Darth Vader (2020) 49

Publisher's summary

"IMPERIAL SCHISM" NEARS ITS THRILLING CLIMAX! LUKE SKYWALKER faces the full might of the SCHISM IMPERIAL! SLY MOORE makes the biggest choice of her life! The M.A.R. Corps gains the upper hand! And DARTH VADER confronts the consequences of his ruthless quest for unlimited power!

Opening crawl

Sly Moore's Schism Imperial, a covert group
within the Empire determined to overthrow
the Emperor, has continued to grow. Darth
Vader has now led the group on missions
from the Outer Rim to Tython, all building
toward a final assault on the Emperor's
regime.

However, Sly Moore betrayed Vader and
used his own droid-controlling devices
against him in an attempt to take his
position at Emperor Palpatine's side.

Now she's left Vader to his fate at the hands
of the vengeful M.A.R. Corps, who have just
recently regained control of their cybernetic
bodies….

Plot summary

On the Outer Rim planet Endoviara Seven, the members of the M.A.R. Corps of the Rebel Alliance tinker with the immobilized body of Darth Vader, implanting him with a droid brain as revenge for him doing so to them. They formally introduce themselves to Vader, but the Sith Lord cares not for their identities. Instead, he evokes the name of Luke Skywalker.

Luke Skywalker is on Caranthanax B with Sabé and Warba Calip, their starship in need of extensive repairs after Luke damaged key systems with his lightsaber. Before repairs can be completed, they see an Imperial Troop Transport landing nearby. Luke does not sense Vader's presence, as the occupants are Administrator Sly Moore's Schism Imperial and a legion of high-tech battle droids led by Agent Fabarian. The droids march on the H-type Nubian yacht. Although they do not detect any life forms, they destroy the ship.

To draw the droids away from his allies, Luke distracts them with a decoy before attacking up close with his lightsaber, taking out many of the droids. After Fabarian confirms Luke's presence, Governor Tauntaza, wearing her armor and wielding Darth Vader's electrostaff imbued with the power of a red Kyber crystal and a power cell from her Death Machine, fires a massive energy beam on Luke's location from the loading ramp of a Schism ship. This destroys the droids, and Luke helps Fabarian dive to safety. Sensing the danger and fear, Vader hopes his son can unleash his hate.

Aboard the Schism ship, a technical flaw in the makeshift electrostaff causes Tauntaza to be injured from her attack. Moore is upset at the setback, especially realizing Vader is aware of the attack.

Back on Endoviara Seven, the Rebel cyborgs inquire more about why Vader cares about Skywalker. He emphasizes the urgency of the situation, and since they are tapped into Vader's nervous system, they know he is truthful. ZED-6-7 explains Skywalker's value as a Jedi and that an alliance with Vader is the only way for the cyborgs to potentially survive this situation. This is especially true as Vader starts to overcome the interference of the droid brain.

On Caranthanax B, Luke sees his allies continue to flee, but also notices that Fabarian lost his left leg in the attack. Luke helps Fabarian relocate to a new position. On the Schism ship, Moore receives the coordinates of Calip and Sabé, but decides to focus on Skywalker. With Tauntaza's injuries, however, she cannot fire again. This leaves Moore as the only person who can don the armor. Before any action can occur, the Death Machine arrives to the battlefield with Corleque at the controls. Moore then broadcasts a message to Luke threatening to activate the machine. She reveals the Schism Imperial to Luke, their plan to overthrow the Emperor. She then extends an offer for the two of them to potentially rule as the two Sith, the Schism joining the Rebel Alliance.

Moore pushes that Luke needs to show himself, that being the only way to survive and protect the planet. Meanwhile, Sabé and Calip take out the droids guarding the Troop Transport. With all the non-sentient life on the planet, Luke decides to present himself to Moore as Vader arrives to the scene. Going against her word, Moore seizes the opportunity to aim her energy weapons at Luke, and Vader attempts to stop the attack with the Force, to no avail. The weapons strike Luke, launching him backwards, gravely injured.

Media

Cover gallery

Final cover by Leinil Francis Yu

Solicit cover by Leinil Francis Yu

The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary variant cover by Chris Sprouse

Textless The Phantom Menace 25th Anniversary variant cover by Chris Sprouse

Variant cover by Kael Ngu

Variant cover by Dike Ruan

Textless cover by Dike Ruan

Collected in

• Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 10 – Phantoms

Appearances

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

Sources

• "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 226

Notes and references

External links

• Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #49 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)

Dark Heart of the Sith: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 Into the Fire: 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 War of the Bounty Hunters: 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 Crimson Reign: 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 Hidden Empire: 28 · 29 · 30 · 31 · 32 Unbound Force: 33 · 34 Target Aphra: 35 · 36 Dark Droids: 37 · 38 · 39 · 40 · 41 42 · 43 · 44 · 45 The Razing of Exegol: 46 · 47 48 · 49 · 50 Trade paperbacks 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 Related media Darth Vader (2015) · Darth Vader (2017) In Service to the Empire · Revelations (2022) · Tool of the Empire The Curse · Phantom Menace Special
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