OVERLAY REPORT

In the 2016 film *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story*, the main character is **Jyn Erso**. Her primary goal evolves through the film, ultimately becoming **the retrieval and transmission of the Death Star schematics** to the Rebel Alliance so they can exploit a critical vulnerability built into the station. The obstacles she faces are multifaceted, ranging from her own internal struggles to the overwhelming military power of the Galactic Empire. ### **The Main Goal** Jyn’s arc begins with a goal of simple **survival** and anonymity. However, after seeing a holographic message from her father, Galen Erso, her mission shifts to **reconnecting with him** and then, after his death, **completing his work**. Her final, definitive goal is to infiltrate the high-security Imperial archive on the planet **Scarif** to find the plans for the "Stardust" project (the Death Star) and broadcast them to the Rebel fleet. --- ### **Specific Obstacles** #### **1. Internal and Personal Obstacles** * **Cynicism and Apathy:** Having been abandoned by both her father (to the Empire) and her mentor Saw Gerrera, Jyn begins the film with a "not my war" attitude. Her lack of hope is her first major barrier to taking action. * **Grief and Trauma:** Jyn must process the death of her mother (Lyra) and the eventual death of her father during a Rebel bombing raid on the Eadu research facility. Overcoming the trauma of seeing her father killed by the very people she is supposed to help is a major emotional hurdle. #### **2. Interpersonal and Political Obstacles** * **Rebel Alliance Distrust:** The Alliance High Council initially views Jyn only as a tool to reach Saw Gerrera. Later, when she presents the evidence of the Death Star's flaw, the Council is paralyzed by fear and indecision, officially **refusing to support her mission** to Scarif. This forces her to lead a "rogue" group of volunteers without official backing. * **Cassian Andor’s Secret Orders:** Her partner, Cassian, is an obstacle for much of the second act. Unknown to Jyn, he has orders from Rebel Intelligence to **assassinate her father** rather than rescue him, leading to a deep breach of trust when she discovers his intent. * **Saw Gerrera’s Extremism:** Jyn’s former guardian has become so paranoid and radicalized that he is a danger to her and the Rebellion. His suspicion leads him to interrogate Jyn with a "Bor Gullet" (a mind-reading creature) rather than trusting her immediately. #### **3. External and Antagonistic Obstacles** * **Director Orson Krennic:** As the primary antagonist, Krennic is personally responsible for the destruction of Jyn's family. He actively hunts her on Scarif and eventually corners her on the transmission tower, nearly preventing her from sending the plans. * **Imperial Security (Scarif):** The physical obstacles on Scarif are immense: * **The Shield Gate:** The planet is encased in a planetary shield that must be breached or deactivated to send any signals out. * **The Vault:** Jyn and Cassian must physically climb a massive data tower and manually retrieve the correct data tape from a dizzying array of files. * **The Master Switch:** To transmit the data, the communications' "Master Switch" must be flipped on the battlefield, an act that costs the life of her teammate Chirrut Îmwe. * **Darth Vader:** While not her direct combatant, Vader’s arrival in the final moments represents the ultimate looming threat of the Empire’s power, as he boards the Rebel flagship to intercept the plans she just successfully transmitted. #### **4. The Ultimate Sacrifice** The final obstacle is the **unavoidable consequence** of the mission. Because the Empire uses the Death Star to destroy the base on Scarif to prevent the leak, Jyn faces the obstacle of **certain death**. She achieves her goal by accepting that she will not survive the transmission, choosing "hope" for the galaxy over her own life.