Star Wars (1977) 69

Picking up directly after the events of the previous issue, Leia Organa and C-3PO have been taken into custody by the forces of the Galactic Empire, betrayed by the scheming bounty hunter, Dengar. Leia and C-3PO are transported to the City of Bone aboard a transport barge, where they encounter the Imperial Commander known as the Suprema. The Suprema confidently declares his imminent victory in crushing the resistance on Mandalore and eliminating Fenn Shysa. As Dengar and the Suprema discuss tracking down Shysa, Princess Leia and C-3PO are escorted away by stormtroopers. However, unbeknownst to the Imperials, one of the stormtroopers is actually Fenn Shysa in disguise, who promptly frees the two Rebels. Shysa reveals that after Organa had rendered him unconscious, he awoke to discover the princess being captured by the Imperials. Seizing a perfect opportunity to infiltrate the base, Shysa incapacitated a perimeter guard and assumed his identity. Shysa proposes a deal to the princess: he will assist her in recapturing Dengar in exchange for her help in freeing his friend, Tobbi Dala, from his cell within the City of Bone. Leia agrees, and the group embarks on a rescue mission to Dala's cell. With the two Mandalorian friends reunited, the group resolves to launch an attack on the fortress.

Shysa fires a signal flare from a city window, initiating an assault by his troops. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Dala seizes control of an airspeeder, and the group heads back to the Suprema's headquarters. A fierce firefight erupts with the Imperial forces, during which Organa and Dala destroy the control box that powers the energy links binding the Mandalorian slaves. Now liberated from their restraints, the Mandalorians revolt against their captors, igniting a city-wide riot. Capitalizing on the distraction, the rebels infiltrate the Suprema's headquarters, only to find the Imperial leader lying in wait. The alien shoots Dala in the chest, inflicting a mortal wound, but the remaining Rebels manage to prevent him from causing further harm. As Dala nears death, he promises his old friend that he will open the city gates, allowing the Mandalorian slaves to escape and join Shysa's forces, who are positioned outside. True to his word, Dala unlocks the gates, enabling the Mandalorians to flee. As Princess Leia and Shysa make their escape in their airspeeder, Dala closes the gates, preventing the pursuing Shrike Squadron from giving chase. The squadron crashes headlong into the city walls, triggering a chain reaction of exploding fuel and ammunition, which incinerates the city's interior and claims the lives of both the Suprema and Tobbi Dala. Back at the Mandalorian camp, Shysa coerces Dengar into revealing information by threatening to kill him. Dengar insists that he was not the one collaborating with Fett, but that he overheard someone informing Fett about a hideout located near the Anga system. Despite the mission to locate Fett proving to be a fruitless endeavor, Leia finds solace in the fact that the Empire's presence on Mandalore has been significantly weakened. Meanwhile, on the Wheel, Lando Calrissian and Chewbacca are in pursuit of Bossk, suspecting that he may be the bounty hunter who partnered with Fett during the search for the Millennium Falcon. The duo have secured a patron, Vorol, who possesses knowledge of Bossk's whereabouts, and Chewbacca intimidates him into divulging the information. Upon learning the location, Calrissian is taken aback, exclaiming, "Aw, no. No! Not…there!"