The Star Wars: Timelines book has made it clear why the Hosnian System was chosen as Starkiller Base’s first target. Leia Organa began the new Resistance in direct opposition to the New Republic’s disarmament policy, though because there were so few battle-capable ships left, it wasn’t enough to stop the First Order before it showed its true strength. Though it’s now been confirmed by the Star Wars: Timelines book that the New Republic wasn’t left completely defenseless and did still have some sort of fleet (and, of course, the New Republic Rangers who featured heavily throughout The Mandalorian season 3 were active throughout the galaxy as well), it was clear that this wasn’t enough. Though Mothma’s intentions were admirable, it seemed to be an unusual and dangerous strategy, just as the First Order soon proved. This was a direct result of Chancellor Mon Mothma’s Military Disarmament Act, which sought a peaceful future for the galaxy in which conflicts would be settled through negotiations and compromise, not brutal force. O’Brian) briefly states that the ships from the Rebel Alliance are due to be decommissioned after they’ve finished stripping the Imperial ships.

Until now, many thought the New Republic had disarmed its fleet entirely – this was evidenced in The Mandalorian season 3, episode 3 “The Convert”, in which Elia Kane (Katy M. Star Wars: Timelines confirms that the New Republic did have its own defensive fleet, which was stationed on Hosnian Prime.

Star wars republic navy crew