Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Republic Under Siege #4Star Wars’newest Imperial villain has just been defeated thanks to a major betrayal.As seen in Marvel’s newBattle of Jakkuseries, the self-titled Grand Moff Adelhard had been assembling Imperial forces to defy the New Republic on his own, rather than joining with the rest of the Shattered Empire at Jakku ahead of the major battle that ends with the Imperials' surrender one year after the Battle of Endor. However, Adelhard has lost command of his Iron Blockade, though he’s seemingly not fully done fighting just yet.
As seen in the newStar Wars: Battle of Jakku - Republic Under Siege #4by Alex Segura and Stefano Raffaele,the final issue ofJakku’ssecond chapter sees Adelahrd losing everything he’s been working towards since the Battle of Endor and the death of the Emperor Palpatine. Believing himself to be the successor to Palpatine and Darth Vader, Adelhard never saw the cracks in his own Iron Blockade. As such, this notably includes a major betrayal by the one who was closest to him in this newStar Warsseries.
Grand Moff Adelhard Was Just Betrayed From Within His Own Ranks
Reyna Oskure Has Taken Command Of His Forces
While preparing for a major offensive against the nascent New Republic independent of the Imperials gathering at Jakku, Grand Moff Adelhard was caught completely off guard following the betrayal of Reyna Oskure. A long-lived Anszanti,Reyna is a member of the dark side cult known as the Acolytes of the Beyondwhom Adelhard had been romantically involved with, though the Acolytes serve no one but the dark side itself.That said, it does seem as though Reyna is striking it out on her own now that she has Adelhard’s ships and the Iron Blockade surrounding the Anoat Sector.
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Following Reyna’s coup, Adelhard, Commander Bragh, and the few troopers still loyal to the deposed Moff were put into an escape pod which subsequently crashes on a nearby planet. As the pod falls with no hope of regaining the navigation controls,Adelhard recalls the words Darth Vader once spoke to him, having voiced his favor for the Moff and the plans the Empire had for men like him.Now, Adelhard has finally come to the realization all too late: the Empire he once knew is dead and buried.
There’s A Chance Adelhard May Have Survived
He May Make It To Jakku After All…
Amid the wreckage of the escape pod, it appears as though Commander Bragh thanks to his unique Purge Trooper armor. However, it does seem like a strong bet that the commander may have given his armor to Adelhard so that the Moff could live on, an idea that’s certainly supported by Adelhard’s continuing narration on the final page ofRepublic Under Siege #4, confirming that something stronger must rise to take the fallen Empire’s place.While the old Adelhard may have “died” in this newStar Warsissue, I fully expect to see a darker version debuting inBattle of Jakku’sfinal arc,Last Stand.
Star Wars: Battle of Jakku - Republic Under Siege #4is now on sale from Marvel Comics.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
