Marvel Comics is beginning its exploration of the era following Star Wars timeline. This sets the stage for a complex dynamic, as the dramatic tension of the Empire's fall and the Republic's rise is fertile storytelling ground.
In Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #3 – written by Alex Segura, with art by Jethro Morales and Leonard Kirk – the faction of radical Imperial loyalists led by Moff Adelhard is further divided; as the Moff scrambles to consolidate power in the wake of Palpatine's demise, he faces a major betrayal from his second-in-command, Lieutenant Alaytia.
As a reader, this really drove home for me just how perilous the post-ROTJ landscape was for the Imperial forces throughout the galaxy, as they fought desperately to hold onto whatever power they could.
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Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #3 – Written By Alex Segura; Art By Leonard Kirk & Jethro Morales; Color By Rachelle Rosenberg; Lettering By Joe Caramagna
In Insurgency Rising #3, when a group of Rebel spies are sent by Princess Leia to spy on Moff Adelhard, they are captured, but quickly freed. When the door to the prison cell they are being held in is unlocked, Kes Dameron asks Therisa Alern if she's expecting someone. To which Therisa replies, "yes." On the other side of the door is Lieutenant Alaytia. This implies that Alaytia has been working with the alliance for some time now, and clearly, it's not just a spur of the moment thing – and I think I know when it started.
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In Insurgency Rising #1, Lieutenant Alaytia insisted Adelhard shouldn't destroy Rebel fighters, because they need information, as their reports were saying the Emperor is dead. I believe this may have led her to find her own information by ing the Rebel Alliance. Without the Empire, there was nothing for her to follow anymore, and she disagreed with Adelhard's methods, so she agreed to help take him down. If it's true, Adelhard essentially brought down his own faction by inspiring his subordinate's betrayal.
Moff Adelhard's Crumbling Faction Is Already Divided From Most Of The Empire
How Long Can It Survive?
For me, as a Star Wars fan, Alaytia's betrayal of Adelhard is the final key that really unlocked the Empire's brokenness. The potential for factional strife was always there, kept from surfacing by Emperor Palpatine's iron will, but after his death, the Imperial order is breaking down fast. This divided is particularly emphasized by Gallius Rax and Grand iral Rae Sloane on one hand, and Moff Adelhard on the other. While Rax and Sloane remained loyal to the Emperor, even following his demise, Moff Adelhard saw an opportunity to empower himself.
I appreciate how the story has made it clear the Moff has brought ruin upon himself.
Though initially he expressed loyalty to the idea of the Empire itself, Moff Adelhard's personal ambitions have become clear as Insurgency Rising has progressed. I appreciate how the story has made it clear the Moff has brought ruin upon himself. Not only did he cause his most trusetd officer to betray him, but he has also allowed the Acolytes of the Beyond, a dangerous Dark Side faction, to manipulate his actions. This also emphasizes that no single Imperial, no matter how powerful, can match Palpatine and his will.
Grand Moff Adelhard's Faction Was Shattered Even Before The Battle Of Jakku
His Downfall Is Inevitable
The Acolytes of the Beyond worship the Dark Side of the Force. They were led by Yupe Tashu, one of Palpatine's advisors. When Moff Adelhard became aware of Reyna Oskure, a member of the Acolytes, Yupe advised her to go to Adelhard and serve as the solution he needed, while also manipulating him to carry out the plans of the Acolytes, who sought to bring balance to the galaxy, and destroy the New Republic. As he sought to manipulate others, Moff Adelhard, in fact, allowed himself to be manipulated.
I think it is striking that Adelhard is responsible for breaking apart his own faction, due to his lack of attention to what's going on around him. In Insurgency Rising #3, Reyna informs Adelhard that he needs to amass more power with weapons and ships, and that Vader and Palpatine understood that, but Adelhard brushes off her comment saying that their force was their downfall. What he doesn't realize is that Reyna's advice would actually make him stronger against future attacks from the New Republic.
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Even still, I think what Reyna said is sinking in, and I believe he will turn to her way of thinking when his faction falls apart, and he is hit too hard by an inevitable attack from the New Republic. Adelhard's faction is not the only one that's broken, though, even Rae Sloane and Gallius Rax end up divided over conflicting opinions on how to run the future of the empire. In the end, I would say that is why the Empire broke apart after Emperor Palpatine's death, sending the Star Wars galaxy into a chaotic new era.
Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku - Insurgency Rising #3 is available now from Marvel Comics.
- Created by
- George Lucas
- First Film
- Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
- Cast
- Mark Hamill, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Rosario Dawson, Lars Mikkelsen, Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Frank Oz, Pedro Pascal
- TV Show(s)
- The Mandalorian, Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Lando, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars: Resistance, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Star Wars: Visions
- Movie(s)
- Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, Star Wars: New Jedi Order
- Character(s)
- Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Rey Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine / Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Grand iral Thrawn, Grand Inquisitor, Reva (The Third Sister), The Fifth Brother, The Seventh Sister, The Eighth Brother, Yoda, Din Djarin, Grogu, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
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.
