The Overlooked Detail that Changes Everything in The Mandalorian

Din Djarin Describes His Childhood Attackers As 'Imperial'

A frequently disregarded Star Wars detail drastically changes not only Din Djarin's backstory in The Mandalorian, but also the whole Star Wars galaxy. With so much Star Wars content to get through and new movies, TV shows, comics, and books coming out all the time, it's almost impossible to keep up with everything the franchise has put out. Between Legends and canon, there's an unbelievable amount of rich lore and galaxy-building. It's natural to miss small details here and there. However, there's one detail that's often overlooked that has major implications for both Mando and a galaxy far, far away.

The people of Aq Vetina run from battle droids in The Mandalorian

In Star Wars: The Mandalorian Junior Novel, Joe Schreiber writes: 'All around him, he could see Mandalorians in jet packs, landing with their blasters out and fighting back against the Imperials.' Something to note is that it was droids attacking Aq Vetina, not living soldiers. Further, the droids were distinctly recognizable as the ones used by the Separatists - specifically, the droids used were B2-series super battle droids, which were far more dangerous and intelligent than the B1-series droids.

The people of Aq Vetina run from battle droids in The Mandalorian

Din describing his attackers as Imperials in the junior novelization suggests the attack took place soon after the formation of the Empire. The Mandalorian is set in 9 ABY - 5 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi. This places The Mandalorian 30 years after Order 66 and the formation of the Empire, and Din is thought to be between the ages of 8 and 10 when he becomes a foundling. This would mean that it is possible the battle of Aq Vetina took place in the early days of the Empire as they were still clearing out rebel enclaves.

The people of Aq Vetina run from battle droids in The Mandalorian

Because the soldiers who attacked Aq Vetina were super battle droids, it was assumed the attack on Din Djarin's homeworld was launched by the Separatists during the Clone Wars. However, the fact that Din calls the attackers Imperials suggests this isn't the case. The Empire didn't exist during the Clone Wars, and even if he were referencing the Clone Wars but replacing the names of the warring parties with their modern counterparts, it still wouldn't make sense for him to refer to the attackers as Imperial. The Republic became the Empire, not the Separatist Alliance.

Young Din Djarin reaches for his parents in the attack on Aq Vetina in The Mandalorian

The Empire May Have Had Access To Battle Droids

It is possible the Imperials had access to Separatist battle droids. After all, Palpatine was the secret leader of both sides of the war. It is entirely possible that after the Clone Wars ended, he took over the Separatist factories and began using them to add to his Imperial army. This would suit Palpatine's personality quite well. After going through all the effort to start a war and producing battle droids, there's no reason why he wouldn't then put those battle droids to use. Battle droids allow one to mitigate or eliminate loss of life and can easily be mass-produced, making them a great way to conserve resources.

Young Din Djarin with his parents on Aq Vetina during the attack in The Mandalorian

Further, it would not be hard for the Empire to get away with taking over Separatist factories and putting them to use. Given the fact that the Empire is a totalitarian government, it would be easy for them to start using the Separatist droid army for their own purposes. They wouldn't even have to hide it. If anyone disagreed, they could simply say they might as well take an army that was used for evil and use it for good and, if that person kept making noise, the Empire had no qualms about quieting their political enemies.

Din Djarin's homeworld of Aq Vetina in The Mandalorian season 1

Was The Empire Actually Responsible For The Fall Of Aq Vetina?

If the attack on Aq Vetina really did take place during the time of the Empire, it would confirm the Mandalorians were fighting the Empire during the Dark Times - not just on Mandalore, but on other planets as well. The Mandalorian purges and the Night of a Thousand Tears happened because the Mandalorians stood up to the Empire. This made the Empire deem them too much of a threat to survive. If it was truly the Empire using Separatist battle droids to attack Aq Vetina, this would mean the Mandalorians' war against the Empire was bigger than anyone thought.

B2 super battle droids in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 6

Even though this scene isn't talked about much beyond its significance to Din Djarin as a character, it has broader implications for the Star Wars universe as a whole. If the attack on Aq Vetina really was launched by the Empire, it means the war between the Empire and the Mandalorians was a much bigger deal than previously thought. It would be interesting to see this war explored in more detail in other Star Wars media, and The Mandalorian has the opportunity to do so in its future.

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