Battle of Jakku — Last Stand 1

Publisher's summary

A DARK FORCE STRIKES AT THE HEART OF THE JUST-FORMED NEW REPUBLIC AND SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT THE GALAXY IS FAR FROM A SAFE PLACE! Chandrila — under attack! The rise of a familiar villain — driven to the edge of sanity! LANDO CALRISSIAN and a ragtag team of pilots are attacked by an unexpected fleet! The return of HAN SOLO?!

Opening crawl

Following the Battle of Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star, the galaxy
is in a time of uncertainty. While the rebels forge a path toward peace, there are still
those who would bring chaos and destruction. The war continues on in….

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….

Plot summary

On the provisional home of the New Republic, Chandrila, Princess Leia Organa speaks with New Republic field agent Timra Ariz about moving forward after the death of Agent Calder Behrens. As they walk through a scenic park, Leia spots a group of hooded Acolytes of the Beyond descending a nearby staircase. The suicide bombers explode, immediately creating causalities of New Republic citizens. Ariz leaps to protect Leia and her unborn child. Both are relatively unscathed by the initial explosion, and Leia springs back into action, hoping to help and stop any further attack, especially after the recent Liberation Day attack. More smaller explosions ring out, and Leia soon finds a group of armed Acolytes. With no time to call for backup, she pulls out her blaster pistol to start shooting at the enemy. Ariz is impressed, but her expression soon changes when she is fatally shot in the abdomen by an Acolyte. Leia cradles the fading body of her friend, lamenting how they have fallen so far.

Above the uninhabited Anoat sector planet Gallowyss, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker and New Republic pilot Rynn Zenat prepare to investigate a suspicious object they recently saw hurdling from the rogue Imperial Grand Moff Ubrik Adelhard's Imperial Star Destroyer Scepter towards the planet. Despite the claims of the Anzati mystic Reyna Oskure claiming that Adelhard is dead, Luke senses that something was suspicious about that object. As such, he and Zenat borrowed a ship from the cyborg bounty hunter Beilert Valance to head to the planet's surface, hoping to confirm that Adelhard is truly dead.

Adelhard lives, as do the other passengers of the sabotaged escape pod launched towards the planet by the Trandoshan bounty hunter and assassin Kranor in an attempt at mercy. He is joined on the planet by Commander Bragh and a number of stormtroopers loyal to his cause. Adelhard is aware of Skywalker and Zenat's presence and is annoyed by their persistence. Regardless, the governor has grown disillusioned following his revelation that he was never meant to be anything more than a pawn used by the Empire rather than its heir. With Lieutenant Crathmore on his way to retrieve Adelhard and company, the governor calls for Skywalker and Zenat to be brought to him in a show of his might. He is ready to decimate all who have ever tried to defy him.

Aboard the Scepter, Reyna Oskure speaks with the hologram of Counselor Gallius Rax. He emphasizes his expectation of her loyalty leading up to the eventual conflict on Jakku. Oskure had captured the New Republic spy, Kith Alaytia, who was part of Adelhard's inner circle, and she orders Kranor to take her to transport her to the brig. Along the way, Alaytia reveals that she knows Kranor let Adelhard live, which he justifies by saying it was due to his loyalty to the Spice Runners of Kijimi, an ally of Adelhard. Alaytia then evokes the name of Tomasso, a high-level Spice Runner who collaborates with New Republic Intelligence. She asks Kranor to tell Tomasso about the death of Calder Behrens and to have him warn the Republic about Jakku. She warns him that if Oskure is able to mobilize Adelhard's forces to Jakku, it would spell disaster for everyone.

Back on Gallowyss, Luke Skywalker and Rynn Zenat fight off stormtroopers who are behaving strangely, as if unsure of the commands they were given. One stormtrooper receives a comm about Crathmore's ship arriving. As the troopers retreat, Luke and Rynn pursue but are unable to reach the Lambda-class shuttle before Adelhard and his forces take off. Luke and Rynn rush back to their ship, the man realizing Adelhard is out of control, which makes him even more dangerous than before. The two are soon contacted by Leia, who informs them of the attack on Chandrila. She claims that it is Adelhard's doing, that he is powerful enough to enact his revenge even without his ship.

Elsewhere in the Anoat sector, General Lando Calrissian leads a starfighter squadron. They receive similar orders from Leia calling for them to return to Chandrila. Before they can, however, Therisa Alern spots pieces of Adelhard's coalition amassing. They evade the incoming fire and decide to fight instead of flee.

The reports of incoming ships and the resulting battle surprise Oskure. She can hardly process it before Adelhard comes bursting in. Kranor turns on the Anzati as Adelhard plans to exact his revenge on the traitorous Acolyte.

Far away, near the Mid Rim planet Takodana, Han Solo receives a message from Weazel. Instead of following the lead, he realizes his friends need him and prepares to head to their aid.

Media

Cover gallery

Final cover by E.M. Gist

Solicit cover by E.M. Gist

Virgin cover by E.M. Gist

Variant cover by Rod Reis

Solicit variant cover by Rod Reis

Variant cover by Mike Hawthorne

Collected in

• Star Wars: Battle of Jakku trade paperback

Appearances

This Appearances list is incomplete. You can help Wookieepedia by expanding it.

Sources

• The Final Battle of the Galactic Civil War is Told Across Three New 'Star Wars' Comic Series on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
• This Week! in Star Wars NYCC Star Wars Reveals on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
• "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 229
• Battle of Jakku — Republic Under Siege 4

Notes and references

External links

• Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Last Stand (2024) #1 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)