For the first time in the new Star Wars canon, journey with us into the time after the end of Return of the Jedi! Writer Greg Rucka (PUNISHER, WOLVERINE, Gotham Central) and artist Marco Checchetto (AVENGERS WORLD, PUNISHER) take us past the destruction of the second Death Star into the chaos of a Shattered Empire.
On board the Star Destroyer Torment, Lieutenant Gulin informs Captain Lerr Duvat that the "messenger" has arrived. The captain orders the bridge cleared, and the messenger—a red-robed figure with a faceless black helmet—enters, verifying Duvat's identity with a blood test. A hologram of the face of Emperor Palpatine appears in the messenger's helmet, telling Duvat he and a handful of select Imperial officers have been given the honor of destroying the Rebel Alliance by commencing Operation: Cinder. Duvat informs his lieutenant that he has received a message from the Emperor himself. When Gulin responds that the Emperor is dead, Duvat warns him that repeating Rebel propaganda is treason, and orders him to set a new course.
On the planet Sterdic IV, Shara Bey and her A-Wing squadron clear the skies over Cawa City of TIE fighters to allow the Y-wings of Feral Group to release magnetic cluster bombs over an AT-AT, destroying it. After the mission, Bey talks to the squadron's acting commander L'ulo L'ampar about her family—she has spoken to her father and her son Poe, but her husband, Kes, is on a secret mission and out of contact. L'ampar offers to try and have her assigned to light duties for the next few days.
Bey arrives at the Alliance Fleet at Muster Point: Vergance, with her light duties involving serving as a pilot for Princess Leia Organa. In the docking bay, she sees Leia in conversation with Mon Mothma. Leia is reluctant to be leaving the fleet at such a critical stage, but Mothma tells her that her skill and reputation are necessary for the upcoming mission. On board their shuttle, a GX1 short hauler, Leia tells Bey that they will have no escort so as not to draw attention to their mission, and that the navi-computer has been pre-programmed for security reasons. In hyperspace, Bey prepares a drink for Leia, and finds her writing a condolence letter to the family of a Rodian nurse, Able Nereno, who was killed aboard the medical frigate Redemption during the Battle of Endor. Leia mentions that Crix Madine uses a protocol droid to write his letters, but she prefers the personal touch.
Bey and Leia arrive at their destination: Theed, the capital city of Naboo. Bey is surprised that the city is so intact, particularly as Palpatine was from there. Leia responds that the Emperor thrived on Naboo's fear—that he could destroy his home planet and its people in an instant, as he had with Alderaan. They are greeted by Governor Donta Gesset, who welcomes them on behalf of Queen Soruna. Leia meets with Soruna at the Theed Royal Palace, and requests her aid in establishing a new system of government and restoring the senate. As Soruna agrees to help, a guard enters and reports that something is jamming Naboo's orbital sensors and communications. A sudden electrical storm begins.
Above the planet, Captain Duvat has begun his phase of Operation: Cinder. The Torment is jamming Naboo's sensors and signals, and has deployed a climate disruption array to generate hurricanes on the surface. Duvat informs Gulin of their mission: "By order of the Emperor, Naboo is to be scoured."
- UPC 759606081998; October 7, 2015; Marvel Comics