Dark Empire II
| Dark Empire II (Trade Paperback) | |
|---|---|
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| Publication information | |
| Publishing company | Dark Horse Comics |
| Subject | Star Wars |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Release date(s) | October 3, 1995 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| ISBN | ISBN |
| Expanded Universe | |
| Era | New Galactic Republic |
| Series | Dark Empire |
| Galactic Year | 11 ABY |
| Preceded by | Dark Empire I |
| Followed by | Empire's End |
| Script writer | Tom Veitch |
| Cover artist(s) | Dave Dorman |
| Artist(s) | Cam Kennedy |
Dark Empire II is a 1995 trade paperback compilation of the second six-part comic book miniseries of the Dark Horse Comics metaseries Dark Empire. Written by Tom Veitch and illustrated by Cam Kennedy, the series was originally released by Dark Horse from December 1994 to May 1995. It is a sequel to the collection Dark Empire I and is followed by Empire's End. All three comic series detail the resurrection of Emperor Palpatine in cloned bodies.
With the defeat and "death" of the Emperor, and with the blunting of the threat of the World Devastators, hammer of Operation Shadow Hand, the Empire retreats and lies quiescent. In this period of relative peace, Luke Skywalker begins the preliminary operations to restore the Jedi Order. With the recently redeemed Dark Jedi Kam Solusar, Luke returns to Pinnacle Base.
Executor Sedriss leads an attack force on Balmorra, the Empire's main producer of AT-STs after the Battle of Endor. In order to not damage Balmorra's factories, Sedriss lands AT-STs, stormtroopers, and Umak Leth's SD-9s on the planet. Governor Beltane of Balmorra sends out SD-10s, which contain all of the SD-9s' attack strategies in their databanks. When Balmorra has thrown seemingly everything against Sedriss, Sedriss unleashes Shadow Droids, another of Umak Leth's creations: droids fighters with the brains of fallen Imperial aces augmented by the power of the Dark Side. After they rout the SD-10s, Beltane sends out his hidden project, the X-1 Viper Automadon: a droid with molecular shielding capable of absorbing enemy fire and redirecting it through the droid's turbolasers. Beltane sells it to the Empire in exchange for freedom. Sedriss plans to destroy Beltane once he has control of the droids and their creators.
At Pinnacle Base, Luke brings in Kam. Mon Mothma issues a meeting to discuss Beltane's arrangement for the Alliance to intercept the shipment of his droids en route to Byss, but Wedge has a better plan: let the shipment go to Byss with loads of Rebel troops inside the droids. Luke suggests that the droids be used to liberate worlds so the Alliance can launch an all-out attack, but everyone else votes for Wedge's plan. Mothma tells Luke that they must strike at the heart of the Empire while he tries to restore the Jedi Knights. The Holocron reveals the location Ossus, an ancient Jedi world that was beautiful until it was destroyed by the Dark Side. Knowing there might be some Jedi artifacts lying there, Luke departs for Ossus. Han and Leia depart as well, back to Nar Shaddaa. They hope to track down Vima-Da-Boda, and draw upon her ancient knowledge, then head for seclusion with their children on New Alderaan.
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