Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #2
Star Warshas confirmed exactly how the Empire was fractured followingReturn of the Jedi. In the wake of the second Death Star’s destruction and the demise of both Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, those who continued serving the Empire were effectively split. To that end, three main groups emerged following Endor, as seen in Marvel Comics' new and canonical seriesStar Wars: Battle of Jakku.
InStar Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #2by Alex Segura, Leonard Kirk, and Rachele Rosenberg,the Empire is shown consolidating its remaining power following the greatest loss in the Imperials' 60-year rule over the galaxy far, far away. This is largely motivated by a series of messenger dross that were activated and sent out following Palpatine’s death, having been tasked with giving his final posthumous orders known asOperation: Cinder, a brutal bombardment campaign designed to punish the galaxy:
However, the fracturing of the Empire over such a major loss of leadership meant that not every Imperial faction was aligned with each other.While it’s not the firstStar Warsproject to introduce these various new factions,Insurgency Risingeffectively breaks down the three main groups that emerged post-Endor. It especially provides new insights regarding one of the biggest rogue elements that proved quite dangerous to both the Rebellion and to Imperial loyalists.
The Bulk of the Empire Carried Out Palpatine’s Contingency
Key Figures Like Grand Admiral Sloane and Gallius Rax
The largest Imperial faction post-Endor were those who carried out Operation: Cinder.Primarily led by Grand Admiral Rae Sloane and Counselor Gallius Rax, these were the Imperial leaders who kept the bulk of the Imperial Navy intact in the Outer Rim, even as the New Republic began gaining ground elsewhere across the galaxy. A protegé of Palpatine himself, Rax proved instrumental in the creation of theImperial Shadow Council which debuted in live-action as seen inThe Mandalorianseason 3.
Star Wars: What Happened At The Battle of Jakku Explained
The Battle of Jakku served as the true end to the Galactic Civil War in the Star Wars canon, and the beginning of the New Republic Era.
Rax is also the main reason why the Galactic Civil War reached its conclusion on Jakku, having attempted to blow up the planet’s core using Palpatine’s Observatory on the desert world to destroy both the New Republic and Imperial fleets simultaneously. It was all part of the Emperor’s contingency plans, having believed that the Empire shouldn’t continue if he were to die and should instead be destroyed to create a new order for the future.Although Rax failed to destroy Jakku, he did ensure that select Imperials would live on in the Unknown Regions, eventually reforming as the First Order.
Governor Adelhard’s Iron Blockade Went Rogue
A State of Imperial Denial
At this point in theStar Warstimeline, Rax is still working with Grand Admiral Sloane to carry out Operation: Cinder inInsurgency Rising. That said, it seems he already has a plan for the part of the old Empire that isn’t necessarily cooperating. This notably includesGovernor Ubrik Adelhard who was introduced in the first issue ofInsurgency Rising(having come from the canceled gameStar WarsUprising).
Having formed an Iron Blockade around the Anoat sector, Adelhard has shut down any reports that the Emperor was killed. He’s instead chosen to operate in a state of denial, eliminating those who say otherwise or attempt to rise against him rather than working with the rest of the Empire. However, Rax tells Sloane that Adelhard has “already been handled”. As such, it will be fascinating to see what that truly looks like in the issues to come.
The Acolytes of the Beyond Serve The Dark Side Itself
They Likely Can’t Be Trusted by Either Imperial Faction
A former member of Palpatine’s inner circle,Yupe Tashu leads the cult known as the Acolytes of the Beyond. Notably, Tashu and his agents have been in contact with both Rax and Adelhard.As such, it’s hard to say whom the Acolytes are truly allied with, and it’s safer to assume he’s ultimately manipulating them both, serving the dark side over anything else. Regardless, they’re certainly a faction in their own right, having already tried once to foil Luke Skywalker’s effort to rebuild the Jedi Order afterReturn of the Jedi.
Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #2is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Cast
Return of the Jedi concludes George Lucas’s original Star Wars trilogy with Luke Skywalker and his allies seeking to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt and facing a renewed threat as the Emperor attempts to obliterate the Rebellion through a second Death Star, broadening the epic battle between good and evil.
