In the fourth year before the Battle of Yavin the activities of a rebel cell operating on the Outer Rim planet Lothal drew the attention of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, a high-ranking officer in the Galactic Empire by launching a raid on the communications tower. Having heard the stories of the rebel cell, and that their leader, Kanan Jarrus, was a Jedi, Tarkin put a plan in motion that led to the capture of Jarrus. He was captured during a rebel mission to hack into Lothal's Imperial Communications Center to send out a transmission to Lothal to set the record straight about their rebellion. The rebels were able to send out the signal, after Jarrus allowed himself to be captured so they could escape, but the Empire destroyed the tower to end the broadcast.