Star Wars (1977) 75

The quest to locate Han Solo faces an abrupt end when the rebels encounter a deadly situation on a world inhabited by Water Breathers.

Following the destruction of the city of Pavillion as seen in the previous issue, the Iskalon effect propels Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and Kendle into the oceans of Iskalon. With only a single rebreather available, Luke and Leia are compelled to share it as they struggle to return to the surface. Upon noticing Kendle beneath the waves, the two Rebels commence their pursuit of their companion. However, a Chuhkyvi warrior intervenes, frightening Kendle away and destroying their rebreather. This warrior guides Leia and Luke from the wreckage to the surface, where they discover Primor, a casualty of the destruction of Pavillion. As they mourn the deceased Inleshat, Kendle appears, lamenting the loss of her father-in-law. Yet, the enigmatic Chuhkyvi warrior reappears, driving Kendle away once more. Before the Chuhkyvi can harm Kendle, Luke confronts him, demanding an explanation for his actions. The Chuhkyvi, identifying himself as Kiro, reveals that Kendle betrayed the Rebels' position to the Empire, leading to the Imperial assault on Iskalon and the destruction of Pavillion. Kiro seeks to eliminate Kendle as retribution for her betrayal. As Luke and Leia consider his words, Luke realizes that Kendle's treachery has jeopardized Lando Calrissian's mission to Gamandar. In a parallel narrative, Lando, accompanied by Chewbacca, Mone, R2-D2, and C-3PO, journeys to Gamandar in search of Tay Vanis' droid, K-3PX, believed to possess all of Vanis' intelligence regarding the Imperials' strategies. As the group nears the Gamandar Citadel, Lando adopts a disguise, which includes a beret and an eye patch. R2-D2 seizes the opportunity to connect to the local computer systems and download data. However, while attempting to rejoin his team, he is apprehended by an Imperial officer who mistakes him for a member of the droid workforce on Gamandar, assigning him to assist the Imperials with inventory management. Lando, utilizing the alias of Drebble, meets with Admiral Griggor Tower. Lando, feigning a search for Tay Vanis to settle a debt, gleans information about K-3PX and secures Tower's consent to inspect the droids engaged in work detail. However, upon the Rebels' departure, Tower's spy confirms that they are the same Rebels who were present on Iskalon.

Lando, Chewbacca, Mone, and C-3PO proceed to the droid work area to locate K-3PX, discovering R2-D2 diligently working among the Imperial droids. While Lando examines the droid inventory, he identifies K-3PX and purchases him from the Imperial officers overseeing the droid detail. With their objective achieved, Lando attempts to guide Vanis' droid back to the Millennium Falcon, but the droid, after receiving several hints, declines to cooperate. However, upon hearing Luke Skywalker's name, K-3PX immediately exposes them, revealing that it was all a ploy to capture the Rebels. Kendle had directed them to the wrong droid in an attempt to have them captured. All the Rebels, with the exception of R2-D2, are imprisoned within the citadel, awaiting the arrival of Darth Vader.

According to The New Essential Chronology, the search for Tay Vanis (which continues here and concludes in issue #80) occurs after the events of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire.