The Marvel Star Wars comics have firmly established themselves in the period following Return of the Jedi. Even though Emperor Palpatine perished aboard the second Death Star during the decisive Battle of Endor, his influence remains palpable as the Galactic Civil War approaches its conclusion. Recent narratives suggest that an Imperial faction poses a greater threat to Palpatine’s contingency than the newly formed New Republic itself.
As Palpatine’s intricate contingency plan leads to its climax on the planet Jakku, Moff Adelhard emerges as a significant obstacle. Rejecting Counselor Rax’s overtures, Adelhard is pursuing ambitions that diverge from Palpatine’s vision for the Empire. Rax is aware of this discord and has planted a spy within Adelhard’s faction, ready to undermine his initiatives.
Loyalty and Divergence Among Imperials Post-Palpatine
Since before the Clone Wars, Palpatine meticulously schemed to dominate the galaxy. His strategies spanned from the creation of clones to the Jedi Purge, culminating in the recruitment of Anakin Skywalker. Acknowledging the possibility of his own death, he devised a contingency plan that pointed towards the climactic encounter at Jakku. Yet, with his passing, Moff Adelhard’s ambitions threaten to destabilize these arrangements.
Palpatine’s initial plan involved efforts to clone himself, anticipating his mortality. In the event of his death, Operation: Cinder would mandate the devastation of loyal Imperial worlds, punishing those who failed him. The succeeding phase aimed to attract both the Empire and the New Republic to Jakku for a catastrophic confrontation—an annihilation that would eradicate both factions in one decisive stroke. Remaining loyalists were then expected to regroup in the Unknown Regions, where a clone of Palpatine envisioned a reborn Empire.
Moff Adelhard’s Expansion: Implications for the New Republic and the Empire
Upcoming Release: Battle of Jakku – Last Stand #3 (January 15, 2023)
Following the Rebel Alliance’s victory at the Battle of Endor, Moff Ubrik Adelhard, governor of the Anoat sector, found himself in a panic over the potential loss of his status within the Empire. In response, he announced to his sector that the Rebels had been defeated and that the Emperor was alive. He decreed that any contrary statement constituted treason, punishable by death. To assert control, Adelhard implemented the notorious Iron Blockade.
The blockade not only cut off fuel supplies from Tibanna gas-producing planets like Bespin, leading to widespread shortages, but also showcased Adelhard’s belief in his destined leadership of the Empire. He criticized Counselor Rax and the Shadow Council for their strategic misdirection. By expanding his faction, Adelhard presented a new challenge to the New Republic, which was ill-prepared to defend against his forces, while simultaneously complicating Rax’s plans by diverting from the collective Imperial strategy being orchestrated at Jakku.
The Shift in Priority: The New Republic vs. The Empire
The Peril of Palpatine’s Master Plan
Counselor Rax’s foremost objective has always been to actualize Palpatine’s contingency plan. As Palpatine’s protégé, Rax bears the heavy responsibility of ensuring that this intricate strategy reaches fruition. In the latest issue of Republic Under Siege #2, Rax and Grand Admiral Rae Sloane engage in discussions concerning Adelhard’s rising influence and the necessity of addressing it. Grand General Keener Loring expresses concern over their focus being misdirected from the New Republic, but Rax asserts his authority, reminding Loring of the stakes involved.
Should Adelhard persist in his current course, he risks missing out on the pivotal event at Jakku, jeopardizing the execution of Palpatine’s contingency. Consequently, Rax’s priority shifts to neutralizing Adelhard first before addressing the New Republic, highlighting the internal conflicts that threaten the stability of the Empire.
Adelhard’s recruitment efforts, drawing on resources from the underworld and dark side practitioners to forge his own Empire, undermine Palpatine’s original contingency and divert the New Republic’s attention at a critical juncture. The balance of power is shifting, as the factions within the galaxy realign in the lead-up to the inevitable Battle of Jakku.
Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #2 is now available from Marvel Comics.
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