Darth Vader (2017) 14

Synopsis from the Publisher

As the Emperor's [sic] power over the galaxy intensifies, any sign of rebellion must be crushed… especially when a Jedi survivor is instigating it on Mon Cala.

Detailed Plot

The Mon Cala Conflict

Lee-Char, the King, leads the combined forces of Mon Calamari and Quarren in Dac City, engaging in battle against a Galactic Empire battalion. This battalion includes AT-AT walkers, AT-PD walkers, and TIE fighters. Simultaneously, Darth Vader, along with the [Inquisitorius] (/article/inquisitorius) members Ninth Sister, Tenth Brother, and Sixth Brother, as well as Purge Troopers, secure the landing zone after eliminating a significant number of Mon Calamari and Quarren fighters.

The Inquisitors proceed toward the palace. The Ninth Sister questions the likelihood of the Jedi fugitive hiding near the King. Vader retorts that King Lee-Char possesses the means to contact the fugitive Jedi. The Tenth Brother speculates that Lee-Char likely escaped upon the arrival of the Imperial battalion. However, Vader, drawing upon his familiarity with the King, senses his continued presence. Experiencing a flashback to King Lee-Char's coronation, Darth Vader deduces that the King will remain in the city until the battle concludes.

In the command center, King Lee-Char watches a hologram depicting the battle. Commander Ackbar informs him that their defenses are holding but that the Empire has landed significant forces on all their "above ground" settlements, which the Mon Calamari and Quarren are not adept at fighting in. King Lee-Char orders the troops to maintain their positions until the evacuation is complete. Ackbar assures him that they will hold and that fifty percent of the civilians have already been moved below the surface.

Admiral Raddus expresses reluctance to cede Mon Cala's surface cities to the Empire, emphasizing that it is their home. Lee-Char clarifies that it is a strategic retreat. He states that once their populations are secure, they will determine their response. He conveys that his objective is to persuade the Empire to withdraw without bloodshed. He sees two options: war and diplomacy.

Negotiations with Tarkin

Using a holoprojector, King Lee-Char contacts Governor Wilhuff Tarkin, who is stationed aboard the Imperial Star Destroyer Sovereign, demanding the immediate withdrawal of Imperial forces. Lee-Char asserts that the attack is unjustified and a blatant violation of Mon Cala's treaty with the Empire. Tarkin refutes this, citing the assassination of an Imperial envoy under his protection. He declares that the situation warrants a military response and pledges to restore order to Mon Cala.

King Lee-Char assures him that he had no involvement in Ambassador Telvar's death and that his death would be detrimental to their negotiations. Disbelieving Lee-Char, Tarkin reiterates his demand for the King to order his forces to stand down and permit the Empire to conduct its investigation.

Lee Char counters that the Empire is not investigating but invading. While Mon Cala is loyal to the Empire, he vows that he will not allow the Empire to occupy their lands and and kill their soldiers. He warns that if Tarkin persists, the Mon Calamari will aggressively defend themselves. Dismissing Lee-Char's warning, Tarkin advises the King to cease fighting before ending the communication.

Tarkin directs a lieutenant to inform Major Rantu to anticipate a significant counter-attack from the local forces once the Mon Calamari and Quarren complete the evacuation of civilians from their surface settlements. When the lieutenant inquires about the nature of the attack, Tarkin admits he is uncertain but believes they are familiar with the locals' weapon systems and believe there are no surprises.

The Jedi in Hiding

Meanwhile, the Jedi advisor known as "Master" Ferren Barr addresses his followers, including several humans and a humanoid. Watching footage of Vader and his Inquisitors, Barr expresses surprise that Emperor Palpatine dispatched Skywalker, but acknowledges that the Force operates according to its own will. When Verla asks who is Skywalker, Barr replies that Anakin Skywalker is the "Chosen One."

Barr instructs his droid, Endee, to display files 430 through 459. The droid projects a hologram of various Aurebesh characters, including Skywalker. As the droid plays a video of Anakin battling B1-series battle droids, Barr explains that Skywalker was the greatest of his generation, who was accepted into the Jedi Temple for training at a relatively late age. Barr recalls sparring with Skywalker but says that the Jedi were wrong to believe that he was the Chosen One.

Barr presents footage of a fallen Skywalker leading the 501st Legion during the siege of the Jedi Temple. Barr informs his acolytes that he obtained the footage from a slicer who extracted it from a backup archive. Reflecting on Order 66, Barr suggests that they should have focused on inner reflection rather than external matters. Barr talks about how Vader killed younglings and that he continues to hunt Jedi with the Inquisitors, former Jedi. While Skywalker has embraced the dark side and become Vader, he says that even the power of the dark side cannot erase the past.

When Daren asks why Barr does not reveal to the public that Palpatine's former enforces are Jedi, Barr opines that it would be futile due to the Emperor's skill in deception. Barr says that this is why they are here. Once the galaxy sees what the Empire is capable of, he believes that they will resist. Barr regards the Jedi and Sith as relics of a lost age but believes people can understand oppression and freedom.

Rebb insists that the Jedi must be avenged and asks Barr to send them to destroy Vader. Barr opines that taking on Vader will be too dangerous but says he has another plan could bring down the Sith and their Empire if they succeed. When Rebb asks how, he replies that it depends on the King.

A Bold Move

Barr contacts King Lee-Char via holoprojector and tells him about his plan. The King is unsure whether he could take such drastic action since he has completed the evacuation of his people from the surface cities. King Lee-Char proposes letting the Empire continue their investigation and is confident that they would find that his people did not kill the Imperial Ambassador. Barr advises the King that the Empire will not leave.

Barr asserts that the Force has revealed to him the Empire's future and that the aggressions on Mon Cala are the initial stages of a relentless erosion of freedom throughout the Empire. He claims that his visions show him that the Mon Calamari will be the center of the galaxy's liberation from the Empire. He implores Barr to take action to save his people. The King agress and activates something that brings great whale-like creatures out of the ocean depths.

Briefing Commander Ackbar and Admiral Raddus by holoprojector, he orders Ackbar to coordinate the defense of the northern hemisphere and Raddus to lead the defense of the southern hemisphere. When Ackbar asks if he has taken action to counter the Empire's escalation of hostilities, Lee-Char responds that he had two plans to push back the Imperials. Since the first failed, he plans to launch his second plan.

The Great Wave

The King is about to address his people when Vader, his Inquisitors, and Purge Troopers arrive, having killed his guards. Vader throws Lee-Char against a wall and instructs the Ninth Sister to begin her work. Before the Ninth Sister can probe Lee-Char's mind, an Imperial signals officer aboard the Sovereign detects strange signals across Mon Cala.

Several whale-like creatures surface, creating giant tsunamis that swamp the above surface cities. Vader and his Inquisitors are caught in the tsunami, which also overwhelms the Imperial battalion on Dac City. The Inquisitors and Lord Vader struggle to hold back the tsunami but are swept away.

Aboard the Sovereign, a shocked Colonel Bergon remarks that the Mon Calamari have destroyed all of their cities. Governor Tarkin disagrees, saying that Dac City and the others were merely surface outposts. He says that the Mon Calamari and Quarren's true civilization lies underwater. While the enemy is barely hurt, the Empire is unable to use their surface cities as staging grounds.

With the loss of Major Rantu's forces, Tarkin orders Colonel Bergon to lead the next assault wave, which consists of aerial landing platforms. When Tarkin asks the Imperial Security Bureau Commander Jordo why they did not know that the Mon Calamari possessed the capability to sink their cities, he apologizes that he did not know but vows to redouble his efforts. Tarkin agrees but warns that it is a long fall to the ocean. Tarkin asks the lieutenant aboard Vader's whereabouts but they have lost contact with Vader. Vader sinks into the depths of Mon Cala's oceans.

Canon Implications

In one panel of the issue, Colonel [Bergon](/article/bergon] appears to make a statement, but Wilhuff Tarkin replies to Commander Jordo.

At one point an Imperial officer calls Tarkin "Grand Moff Tarkin." However, Tarkin was not made Grand Moff by the Emperor until 14 BBY, after the events of the Tarkin novel.

"Tyranus" is misspelled as "Tyrannus" in the images of Ferren Barr's files.

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Available Versions

• UPC 759606086665; April 11 , 2018 ; Marvel Comics [1] 01411; Cover A; Elia Bonetti, Giuseppe Camuncoli 01421; Cover B; Rod Reis

Cover Images