Growing up on his own during the age of the Empire, Ezra Bridger relied on his street smarts -- and subconscious Force abilities -- to survive. He became a con artist and small-time thief, doing what he needed to get by on his home planet Lothal. But this reality also hardened Ezra, who by the time he was 14 years old, had little trust for anyone. That would change with his introduction to the Ghost crew, a small band of rebels fighting back against the Empire. Ezra came to believe in their cause, and saw that he could help change the galaxy for the better. And with the help of Kanan Jarrus, he began to learn the ways of the Jedi.

Zare Leonis found a kindred spirit in Ezra Bridger, as both were undercover cadets at the Imperial Academy with no love of the Empire. Zare showed impressive skill as a cadet, but his true goal was to find out what happened to his sister, Dhara -- a star trainee at the Imperial Academy who mysteriously vanished. Zare helped Ezra uncover an Imperial decoder and escape the academy, but remained behind as a spy.

Jai Kell is a former Imperial cadet who now works secretly as a rebel on Lothal. He remains loyal to Ezra Bridger, the Padawan who helped him desert from the Empire.

AT-DP (All Terrain Defence Pod) walkers were among the fastest Imperial vehicles of their type.

The Imperial Academy on Lothal was a high-tech, heavily fortified training facility designed to shape cadets into ruthless stormtroopers. Inside the Imperial Academy was the Well: a difficult, programmable obstacle course that tested the intelligence and strength of the cadets. Commandant Aresko and Taskmaster Grint served as the academy's unforgiving instructors, driving trainees to win at all costs.

Stormtroopers are elite shock troops fanatically loyal to the Empire and impossible to sway from the Imperial cause. They wear imposing white armor, which offers a wide range of survival equipment and temperature controls to allow the soldiers to survive in almost any environment. Stormtroopers wield blaster rifles and pistols with great skill, and attack in hordes to overwhelm their enemies. Along with standard stormtroopers, the Empire has organized several specialized units, including snowtroopers and scout troopers.