The Full History Of 'Star Wars' Most Important Codename

Star Wars is full of codenames and hidden places/names/people, etc. But perhaps the most important and well-known codename in the Star Wars universe is “Fulcrum.” Where did the codename Fulcrum come from and what is it used for? Fulcrum is both a spy network of various different agents and one central agent who holds the operation together and calls the shots. They became part of the rebel spy network under the umbrella Rebel Alliance Intelligence Service. The network is first created by Bail Organa and Ahsoka Tano during the start of the Galactic Empire.

In recent years, within the Star Wars canon, the codename Fulcrum has been used throughout the canon in the various different series and books. It can even be traced back to Anakin Skywalker.

Ahsoka Tano is the first to use this codename, which shows up in the 2016 novel by E.K. Johnston, Ahsoka. It talks about the origin of this spy network. In this novel, Ahsoka struggles with the aftermath of Order 66, losing most of her friends, and the fall of the Republic. It details her shift from hiding from the Empire to actively joining in the fight against it. Ahsoka takes over the Rebellion’s intelligence network after experiencing a few mishaps during the course of the novel, which, says Bail Organa, could have been easily avoided if Bail had “better channels of communication.” Hence, Ahsoka’s creation of Fulcrum. Since the Rebellion is still young, Bail Organa admits that they do need someone to take over their intelligence networks to help strengthen the organization, and Ahsoka steps up.

Ahsoka’s plan is to develop a network of communication and to be the point person of that communication; to be the person “who listens to what people need, who finds out what people can do and then helps them do it.” Ahsoka chooses the name Fulcrum when Bail Organa asks her what he should call her if she wants to avoid using her real name. The rebel spies who serve in this intelligence operation are also called Fulcrum agents. As explained in the Ahsoka novel, the name appears to Ahsoka when she is looking at the planet of Alderaan and considers it to be “the center [of a galactic uprising], where the thread of all their hopes connected.”

However, another source of the codename is also revealed in the seventh season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

In the episode “Old Friends Not Forgotten,” Anakin is informed that the Republic fleet is receiving a transmission from someone using his own subspace frequency: “Fulcrum.” Anakin’s first thought is that it is Saw Gerrera, an ally of the Republic from Onderon who eventually becomes a fearsome rebel insurrectionist. It is revealed in the episode later on, however, that it is Ahsoka using that frequency when Anakin and Obi-Wan return to their ship and find a hologram of Anakin’s old Padawan. She, of course, goes on to use the name Fulcrum in the Rebellion.

In Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka is known as Fulcrum throughout the first season and is the one who contacts Hera Syndulla directly about their missions for the Rebellion. When Ahsoka is put out of commission in the Star Wars Rebels Season 2 finale “Twilight of the Apprentice,” a new Fulcrum appears and is eventually revealed to be the Imperial defector and previous antagonist of the first two Star Wars Rebels seasons: Aleksandr Kallus. Kallus uses the Fulcrum symbol, a depiction of the diamond-shaped markings on Ahsoka’s face, to contact the rebels throughout Season 3. His contributions to the cause help to undermine the Empire until he is caught by Grand Admiral Thrawn at the end of the season. When he is no longer a spy in the Rebellion, he is no longer called Fulcrum, which introduces the idea that Fulcrum is not simply Ahsoka’s codename in the Rebellion, but a network of spies that uses that identity to communicate information to a wider network.

Which brings us to Cassian Andor. There isn’t much information yet on Cassian’s time as Fulcrum. What we know comes from the Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide, which describes Cassian as an “Intelligence Operative” in the Rebellion. It also lists his previous aliases, and what roles those aliases play for the Rebellion. These aliases include: government agent Willix, senatorial contact Aach, Imperial admiral assistant Joreth Sward, and recruitment agent Fulcrum.

Since Cassian’s title as Fulcrum is recruitment agent, it suggests that he is actively seeking out potential spies for the Rebellion. Not much is known about becoming a Fulcrum agent since Agent Kallus does his transition offscreen, and we don’t know yet about how Cassian comes into the role. But, what we do know is that not only does Cassian use Fulcrum as an alias, but he also seeks out others to be Fulcrum agents.

Fulcrum is a widespread codename throughout the Star Wars canon. There are rumors that it will be mentioned more in the Cassian Andor series, Andor, on Disney+, which is set to release in 2022. Since the show is still in development, we do not know for sure whether or not Fulcrum will be a part of the show. However, there is no denying that he does have an interesting tie to other characters like Kallus and Ahsoka without, to our knowledge in Star Wars lore, ever having met them. Perhaps we will find out more.

Written By Elizabeth Dresdow

Source(s): CBR

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