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Knights of the Old Republic 32: Vindication, Part 1

What is it ? : Xamar escorts his prisoners, Zayne and Gryph, into the Draay estate, Zayne is apparently wearing the Muur Talisman, has red Sith eyes, and is wearing dark robes. But this is a ruse to get into the estate, Gryph is surprised by how many Jedi there are in the estate, and Xamar tells him that there are more Jedi that are loyal to Krynda that he could imagine.
He explains that Krynda's master, Vodo sensed the emptiness within Exar Kun, but did not act quickly enough to do anything about it, and Krynda has taught a generation of Jedi to keep watch for threats. The Jedi are now fragmented, with the Covenant looking to protect the galaxy from the Sith, the Revanchists looking to protect the galaxy from the Mandalorians, and the Jedi Council look to protect the image of the Jedi as peacekeepers.
Xamar explains that he has confessed to everything the Covenant has done, in exchange for this mission to smuggle Krynda out of the Covenant ahd protect her, because he doesn't believe in Lucien's mission any more, and believes that Lucien has corrupted Q'Anilia.
Zayne is taken before Lucien, who is going to slay him, but Xamar demands that Krynda be allowed to come and sense the threat within Zayne for herself. Lucien refuses and moves to attack Zayne, but again Xamar stops him, saying that if Zayne dies then the Muur Talisman will claim another, so Krynda must make the decision.
Haazen enters, and tells them Krynda cannot be disturbed, but he will examine Zayne. Zayne tells Xamar to finish his part of the mission and open the gates to allow the Jedi access to the estate, and he will rescue Krynda. Xamar asks why he would help Krynda, and Zayne tells him because he promised someone he would help her.
Zayne tries to distract and delay Haazen and Lucien, telling them he has brought Artefacts to Coruscant, so Haazen dispatches Jedi to collect them and bring them back to him. But he realises that he cannot sense the Dark Side from Zayne of the Muur Talisman, so grabs it with his cybernetic hand breaking the replica open and revealing Zayne's lightsaber concealed inside.
Xamar opens the gates and allows Jedi loyal to the council to enter the estate, but meanwhile Lucien asks what happened to the real Talisman, and Zayne tells him of Celeste, how she asked him to kill her, but he could not. And Lucien tells him that he never could do what was necessary.
The alarms go off warning them of the attack by the Jedi, and Haazen sends out a signal to all Jedi loyal to Krynda that a Sith Force has been found within the Jedi Council itself, ordering them to isolate and sever the councils communications with the galaxy. To secure all Jedi Artefacts, and to rally to the defence of the estate.
Q'Anilia realises that this is an inssurection, and Haazen tells her that it was all made possible by Lucien's new position on the Jedi Council. Lucien crumbles, dropping to his knees as he realises what is going on, and reveals that he thought this plan was only being put in place in case the Sith infiltrated the Jedi Council, that it was only a contingency plan.
But Zayne tells them that Xamar has confessed to the Council everything the Covenant has done, and half the Jedi are on their way here, that their order is done for. Haazen is impressed, but tells Zayne that he is not the only one who can reverse the fortunes of a battle, and he presses a button on his gauntlet.
Outside the bridges allowing the Jedi to access the estate explode, and Xamar realises that the fleet in orbit is reigning fire down upon the Jedi attacking the estate, before a direct hit lands, consuming him in fire.
Lucien cannot believe that the Republic fleet is firing on them, but Haazen corrects him, the fleet is firing for him as the prophecy is fulfilled, revealing himself under his robes to be carrying Sith Artefacts . . .

High Points : A lot going on in this one, and it's a very Zayne and Gryph scheme, with Zayne pretending to be the Dark Side threat the Covenant has suspected him of being all along.
I also really like that Xamar finally realised that visions and prophecies can be read in different ways, that just because Lucien read their predictions one way, doesn't actually mean that it's really true. He has decided to follow his own path, although he ends up dying by friendly fire exactly as his vision had shown him.
And Lucien is uncloaked as a weak man, totally manipulated by Haazen. He has been a figurehead of the Covenant, following the instructions he believed were being passed down from his mother, but in reality were Haazen's plans. And in this moment he breaks, collapsing to his knees.

Low Points : Whiile it makes sense for the story to be coming to it's climax with Zayne and Gryph at it's core. I find it a little odd that two members of the Jedi Council, with the confession of Xamar to rally the rest of the council behind, can't come up with any better plan that just sending Xamar, Zayne and Gryph into the estate to open the gates to let the rest of the Jedi charge in swinging their lightsabers. Even without Haazen's plans, it's still going to be a slaughter.

So what do you really think ? : One element that I've commented on in previous issues, but really comes to the fore here, is the changes in Gryph's behavior. When he was introduced, he would never have walked into the heart of the Jedi Covenant at the side of Zayne. He would have refused, he would have made sure he wasn't associated with the person they want dead the most. But here he is, risking his life at the side of his friend, to bring down a corrupt organisation. There's no chance of personal profit here, and although if Zayne is cleared, so is Gryph, but the Jedi council already knows the truth, so there is no reward at all for him. He's genuinely being heroic.
And while Zayne's abilities is in forming connections, so that might be an element of how Gryph has changed. It's also the example that Zayne has set, in helping others without reward, so Gryph cannot help himself but try to not disappoint Zayne.

Final Words : So the assault on the Jedi Covenant has begun, and it's not going well for the Jedi Council so far as they try to purge this corruption from their order. Haazen has agents in their midst, he has cut off them from calling for help, and has the Republic fleet itself at his command. And at the core of it all, Zayne and Gryph, face to face with the man who has manipulated everyone to bring himself power.

Score : 9/10

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