Two unsung heroes in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace helped save the galaxy, despite neither one being particularly visible in the movie itself. Anakin Skywalker played an invaluable role in the Battle of Naboo, destroying the Trade Federation’s Lucrehulk-class droid control ship, which not only saved the lives of numerous Naboo resistance pilots but also Gungan warriors in their fight on the planet’s surface. Of course, as is often the case in Star Wars, the victory could not be attributed to one person, as two other – and far lesser known – heroes were just as instrumental to this outcome.

While Queen Amidala and her entourage fled Naboo shortly after the Trade Federation conquered the planet, numerous security personnel, police, ordinary citizens, and mercenaries banded together, forming various resistance cells. When the Queen returned to Naboo, her Head of Security – Captain Panaka – contacted and consolidated these cells into the amalgamated Naboo resistance. The activities of the Naboo resistance cells before the Queen’s return are only referenced in The Phantom Menace, but non-movie properties from the Legends continuity show them, along with the Battle of Naboo from their perspectives.

Gavyn Sykes Changed The Entire Battle Of Naboo

The video game Star Wars: Episode I: Battle for Naboo depicts the Invasion of Naboo from the perspective of Lieutenant Gavyn Sykes of the Royal Naboo Security Forces. Like many other RNSF personnel, Sykes managed to escape Theed as the Trade Federation swarmed into the city. From there, Sykes gradually formed a sizable resistance cell, striking key Trade Federation targets around the planet, including Camp Four, which would have imprisoned Queen Amidala had she not escaped Naboo. After his cell came under Captain Panaka’s command, Sykes joined Bravo Flight, flying an N-1 Starfighter under the callsign of Brave Six.

During the Naboo space battle, Gavyn Sykes played an invaluable role in defeating the Trade Federation. As Bravo Flight reached the droid control ship, the Trade Federation activated the ship’s powerful tractor beams, immobilizing starfighters caught in their range and allowing their hangar’s cannons to obliterate them. Sykes destroyed the ship’s tractor beam generators and, after more dogfighting and attack runs on the ship, knocked out its shield generator.

Without Rhys Dallows, Anakin Would Have Died

Another Naboo resistance member – Rhys Dallows – is one of the three protagonists of the video game Star Wars: Starfighter. After completing his training under Essara Till, Dallows accompanied her on an escort mission for Queen Amidala shortly before the Invasion of Naboo. The mission quickly became a series of dogfights when a squadron of mercenaries attacked the Queen. Essara Till and Rhys Dallows were both shot down by the mercenary leader during the attack, with Till perishing and Dallows being left for dead. As the Trade Federation invaded Naboo, Dallows was rescued and befriended by the scrapper Reti.

Rhys Dallows and Reti were soon joined by the mercenary Vana Saga and the pirate Captain Nym, returning to Naboo and joining a resistance cell. There, they struck at Trade Federation convoys and ground forces and freed prisoners before Dallows joined Bravo Flight as Bravo Ten. During the space battle, Dallows destroyed the droid control ship’s receiver stations, slowing the swarms of Droid Starfighters. Shortly afterward, the mercenary leader who shot down Essara Till joined the battle, leading Dallows to chase him into the control ship and shoot him down, avenging his mentor.

Star Wars Has Always Been About Unsung Heroes As Well As Champions

Gavyn Sykes and Rhys Dallows both saved Anakin Skywalker during the space battle. By destroying the tractor beam generators, Sykes prevented both Skywalker and Dallows from being caught in the beam and immediately shot down. Dallows removed two major threats to Skywalker by slowing the deployment of Droid Starfighters and engaging the mercenary leader. With Skywalker flying into the control ship’s starboard hangar and Dallows chasing the mercenary into the port hangar, both pilots would have been trapped in the doomed ship if Sykes had not destroyed its shield generator.

The heroism of both Sykes and Dallows is consistent with the rest of the Star Wars franchise. Champions like the Jedi are who the live-action movies focus on, but victories are just as often won by the unsung heroes, from Rebel pilots to clone troopers and members of the Naboo resistance. By saving Anakin Skywalker’s life in The Phantom Menace, these lesser-known heroes indirectly saved the galaxy itself.