Star Wars: Hidden Empire #2
The Dawn Fleet
Dreaming of a freer galaxy, LADY QI’RA and her organization, CRIMSON DAWN, have waged a secret war against the Empire. Qi’ra activated operatives across the galaxy to cause havoc and distract the Emperor while she sought a power capable of deposing the Sith Lord.
Qi’ra learned the means of prevailing against the Sith from her predecessor, Maul. His teachings led her to the FERMATA CAGE, an artifact that sealed away an ancient Sith Lord suspended in time. Qi’ra tasked the Archivist with freeing this Sith to serve as a weapon against the Emperor.
Qi’ra’s smoke screen bought her time, but she has earned the Emperor’s undivided attention–and wrath. Seeking to eradicate Crimson Dawn, the Emperor ordered the destruction of their flagship, the Vermillion.
Qi’ra escaped aboard Chanath Cha’s ship yet urgently needs the Archivist to complete her work. The disturbance in the Force caused by the artifact serves as a beacon to Qi’ra’s enemies, and Crimson Dawn cannot hide forever….
Writer: Charles Soule
Penciller: Steven Cummings
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Colorist: Guru-eFX
Cover artist: Paulo Siqueira
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publication date: December 7, 2022
There’s always time in Star Wars literature, and indeed in animation and live action, to pause for a moment and ask ‘How does evil persist?‘ Here, through the character of the Archivist, Charles Soule succinctly summarises why Palpatine did what he did for so many decades, holding on to power with the justification of protecting the galaxy from evils he himself controlled. It could easily be a peek behind the curtain to the real world of 2022, but it’s not; this is the Star Wars galaxy of a long time ago and far, far way and here the jackboot heel of the Empire is currently crushing down on the fleeing forces of Crimson Dawn as their destroyed flagship burns and escape pods hoping to escape and regroup are picked off, much to the fury of Qi’ra.
Despite her anger, Chanath Cha explains that they are taking out the pods in case she is aboard any of them, and as they head to a secret Dawn stronghold – one Qi’ra wisely planned for after taking on the Sith – we see the extent of their resources as a sizeable base and a number of vessels similar to the lost Vermillion are seen. Qi’ra explains she never frittered away the spoils of crime but instead invested it in the cause, and as we see wings of impressive looking new fighters she explains again – her goal isn’t to defeat the Empire, but to end the Sith. We move to the Fermata cage, a weapon that even Palpatine is wary of, and the Archivist and Pho who are dumbfounded when they learn that not only has Qi’ra told Palpatine everything about the cage, but that in order to learn how to use the cage properly and defeat him they need to turn it on again despite it causing a disturbance in the Force that will bring Palpatine to them. The flakey Pho is ready to leave, but the offering of an ancient Sith artifact from the Archivist convinces her to stick around.
We head back to the Executor and a frame delicously evocative of the holographic audience of Vader and Palpatine from The Empire Strikes Back as Vader informs his master that he believes no Sith appeared from out of time via the Fermata Cage, and Palpatine reiterates how vital it is that they ensure one does not, as that weould be a grave threat to what ‘they’ have built. Back to the cage as the Archivist and Pho figure out what makes it tick and activate it, a moment instantly felt by Luke, Yoda, Vader and Palpatine. Pho managesd to switch off the Cage as a vortex whirls around them, but not before Palpatine pinpoints where the Cage is located and instructs Vader to find it. Across the galaxy, Qi’ra is informed of the collapse of Crimson Dawn, news that appears to not trouble her as she orders that Dawn agents go to ground while she contacts the Archivist and Pho who look up to see the arrowhead of the Executor in high orbit above them. Vader lands, finding them and grabbing them with a Force choke as Chanath Cha arrives, ending the issue with Vader igniting his blade and promising them death.
When Star Wars comics want to step up a gear they certainly have that in their arsenal, and this trilogy ending series so far appears to be doing just that. Once again, with gorgeous art from Stephen Cummings and a hefty storyline from Soule that’s pulling in important elements from the Doctor Aphra series, this is combining to be a very impressive series that really does feel like something substantial in the wider storyline while delivering conclusions, beginnings and all-round excitement. In short, everything as comics event needs to be.
