Empire Reborn The Empire Reborn was a faction of the Imperial Remnant led by the Dark Jedi Hethrir , the Imperial Procurator of Justice and a former student of Darth Vader . As a secret movement arising after the destruction of the second Death Star at Endor , it infiltrated the New Republic for a number of years as it built up its power base . Lord Hethrir recruited powerful allies to his cause including Admiral Galak Fyyar , former Jedi student Desann , and the shadowy Inquisitor , Antinnis Tremayne . Financing its operations by slavery , the Empire Reborn trained a large army of Force - sensitive warriors that assaulted the Jedi Praxeum in 12 ABY . After that invasion failed , the weakened movement kidnapped the three Solo children , in order to sacrifice them to the demigod Waru , part of a sinister pact to gain absolute power in the Force for Lord Hethrir . The combined efforts of the Jedi Knights Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn , and the New Republic heroes Han Solo and Leia Organa foiled its plans , bringing about the movement ' s ruin . History . Lord Hethrir , a Firrerreo , was handpicked by the Sith Lord Darth Vader to receive training as a Dark Jedi . Hethrir excelled in his training , and as a reward , was appointed Procurator of Justice , head of the entire Imperial justice system . The role was an anonymous one , during which he exiled thousands of prisoners in sleeper - ships , and amassed a fortune from his exclusive ability to harvest body - wood . Foreseeing the fall of the Empire , Lord Hethrir made preparations for this eventuality , and when it finally occurred , he fled taking his resources and followers with him into hiding . There he lay low , protected by the anonymity of his former position , plotting for a way to regain his position and restore the glory of the Empire . He developed a vision of an Empire Reborn , with himself as the new Emperor . To achieve this goal , he knew he needed greater access to the Force , and so he made a pact with the demigod known as the Waru . The Waru was a being from another dimension , summoned by savage rites performed on Crseih Research Station . In exchange for Force - sensitive victims to feed on , Waru would give Hethrir absolute power over the Force . Sequestered alternatively on Crseih Station and his private worldcraft , " Rebirth " — a unique gift from the Emperor himself — Hethrir built up a broad power base . Hethrir financed his movement with a flourishing slave trade , supplied by the thousands of prisoners he had condemned and imprisoned in sleeper ships , including his own people , the Firrerreo . He established Crseih Research Station — under the alias Asylum Station — as the hub of this slave trade . Disgruntled Imperial lords , eager to regain their power and influence — such as the Lords Brashaa , Cnorec , and Qaqquqqu , and Lady Ucce — joined him , swearing an oath of secrecy and devotion , bringing with them numerous followers and starships . With these finances the Empire Reborn purchased armament from gangsters such as the Rodian Reelo Baruk , and , using armor , shield generators , and power cores scavenged from the derelict Star Destroyers orbiting Endor , outfitted a fleet , with the " Doomgiver " as its flagship . Hethrir recruited Imperial Remnant Admiral Galak Fyyar to his cause in 10 ABY , financing many of his technological enterprises . Fyyar was known more for technological innovation than his skills as a military leader , but had worked closely with the Emperor before disappearing after his death . He consolidated their presence in the Outer Rim , while alliances with Deep Core warlords such as Admiral Harrsk were pursued to strengthen their Core support . Creation of a Reborn army . Galak Fyyar came across the failed Jedi Knight , Desann , a Chistori who had abandoned the Jedi Academy after killing a fellow student . Fyyar recognized his potential and brought him to his obscure master . Despite an anti - alien bias , Hethrir made Desann his right hand in the movement , entrusting him with the task of forming a Dark Jedi army . Searches for Force - sensitives on back water worlds such as Tatooine were begun . Those with potential were abducted and taken to " Rebirth " for indoctrination . Hethrir , with an ability to dampen others ' Force abilities , would often prevent non - Humans from demonstrating any Force - ability , consigning them to be sold as slaves . Those Humans with Force - potential moved up the ranks of the Helpers , Proctors and Empire Youth . Many of Hethrir ' s trainees were taken to the temple of the Waru on Crseih Station to be " purified " . Waru was posing there as a healer , but occasionally killed beings brought for healing , sucking in their strength . Many of the Empire Youth that survived the purification were sent out into the Republic , working covertly to undermine it . Others were given to Desann to train . He took one of their number , a young Human female Tavion Axmis , as his personal apprentice . Working with Galak on Cairn Installation in the Lenico Belt , they experimented on Empire Youth with little talent for the Force , trying to artificially imbue them with dark Force powers via artusian crystal s and Sith alchemy . It was at this time that the New Republic Intelligence Service first began to hear rumors of their activities , including several reports of Tavion ' s activity around the Lenico system , and Imperial recruiters on Tatooine . Some preliminary investigations were begun but the extent of the threat not yet realized . In order to continue Galak ' s experiments , a Republic mining facility on Artus Prime was captured in 12 ABY . It had just discovered rich veins of artusian crystals , which the Empire Reborn confiscated , imprisoning the miners . These crystals were then shipped to Kejim for experimentation . The NRI intercepted garbled transmissions intercepted from Kejim containing the words " Reborn " , and the " Valley of the Jedi " , and sent Kyle Katarn and Jan Ors to investigate . Razing the facility , the two commandos were then sent on to investigate the mine on Artus Prime . Desann , aware of the destruction of his Kejim facility and the subsequent mission , used it to set a trap for Katarn , another former Jedi . While Kyle investigated the mining facility , calling in a Republic task force to recapture the plant , Desann and his apprentice Tavion took Jan Ors prisoner . In a confrontation designed to humiliate and infuriate Kyle , Desann beat him and mocked his lack of Force ability — Kyle had let it atrophy during his time away from the Academy . Faking Jan ' s death , they escaped the planet before the Republic troops arrived , leaving Kyle a broken man . This was all a carefully calculated plan , designed to force Katarn into revealing the location of the famed Valley of the Jedi , a Force nexus . ( Lord Hethrir had charged Desann with finding the Valley , after his ally , High Inquisitor Antinnis Tremayne , disclosed its existence . ) Kyle duly obliged , traveling to Ruusan and restoring his own Force powers , swearing revenge on Desann . A tracking device hidden in his ship , the " Raven ' s Claw " , allowed Desann to follow after him . Desann then led his Empire Youth into the Valley ' s Force nexus , quadrupling their innate powers , and renaming them " Reborn " . Galak ' s fruitful research produced a number of technological advances to aid the Reborn , including lightsaber - resistant cortosis armor , mined from the Lenico Belt , equipped with embedded artusian crystals aiding Force connection . Some of these troops were outfitted with stealth armor , forming an elite Shadowtrooper corps . Assault on the Jedi Praxeum . Alerted to Desann ' s activities , and the threat to the Jedi , Kyle , Luke and the other Jedi Knights worked to undermine his activities . Luke visited the Valley of the Jedi and destroyed Desann ' s forces preventing him from creating any more Reborn . Kyle tracked Reborn activities to Nar Shaddaa . There , from Baruk ' s Bar he managed to infiltrate Reelo Baruk ' s operation , where , with the help of Lando Calrissian , he neutralized the base , and killed the crime lord . Tracing the crime lord ' s operations to Bespin , Kyle and a Republic strike team further disrupted the Reborn ' s activities . In Cloud City Kyle encountered Tavion Axmis , confronting her in a lightsaber duel . Overpowering her , and tempted to kill her as revenge for the death of his partner Jan Ors , he Force choked her . Afraid to die , Axmis revealed the ruse — Ors was still alive . Out of pity , Katarn left her live . She subsequently fled the Empire Reborn , afraid of reprisals from her master . Despite these set - backs , Lord Hethrir felt that with an army of Reborn , supplemented by Imperial Stormtroopers , the time was right for an major confrontation with the Republic — an invasion of the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4 . It would be a symbolic victory , destroying a symbol of hope and good in the Republic , and a powerful platform to launch the Empire Reborn into prominence . It would also to be a personal assault , a chance for Desann to return to his former academy , showing them his true power . The assault was to be launched from the Reborn ' s flagship , " Doomgiver " , showering hundreds of All Terrain Rapid Deployment Pod s onto the moon . Each AT - RDP assault ship was to contain troops and AT - STs . However , the assault turned into an unmitigated disaster . Kyle Katarn had managed to infiltrate the ship just before it set out from Cairn Installation . During the hyperspace leap , he confronted Galak Fyyar , who was armored in a unique shielded - suit , and killed him . Coming out of hyperspace , he rescued his partner Jan Ors , and alerted Rogue Squadron to the ship ' s location . Bringing down the shields , he enabled the elite fighter squadron to destroy the ship , including many of the full - but - undeployed assault ships . This drastically cut the invasion force of the Empire Reborn . Those Reborn already on the jungle moon , were soon outclassed by the more heavily trained Jedi . Escaping from the " Doomgiver " , Kyle finally caught up to Desann in the heart of the Great Temple . Despite mutual attempts to turn their opponent , a duel ensued . With both combatants empowered by the Valley of the Jedi , they were closely matched but Katarn finally prevailed , killing Desann . The dramatic entry into galactic affairs envisaged by Lord Hethrir and his cohorts was in ruin . But even with his two main lieutenants killed , Hethrir was not prepared to give up on his dream ; he would just have to resort to more drastic and radical plans . Sacrifice to the Waru . Despite pressure mounting from his supporters , and the huge investment into research and training lost , Lord Hethrir still had control of the younger Empire Youth and affiliated indoctrination programs . Having run out of freighter children to sell , he began to steal them from Republic worlds . As such , he was still able to supply Waru with Force - sensitives , and keep his bargain alive . With the Republic preoccupied by Gilad Pellaeon ' s Orinda campaign , Hethrir received a brief reprieve , reorganizing some of his facilities such as that on Alzoc III . However , Kyle Katarn and the Republic continued to dog his steps , destroying that base , and killing some more of his precious few remaining Reborn . Rumors of abducted children also began to surface with Republic agent Winter Retrac sent out to investigate . Still , Hethrir knew that if only he could get Waru to empower him , he could realize his vision . What he needed was a child exceptionally strong in the Force that would enable the Waru to return to his home dimension " and " allow Hethrir to receive the boundless power he craved . Hethrir believed the Solo children would serve this purpose . Fortuitously , Chief of State Leia Organa Solo was undertaking a tour of the Outer Rim worlds soon after in 14 ABY , and was taking her children along with her . While Mon Calamari and Gbu , the first planets on her itinerary would provide no opportunities , Munto Codru , the third planet on the tour , would provide the perfect arena for a kidnapping attempt . Its political system included ritualized " coup abductions " of noble children , who were later ransomed off unharmed . Hethrir correctly surmised that any pursuit or reprisals would be delayed under the assumption his kidnapping was only a part of the political sport . Temporarily blocking Leia ' s ability to sense her children , and using a pressure bomb to incapacitate the children ' s minders — the Wookiee Chewbacca and a local page — Anakin , Jacen , and Jaina Solo as well as the Munto Codru chamberlain ' s wyrwulf were captured and whisked away by skiff . They were shipped off planet to Hethrir ' s worldcraft , while Leia was still being advised to wait for a ransom request . On his worldcraft , Hethrir told the children their parents were dead and that he would look after them from now on as their hold - father . The children were suspicious , however , and proved remarkably resistant to the programming . Hethrir assigned his own son , Tigris , to look after Anakin , and put the twins in with the rest of the imprisoned children , including a Chironian girl , Lusa . The kidnapped children caused much trouble at the station , using the Force to harass the young Proctors . Though held in separate cells , the Solo twins managed to escape their cells , taking a number of the other children with them . With the aid of a female sand dragon that Jacen communicated with , they escaped the entire compound and hid from the Proctors and Helpers in a swamp . Meanwhile , Leia and Chewbacca had been tracking Hethrir through the Force . They discovered a cluster of 24 sleeper ships , including one containing Hethrir ' s ex - mate , the Jedi Healer Rillao . Five years earlier , Hethrir had imprisoned her in a web like torture device on the ship . This ship was full of Firrerreo that Hethrir had imprisoned as a sign of his loyalty to the Emperor , after which he destroyed their entire world . Joining their party , Rillao led Leia and Chewbacca to the Indexer s of Chalcedon — a rival in the slave trade to Hethrir ' s own Asylum Station . Rillao revealed that Hethrir had stolen their son Tigris from her , hoping that he would succeed Hethrir as leader of his Empire Reborn . Upon realizing Tigris had no Force - potential , Hethrir had not even revealed his parentage to the boy , but kept him around as his personal servant . Crseih Station . Arriving at the worldcraft , Leia , Chewbacca , and Rillao rescued Jacen , Jaina and the other children in the " Alderaan " . They were too late to rescue Anakin though , for Hethrir had already departed for Crseih Station with a phalanx of Proctors , intending to relaunch the Empire Reborn and sacrifice Anakin in the temple of the Waru . Following close on his heels , the two mothers pursued . Also on Crseih Station , Han Solo and Luke Skywalker were investigating reports of a lost Jedi , leaked by con - artist and former acquaintance of Solo , Xaverri . Xaverri had been on the station for a number of years and was deeply concerned about the " healer " Waru , and wanted them to investigate . Luke , however , seemed to be taken by the strange being , his judgment and Force ability crippled by the resonance of the nearby crystallizing star . He became distrustful of Han and Xaverri and convinced he needed Waru ' s help and healing . The conflict came to a head , as the three parties met in the temple of the Waru . In a grand ceremony surrounded by all his supporters , Lord Hethrir planned to sacrifice Anakin on the altar of Waru . The newly arrived Rillao revealed to her son the truth about his father and , Tigris , realizing the infant Anakin had no choice in being " purified , " turned on Hethrir , preventing the sacrifice . The unbalanced Skywalker dove into the Waru in Anakin ' s place , forcing Han and Leia to follow . Hethrir , realizing that Luke was a better sacrifice than Anakin anyway , believed his plans were finally coming to fruition . Rillao , however , launched herself onto Hethrir in a furious attack . Inside the golden ichors of the Waru , Han and Leia manage to draw Luke back , aided by the cries of the Solo children . Enraged by the missed opportunity and Hethrir ' s failure to fulfill his bargain , Waru consumed Hethrir instead . With Hethrir ' s Force power the being returned to its home dimension , presumably killing Hethrir . Aftermath . With the crystallizing star dragged dangerously into the black hole , the entire Crseih Station was slaved to the " Millennium Falcon " and together they jumped into hyperspace to the Codru system . The remaining Proctors and many of Hethrir ' s supporters were rounded up and arrested on the station . With Hethrir , Fyyar and Desann killed , the Empire Reborn movement collapsed . Aware of its existence , Leia pledged to find the remaining Empire Youth saboteurs . Some remained at large and eventually joined Desann ' s former apprentice Tavion Axmis , in a Sith cult , called the Disciples of Ragnos . The cult was later destroyed by the joint efforts of Luke Skywalker , Kyle Katarn , and his new apprentice Jaden Korr . The Republic claimed the worldship and Crseih Station , and returned the other kidnapped children to their families . Some of the children , most notably the Chironian Lusa , would go on to join the Junior Jedi Academy on Yavin 4 . Crseih Station would eventually be moved to orbit the planet Pakuuni . Hethrir ' s slaveships were recovered and the Firrerreo people would eventually settle on the planet Belderone , made welcome by another former Dark Jedi , Flint . Hethrir ' s captured worldcraft would be studied by Republic engineers , including a former designer of the Death Star , Bevel Lemelisk , and the technology was later used in the New Class project . Finally , Hethrir ' s dream of a resurgent Empire would never be realized with the Imperial Remnant driven back to a paltry number of sectors in the Outer Rim . It would later sign a treaty with the Republic , the Bastion Accords , bringing to an end the long Galactic Civil War . Behind the scenes . The connection between the Empire Reborn movement in " The Crystal Star " and Desann ' s Reborn Jedi from " " was made in " The Dark Forces Saga , Part 6 : Outcasts and Megalomaniacs Welcome " . The retcon was obvious , yet not made up until this point . It fleshes out both organizations and gives a lift to the storyline of " The Crystal Star " , an often unpopular novel in Star Wars fandom .