Madeline Gren

Madeline Gren was a former Republic Senator and leader of the Betseedan Resistance Forces on the planet of Betseeda Prime. She was killed during the First Battle of Betseeda Prime in the early days of the campaign to liberate the Betseeda System. Known for her fiery disposition and diminutive stature, she was an accomplished diplomat and leader.

Returning to Betseeda Prime to lead her people after the Imperial occupation, Gren was instrumental in laying the groundwork for an organized resistance movement.

Her efforts, as well as the arrival of Arrow Squadron ultimately led to the liberation of her system from Imperial control.

In honor of her sacrifices, the people of Tazion, the capitol city of Betseeda Prime erected a statue in her memory in 2 ABY.

Early Life and The Senate
Gren was raised in a wealthy, upperclass family, her father being a prosperous inventor and her mother a court musician. Her uncle represented Betseeda Prime and, by default, the Betseeda System in the Senate for nearly three decades.

The wealth and prosperity of the Gren family name was not waisted on the young Madeline as she had the best tutors and instructors money could purchase. She was a quick learner, apt to complete lessons ahead of schedule, but she was also fiery and defiant, clashing with the majority of her instructors over what she viewed as either slow progress or reservation on their part.

This fire led Gren to push for greater reforms on Betseeda Prime knowing that her voice and name carried weight. As she grew into adulthood, she spurned the idea of family and instead pursued her passion of improving conditions for the neediest on her world. Eventually, when her uncle died midway through his term in the Senate, the Speaker of the Chamber, the leader of political matters on Betseeda Prime, appointed the young 33 year old Gren as their representative in the Senate.

Life in the Senate
Life on Coruscant moved much faster than on Betseeda Prime, but Gren was already an astute politician. She forged ahead, promoting trade and growth as her key platforms, often speaking about the Republic's mission to preserve and protect its weakest residents. While she earned many admirers in the Senate, her outspoken and, at times, blunt demeanor, angered some of those in power. As a result, she was not given a leadership position in the body, instead relegated to sub committees on meaningless or tiresome issues.

During the Clone Wars, Gren and the Betseeda System remained loyal to the Republic, supplying materials and men to the war effort. Shortly thereafter and as a reward for her loyalty, she was given a position of some authority as Vice Chair of Senate's Select Committee on Trade and Business. For over 30 years, Gren continued to advocate for her system and her people. All of that changed when Imperial forces occupied her system and began harvesting its resources, oppressing its people, and silencing free speech and dissent.

A Rebel is Born
Gren initially spoke out against such actions, demanding answers and an end to the abuse. When her pleas were met with outright refusal and the removal of her position on the Select Committee for Trade and Business, Gren resigned her Senate seat in protest and returned to Betseeda Prime.

She immediately began examining ways to remove the Empire from her system. Knowing that such actions would come by force and not through diplomacy, Gren used her personal wealth and the power of her name to purchase and smuggle weapons and equipment onto Betseeda Prime. Careful to always cover her tracks, knowing that she was being watched, Gren masterfully built a network of resistance fighters spread across the entirety of the planet. This group would become known as the Betseedan Resistance Forces (BRF) and counted several thousand soldiers and a dozen or so star fighters amongst its ranks. Nearly all of the equipment and gear was paid for by Gren who exhausted her family fortunes. Devoting herself entirely to the cause, she studied combat leadership and battle strategy. When the time was right, she would be ready.

Gren, always aware of her image, faked her own death in a house fire and went completely underground. With her Imperial tail lost, she began taking more definitive steps towards her liberation campaign including meeting with a young Alliance Lieutenant named Tolamael Benere. Initially skeptical of the young pilot and his ragtag squadron, Gren did not outright dismiss him, but rather, gave him the chance to prove himself.

Over time, Benere and Arrow Squadron earned her trust and a plan was hatched, a plan to hit the Imperials when and where they least expected.

Fighter to the Last
Never one to lead from the rear, Gren, supported by experience combat veteran and Arrow Squadron member Udas, led the ground forces of the BRF in a surprise attack against the Imperial nerve center in Tazion while Arrow Squadron conducted bombing and attack missions against several targets all over Betseeda Prime.

Her forces battled block to block against the Imperials, who were caught entirely off guard by the organized attack and, within hours, several key facilities in Tazion and across Betseeda Prime were in BRF hands. While fighting their way through the maze like corridors of the Betseedan Parliamentary Building, Gren was killed by Imperial small arms fire.

Udas, seeing her fall, took command of the attack and worked to destroy what Imperial resistance remained. Gren's body was recovered and given an official state funeral. Her loss would resonate deep with the Betseedan people and a new wave of elected officials, with the ideals of Gren fresh in their mind, came to power and began working to change their system for the better. While remaining officially neutral, the new government did not actively prevent private citizens from aiding the Rebellion.

Hooper Croix, Gren's longtime deputy, took over command of the BRF, which continued to hunt down Imperial loyalists and collaborators throughout the system.