Ackbar counseled a retreat, but Calrissian convinced him to give Han Solo’s commandos more time to bring down the shield generator protecting the Death Star. Ackbar agreed, and threw his warships at the Star Destroyers in a furious delaying action. Calrissian and Antilles then destroyed the Death Star, winning an enormous victory for the Alliance.

Promoted to Grand Admiral, Ackbar led the war effort against the remnants of the Empire, working in close consultation with Mon Mothma and her new ministers. His leadership helped win many battles, including an assault on Kuat and the liberation of Kashyyyk. The war culminated with the Battle of Jakku and the signing of peace treaty between the New Republic and the Empire.

With the war over and the Empire’s remnants seemingly contained, Ackbar retired to Mon Cala, only to watch in dismay as his friend Leia Organa’s bid for the chancellorship was sabotaged and factionalism split the New Republic. When Leia founded the Resistance as a check on the First Order, she coaxed Ackbar back into military service.

Ackbar shared Leia’s alarm about the growing power of the First Order and the impossibility of verifying whether it was abiding by the peace treaties that had ended the war between the New Republic and the Empire. As a senior officer in Leia’s Resistance, the old Mon Calamari’s decades of service commanded instant respect during clashes such as the raid on Starkiller Base.

When the Resistance was forced to flee D’Qar, Ackbar commanded the fleet, serving aboard the Mon Calamari heavy cruiser Raddus. The Alliance hero was killed – along with many of his fellow officers – when a First Order torpedo ripped through the ship’s bridge.