The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight 4 is the fourth and final issue of the 2023 comic miniseries Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight. The issue was written by Charles Soule, illustrated by David Messina, and published by Marvel Comics on January 3, 2024.
Publisher's summary
MARCHION RO WINS! The final glimpse of the lost year of THE HIGH REPUBLIC is revealed, as we follow the EYE OF THE STORM himself, MARCHION RO, from his greatest triumph – the destruction of the JEDI fortress known as STARLIGHT BEACON – to the many trials that came after!
Opening crawl
| THE HIGH REPUBLIC SHADOWS OF STARLIGHT "EVER VICTORIOUS" |
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Plot summary
Celebrations and preparations
A week following the destruction of Starlight Beacon, Eye of the Nihil, Marchion Ro gives a speech of triumph to his raiders. He celebrates the humiliation of the Republic's symbol of unity, the slaughtering of Jedi, and the deployment of stormseeds to raise the Stormwall and create the impenetrable Occlusion Zone. Best of all, their achievements came not from purchasing or politicking; the stole their victory. The Nihil erupt in celebration and party for the next month.
Following the festivities, former Republic Senator-turned-Nihil Ghirra Starros approaches her lover, Ro, with the question of what he intends to do with his swathe of the galaxy. Over the next several months, Ghirra attempts to convince the Eye to organize into a government. She tries various motivational tactics, and eventually explains that sooner or later the Republic will find a way to breach the Stormwall and/or resistance forces within the Occlusion Zone will organize into a threat, especially since there are Jedi among them.
Marchion Ro scoffs at the idea of holding referendums, establishing trade routes, and enacting taxation. Ghirra, however, assures him that she will handle the mundanity of governing if he will rule.
Here comes the general
Marchion Ro and his Nihil orbit the planet Sarumo, which has resisted their rule. Arathab Fal, a member of Ro's She'ar, briefs the Evereni on how one primary settlement seems to be the epicenter of resistance. Fal warns that due to the elaborate planetary defenses surrounding the walled city, a direct assault would be needlessly costly, wasting the valuable resource of Ro's most skilled fighters.
On the surface, Sarumo's Mayor Seurath asks for counsel from Minister Beeth on the situation over their planet. Their assessment of the situation is that their defense grid could hold off Nihil strikes for a while, but it would be extremely costly both to their military and civilians. As far as they see, the best strategy is to try and keep their fighters away from the city, which is itself a gamble.
The pair turn to a Mirialan in their midst, General Abediah Viess, who retired on their planet. The pair sing Viess's praises and ask her for any advice. Viess claims to see a path in which she can end the crisis with minimal military losses and zero civilian casualties. Seurath is elated to hear it and asks her to coordinate with Beeth. Viess, however, says that given the volatility of the situation and the breakneck pace at which decisions must be made, she would need to have the control of Sarumo's military. Beeth is unwilling to cede control of the entire military to a civilian outsider, so Viess starts to head to a defense bunker. She is stopped by Mayor Seurath, who grants Viess her request.
As the Nihil launch their assault, Beeth gives General Viess the access codes to their defense grid as the Sarumo pilots await her orders. Viess suddenly slices Beeth's neck with her vibroblade before shooting the others on the platform. She accesses the cannons, points them down to Sarumo's starfighters, and opens fire, destroying them all and killing numerous soldiers.
On the Gaze Electric, Nihil inform their Eye of the quizzical behavior, and Marchion asks them to pause their attack as he knows a transmission will be coming in soon. He is correct. Abediah Viess announces herself and asks to join Ro's employ. Marchion is skeptical of her offer, but Viess explains that she wants to join up with the winners. Ro is still unconvinced until Viess displays her numerous stolen lightsabers pilfered off of Jedi she hunted over her long lifetime. Ro decides to let the woman join the Nihil.
Weird science
Five months after the fall of Starlight, on the Nihil capital Hetzal, Ro examines the prisoner registry of a Republic prison the Nihil have taken. One name on the list, Boolan, intrigues Ro, for it is one he recognizes.
Marchion Ro visits Baron Boolan in his cell. Boolan is aware of the Eye of the Storm, but also reveals he knows much about the Evereni. Ro does not take kindly to this, and tells Boolan he just killed himself. Ro nevertheless offers Boolan a way out: improve the Nameless so they can be more powerful and better obey Ro. Boolan has long wanted to work with the creatures, and Ro is grotesquely impressed by Boolan's unorthodox approach to science. Ro thus allows Boolan to live.
Boolan lays out his conditions: He wants to be paid well, have access to equipment and a safe place to work where he won't be disturbed, be called "Baron" Boolan, and use the prison's guards as his test subjects. Given the sadism so clearly possessed by the Ithorian, Marchion accepts.
Anniversary
A week before the anniversary of Starlight's fall, Ghirra Starros congratulates Marchion Ro on the ways in which he has constructed a new state. Namely, establishing ministries, a military, industry, and diplomacy. Additionally, they have Jedi Grandmaster Pra-Tre Veter in their custody. Ghirra prepares to speak with the Republic on Coruscant about laying out the Nihil's demands and detailing their new, legitimate state.
Now alone on his throne, Marchion sees a fly buzz toward him. He snatches it in a tight fist, crushing it violently. He smiles, then frowns once more. Marchion Ro approaches the holographic map of the galaxy. He takes the representation of Coruscant in his hand. He speaks to himself of conquest, destruction, what he leaves behind. He clenches his fist, crushing the holographic planet.
Media
Collected in
- Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight trade paperback
- Star Wars: The High Republic Phase III – Trials of the Jedi Omnibus
Appearances
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
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Organisms
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Events
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Locations
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Organizations and titles
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Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
Weapons and technology
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Miscellanea
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Sources
Star Wars: The High Republic Show: The Fate of Burryaga Revealed, The High Republic Heads to San Diego Comic-Con, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)- Lucasfilm Publishing: Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away... | Panel | San Diego Comic-Con 2023 on the official Penguin Random House YouTube channel (original link is obsolete)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 220
- NYCC 2023: 13 Highlights from the Lucasfilm Publishing Panel on StarWars.com (backup link)
- This Week! in Star Wars Dispatch: Ready, Set, New Star Wars Books! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
- "Charles Soule: Luminous Legacy" — Star Wars Insider 231
- "Star Wars: The High Republic Companion: Phase III: Trials of the Jedi" — Star Wars Insider 234
Notes and references
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 Star Wars: The High Republic - Shadows of Starlight (2023) #4 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ The events of The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight 4 begin with the destruction of Starlight Beacon and ends a year later, but before Pra-Tre Veter's execution. Star Wars: The High Republic Character Encyclopedia dates the destruction of Starlight Beacon and Pra-Tre Veter's execution to 230 BBY.
