Mission to Pillio

This article is about Luke Skywalker and Del Meeko's mission. You may be looking for the mission undertaken by the First Order.

The capitalization in this article's title is conjectural.

Although this article's title is canonical, its actual capitalization is pure conjecture.

Concurrent

Mission to the Anoat sector^[2]

Mission to Pillio

Place

Pillio^[1]

Outcome

Observatory not destroyed^[1]
Imperial forces wiped out, save for Agent Del Meeko^[1]
Luke Skywalker recovers a compass^[1]
Acolytes of the Beyond retreat^[2]

Factions
Jedi Order^[1]	Galactic Empire^[1] Acolytes of the Beyond (late)^[2]

Commanders
Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker^[1]	Agent Del Meeko^[1] Yuan Howzell (late)^[2]

Participants
1 Jedi Knight^[1] Luke Skywalker^[1] 1 T-65B X-wing starfighter^[1] 1 R2 series astromech droid^[1] R2-D2^[1]	1 Inferno Squad member^[1] Del Meeko^[1] Lambda-class T-4a shuttles^[1] Imperial officers^[1] Jumptroopers^[1] Riot control stormtroopers^[1] Scout troopers^[1] Heavy Weapons Stormtroopers^[1] Stormtroopers^[1] Several Acolytes of the Beyond (late)^[2] Yuan Howzell^[2]	Scritters^[1]

Casualties
	Many Imperial officers^[1] Many Jumptroopers^[1] Many Riot control stormtroopers^[1] Many Scout troopers^[1] Many Heavy Weapons Stormtroopers^[1] Many Stormtroopers^[1]	Scritters^[1]

"If the Empire is here, then what I sensed is true. There must be something special about this place."

―Luke Skywalker, to R2-D2^[1]

In 4 ABY, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker and Imperial Special Forces Agent Del Meeko simultaneously undertook a Mission to Pillio. Meeko, accompanied by several squads of stormtroopers, was under orders to destroy the Emperor's Observatory on the planet Pillio, and stop the valuable relics hidden there from falling into the hands of the Galactic Empire enemies. Skywalker, meanwhile, felt called to the planet by the Force, and sought to investigate this mysterious draw which drew the the Acolytes of the Beyond, who engaged the Jedi but were easily bested by Skywalker.

The mission

Engaging the Empire

"I'll be fine, R2. You stay here, alright?"

―Luke Skywalker to R2-D2^[1]

Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 overlook Pillio's landscape

Luke Skywalker arrived on Pillio with R2-D2 in his X-wing starfighter, and saw the Empire's Lambda-class T-4a shuttles. Knowing the Observatory was ahead of him, Luke proceeded towards his destination without the astromech. Upon seeing Skywalker, Meeko's stormtrooper detachments opened fire on the Jedi. Luke fought his way through several squads of Imperial troops, eventually discovering Meeko trapped in scritter amber. Luke showed mercy on the trapped soldier, using his lightsaber to cut away the amber.^[1]

Joining forces

"Of course there's conflict in me. I'm not blind. I know what the Empire's capable of. But what else is there?"

―Del Meeko to Luke Skywalker^[1]

Meeko encountered Luke Skywalker on Pillio.

Now alone and trapped in a scritter nest, the two were forced to work together to escape the nest and reach the observatory. Along the way, the two fought through many scritters and discussed their respective beliefs and philosophies. Eventually, the two reached the observatory. The small facility was sealed tight and required a combination of Meeko's technical expertise and Skywalker's Force sensitivity to open. Once inside, Meeko was disappointed by the objects contained within, which mostly seemed to be harmless antiques.^[1]

Skywalker recovers the Jedi star compass.

Skywalker, however, quickly found the one object that was apparently the concern of the Observatory: a mysterious compass. Skywalker requested to keep the compass, and Meeko reluctantly agreed. As the only object of value was now gone, Meeko chose not to destroy the now worthless facility. The Jedi and agent made it out of the cave with Luke saying that he was glad to have met him. When Meeko disbelieving asked if they will forget all of this to which Luke responded that there is conflict in him. Meeko told Luke that he knew the bad things that the Empire had done but there wasn't anything else for him. Luke responded that he had a choice, not to join the rebellion, but to become better. Luke bid him farewell and departed.^[1]

Accosted by the shadows

"We serve the Sith, Skywalker-- we serve Vader and Palpatine. We are but shadows that flow beneath them.
And we await their return."

―Yuan Howzell to Luke Skywalker^[2]

Skywalker fighting the Acolytes at the Observatory on Pillio.

After leaving Meeko, Skywalker was later accosted by several shadows, members of the Acolytes of the Beyond, led by Yuan Howzell, while examining the compass. Howzell introduced herself, and expressed her desire to take the Jedi relic. In response, Luke ignited his lightsaber, and the nascent Jedi Knight engaged the shadows in a lightsaber duel. Jumping, and using the Force and his lightsaber, Luke very easily bested them all. When Howzell claimed that Vader was still alive, Skywalker reassured her that he was dead, using the Force to turn her charge at him into a toss. Knowing they were defeated, the shadows left Skywalker with the Jedi compass as his prize, though Howzell swore that the dark side would once again rise and overtake them all.^[2]