Release Date: November 8th 2006

Staff:

Story: Welles Hartley
Script: Mick Harrison
Art: Douglas Wheatley
Colors: Ronda Pattison
Lettering: Michael David Thomas
Cover Art: Douglas Wheatley

Rating: Unknown. Violence

Emperor Palpatine sits in his throne room in the Imperial Palace on Coruscant. He is working on Imperial matters. He tells Senator Braxis (Hologram) that the Empire cant interfere with local politics. Braxis says "But you promised" as the hologram was shut off. Sate Pestage and Mas Amedda tell the Emperor more Imperial matters. They say that they defeat of Separatist planets is nearly complete. They say the 501st, per the Emperor's orders, was sent to New Plympto to end the fighting there. Palpatine dismisses them and his guards. After they leave, Palpatine reminds his apprentice of his lesson on Kessel. That giving into your emotions can lead to your destruction. Palpatine tells Vader "You feel you should be doing something, don't you lord Vader?" However, this is not what he was thinking. He remembers his discussion with Padmé on Tatooine after his mother's death. Palpatine tells his apprentice to be patient. Vader sits and waits for his master to reveal his plans for the new Empire.

On New Plympto, the Separatists are fighting their last stand against the overwhelming forces of the 501st. They Separatists are led by a Jedi Master general named Dass Jennir who escaped the Jedi Purge, and joined the Separatists to fight the Empire. They are not trying to hold off the Imperial forces to let the civilians escape. Bomo, a commander, is helping his wife and daughter, Mesa and Resa, onto the last transport. They beg him to some with them, but he tells them to get on the last transport. As someone lifts them onto the tank, he tells Dass "Mission accomplished". His daughter asks him to come, but he said he'll join them after he's done with his work. He shows his daughter a hologram of her, and tells her that they'll always be together. They drive off to the starport. He waves and yells "I'll find you!". But, he knows he wont. That everything he said, about finding them, was a lie, just to save them more pain. He runs off to join the battle, to make sure his wife and daughter escape.

Bomo jumps behind the barricade, and asks Dass where General Rootrock is. He says "dead". Bomo asks about Commander Limbfree, Dass again replies, dead. Imperial TX-130T fighter tanks are coming fast. Dass says they should retreat, but Bomo says their troops wont budge, and holding their position if the only way their families will make it out. Dass tells Bomo to come with him, and he takes out his lightsaber, and advances. Dass and Bomo duck behind a tree, and Dass cuts the tree down with his blade, and it falls on a tank, and a few troopers. Dass yells for the troops to move to the other side of the hill. An Imperial commander tells his troops not to fall for the same trick, and to fire at the tress ahead of them. Dass says that he wants the last of his troops to escape, and make it to the starport, and he wants Bomo to be one of them. As Bomo starts to question him, the Imperials fire at them. The blast sends Dass and Bomo into a a small canyon. The 501st kill a few of the Separatists, and corner the escaping ones. They drop their weapons, and say they surrender. But the Imperials execute them all within seconds.

Dass asks Bomo if he's okay, if he's alive. Bomo says yes, but he wishes he wasn't. Dass asks if they know where they are if he can... before Dass can finish, Bomb finishes what Dass was saying by replying "...Give you a flash? Sure". Bomo opens his mouth, and a light comes out. Dass looks up, and asks Bomo if hes ready for a climb?

At the Imperial camp, a trooper informs Commander Vill that scouts say all the rebels are dead. Vill thanks his Lieutenant. The Lieutenant asks what they should do about the civilians, that transport tracks we seen heading in the direction of the Starport. Vill says steps have already been taken to take care of it. The Lieutenant says "Then the fighting is over". Vill is silent. This is what worries him. What happens to men bred only for soldiers when peace breaks out?

Dass and Bomo are on each other's back, climbing up the thin canyon. Bomo comments that it sounds like the fighting is over. Dass replies that only means that..... bomo cuts him off saying "Yeah, i know...". They climb out of the canyon. When they get out, they see all the bodies of their men. Killed brutally by the men of the 501st. Bomo grows angry, and grabs a rifle off one of the soldiers. He says he's still ready to go down fighting. But Dass stops him, telling him they were sparred for a reason, and to let make it mean something. Dass says to go to Cadgel Meadows.

Dass tells Bomo they can still catch up with his wife and daughter. They hide in the bushes as a Scout Trooper on a BARC speeder goes by. Dass comments that there's a lot of patrols and the entrance of the base will be guarded. An ARC fighter flies overhead. They run to the base walls after the patrols pass. Dass grabs Bomo, and throws him over the wall, and he jumps over. Bomo asks what their doing there. Dass replies "A ship to get us out of here. Hmm, strange". Bomo asks why its strange. Dass says that theres so many ships in port. With all the refugees headed here. That he expected this place would be deserted. And if all the ships are still here then where did all the refugees go? Bomo asks what does he mean. Dass is about the answer, when a woman comes out of one of the ships. Dass jumps out, and covers her mouth.

He tells her not to scream, and that they wont hurt her. They just don't want to alert the Imperial. Someone else aboard the ship tells them "That's good. Because scrutiny is also the last thing that we desire.". And that shooting them would bring them running. As Dass is distracted, and woman punches Dass, and walks over to the rest of the crew. The man says that, since they have grounds for common understanding, perhaps they can discuss their visit, and become gentlebeings. The man introduces himself and his crew. He is Schurk-Heren, captain of the Uhumele (The ship). And that he's already met Crys Tannzer (The woman), his navigator Sniffles, Mezgraf, Ko Vakier, and engineer Meekerdin-Maa. He then asks who they are. Dass Jennir introduces themselves, and say they came from the recent battle at
half-axe pass. A rat looking person then interrupts, yelling "Half-axe pass?!". The captain says "ratty, please".
"Ratty" (Aka, Meekerdin-Maa),  continues, saying that if they survived, they're the only ones. The captain asks them to apologies for his engineer. Dass says that his engineer is correct. Not through indent, but by chance, they survived. So they made their way there, hoping to find... as he speaks, Bomo interrupts yelling "We're looking for my wife and daughter!" Dass tries to calm Bomo down, but he continues. He says that he told them to go to Sullust. so thats there they want to go.

The crew is silent. The captain finally speaks. He said that they didn't find a shuttle. That all the refugees were captured by Imperial Forces. Ratty then says the Empire is going to sell them to slaves. A look of sadness comes across Bomo's face.

Characters: Emperor Palpatine (Sith Lord, Emperor), Darth Vader (Sith Lord), Braxis, Mas Amedda, Bomo Greenback, Mesa Greenback (Bomo's wife), Resa Greenback (Bomo's daughter), Schurk-Heren (Captain of the Uhumele),
Dass Jennir (Jedi Master), Jank (Crew member aboard the Uhumele), Vill (501st clone commander)
Crys Taanzer (Crew member aboard the Uhumele), Meekerdin-Maa (Crew member aboard the Uhumele),
Lynaliskar K'ra Snyffulnimatta (Crew aboard the Uhumele), Ko Vakier (Crew member aboard the Uhumele)
Padmé Amidala (In flashback), Mezgraf (Crew member aboard the Uhumele), Limbfree (Mentioned only),
Gahg (Mentioned only), Mulleen (Mentioned only), Rootrock (Mentioned only)

Planets: Coruscant, New Plympto, Kessel (Mentioned only)

Organizations: Galactic Empire - 501st, Confederation (Separatist) Remnants

First Appearances: Senator Braxis, Vill, Mesa Greenback, Resa Greenback, Gahg, Jank, Limbfree, Meekerdin-Maa, Mezgraf, Mulleen, Schurk-Heren, Lynaliskar K'ra Snyffulnimatta, Crys Taanzer, Ko Vakier