In a first look at the Jedi's response to the fall of Starlight Beacon, how Palpatine so perfectly manipulated the Order during the Clone Wars. Having lost its ultimate symbol of power in the Golden Age of the Jedi, the Order responds with a series of orders that will later play into the Sith's hands.
Fans see it all unfurl in an exclusive preview of Star Wars: High Republic - Shadows of Starlight #1 shared by Nihil's destruction of Starlight Beacon. The Order is in shambles, recalling Jedi from across the galaxy in an attempt to consolidate its remaining and resources. In the preview, fans see the Jedi orders written in Aurebesh, which read:
Acceleration of youngling combat instruction
Outposts staffed by droids
Independent research paused
Early Padawan trials
Resource management restrictions
Offensive combat as required
No Jedi travels alone
These instructions show how the Jedi Order reacts to major challenges in order to protect itself, but also reveal how Palpatine was able to undermine and manipulate the Jedi so easily. Enjoy a preview of the issue, and its official summary, below:
The Jedi's Emergency Protocols Made Order 66 Possible
WHO LIVED? WHO DIED? ANSWERS TO THE GREATEST CATASTROPHE OF THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE JEDI!
Little has been revealed about the year following the fall of STARLIGHT BEACON and the ultimate triumph of THE NIHIL…until now! THE JEDI COUNCIL, reeling from its losses, has recalled its JEDI KNIGHTS from across the galaxy and instituted the emergency measures. MASTER YODA has a plan to save the Order and the galaxy, but he must touch the dark side to achieve it…and the consequences will be grave indeed.
As Starlight Beacon falls and the Nihil revel in their triumph, the Jedi are focusing on shoring up their numbers and enhancing their military might. The instruction of Younglings leans more into combat readiness, Padawans are rushed through their training, and combat is already assumed to be necessary. While these instructions are happening in the Order's past, it's reasonable to assume they were also invoked at the beginning of the Clone Wars, which presented a similarly dire situation. The Jedi Order was fatally slow to change and - since fans already know they weathered the fall of Starlight Beacon - had no reason to doubt their protocols worked. However, not only did having set protocols for emergency situations make the Jedi predictable, but their priorities also left them open to Order 66.
The Clone Wars Preyed on the Jedi Order's Flaws
In Star Wars' various tie-in media set during the Clone Wars, fans have seen many of these protocols effectively put into practice, albeit not by name. Youngling were sent on combat instruction with Clone troopers, while engagements like the Battle of Geonosis were surprisingly approved as Padawan trials. A focus on rushed training and a heightened preparedness for combat unavoidably led to Jedi who were violently capable but not yet emotionally ready for their station - some of who were corrupted into becoming Inquisitors under Palpatine's Empire. In Star Wars: Obi-Wan #3, Obi-Wan explained how the Clone Wars broke the Jedi and damaged their connection to the Force, stating that "all war - in part, at least - concerns dominion. ... To seek any kind of dominance is to misunderstand the very nature of the Force." However, this was made even worse by Palpatine knowing how the Jedi would react to galactic unrest.
Order 66 Was Even Smarter Than It Seemed
Palpatine's station means that he would have known the Jedi's emergency protocols, and his plans were perfectly tailored to take advantage of them. Younglings spending more time with Clone troopers encouraged them to trust their executioners when Order 66 finally came, while Padawans who were rushed through their trials became perfect candidates to recruit as Inquisitors later. The Jedi retreating from the wider galaxy and bunching together made them an easier target for the grand, simultaneous attack of Order 66. Palpatine's attack on the Jedi has always been a genius move that wiped out most of his enemies at a stroke, but fans can now see that his plans were perfectly tailored to the Jedi's priorities in an emergency.
As is typical for the Order, many of their vulnerabilities were their own fault. As an organization, their dogmatic perspective made them predictable, and their self-righteousness made them inflexible. However, having seen the Jedi's emergency protocols, it's also clear that Palpatine's Order 66 plan was specially designed to strike at all their weaknesses at once. Bunched together, under-trained, and distanced from the Force, the Jedi were perfectly placed to be wiped out in one fell swoop - and as Star Wars: High Republic - Shadows of Starlight shows, Palpatine knew exactly why his tactics would work.
Star Wars: High Republic - Shadows of Starlight #1 is out October 4 from Marvel Comics.
Source: David Brooke, AIPT
