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Writer, Publisher: Mike Richardson Writer: Randy Stradley Penciler: Paul Gulacy Inker: P. Craig Russell Letterer: Sean Konot Colorist, Computer Separations & Effects: David Stewart Cover Artist: Dave Dorman Computer Separations & Effects: John Hanan Book Design: Scott Tice Book Design: Kristen Burda Editor: Diana Schutz Assistant Editor: Mike Hansen CHARACTER Featured Kir Kanos, Mirith Sinn Supporting Sish Sadeet, Tem Merkon, Massimo Villain Colonel Xexus Shev, Carnor Jax Other Imperial officer (Phaeda), Imperial Lieutenant (Phaeda), Lieutenant Geff Blim, Phaedan rebel 1, Phaedan rebel 2, Phaedan citizen 1, Phaedan citizen 2 Cameo General Redd Wessel, Lemmet Tauk (in flashback; dies), Alum Frost (in flashback; dies), Ved Kennede (in flashback), Palpatine (in flashback), Darth Vader (in flashback) LOCATION Yinchorr, Phaeda ORGANIZATION Stormtroopers, Emperor's Royal Guard STARSHIP TIE interceptor, Emperor's Revenge (unnamed until issue #4) VEHICLE clone turbo tank ("Juggernaut") (modified), All Terrain Scout Transport (AT-ST walker), landspeeder, Imperial Speeder Bike | ||
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According to the inside cover, the events in this issue takes place 11+ years after the Battle of Yavin.
This months creator profile is on penciller, Paul Gulacy and the letters page features a letter from Errol Rosa Tirado.
The Juggernaut tank make a couple appearances based on the pre-production art from The Empire Strikes Back. Once with treads and a second time with tires (as it would later be seen in Revenge of the Sith.
Ved Kennede is called Master Kennede in this issue as the leader of the training facility on Yinchorr. He is however identified in the Crimson Empire Handbook published by Dark Horse.
As with the previous issue, guard trainees have different colored suits of body armor with a unique symbol on the forehead of the facemask. Kir Kanos and Carnor Jax are still in blue and yellow respectively. Lemmet Tauk is in a pink suit, with a stylized lightning symbol, and Alum Frost is in orange with a 'Y' symbol.
This is the first time that the armor underneath a Royal Guards cloak has ever been shown.
On the planet Phaeda, the garrison of stormtroopers on the planet are busily searching for a stranger that decimated a squad of troopers in a local tapcafe. That man, Kir Kanos, is currently pointing his gun at Tem Merkon and his friends as they enter his secret hiding place. Tem has brought Mirith Sinn and Sish Sadeet, members of the New Republic. Kanos agrees to join them against the Empire, their common enemy...for now. Sadeet and Sinn don't exactly trust Kanos, but they take him back to their base anyway.
At garrison headquarters on Paheda, Colonel Shev takes a call from General Wessel in regards to the tapcafe incident. Lord Jax interrupts, telling the Colonel he has taken a personal interest in the matter, and order Shev to do nothing. he wants nothing to interfere with his plans to capture this fugitive. Shev orders his staff to send no reports off without his approval from now on. Moments later one of Shev's informants Tem Merkon shows up, with information on the fugitive and a rebel stronghold on planet, that was previously unknown to the colonel.
Back at the base, Massimo, another lieutenant in the Rebellion, questions Mirith's motives for bringing the stranger back to their hideout. He assures them that he has a price on his head and is willing to fight the Empire. Kanos and Sinn spend a few minutes talking about each others reasons for being here on Phaeda when Massimo reenters, claiming that Mirith has endangered all their lives as their "guest" is wanted by Carnor Jax himself.
On Jax's Star Destroyer, General Wessel informs the would-be dark lord that Shev is corrupt and may send troops to capture Kanos. Planetside on Phaeda that's exactly what's happening, as Tem Merkon sees an Imperial battalion moving out to assault the rebels base. Merkon runs back into town and is grabbed by Sadeet, who takes a scared looking Merkon back to the base to warn the others. At the base, Massimo and Sinn stand off, kives drawn over whether Kanos should stay or go. Sinn says something that reminds Kanos of another time, a lifetime ago...
Yinchorr. Four trainees have distinguished themselves and must prove themselves to the Emperor: Carnor Jax, Kir Kanos, Lemmet Tauk and Alum Frost. Jax and Frost are first to enter. Kanos and Tauk soon enter and are asked by the Emperor to fight each other for him. They battle to the extent of their skill, but Kanos is just a bit better, skewering Tauk with his pike. Darth Vader congratulates Kanos and then draws his lightsaber, warning Kanos to defend himself. Vader brings the lightsaber down across Kanos' facemask, giving him the scar he would wear for the rest of his life.
Back on Phaeda, Sadeet enters the base, warning the rebels that Shev's troops are on the way. Massimo blames Kanos for the attack, but Sinn draws everyone together preparing their defenses for the assault. As TIE interceptors pummel the base and rebels race to defend their position, a lone figure emerges above the flames and chaos: an Imperial guardsmen, ready to fight!