Crimson Empire 4 Crimson Empire 4 was the fourth issue in the 6 part " Crimson Empire " series of comics , and was released on March 18 , 1998 by Dark Horse Comics . Publisher ' s summary . The Rebels recover from last issue ' s Imperial attack and are forced to abandon their secret base - - but not before they deal with Tem Merkon , the traitor in their midst ! And if they thought an attack by the Empire was bad , wait till they find out that the evil Carnor Jax and his elite stormtroopers have arrived . . . and he ' s after the Rebel leader , Mirith Sinn ! Will she betray the location of Kir Kanos ? And where " is " he , anyway ? Find out in the next chapter of this incredible , star - studded saga ! Plot summary . Mirith Sinn and the New Republic forces on Phaeda are preparing to move to Collo Fauale following the Imperial attack by Colonel Xexus Shev . However , Sinn and Sish Sadeet both come to acknowledge that Kir Kanos could not have been involved in the attack based on how well and how ferociously he fought the stormtroopers . Sinn and Sadeet determine that there must be a traitor within their ranks . Tem Merkon appears and informs them that he will be returning to the city to keep an eye on Shev ' s forces . Sadeet suspects that Merkon may not be as trustworthy as they have all thought thus far . Meanwhile , Carnor Jax has arrived at Phaeda and lands aboard his shuttle from the " Emperor ' s Revenge " . Jax was accompanied by his private contingent of shadow stormtrooper s . As Jax discusses his plan to capture Kanos with his officers , among those present General Wessel and Blim , none other than Tem Merkon appears to divulge knowledge . Upon Merkon ' s return to the New Republic base , Sinn and Sadeet confront him , now fully - aware of Merkon ' s betrayal . Merkon offered to share Jax ' s bounty with Sinn and Sadeet , who refused . Realizing the danger he was now in , Merkon attempted to flee but was intercepted and killed by Lieutenant Massimo . Based on the intelligence given to Jax by Merkon , a squad of stormtroopers stake out Kanos ' ship in the spaceport . Surely enough , they capture a cloaked figure and return to Jax . Much to the dismay of General Wessel , the cloaked figure was " not " Kanos , but Mirith Sinn in disguise . Jax , however , used the situation to his advantage and tortures her for information regarding Kanos . Meanwhile , Jax ' s forces seeking Merkon discover his body – wrapped in explosives . When Jax resumes torturing Sinn , the Star Destroyer " Steadfast " has arrived in orbit to join " Emperor ' s Revenge " . When Sinn continues not to divulge anything regarding Kanos , Jax orders an orbital bombardment of Collo Fauale , the location given by Merkon . Hoping to spare her comrades , Sinn tells Jax that Kanos has gone to the spaceport in Chinesti . Jax , however , sees her lie through the Force and slaps Sinn . Sinn then tells Jax that Kanos has gone to Yinchorr – which was true . Jax orders the " Steadfast " to continue firing on Phaeda and prepares to depart for Yinchorr . True to word , Jax allows Sinn to escape alive . As Sinn returned to the base , Sadeet met her and knocked out a Kubaz spy sent by Jax to follow her . Sadeet also said that the base at Collo Fauale might be saved by a " surprise " for the Imperials . Soon thereafter , Jax leaves the Phaeda system , leaving orders for Commander Vivant to reduce Collo Fauale to a " crater . " Immediately after Jax ' s departure , a squadron of starfighters emerges from hyperspace : E - wings and B - wings representing the latest iteration of the New Republic ' s most elite squadron - Rogue Squadron .