Battle of Jakku — Last Stand 2

Publisher's summary

A BRAZEN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT LEAVES THE HEROES REELING – AS A DARKER TRUTH IS UNCOVERED! LUKE, LEIA and HAN are reunited – but under dire circumstances! What's left of the Empire must react to a new threat – on the eve of the BATTLE OF JAKKU! A traitor revealed! The heroes are faced with an ominous new threat careening toward them – with JAKKU as the target!

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….

The New Republic was left vulnerable after
stormtroopers invaded the fledgling government's
home planet, Chandrila, and made an attempt on
General Leia Organa's life. On the planet Gallowyss,
Luke and his team discovered that Moff Adelhard,
still alive and in control of his fleet, was the source of
the attack. However, as Adelhard's offensive began,
they realized that this time, his motivations were not
for power…but for terror. Meanwhile, the Empire and
its remaining leaders began their final strike against
the New Republic above the desert world of Jakku….

Plot summary

With his family and friends in danger, Han Solo speeds in the Millennium Falcon towards Chandrila. Elsewhere, near the Anoat sector planet Gallowyss, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker and New Republic pilot Rynn Zenat prepare to jump to hyperspace to help Luke's sister Leia Organa on Chandrila. She recently had a near-death experience during a terrorist attack ordered by rogue Imperial Grand Moff Ubrik Adelhard and executed by the dark side cult the Acolytes of the Beyond. Luke recognizes the urgency of the situation and that Adelhard has become desperate and chaotic; he can only be stopped by Luke working with his friends in a united lockstep.

On Chandrila, Leia, Chancellor Mon Mothma, and Agent Bastion examine the carnage wrought by the recent bombings. There are many casualties and significant rubble, and Leia is further traumatized by Agent Timra Ariz dying in her arms just after being pulled from deep cover. The women start strategizing potential improvements to their security and to better elucidate Adelhard's coalition of Acolytes and criminal underworld contacts. Leia is at least grateful Adelhard is without his command ship, Scepter. Bastion then gives an unfortunately timed update to Leia that Adelhard has regained control of the Scepter and his coalition of Acolytes and Spice Runners of Kijimi are endangering General Lando Calrissian's forces. With all the New Republic forces positioning to Jakku, backup is unlikely to arrive for Lando.

The women are soon interrupted by the Dowutin Acolyte Saycos Hawn, armed with a TL-50 Heavy Repeater and prepared to assassinate the New Republic leaders on behalf of Adelhard. Bastion helps the women get to cover, and Leia pulls out her own blaster pistol. She disarms the Dowutin and strikes him in the contralateral shoulder. Hawn is not so easily defeated, and when Leia gets close enough, he grabs the pregnant woman by her neck, choking her. Bastion orders him to release Leia, but he barely loosens his grip enough for Leia to bemoan fanaticism. With a decisive shot to the right shoulder, Hawn is taken down by Han Solo. Leia approaches her husband and the two kiss.

Soon after, elsewhere in Hanna City, Luke and Rynn arrive. The group begin to strategize about how to best handle Adelhard from here. With Lando's forces losing and Acolytes continually attempting assassinations, times are dire. Interrogations of Hawn did not go far. Other intelligence shows that perhaps Adelhard has strained his relationships with his allies, but still has tricks up his sleeve.

In the Anoat sector, Lando and Preeti Delmin evade TIE fighter fire and attacks from the Spice Runners. With their enemies closing in, even evasion is starting to seem unlikely. Within one of the Spice Runners' ships, Vigilch orders Lando and Preeti's surrender. Before they can reply, Gen Tri informs Vigilch that Tomasso has spoken to the assassin Kranor and that their orders have changed. Vigilch is frustrated, but has the Spice Runners' forces pull back. This gives Lando and his surviving forces an opportunity to flee.

On board the Scepter, Kranor finishes a holo-call with Tomasso. The Anzati mystic of the Acolytes of the Beyond, Reyna Oskure then announces herself, calling out Kranor for his betrayal. She ignites her double-bladed spinning lightsaber and engages the Trandoshan in a duel, fighting against his electro sword. Kranor eventually gets the upper hand, knocking Oskure to the ground. He tells her they are alike, both trying to play all sides and using alliances only as long as they are advantageous. Oskure sneakily impales Kranor with her a hidden dagger and reclaims her lightsaber. Her victory is short-lived, however. She is soon disarmed by New Republic spy Kith Alaytia. Kith decides to help Kranor evacuate the ship, and she stuns Oskure.

On the Imperial Star Destroyer Vigilance Grand Admiral Rae Sloane speaks with Counselor Gallius Rax about Adelhard's most recent attacks on both Imperial and New Republic targets and betrayal from Moff Goldsmythe. With more deserters, there is potential for failure at Jakku. Rax asks for Sloane to do what is necessary.

Leia visits the cell of Saycos Hawn. The Dowutin expresses how the Force failed him in his assassination attempt. Leia scoffs at this, and the two debate about Adelhard. In this interrogation, Hawn reveals that Adelhard can win just by tipping the scales at Jakku. Afterwards, Leia speaks with Han, Luke, and Mon Mothma about an encrypted message they received from Kith Alaytia. Her intelligence changes everything. She informs the Republic that Adelhard has gone mad and is preparing to go to Jakku to annihilate both the New Republic and Empire. He is already outflanking the New Republic forces to do so, and there is no way to stop him.

Media

Cover gallery

Final cover by E.M. Gist

Solicit cover by E.M. Gist

Virgin cover by E.M. Gist

Variant cover by Terry Dodson

Variant cover by Lee Garbett

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)
• "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 229

Notes and references

External links

• Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Last Stand (2024) #2 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)