The Rebel Alliance was not the first organization to attempt to overthrow the Empire in Star Wars lore. They were, however, the only ones to succeed. A significant attack against the Emperor himself came shortly after the rise of the Empire, when an Imperial General orchestrated a coup to save many innocent young lives.

In the Legends-era Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison comic, a five-issue miniseries by W. Haden Blackman and Agustin Alessio, General Gentis, leader of one of the Imperial Academies, devised a plan to bring the Empire down from within with the help of his cadets.

The Empire had no qualms about the amount of lives they were willing to sacrifice on both sides to quell the Rebellion. Regardless of whether an Imperial soldier was lost in battle, it was irrelevant, as long as damage was dealt to the threat. But this unsung hero from Legends continuity was ready to bring it all to the ground.

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General Gentis was a war hero during the Clone Wars, but followed the Empire upon the fall of the Republic. However, he soon realized that the Empire was essentially sending young, innocent men and women on suicide missions without any regard for their lives. As Gentis’ son was a cadet primed for a role within the Empire, Gentis devised a plan with his group of graduating cadets - including his son - to assassinate the Emperor and take over the heart of the government in Coruscant. Gentis devised his plan while still at the academy, purposely excluding one cadet, Laurita Tohm, whom Gentis knew would never oppose the Empire.

Palpatine’s power from the dark side was the only factor that kept him from perishing on the spot with his guards.

Under the guise of presenting his new batch of graduates to the Emperor, General Gentis and his students were able to secure a private meeting with Palpatine. Once a select few cadets trick Tohm into inspecting an aircraft and locking him inside, the students and Gentis launched their attack. General Gentis himself, face to face with the Emperor, unleashed a biological weapon that instantly killed surrounding Stormtroopers and infected Palpatine’s system. Palpatine’s power from the dark side was the only factor that kept him from perishing on the spot with his guards.

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Darth Vader soon arrived and engaged in the fighting to locate his master. In the chaos, Tohm escaped and realized that his classmates were staging a revolution against the Empire and quickly ed Vader’s side, fighting against his own friends. When Vader extracted Palpatine to take him to an undisclosed location so he could be treated and recover without fear of any further attacks, Tohm ed them and soon proved to be a valuable and loyal asset for Vader. Vader used Tohm’s undying loyalty to the Empire to return to Coruscant and engage the rebels.

Gentis’ entire reason for the uprising was his realization of just how little the Empire cared for its soldiers. General Gentis knew that his son had no guarantee of protection or returning home. Palpatine did not create an army of soldiers loyal to one another, only to the Empire. He watched the incinerators fill with the bodies of young men and women who were treated no better than droids built to mindlessly serve the Empire. Gentis’ coup was nearly successful, especially since he nearly killed Palpatine. However, the one thing this minor Star Wars character did not count on that led to his undoing was Vader.

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ghost Prison is available now from Dark Horse Comics.