Warning: This article contains spoilers for Ahsoka episodes 1 & 2.
Summary
Ahsoka has been assigned a new mission to collaborate closely with the New Republic in order to locate Grand Admiral Thrawn, thereby resolving a plot inconsistency in The Force Awakens.
The fact that Hera Syndulla maintains her rank in the New Republic creates a discrepancy with The Force Awakens, as it unveils the presence of the New Republic Defense Fleet.
The New Republic's shortcomings are showcased in the series, highlighting the government's biased treatment and potential lack of awareness toward the First Order's threat. The Ahsoka show addresses a major inconsistency in Star Wars: The Force Awakens concerning the New Republic. Ahsoka's latest mission requires close collaboration with the New Republic as she embarks on a quest to locate Grand Admiral Thrawn, who is rumored to have resurfaced. With the galaxy still reeling from the war and the New Republic's vulnerability at an all-time high, Thrawn's menacing presence cannot be overlooked. Ahsoka and her allies must outpace their adversaries in apprehending him and neutralizing his influence before he is rescued from his exile.
Ahsoka works closely with one of her allies, Hera Syndulla, a beloved character from Star Wars Rebels who held the rank of general in the Rebellion. Despite the belief that the New Republic had demilitarized after the Galactic Civil War, Hera has maintained her rank and played a role in its formation and growth. This surprising development has caught the attention of viewers, as it contradicts previous implications in The Force Awakens that the New Republic had minimal defense capabilities. With Ahsoka's involvement, however, this perception has been challenged.
Ahsoka Confirmed The New Republic Has A Defense Fleet
The New Republic Defense Fleet is where Hera spends her time, now, aiding the emerging government in maintaining its precarious control over the galaxy. Ahsoka pays a visit to Hera in Ahsoka episode 1, offering a visual representation that utterly dispels the prior assumptions surrounding the naval capabilities of the New Republic. This aligns perfectly with the information shared in Star Wars: Timelines, which confirms the existence of the Defense Fleet stationed on Hosnian Prime during its tragic obliteration by the First Order in The Force Awakens.
Why We Didn't See The New Republic Defense Fleet In The Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
In the Disney+ series, Star Wars has already begun addressing the flaws of the New Republic, where the new government's decision-making has proven to be continuously misguided. When significant threats resurfaced during The Mandalorian season 3, the New Republic displayed favoritism by prioritizing allied planets and systems over providing assistance to those in need. If this pattern persisted in the following years, it is possible that the New Republic lacked full conviction in the influence of the First Order and did not consider it necessary to support the Resistance in their quest to eliminate the galaxy's impending danger.
With the Resistance being led by influential figures like Leia Organa herself, it is possible that the New Republic officials felt insecure without their trusted guides. As a result, they chose to stay at home and reorganize their ranks in order to play it safe. It is logical for the New Republic to have a Defense Fleet, even if they did not actively participate in the events depicted in The Force Awakens and the subsequent sequel films. In a chaotic galaxy like this, a government would not survive for long without a ready defense force. The Defense Fleet is just one aspect of Ahsoka's contribution in bridging the gap between the original Star Wars films and the sequel trilogy.
New episodes of Ahsoka are released on Disney+ every Tuesday at 6pm PT / 9pm ET.