Star Wars: Battle of Jakku – Last Stand #1
WRONGED AND REBORN & FALSE HISTORIES
In the wake of the Battle of Endor, a new threat intent on keeping the Imperial cause alive rose to power–Governor Adelhard of the Anoat sector. In serving the recently formed New Republic government, General Leia Organa had to contend with Adelhard and the Empire’s surviving leaders.
Leia and Luke Skywalker assembled an elite team but were overcome by Adelhard’s many allies, including Reyna Oskure and the Acolytes of the Beyond as well as the Spice Runners of Kijimi. However, Adelhard’s allegiances were fraught as Reyna and his traitorous peers were planning to assassinate him. Before they could kill him, Adelhard made his escape.
Now, amid Adelhard’s defeat, the New Republic must make its last stand against the Empire’s remaining forces….
Writer: Alex Segura
Artists: Jethro Morales (WRONGED AND REBORN), Leonard Kirk (FALSE HISTORIES)
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Colorist: Jim Campbell
Cover artist: E.M. Gist
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: December 25, 2024
Chandrila has been hit hard again as a pregnant Leia Organa introduces New Republic field agent Timra Ariz. Unfortunately for Timra, the Acolytes of the Beyond have infiltrated the home of the New Republic with a deadly message: “The shadows of the Dark Side will soon envelop this place!” Leia survives but chaos is violently caressing Chandrila and undermining the fledgling government.
The story jumps to the distant Anoat outpost of Gallowyss where Rynn Zenat and Luke Skywalker, on a feeling, are hunting for survivors of an escape pod from Grand Moff Ubrik Adelhard’s former Star Destroyer. Adelhard, though Injured and self-reflective while on the run, isn’t about to give up on himself or the Empire he believes in. After being betrayed by Reyna Oskure, the intermediary of the Acolytes of the Beyond, Adelhard has devolved into a Colonel Kurtz-style renegade dictator from the 1979 film “Apocalypse Now,” directed by Francis Ford Coppola. His on-planet crew consists of a small band of stormtroopers loyal to him and Commander Bragh, but it is learned he has also set other elements in motion as he awaits a rescue from within his ranks. The ragged ruler appears obsessed with revenge on Oskure, but based on proximity his first target is Skywalker.
In space above Gallowyss, Oskure and Gallius Rax, Emperor Palpatine’s hand-selected contingency plan should the Empire ever falter, continue their conversations about Jakku. Elsewhere on the ship the Trandoshan bounty hunter, Kranor, a member of the Spice Runners of Kijimi, takes former Imperial Lieutenant Alaytia, a New Republic spy, to her cell aboard the Star Destroyer. Alaytia pleads with Kranor to make Tomasso, also of the Spice Runners, aware of the death of Calder Behrens, stressing that if Oskura and the Imperial remnants win, it’s bad for everyone.
Kranor plays ball, Adelhard escapes from Gallowyss, and boards his former Star Destroyer as his own contingency plans—including the under-the-radar attack on Chandrila—play out to his maddening delight.
Another location jump introduces a bearded Han Solo, aboard the Millenium Falcon, from near the planet Takodana, to end the primary portion of the issue. But like Adelhard, issue #1 of Last Stand (#9 overall of The Battle of Jakku) has a surprise up its sleeve.
EXTENDED STORY: “False Histories”
This story extension is a deeper look into the mind of Adelhard, as he retakes control of his ship. “But my strength is my durability. I do not believe in defeat. Especially at the hands of those lesser than me.” His goal has changed from power to revenge, especially against the Shadow Council of the Empire and anyone else standing in his way.
A three-front battle on the horizon at Jakku consists of the New Republic, The Imperial Remnants of the Shadow Council, and Adelhard’s forces to help determine what direction the galaxy goes next.