

Star Wars: Dark Empire II was a series of comic books written by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy, the sequel to Star Wars: Dark Empire. It was originally released by Dark Horse Comics in 1994 and 1995 as a six-issue monthly series, then in August 1995 as a trade paperback. In 1995, Time Warner Audio Publishing presented an audio dramatization of the comics known as the Dark Empire II audio drama on cassette. Like the earlier NPR radio dramas, it featured a full cast of actors, parts of John Williams' classic score and authentic stereo sound effects.

Publisher's summary[]


Opening crawl[]

Dark Empire II
Luke Skywalker's bold attempt to learn the secrets of the reborn Emperor Palpatine's power nearly ended in disaster for himself and the Alliance. But now, with the aid of information gleaned from a Jedi Holocron, Skywalker is prepared to search for Jedi who may still survive - and who can aid him in his quest to destroy the Empire once and for all.

But even as hope seems to be rising, the Empire is extending its grasp beyond the boundaries of the Galactic Core...

Plot summary[]

With the defeat and "death" of Emperor Palpatine, and with the demise of Operation Shadow Hand, the Empire has retreated and lies quiescent. In this period of relative peace, Luke Skywalker has begun the preliminary operations to restore the Jedi Order. With the recently redeemed Dark Jedi Kam Solusar, Luke returns to Pinnacle Base.

Imperial forces land on Balmorra.

However, the Empire's new leading general, Executor Sedriss, leads an attack force on Balmorra. Balmorra had been independent after the Battle of Endor, but following Palpatine's reappearance had become the Empire's main producer of AT-STs. With the Emperor's apparent death, they have rebelled.

In order to salvage Balmorra's factories, Sedriss lands AT-STs, stormtroopers and Umak Leth's SD-9s on the planet. Governor Beltane sends out SD-10s with all the SD-9s' attack strategies in their databanks. In response, Sedriss unleashes Shadow Droids, starfighters with the brains of fallen Imperial aces empowered by the dark side of the Force. After the SD-10s are destroyed, Beltane sends out his hidden project, the X-1 Viper Automadon: droids with the molecular shield capable of absorbing enemy fire and redirecting it through the droid's turbolasers.

At Pinnacle Base, Mon Mothma holds a meeting and reveals that Beltane has arranged for the Rebel Alliance to intercept the shipment of his droids en route to Byss. Wedge suggests that the shipment go through to Byss, but controlled by Rebels, while Luke advises that the droids be used to liberate worlds controlled by the Empire. Everyone decides to go with Wedge's plan. Mothma tells Luke to focus on restoring the Jedi Knights while the Alliance deals with the Empire. Luke's Holocron reveals the location of Ossus, a world where Jedi artifacts may be found. Solo and Leia depart for Nar Shaddaa, where they hope to track down Vima-Da-Boda and draw upon her ancient knowledge.

Palpatine reborn again

On Byss, the Executor Sedriss discovers that Dark Side adepts Nefta and Sa-Di are killing the remaining clones of Palpatine and plan to seize control of the Empire for themselves. Slaying them for their treason, Sedriss discovers that Palpatine is already reborn, exceeding everyone's expectations. Upon his return, the Emperor ordered Operation Shadow Hand re-commenced.

On Nar Shaddaa, Salla Zend, Han's former girlfriend, managed to guide the Millennium Falcon through the Duro sector in order to escape an Imperial Star Destroyer. Meanwhile, Boba Fett escapes from two Dark Side Elite, Zasm Katth and Baddon Fass. As the Falcon arrives, Salla's hidden repair center, run by Shug Ninx, is overrun by stormtroopers.




The death of Ood Bnar and Executor Sedriss



The Rebel attack force destroyed by the Chrysalide Rancors



The Millennium Falcon equipped with the lightning gun

Meanwhile, the Millennium Falcon was still trying to escape the bounty hunters. Unable to effectively fight back, as Boba Fett destroyed one of the Falcon's missile launchers, the Falcon flies through a radioactive gas cloud, stumbling upon the forgotten and nebula-hidden world of Ganath. There, they meet its ruler, a Jedi Knight named Empatojayos Brand. They repair the Millennium Falcon, equipping it with an antique weapon called the lightning gun, hopefully sufficient to defeat Slave I, which still lurked outside the cloud.

The Lightning Gun proves to be enough, and they defeat Fett yet again, who tumbles into the gas cloud and fakes his death. Han Solo and Princess Leia then take refuge with their infant twins on the planet New Alderaan. There, Luke explains about a great Jedi power known as battle meditation. They plan to regroup with Lando and Wedge...if they were still alive. Han and Chewbacca left the planet to search for them. During the night, Luke had a terrible nightmare that he and Darth Vader were one. Little did he know that robotic bugs were injecting poison into his veins. He woke up and saw two darksiders ready to kill him. Jem Ysanna and Leia defeated the two darksiders, but Jem was killed. Vima saw what happened and saved Luke.

The space stations above Nespis VIII






Color code key:
Collected (TPB) issue Released issue Future issue
Issue Title Publication date Trade paperback Hardcover Epic Collection
1 Operation Shadow Hand December 20, 1994 De2 tpb.jpg
Dark Empire II
September 5, 1995
Dark Empire II
Second Edition

September 13, 2006
Dark Empire Trilogy
September 15, 2010
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection The New Republic Vol 5 revised cover.jpg
The New Republic Vol. 5
March 23, 2021
2 Duel on Nar Shaddaa January 24, 1995
3 World of the Ancient Sith February 21, 1995
4 Battle on Byss March 21, 1995
5 The Galaxy Weapon April 18, 1995
6 Hand of Darkness May 23, 1995


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