Battle of Jakku — Republic Under Siege 2

Publisher's summary

LUKE AND DOCTOR APHRA JOIN FORCES TO FIGHT OFF A SURPRISE ATTACK AS THE REMAINING IMPERIALS PLOT THEIR NEXT ATTACK! LUKE SKYWALKER must battle his way through a gang of Force-focused zealots! A faction of Imperial survivors plot to return the Empire to its past glory – and hint at a huge struggle to come! Can LUKE survive against a giant…swamp rat?! As the defiant Imperial consolidates his power and allegiances – he discovers a traitor!

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….

Preparing to make his final stand against the New Republic,
Moff Adelhard began forging new alliances with some
remaining Imperial leaders, yet within his so-called
Empire, many hold secret allegiances. Meanwhile, on the
planet Lenahis in the Outer Rim, Luke Skywalker and Rynn
Zenat fought to protect an ancient Jedi Compendium from the
dark side cult the Acolytes of the Beyond. But their mission
was foiled by Doctor Aphra, who has taken the Compendium
for her own uses. While Adelhard has yet to convince all
Imperial factions, he is now allied with the Acolytes of the
Beyond as well as the Spice Runners of Kijimi, and his forces
are gaining strength. Now the New Republic must figure out
the Governor's next steps before he deals his final blow….

Plot summary

On the Outer Rim swamp planet Lehanis, rogue archaeologist Dr. Chelli Lona Aphra finds herself confronted by Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker and New Republic pilot Rynn Zenat after she stole a Jedi artifact from them. She quips about Luke's potential hard feelings after their previous meeting at the Citadel of Ktath'atn and tosses Luke the Compendium. Curious why she stole the artifact in the first place, he introduces Aphra to Zenat. Aprha then tells Luke she came to warn him. Before she can explain further, the trio is confronted by a massive beast.

Elsewhere in the Outer Rim, over the planet Souwecer, the Imperial Shadow Council meets to strategize. Counselor Gallius Rax addresses the problem to their larger plans being posed by Grand Moff Ubrik Adelhard in the Anoat sector. Adelhard has been going rogue by circumventing the Shadow Council and consolidating his power, even expanding his Iron Blockade beyond the Anoat sector. Grand Admiral Rae Sloane concurs, recognizing that in order to enact the late Emperor's protocols, they must stop Adelhard. Grand General Kenner Loring, however, secretly coerced into subservience to Adelhard by way of threats, attempts to pose a question to protect Adelhard. He asks if the plan is not to stop the New Republic from forming, what the true plan is. Rax shuts down the question and accurately suggests that Loring is in league with Adelhard. When Loring professes his loyalty to the Empire, Rax reminds all that they are in a new era and that alliances and loyalties must be reforged. He informs the others that the plan is to adapt and react, including to deal with the problematic Adelhard. Rax subsequently orders Grand Moff Randd to activate their agent in the Anoat sector and announces that the upcoming Battle of Jakku will bury the past and open the door to the future.

Back on Lehanis, Skywalker, Aphra, and Zenat run from the klyff'wat. Luke asks the others to hide behind cover in a nearby clearing, and Luke reluctantly slays the massive creature, hoping he can soon get back to where he is needed most. Now in safety, he asks Aphra what her warning is. The archaeologist tells Luke that she wanted to pay back a favor after their time at the Sason Temple. She informs Luke that the Compendium is a fake, and wonders what the Acolytes of the Beyond are trying to distract Luke from. She reminds Luke that the Acolytes are not loyal to anyone but themselves, and that their collaboration with Adelhard is likely some sort of ruse.

Just outside the Anoat sector, General Lando Calrissian fights in his Personal Luxury Yacht 3000 along with Preeti Delmin in her X-wing. Their forces decimated by Adelhard's assault, the two decide to escape. As they prepare for their hyperspace jump, Lando ponders Adelhard's uncharacteristic brutality; he is not behaving like an Imperial, even collaborating with the criminal underworld. This behavior makes him dangerous. Lando and Delmin jump away.

On Adelhard's Star Destroyer Scepter, the Grand Moff is unbothered by the fleeing enemy, hoping they will share the story of his power. In discussing the ruse on Lehanis, the mystic Reyna Oskure admonishes Adelhard for his crass disregard of their alliance. Adelhard shifts the conversation to a discussion about an issue among their rank: a potential spy. He aims to handle that in the shadows. In the meantime, Adelhard has other plans. He bemoans what he sees as incompetence from the Shadow Council and decides to start gutting the Republic using his non-traditional approaches, such as the use of bounty hunters.

On Kewwil, a Kel Dor Senator Leia Organa had recently recruited to join the New Republic, Mirim Kess, runs through a forest from a frightening Trandoshan bounty hunter by the name of Kranor. The Senator eventually trips and is murdered by the bounty hunter. Kranor then informs Spice Runners of Kijimi member Tomasso he will be heading to the next target.

On Lehanis, Luke feels overwhelmed by the recent events and tries to rush to his X-wing. Zenat slows him down, hoping to discuss what is going on. Luke talks down to her, stressed about the many threats to their friends and their nascent government. He wishes he confirmed Adelhard's death after their recent fight, and is tired of being played. Ultimately, he fears it may be too late to stop Adelhard.

Continuity

Battle of Jakku — Republic Under Siege 2 features Gallius Rax using the title of Counselor as a member of the Shadow Council alongside Grand Admiral Rae Sloane.^[3] However, the novel Aftermath: Life Debt establishes that Rax only names himself Counselor to the Empire after parting ways with Sloane, with General Hodnar Borrum stating the title counselor had not existed in Imperial records before that point.^[4] Furthermore, the issue sees Sloane refer to Rax as "Counselor Rax"^[3] despite her saying she has never heard him called that in Aftermath: Empire's End.^[5]

Media

Cover gallery

Final cover by Taurin Clarke

Reveal cover by Taurin Clarke

Virgin cover by Taurin Clarke

Variant cover by Bjorn Barends

Solicit variant cover by Bjorn Barends

Collected in

• Star Wars: Battle of Jakku trade paperback

Appearances

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

Sources

• The 'Star Wars: The Battle Of Jakku' Comic Trilogy Continues in 'Republic Under Siege' on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
• 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 228
• Battle of Jakku — Republic Under Siege 3

Notes and references

External links

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