palpatine." ―Airen Cracken, to Mon Mothma [src]

Hurst Romodi was a male human who served in the Grand Army of the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars and later became one of the first generals in the Galactic Empire's Army. As an Imperial officer, Romodi was involved in the pacification of the galaxy's Western Reaches, and took reconstruction measures in the aftermath of the Battle of Ogoth Tiir. Although Romodi eventually stepped back from service, Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin coaxed him out of retirement to participate in the completion of the Death Star project. After witnessing the first live fire test of the Death Star's superlaser on the Holy City of Jedha, the General served as an adjutant to Tarkin around the time of the Battle of Scarif.

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Biography Edit

Early life and career Edit

"Well said, cadet. Which brings us to the leadership shown by General Romodi in the aftermath of Ogoth Tiir. Turn to node thirty-six and let's discuss his reconstruction initiatives." ―Colonel Julyan [src]

Hurst Romodi fought in the Clone Wars, a three-year pan-galactic conflict that pitted the Galactic Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems. When Sheev Palpatine replaced the Republic by a Galactic Empire of his own device at the end of the war, Romodi was a battle-scarred veteran, and he became one of the first generals in the new Imperial Army. Alongside Wilhuff Tarkin, he contributed to the pacification of the unruly Western Reaches.[3] In the aftermath of the Battle of Ogoth Tiir, he took reconstruction initiatives, which later became a subject of discussion in Colonel Julyan's Strategy and Tactics class at the Arkanis Academy.[4] After his retirement, Romodi was personally asked to return to the military to help in the readying of the Death Star project.[3]

The Battle of Scarif Edit

"Sir, it's Scarif base. They're reporting a rebel incursion."

"I want to speak with Director Krennic."

"He's there, sir. On Scarif."

"The original plans for this station are kept there, are they not?"

"They are."

"Prepare for the jump to hyperspace and inform Lord Vader." ―Romodi and Tarkin [src]

Toward the end of the Jedha insurgency in 0 BBY, Romodi was invited aboard the almost finished Death Star battle station, along with Grand Moff Tarkin and other officers, to witness the first live fire test of its superlaser, with the Holy City of Jedha as its target. The test was successful, and Tarkin immediately assumed authority over the Death Star, much to the discontent of its nominal commander, Director Orson Krennic of the Imperial Military Department of Advanced Weapons Research. Romodi stayed with the Grand Moff, serving as his aide aboard the battle station.[5]

It was he who received General Sotorus Ramda's report that a Rebel incursion was occurring on Scarif, where the technical blueprints of the superweapon were kept. After relaying that information to Tarkin, Romodi was instructed to prepare the battle station's jump to hyperspace and inform Lord Darth Vader of the situation. Once on the premises, the general enthusiastically suggested to target the Rebels' spaceborne support with the Death Star, which Tarkin refused, stating Lord Vader would handle the enemy fleet.[6] Instead, the Grand Moff ordered a single reactor ignition aimed at the Citadel Tower on Scarif. Romodi then gave directions to his aides to carry out Tarkin's order, and the superlaser fired, destroying the tower and impacting the planetary surface several kilometers away.[5]

Nevertheless, the Empire's actions at Scarif proved insufficient. In the nick of time, the Rebels had managed to transmit the plans of the Death Star to Princess Leia Organa aboard the consular ship Tantive IV.[5] Although Lord Vader and his flagship Devastator managed to capture the Tantive IV above Tatooine,[1] Romodi feared that further leakage may have occurred during the interception. The general then sent Tarkin a high-priority communique, advising him to take immediate action to neutralize political and military opposition.[7]

Prelude to Yavin Edit

"It was lucky [Tagge] left the station before its destruction to return to his beloved fleet, or I would have no one I could use." ―Emperor Palpatine [src]

A little later on, General Romodi participated in a meeting in the Death Star's conference room, during which Tarkin announced the disbanding of the Imperial Senate and Darth Vader assured that the stolen plans would soon be back in the Empire's hands. While Romodi's fellow general Cassio Tagge expressed concerns that the Rebels may discover a flaw in the Death Star, Admiral Motti brushed those aside. Eventually, the Death Star was brought to the Yavin system to confront Rebel forces over their headquarters on Yavin 4.[1]

However, Tagge had correctly assessed the rebel threat. Exploiting the presence of a thermal exhaust port in the superweapon's structure that had been deliberately designed by the scientist Galen Erso to be unstable,[5] the Rebels launched a successful assault on the Death Star, resulting in its explosion and the loss of every life on board.[1] Following that debacle, the Galactic Emperor Palpatine promoted Tagge to Grand General and placed him in charge of the entire Imperial military,[8] commenting that there remained no one else he could use.[9]

Personality and traits Edit

Romodi was a light-skinned man with brown hair, which had heavily receded and started to turn gray by the time of the Battle of Scarif. One prominent vein could be seen bulging at his right temple.[5] An experienced officer who had been through many battles, Romodi felt proud and enthusiastic about the technological terror of the Death Star.[6] He had the favor of the Galactic Emperor himself.[7]

Equipment Edit

In his capacity as a general, Romodi wore a field gray, crease-free Imperial officer uniform made of gaberwool, like many other Imperial officers wore. On the left side of the upper chest, he sported a rank insignia plaque consisting of six yellow tiles arranged in a single row.[3]

Behind the scenes Edit

"He may not be your favorite Star Wars character, but General Hurst Romodi is one more familiar face that popped up in both Rogue One and A New Hope. That's right, in addition to Grand Moff Tarkin, Ponda Boba [sic] and Dr. Evazan, another baddie from the very first Star Wars film showed up in Rogue One. And this time, he had something to say." ―A 2017 Inverse.com article about Romodi

The character of Romodi first appeared in the novelization of the 1977 movie Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, released several months prior to the film. Attending a meeting aboard the Death Star, he delivers a line[10] that is instead given to Admiral Motti in the movie.[1] Although his appearance in the novel rendered him a part of Expanded Universe continuity, it was unclear if Romodi actually appeared in the film until 2012 when author Jason Fry confirmed that he was the "bald guy" present at the meeting;[11] a character whom the fan website Aveleyman claims was portrayed by Ian Selby.[12] In that same year, Fry and Paul R. Urquhart provided the first name of "Hurst" in the reference book The Essential Guide to Warfare.[13]

Romodi was first named in the 2015 novel Servants of the Empire: The Secret Academy, also written by Fry.[4] Fry confirmed on his Twitter account that he intended him to be the Romodi from A New Hope.[14]

During the development of 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the production crew took a look at everyone who is seated around the Death Star conference table in A New Hope, trying to pinpoint a character that could be easily recast to make an appearance in the new movie. Eventually, Romodi was chosen,[15] and Andy de la Tour went on to portray the general in Rogue One. The full name of "Hurst Romodi" was given in the film's end credits.[16]

Romodi is called 'a battle-scarred veteran' in Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide. This is a reference to the original Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope novel, where he was described as having 'facial scars so deeply engraved that even the best cosmetic surgery could not fully repair them'.

On the social network Twitter, several French fans have humorously pointed out the resemblance between de la Tour's Romodi and the Mayor of Bordeaux Alain Juppé, prompting several French-speaking online media outlets to relay the information.[17][18][19]

Appearances Edit

Sources Edit

Notes and references Edit