Star Wars issue number 16 is the sixteenth installment of the Star Wars comic book series published by Marvel, titled Star Wars. This particular issue, which came out on February 17, 2016, was penned by Jason Aaron and features artwork by Leinil Francis Yu. It marks the beginning of the Rebel Jail story arc within the broader series.
The "REBEL JAIL" storyline kicks off!
- Having captured a significant captive during the events of VADER DOWN, the Rebels journey to a [prison](/article/prison] facility.
- Sadly, they aren't the only ones interested in the prisoners held there.
- The saga of Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance continues onward! [1]
Following the events of the Battle of Vrogas Vas, Dr. Chelli Lona Aphra, the unconventional archaeologist, manages to escape her magnetic binders while aboard the rebel starship, known as the Volt Cobra. As Princess Leia Organa and some rebel troopers attempt to subdue Aphra, the Volt Cobra nears the Sunspot Prison perimeter and is subsequently bombarded by ion cannons fire. While Leia attempts to contact the bridge, Aphra is incapacitated by her estranged friend, Sana Starros, using a combat maneuver. When Leia questions Starros about her failure to transmit the clearance codes, Starros explains that she needed to come and resolve her "mess."
Subsequently, the Volt Cobra arrives at Sunspot Prison, a clandestine Rebel Alliance detention center positioned near a star. This prison houses a variety of enemies of the Rebellion, including war criminals, Imperial spies, mercenaries, and at least a couple of Moffs. Despite Aphra's defiance, the prison warden assures her that the Empire will be unable to locate the prison, emphasizing its robust defenses, which include ion cannons and the proximity of a star.
Meanwhile, Eneb Ray, a masked former rebel agent, is leading a team of mercenaries and IG-RM bodyguard and enforcer droids in an assault on the seemingly impenetrable Sunspot Prison.
Some weeks later, Aphra, displaying her resilient spirit, withstands questioning from Rebel Alliance Intelligence Service officers. In a private moment, Sana voices her disapproval of the Alliance's "humane" interrogation techniques, but Leia insists that the Rebellion must not emulate the Empire's methods. Leia reveals that she brought Sana along to make amends for their awkward "initial" encounter and to express her gratitude for Sana saving her life on Nar Shaddaa. Princess Leia then permits Sana to interrogate Dr. Aphra. When Sana urges Aphra to cooperate with the rebels, Aphra accuses her of being a rebel sympathizer and declares her hatred for smugglers.
In a parallel storyline, Han Solo and a reluctant Luke Skywalker are trying to secure funds for the Rebellion by engaging in a game of sabacc with gangsters. Solo manages to double the Rebellion's funds, after deducting a modest finder's fee. However, this infuriates the gangsters, and the pair barely manage to escape aboard the Millennium Falcon, without the Rebellion's money. While aboard the Falcon, Skywalker confronts Solo regarding his rash actions. Luke reveals that the Empire has placed a 60,000 credit bounty on his head, a sum exceeding the bounty placed on Solo's head.
Returning to Sunspot Prison, Eneb Ray and his assault team utilize grappling lasers to secure their hold on the prison. One of the mercenaries loses his grip and falls, but Eneb reassures the others, claiming that he has stared into the sun and survived. In the command center, Princess Leia receives assurance from the prison warden that Dr. Aphra will be properly looked after. At that precise moment, Eneb and his assault team breach the hull, overwhelming a number of armored rebel troopers.