Empire 22 is the twenty-second issue in the Star Wars: Empire series of comics. It was published on July 14, 2004 by Dark Horse Comics.
Publisher's summary[]
The fear of Imperial discovery sends the ships of the Rebel fleet scrambling for the far corners of the galaxy. Han, Chewie, Leia, and a young soldier named Deena Shan, on board the Millennium Falcon, end up near a dark jungle moon from which they receive a distress call. Investigating, they discover the remains of a tragedy dating from the Clone Wars, and a still-living threat that could claim them all!
Fighting alongside the Heroes of Yavin, Shan learns that the Rebellion, and even survival, mean so much more than she imagined when put in the context of friendship and sacrifice.
Plot summary[]
Meeting the Heroes of Yavin[]
Private Deena Shan tells the reader about joining the Rebel Alliance three months after the Battle of Yavin. Shan says that she agreed with the Rebel cause of fighting for a better future for the galaxy with more freedom and opportunities. She talks about her opportunities on Etti IV being limited to being a stay-home wife or an automated assembly line overseer. Seeking adventure and freedom, Shan joined the Rebellion.
Shan recounts how she was assigned aboard the EF76 Nebulon-B escort frigate Kalla's Stanchion where the Millennium Falcon was on his duty list. She tells the reader about how mesmerized she was to meet Captain Han Solo and other Heroes of Yavin. Shan fins Solo and Chewbacca making repairs to the Falcon. When Solo notices her, Shan says that she has a list of supplies.
She is interrupted by Princess Leia Organa who quips about the state of the Falcon, prompting Solo to defend his starship. Organa is dressed in an elegant maroon and purple outfit due to an upcoming diplomatic visit to Aguarl 3. Organa hopes to convince Prime Minister Yenley and his cabinet to support the Rebellion. Organa asks C-3PO to check if her belongings are aboard her transport. When Solo expresses concern that Organa is heading for the banquet without protection, Organa asks if he is jealous.
Organa then addresses Shan, quipping that Solo has no manners. Shan recalls that Organa was nice and attractive. Solo speaks to Shan, quipping that he has plenty of manners. Organa then turns her attention to Luke Skywalker who is flying with Red Squadron. Skywalker wishes he was escorting Organa's ship to Aguarl 3. Skywalker asks if Solo was not invited or if the Falcon was grounded for repairs. Shan recalls that Skywalker was barely older than her, describing him as cute and a hero but not a "real man" like Captain Solo.
An unscheduled flight[]
Taking a liking to Shan, Solo flirts with Shan. After Shan states the purpose for her visit, Solo gives her a tour of the Millennium Falcon, much to the jealousy of Organa. Before the tour can begin, they are interrupted by the scramble alarms. Skywalker departs with Red Squadron while Solo and Chewbacca bring Organa and Shan aboard the Falcon. Organa protests that she has to depart for her ship but Solo says that she will not have enough time to reach her ship before the Stanchion jumps into hyperspace.
Shan recalls that her first flight aboard the Millennium Falcon. She describes the scream of X-wing engines and the silence of Solo, Chewbacca and Organa, who have done this a hundred times. After making the jump into hyperspace, Solo recounts his adventure on the Kessel Run to Shan. Organa and Chewbacca feel displaced by the newcomer. Organa interrupts the conversation to explain that any Imperial contact with the Alliance fleet triggers a scramble, causing ships to travel to different random destinations.
When Shan asks why they could not have picked a busy location like Corellia, Solo explains that Organa is too well known and that this why he picked an unfamiliar location. Organa attempts to send a code burst to warn stragglers but finds that the ship's transmitters are not working. Solo explains that he and Chewbacca were working on restoring the transmitter before the scramble. Organa finds that they are receiving a distress signal.
The distress signal[]
Shan recalls that the distress signal is from a small, uncharted dark planet. She explains that the crew were following the first rule of space travel: not to ignore a distress signal. The Flacon descends into a planet covered with large purple mushrooms and trees. As they approach the source of the signal, Solo tells Chewbacca to fetch glowrods and blasters. Solo parks the Falcon near the site of the distress signal.
Solo tells the others that he and Chewbacca will investigate the signal while Organa stays behind on the ship. When Organa protests he tells her that she is babysitting Deena Shan, prompting a protest from Shan. Solo then explains that he needs her to ensure that Organa stays aboard the ship due to Organa's high level status. Mesmerized with Solo, Shan agrees. Solo and Chewie head towards the source of the distress signal, with Solo grumbling about the women.
Back aboard the Falcon, Shan tells Organa that she thinks Solo is brave. Organa explains that Solo has his moments. While she hopes that they won't need blasters, she says that it is best to be prepared. When Organa asks why Shan joined the Rebellion, Shan is initially reluctant to share he story but relents.
Meanwhile, Solo and Chewbacca discover that the source of the distress signal is a wrecked Consular-class cruiser, which Solo believes has been here for several years. Reaching the cockpit, they discover a dead crew member. Solo finds that the crew member left a log entry and hopes to use the ship's power cells to play it back. On the 120th day log, the crew member reports that he is the last surviving crew member shot himself with his blaster to avoid being killed like his colleagues. Solo gets Chewbacca to play back the rest of the log.
Girls to the rescue[]
Aboard the Falcon, Shan tells Organa about how she came to join the Rebellion. Organa remarks that her life story is similar to Shan, prompting Shan to ask the Princess to tell her story of how she came to join the Rebellion. Going back to Day 53, Solo and Chewbacca learn that Prentiss and the other crew did not have a chance without their blasters. Going down to an earlier day, the pilot says that their crash must have attracted the local wildlife or woke something up. The ship's power cells then go out. Solo believes that whatever killed the crew was active decades ago.
Meanwhile, Organa finishes her story. Shan recalls that she felt so small and realizes that Solo loves Organa because she is brave and smart. Hearing the sound of blaster shots, Organa realizes that Solo and Chewie are in trouble. She and Shan race to the ship crash site where they find Solo and Chewbacca in the grips of the tendrils of a green tentacled creature. Chewbacca manages to break free and attempts to free Solo despite the latter's objections.
Shortly later, Organa and Shan arrive at the scene. While Shan is petrified by fear, Organa is fearless and shoots at the creature with her blaster. This has the effect of causing the creature to let go of Solo. Solo then tells Shan to pass Chewbacca's blaster. Working together, Solo along with Organa and Shan shoot at the tentacled creature, incapacitating it and allowing them to escape.
Following the escape, Shan watches as Solo, Organa and Chewbacca embrace each other. When Organa asks what Solo was thinking in risking his life, Solo quips that this is from the woman who jumped into the creature's mouth. Recalling the adventure, Shan thinks that the term heroes is simplistic and that any of the three would have sacrificed everything for the others. She thinks that the heart of Rebellion is about putting one's life on the line for a better future for everyone else. Shan realizes that she has a lot to learn from the Heroes of Yavin. She accepts that she will not marry Captain Solo since he already has Princess Leia. She says she has to find her own Captain or even become a Captain herself. Shan wonders if the "farm boy" is her type.
Media[]
Cover gallery[]
Collected in[]
- Star Wars: Empire Volume 4: The Heart of the Rebellion
- Star Wars Omnibus: At War with the Empire Volume 1
- Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Rebellion Vol. 2
- Star Wars Legends: The Rebellion Omnibus Vol. 1
Appearances[]
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
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Droid models
Events
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Locations
Organizations and titles
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Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
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Weapons and technology
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Miscellanea
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Notes and references[]
- ↑
Star Wars: Empire #22 on Dark Horse Comics' official website (backup link)
- ↑ The date of this story is established internally in relation to Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, which The Essential Reader's Companion dates to 0 BBY.
