Dawn of the Jedi: Force War 1

One standard year has passed since the Infinite Empire of the Rakata species commenced its invasion of the Tython system. The Empire has successfully seized control of the planets Furies Gate, Obri, Mawr, and Ska Gora. Although the Je'daii Order successfully repelled them at Tython, the Rakata have established a command post on Ska Gora. The Je'daii have formed an alliance with the Settled Worlds, with Rajivari appointed as the general of their combined military forces. Additionally, they have constructed Forcesabers with assistance from Xesh, a former Force Hound who became a Je'daii. However, the use of these weapons has compelled the Je'daii to tap into the dark side of the Force. The unhinged Je'daii Daegen Lok has been released from his confinement on the moon of Bogan and is now leading the Je'daii in combat against the Flesh Raiders.

After the Je'daii receive a Force vision of the Infinite Empire's impending attack on Shikaakwa, they prepare an ambush for the enemy within the swamps surrounding Ryo Fortress, a strategic command center for the Tythans. As the Flesh Raider soldiers of the Empire advance through the swamps near Ryo Fortress, Xesh launches a surprise attack on a group, engaging them in combat. Xesh eliminates numerous Flesh Raiders, and when a Force Hound attempts to strike at Xesh, Shae Koda, a Je'daii Ranger, intervenes, riding her rancor-dragon named Butch. Koda slays the enemy's mount, and Xesh overpowers the Force Hound after his opponent survives. Xesh and Daegen Lok then retreat from a trio of devastating Rakatan annihilators, and Xesh persuades Lok to order an aerial assault on their location to eliminate the enemy walkers. Despite the presence of other Je'daii in the vicinity, Lok instructs Hawk Ryo and his Hunter-class starfighters to bombard the Annihilators. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Sek'nos Rath, a Je'daii, rescues his ally Trill and safely transports her away from danger. Inside Ryo Fortress, General Rajivari oversees the battle, facing criticism from Baron Volnos Ryo. Upon learning of the successful strike against the Annihilators, he commands Masters Tave, Quan-Jang, and Tem Madog to initiate their primary offensive against the Rakatan forces.

Sub-Predor Ceh'let, the Rakatan commander, informs Predor Skal'nas about the heavy casualties her forces are suffering. Skal'nas grants Ceh'let permission to withdraw her forces to Ska Gora. Even with the Rakatan retreat, the Flesh Raiders persist in fighting, prompting Xesh to order the Je'daii to eradicate them all. Several hours later, Lok delivers a victory address to the surviving Je'daii, but Sek'nos Rath departs in disgust, disapproving of the Je'daii's embrace of the dark side. Xesh struggles to remember where he recognizes Trill from, and he and Shae Koda share a brief moment before Koda leaves. On Ska Gora, Ceh'let openly questions Skal'nas's leadership in front of the other commanders, leading Skal'nas to end the war conference and speak with her privately. Skal'nas reveals that the Rakata are losing their connection to the Force, and that he seeks the Infinity Gate constructed by the Kwa species, which is rumored to be located on Tython. Skal'nas hopes that the Infinity Gate will reverse the decline of his species' Force potential, enabling him to become the ruler of the Empire. However, after outlining his plans, Skal'nas executes Ceh'let with Force lightning as punishment for her challenge to his authority.

Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi: Force War 1 marks the beginning of Dawn of the Jedi: Force War, a five-part comic book miniseries published by Dark Horse Comics. Force War is the third miniseries story arc within the Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi series, following the Prisoner of Bogan arc. John Ostrander and Jan Duursema, the creative minds behind Dawn of the Jedi, wrote the story for Force War 1; Ostrander crafted the script, while Duursema provided the pencils for the issue. Dan Parsons served as the issue's inker, Wes Dzioba managed the coloring, and Michael Heisler handled the lettering. David Michael Beck created the cover for Force War 1, and Randy Stradley acted as the editor. Jimmy Presler, Freddye Lins, and Mike Richardson were credited as the designer, assistant editor, and publisher for the issue, respectively. The Force War arc was initially announced as "Force Wars" at Wondercon 2013 on April 1, and Force War 1 was officially announced on August 14, 2013 in Dark Horse's November 2013 solicitations. The issue was released on November 20.

The Flesh Raiders appearing in Force War 1 are a species that originated in the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic. This comic was the first Star Wars material outside of the game's metaseries to feature the species. Force War 1 provides backstory for the Flesh Raiders, identifying them as mutated, lower-caste Rakata and establishing a precedent for their presence on Tython in The Old Republic, which takes place twenty-four millennia later. This issue also marks the debut of a female Rakata in Ceh'let, revealing that female Rakata possess hair, unlike their male counterparts. Force War 1 portrays Rajivari, a character first seen in The Old Republic, as the general of the Je'daii and the Settled Worlds, expanding upon his established in-game history as a Je'daii leader.