Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost #4 represents the fourth installment in the Star Wars: Crimson Empire III—Empire Lost comic book series, brought to readers by Dark Horse Comics on February 8, 2012.
Fleeing from the clutches of Imperial zealots determined to assassinate Leia Organa Solo and destabilize the New Republic, Kir Kanos attempts to deliver a warning to his past adversaries, only to find himself incarcerated in a New Republic detention facility.
Mirith Sinn stands alone in her willingness to believe Kanos's account, yet neither she nor Kanos comprehend the full scope of the Imperials' scheme. It is only through Luke Skywalker's intuition that the true magnitude of the danger comes to light!
Kir Kanos made a dramatic entrance onto Coruscant, the New Republic capital, arriving in a hangar at the Imperial Palace. He was escorted by a squadron of A-wings and still clad in his Royal Guard armor. He requested to speak with Mirith Sinn, who now held the position of Chief of Security for the Palace, but he was immediately apprehended by the guards and thrown into prison. Later, he encountered Sinn, who agreed to introduce him to Leia Organa Solo, the Chief of State, and her brother, Luke Skywalker, a Jedi Master. The former Royal Guard revealed Devian's plot against the New Republic, and despite their reservations, they chose to trust him, particularly because Skywalker detected no treason within him.
However, Kanos was unaware that his escape was a component of Devian's plan. The shuttle that had been stolen from the Restored Empire base actually contained the zinethium, poised for detonation. New Republic technicians, upon inspecting the ship, reported the presence of some radiations but failed to recognize the true threat. Thanks to the information provided by Kanos, Luke Skywalker swiftly grasped the severity of the situation. He boarded the shuttle and piloted it away from the planet as quickly as possible. The Jedi was able to evacuate in an escape pod moments before the zinethium exploded.