Star Warshas finally shown what the official end of the Empire looked like, and it further confirms that the New Republic government would never last. Following the destruction of the second Death Star and the demise of both Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, the Galactic Empire would continue fighting for a full year afterReturn of the Jedi’sBattle of Endor.This culminated in the much bigger conflict known as theBattle of Jakku, the aftermath of which can be seen inThe Force Awakenswith all the wreckage strewn about the desert world. While it did result in the Empire’s “official” surrender, the treaty that was signed was far from offering the galaxy a lasting peace.
Known as the Galactic Concordance, the peace treaty signed in the wake of Jakku was established in the canon with novels such as Check Wendig’sAftermath: Empire’s Endpublished in 2017. Now, the recentBattle of Jakku: Last Stand #4by Alex Segura and Jethro Morales finally offers the first visual depiction of the “historic” moment.However, to suggest that this peace treaty marked any sort of real peace or true end to the galaxy’s struggles with the Empire is ridiculous.
Star Wars' Galactic Concordance Shows The Galaxy’s Biggest Problem After The Empire’s Defeat
A Convenient Narrative Ignoring A Darker Truth
The Galactic Concordance was signed by New Republic Chancellor Mon Mothma and Imperial Grand Vizier Mas Amedda, a Chagrian who had long been at Palpatine’s side since the days of the Republic and was a leading member of the Emperor’s inner circle. Despite becoming a proxy Emperor when Palpatine was killed, Amedda had no real power as the Imperial Navy had fallen under the control ofCounselor Gallius Rax, Palpatine’s secret protégétasked with carrying out his darkest posthumous contingency plans. As such, the “shining” victory shown in this new issue with Amedda and Mothma shaking hands lacks meaningful substance.
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My hopes were high, but Star Wars just erased one of Luke Skywalker’s greatest Force feats from the official canon during the Battle of Jakku.
Even though the treaty was signed in the wake of Rax’s death during the Battle of Jakku when he failed to destroy both the New Republic and Imperial fleets (as Palpatine had wished), he still directedGrand Admiral Sloaneto the selected members of the Empire who’d been chosen to live. This contingent would hide in the Unknown Regions to eventually fester and grow into the First Order.Likewise, the Empire had been well and truly shattered into various factions across the Outer Rim, leaving no real way for the treaty to be enforced, Galactic Concordance or otherwise.
The New Republic Was Never Going To Last
Imperial Sentiments Continued To Grow (Into The First Order)
While the New Republic did come into power as the new galactic government following the signing of the Concordance, the threat of the Empire clearly still remained. Signing the treaty with a figurehead like Amedda simply made for a good narrative during the galactic transition. As seen inNew Republic Era shows likeThe MandalorianandAhsoka, the Imperial Remnants had their shadow council, Grand Admiral Thrawn’s return, the dawn of the First Order with Snoke and Kylo Ren, and eventually coming full circle, with the resurrected Palpatine’s Final Order which emerged not long after the New Republic’s decimation with a brand-new superweapon.
“The New Republic was seemingly so desperate for peace after Jakku that full accountability was lacking…”
The New Republic was seemingly so desperate for peace after Jakku that full accountability was lacking. It allowed Imperial sentiment to remain and grow in the shadows until it was far too late. Such an approach was never going to work, and finally getting to see this “historic” peace treaty signing further highlights just how flawed the new government was, despite its best efforts and intentions in theStar Warstimeline.
Battle of Jakku: Last Stand #4is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
