Battle on Death Star I

The Battle on Death Star I was a conflict during the Great Jedi Purge and Galactic Civil War, in which Darth Vader and Galen Marek, his former apprentice, dueled against one another on board Death Star I.

Prelude
After the Rebel leaders were captured by Darth Vader for personal execution by Emperor Palpatine, Galen Marek and Juno Eclipse set out to rescue them. Juno Eclipse set down their ship, the Rogue Shadow, inside Death Star I, which was still under construction during the time.

Opening the ship's ramp, Galen was ready to enter the large station. Before doing so, Juno asked if she would see him again to which he said that it was possible he would die in the attempt at freeing his friends. Seeing that it might be the last time she would see him again, Juno embraced Marek in a passionate kiss, stating that if he did die then she would not have to live it down.

Being parted from her, Galen jumped from the Rogue Shadow and landed within the Death Star's hanger bay.

Infiltration
Inside the hanger, Galen found himself besieged by Stormtrooper's of varying types as well as AT-CT's that were assembled at the bay to aid in the movement of construction equipment. In addition to this, there were a number of AT-ST's that were called in to protect the station from the Force user. His main aim was to locate the massive station's laser tube, so that he could gain entry into the observation platform where the Emperor as well as his prisoners were present.

Along the way, Marek was challenged by numerous Purge trooper's which he defeated after which he used the Force to open the ground panels to gain a deeper entry into the station. Once there, he was present within the massive laser tube which he was forced to make his way down in order to enter the heart of the Death Star. The nature of the tube meant that he was forced to seek shelter every now and then in order to escape the laser test fire sequence that fired on occassion. Furthermore, he was forced to fight a number of stormtroopers and personnel that were guarding their posts.

At a number of points on his journey, Galen was obstructed by large circular focusing dishes, which he had to shatter in order to make his way down the laser tube. Several guards were also killed during the test firing sequence whilst pursuing Marek, when they were caught in the midst of the laser that shot through the tube. The Empire also discovered that they had an intruder in the facility and began fortifying the station in order to stop Marek. This brought about the activation of the Death Star's internal defensive cannons, which were also destroyed in their attempt at stopping Marek.

At some point, Galen managed to incite a riot amongst the Wookiee slave workers, being held there, which served as a distraction for the Imperial forces stationed at the space station.

Battle in the Station
Going deeper inside the station, Galen uncovered two spinning conductors that focused a superlaser within the Death Star. In order to sabotage this weapon that the Empire might in later years use, Marek began realigning the conductors. With that task complete, Galen found himself at the laser convergence centre, which he learnt were seven such structures within the massive station. Juno communicated to him that there were sixty four laser tubes that were directed into a single powerful beam. Above this post was where the Emperor's observation platform resided.

After eliminated a number of stormtroopers and AT-ST walkers, Galen made his way to a part of the chamber. Using a number of graviton beam based lifts, Galen was able to rise to the top of the structure in order to reach the relevant doorway. With the various acts of sabotage complete and ready to enter the watchtower, Marek found the large door opening before him after, which spilt out a member of the Emperor's Shadow Guard along with a number of his Royal Guard. A great lightsaber conflict erupted between the two sides with Galen ultimately proving to be the victor.

With his foes defeated, Galen was ready to enter the Emperor's observation dome. This required him to use the Force to manipulate the door mechanism to open allowing him entry.

Duel with Vader
"Lord Vader... deal with the boy."

- Emperor Palpatine

Inside the dome, the former Sith apprentice found General Rahm Kota, along with Mon Mothma, and Garm Bel Iblis before the Emperor's throne, where he accused them of being traitors to Empire. He threatened them with interrogation and torture in order to reveal all their contacts and allies after, which they would be killed. A defiant Bail Organa said that their deaths would only rally others, but Palpatine retorted by saying that their public as well as painful executions would serve as a warning to others to prevent further dissent.

It was then, that a warning signal activated, which revealed to both the Emperor and Darth Vader, that Marek had infiltrated the base and was within the observation dome - this was something that gave Rahm Kota hope that a rebellion might still survive. Palpatine called upon his Sith apprentice Vader to eliminate Marek to which the Dark Lord made his way to the corridor outside, where he confronted his former apprentice.

With their lightsabers extended, they were prepared to engage in a lightsaber duel. Darth Vader said that he had trained Galen well, but there was still much for him to learn. An angry Galen told his former master that he had nothing left to teach him after, which they began their duel. After a furious lightsaber engagement between the two, Darth Vader threw Galen down the corridor with the Force before moving deeper into the observation platform with Galen in close pursuit.

The duel progressed into a carbon freezing chamber, where Galen gained the upper hand after striking Vader in the leg, and causing several pieces of the ceiling to fall on Vader. Vader, temporarily distracted, lost his helmet to Galen, who then picked him up using the Force, and flung him through the window into Palpatine's chambers.

Watchtower explosion
After witnessing the defeat of Vader, Palpatine tried to tempt Galen into destroying his former master, and taking his position as apprentice to the Emperor. Kota attempts to put an immediate stop to this by stealing Palpatine's lightsaber, and attacks him. Palpatine struck Kota down with a furious barrage of Force lightning. Galen attacked using the Force to strike Palpatine with nearby objects in an attempt to save his friend. The Emperor foretold that it was Galen's destiny to destroy him, surrendering to his anger, and thus completing his descent into the dark side. However, Galen refused. The Emperor, in frustration, attempted to destroy Rahm Kota with another blast of Force lightning, but Galen quickly threw himself in front of the blast to save his friend. Galen grabbed hold of the Sith Lord, thus channeling the lightning back into the Emperor.

In the process of battling the Emperor, Galen sensed through the Force, that a recovered Vader and a platoon of stormtroopers, were attempting to halt the escape of the Rebel leaders still on board the Death Star. Galen, in a desperate attempt to aid their escape, opened his body to the Force, and released a mass of energy resulting in an immense explosion, that nearly destroyed the Emperor's tower.

Aftermath
The explosion was strong enough to kill all the stormtroopers that were attempting to capture the Rebel leaders and allowed the Rogue Shadow to escape. However, it was not strong enough to kill the wounded Darth Vader or Palpatine. Vader found the body of Galen at the heart of the explosion and noted that he was dead to which Palpatine responded by saying he was more powerful then ever at this point as his death made him a martyr that would rally the Rebels against the Empire. Darth Vader promised to his master that since he now knew who the leaders were then he would hunt them down as Palpatine had always intended. Darth Sidious told his apprentice that he had to be vigilant in his ask as if a single Rebel survived, then the Rebellion they had inadvertently created would be their downfall. The damage Marek had done had also delayed the construction of the Death Star with its timetable being set back in order to effect a full repair of the structural damage sustained by the blast.

Elsewhere, Mon Mothma, Garm Bel Iblis, and Bail Organa met in secret with Rahm Kota, Juno Eclipse, and Princess Leia on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. There, they found the abandoned home of Galen Marek and his father, Kento Marek. Inside, they discovered the Marek family crest. It was decided by the assembled rebels that Galen Marek's heroic sacrifice saved their lives and allowed them to meet for their congregation then to honor him, they would use it as a symbol of hope for the Rebel Alliance.

Outside, Juno Eclipse asked Rahm Kota if he always knew who Marek was to, which he said he had his suspicions. She asked Kota why he went along with it and what kept Galen going to, which the General said that he sensed something in the boy, and that his redemption came through Juno herself, as she was what inspired him to change. On that day, a formal Rebellion was created to fight the tyranny of the Galactic Empire.

Alternate ending
In the alternate non-canon ending of this battle in The Force Unleashed, Galen chooses to finish off Vader, avenging the murder of his father, and the two betrayals on himself. After another long battle, Galen strips Vader of his lightsaber, as he did as a child and runs him through with it. Galen returns to the main platform, where the Emperor is standing over an injured Kota. He instructs the apprentice to kill Kota, giving himself to the dark side, and fulfilling his destiny. Galen ignites his lightsaber, ready to strike down his new mentor. Instead, he turns and swings at Palpatine. However, Palpatine immediately ignites his own saber, easily deflecting his attack. He admits that he had foreseen the attack and knew that Galen would attempt to kill him. Palpatine electrocutes him and throws him through a window out onto the landing platform, just as Juno flies the Rogue Shadow in for the rescue. Staggering on the ground, Galen sees that Bail and the other Rebel leaders have already been killed. Palpatine Force grips the Shadow and hurls it at Galen. Galen wakes up on an operating table much like the one Darth Vader rested on, while his suit was constructed. He is now wearing his own suit of armor, presumably the only thing keeping him alive. The Emperor stands before him, saying he expected more from the apprentice, and thought he could have one day become the greatest Sith in the galaxy. Now, Galen will act as his new servant, doing the Emperor's bidding, until he is eventually cast aside just as Vader was. Galen screams in agony, as his suit is completed.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game
 * The Force Unleashed novel
 * Star Wars: The Force Unleashed comic

Duelo en la Estrella de la Muerte I Bitwa na Gwieździe Śmierci