Darth Vader: Issue 43: The Root of Treason
What is it ? : 4 Imperials are brought before Sly Moore, Admiral Corleque, Governor Tauntaza, Agent Fabarian, and Council Member Xanto, they are found guilty of various crimes against the Empire.
Corleque of losing his ship to the Droid Scourge, which he claims is because Vader breached the quarantine.
Tauntaza of working with Crimson Dawn and losing a research facility, she claims that she was under orders from Palpatine himself, and Vader destroyed the facility.
Fabarian of disobeying orders, which he claims is because the official records do not show Vader being involved in destruction of areas on Coruscant.
And Xanto, who we've never seen before is charged with stealing imperial funds, which he claims is a long standing policy, and he only kept 10% as is standard.
They are asked if they wish to appeal to Palpatine himself, and the only one who is interested is Xanto, who Moore quickly puts to death. The others are welcomed to the Imperial Schism, and told they will be moved into lower ranked positions, where they fade into obscurity until she needs them.
Corleque is demoted to captain of a transport shuttle, Fabarian becomes responsible for parking fines, under orders to let high ranking officials ignore the law.
And Tauntaza becomes a maintenance technician, overseen by officers who know what she did, and expect Vader to arrive to kill her some time.
Vader arrives along with his controlled Rebel MAR corps troopers, who attack Tauntaza, and she fights them off asking why Vader doesn't fight her himself, so he does, cutting her power suit from her. As she is sprawling on the ground she sees Sly Moore with Vader, who informs her that Vader has joined the Schism, and Tauntaza asks why they're wasting their time on games.
Vader tells her that she betrayed Palpatine, so she might betray him, so wanted to remind her of his power. But Tauntaza isn't impressed, telling Vader that he has always been weaker than Palpatine, and while he can beat her, he cannot beat the Emperor.
Vader walks away, telling her that he hopes she lives long enough to learn differently. However one of the MARS Corps troopers, damaged in his fight with Tauntaza regains control, and turns on Vader. But the chip soon regains control, and reports ready for duty.
Meanwhile on the Outer Rim, the Rebellion is working with Kitster, on the technology that Tauntaza was developing, draining the life energy of planets. But they come under attack, and Vader marches into the control room along with Tauntaza. They sieze control of the systems, and Kitster objects, saying that Vader saved them once from this technology, but Vader chokes him.
While he hangs in the air, Tauntaza actives the device, draining the planet and killing the Rebel forces there, Kitster exclaims to Vader. "You saved us from Tauntaza, and said you'd bring order!"
Only for Vader to tell him, "Order comes from Power" as he holds up a container of the drained energy. . . .
High Points : So while the story is pretty interesting, and the detailing of how Sly Moore is building the Schism Imperial is well done. As she brings officers who feel hard done by the corruption within the Empire, how those who have obeyed orders and then been punished on the whims of those above them, now are being built into a force within the Empire directed at bringing order to the Empire. And when Xanto asks for an audience with the Emperor, he proves that he is happy with the Empire and it's corruption, which is why she puts him to death.
Low Points : All nice stuff, but Vader is part of that corruption, he is part of why people feel that the Empire doesn't follow rules, that they're punished for failures which are in no way their fault, so while Moore sees him as a powerful ally, he is also potentially the destruction of their Schism, as he appears to offer nothing better.
And why are we seeing these characters being brought into the Schism, when we knew they were members issues ago?
And I know I'm a stuck record, but what's happened to all the storylines we've just abandoned, where's Sabe? Apparently an Imperial Commander now, but not mentioned for many issues. And again, all of this is happening in the same time it takes Han to be transported to Tatooine, and for Luke, Leia and Lando to set up their rescue of Han from Jabba the Hutt.
So what do you really think ? : The first part of the issue is pretty interesting, while the second half seems pointless, why does Vader need to capture the technology from the Rebels? Why did Kitster end up working with the Rebels? Why doesn't Tauntaza just have access to her own technology? And why are the Rebels developing a technology which kills all life on a planet anyway? It seems pretty destructive, and to be the weapon a terrorist would use, far from George Lucas's view of the Rebels being against the technological might of the Empire.
Final Words : The series really is at it's best when it explores the mind of Vader, showing us how Anakin has become the monster that is Vader, and drawing links between the two characters to show us how one became the other. But we get no idea of what Vader is thinking, what he's up to, no revelations on how Anakin would convince himself these terrible actions, such as force choking his childhood friend, would be necessary.
Score : 8.5/10
Comments made about this Article!
There are currently no comments for this article, be the first to post in the form below
