The Mystery of the Pilots: How Palpatine Crewed His Massive Sith Fleet in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'

In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Darth Sidious, better known as Palpatine, reveals his massive fleet of battlecruisers, known as the Sith fleet, built on the hidden planet of Exegol. The film does not delve deeply into where Palpatine found enough skilled pilots to man these ships. This article explores various theories and implications regarding Palpatine's pilot recruitment strategies and the logistics behind his Sith fleet.

Recruiting Pilots for the Sith Fleet

The film focuses more on the existence and threat posed by the Sith fleet rather than the specific details of how Palpatine gathered his pilots. According to on-screen information, several factions remained loyal to the Empire or were attracted to the promise of power under Palpatine's rule. Additionally, some of these pilots may have originated from various Imperial remnants, including the Sith Eternal cultists, who dedicated themselves to Palpatine's return.

It is also suggested that former members of the Empire, such as the loyalist General Pryde, still worked under Palpatine. During the events leading up to the Battle of Exegol, the First Order was augmenting its child abduction efforts, leading to a severe lack of children in certain regions of the galaxy. It is a logical assumption that some or most of these abducted children were used to construct and man the new Sith Star Destroyers. This inference aligns with the high crew requirements for these advanced ships.

Leveraging Existing Resources

Skipper (Nawoah McMillan) highlighted that many of the Star Destroyers could have been retrofitted from old Imperial Star Destroyers. Given the large number of Star Destroyers estimated to have survived the Battle of Endor—over 25,000 before Endor—it is conceivable that a few thousand escaped destruction and were sent to Exegol for upgrades. These ships likely arrived fully manned and were then enhanced with the new superlaser technology.

The lack of Tie fighters in many scenes might be explained by the superlaser being installed in the main hangar bays of Star Destroyers. This would necessitate a significant restructuring and could account for the apparent paucity of Tie fighters in the film's later portions. However, this explanation only partially addresses the vast number of Star Destroyers seen in the final climactic scene.

Moral and Ethical Implications

The construction of such a massive fleet involved extreme levels of slave labor. Constructing several hundred, if not more, star destroyers in under 31 years is a staggering endeavor. Given the efforts required to build each ship, the conditions on Exegol must have been horrific. The film's depiction of the construction and deployment of the Sith fleet raises profound moral and ethical questions about Palpatine's methods and the human cost involved.

The Grand Strategy and Plot Holes

One of the most confusing elements of the film is the deployment of the Sith Star Destroyers. In the climactic conflict, only one of the Sith Star Destroyers was sent out to destroy Kijimi, leaving the rest of the fleet idle. This decision, as Skipper suggested, is difficult to justify from an in-universe perspective. However, several factors might explain this decision:

Strategic Maneuvering: Perhaps Hux's actions were strategic, aligning with a broader, covert plan that we, as viewers, are unaware of. Chaos Engineering: Hux could have been trying to create chaos among Kylo Ren's forces, knowing that Palpatine would ultimately win regardless of the immediate outcome. Personal Motives: Hux's personal hatred for Kylo might have played a role, but it doesn't fully explain his allegiance with Palpatine.

Despite some plot holes and unanswered questions, the film delivers several coherent elements regarding the Sith fleet and its construction. The exploration of how Palpatine managed to crew his massive fleet remains an intriguing aspect of the story, appealing to both fans of the franchise and seasoned enthusiasts.

Concluding Thoughts

The recruitment of pilots for the Sith fleet is a complex mystery that adds depth to 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.' From loyal Imperial remnants to abducted children and retrofitted Star Destroyers, Palpatine's strategies reflect his chilling ambition. The logistics of crewing such a massive fleet, however, remain a fascinating area of speculation. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of the galaxy far, far away, one thing is clear: Palpatine's methods and the human cost of his power are central to this epic tale.