The High Republic — The Blade 3

The High Republic — The Blade 3 is the third issue of the canon comic miniseries Star Wars: The High Republic — The Blade. The issue was written by Charles Soule, illustrated by Marco Castiello, Jethro Morales, and Jim Campbell, published by Marvel Comics on March 1, 2023.
==Publisher's summary==
The situation on the planet Gansevor has worsened, and Jedi Masters PORTER ENGLE and BARASH SILVAIN find themselves embroiled in a conflict with no clear solution. Certainty must be found and a side chosen…but new enemies have arrived, and time is running out.
==Plot summary==
===Splitting up===
On the walls of Firevale, Prince Colden briefs Jedi Knights Barash Silvain and Porter Engle about the massed Bethune army below, which has been reinforced by mercenaries. When Silvain asks Colden about Firevale's defenses, Colden tells her the city's defenses could have held against the Bethunians but the arrival of the mercenaries has tipped the scales. The Colonel tells Silvain and Engle that the city's anti-air defense array remains intact and that they have flak guns installed on the barrier wall and across the city and surrounding mountains. Since the Bethunians and their allies won't be able to make an aerial assault, he believes that the enemy will target the gate, which is the weak point in the wall.
When Silvain asks how much time they have left, the colonel replies that time is running shot. At that point, the Bethunians begin launching an artillery assault against the wall. Silvain sends Engle to but time for the defenders while she investigates the truth behind the conflict. A defensive Prince Colden reiterates his account that the Bethunians had come to reclaim his wife, who had come of her own free will and been offered asylum. As the Colonel ushers them away, Silvain reassures Colden that she believes but adds that she needs to be certain.
===The ceasefire===
Engle Force jumps down the wall and attacks several mercenaries with his lightaber. Having gotten the enemy's attention, he warns them not to shoot back because he will deflect their blasts. He tells them that he is here to talk. Engle is greeted by Field Marshal Tozen and the mercenary leader General Abediah Viess, who describes herself as an independent contractor. Engle pleads with the Bethunians and Viess to cease their assault until his Jedi colleague has had a chance to locate their princess and speak with her. He believes that this conflict can be resolved peacefully. 
Viess is hostile towards Engle, expressing her animosity towards the Jedi for interfering in other people's business. Engle, who has little love for mercenaries, counters that when her business involves killing other people for money, maybe it should be meddled with. Viess is unmoved by ethical considerations and says she just likes getting paid. Before a fight can break out between Engle and Viess, Marshal Tozen agrees to a ceasefire but warns that diplomacy has its limits. Engle thanks the Field Marshal and offers to stay at the camp until the situation resolves.
===Court intrigue===
Meanwhile, Silvain meets with Queen Keraan, who thinks the Jedi presence has made things worst. Silvain reassures Keraan that her Jedi "brother" Engle will help calm the fighting. Silvain then inquires into the origins of the conflict between Firevale and Bethune. When Keraan criticizes her son for bringing Princess Sicatra to Firevale, Prince Colden explains that he fell in love with Sicatra and the two married. Since the Bethunians did not approve of their marriage, he had brought her home. Keraan criticizes her son for choosing love over political considerations. When Silvain says that the Bethunians claim their princess was kidnapped, Keraan says that the Bethunians are trying to save face and expresses disapproval of the relationship. 
When Silvain seeks permission to speak with Princess Sicatra, Colden says that she is still traumatized and is unwilling to subject his wife to an interrogation. Sicatra arrives and gives Silvain permission to speak to her. She tells Colden that the Jedi deserve to know the full truth, which Colden accepts. In private, Sicatra laments at the destruction being inflicted on Firevale. She tells the Jedi Knight that many on Gansevor resent Firevale for its monopoly on the supply of baudraxite crystal. Since the people of Bethune would not accept Colden as their future king, the couple had made the decision to flee to Firevale and seek refuge with Queen Keraan.
When Silvain asks why Sicatra and Colden did not seek dialogue with the leaders of both cities, Sicatra claims that they did not have time because she is pregnant with Colden's child. She fears that he people would not accept the child as her heir. Silvain suggests that the couple could have abdicated or used their marriage to inspire unity like the recent peace between Eiram and E'ronoh. Sicatra replies that turning her back on everything she had know would have been difficult. She adds that the Bethunians would have taken her child to be raised by someone else. When Silvain expresses shock, Sicatra alludes to the cut-throat politics of Gansevor, describing her homeworld as the "Planet of Knives."
===Flashback===
Fifteen standard years earlier, Engle and Silvain embrace after being reunited. The Jedi Order had decided to bring them back together after a stunt that Silvain pulled out on Dantooine, which she describes as "fun." Engle is relieved that the two of them are back together at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant since they never felt the same apart. Silvain asks Engle if she can trust him with something and alludes to their first encounter on the first day of lightsaber training. Engle recalls that Silvian initially rebuffed his offer of friendship but later reconsidered.
Silvain says that she has something that she has never told Engle. She explains that when the Jedi found her, she was slightly older than usual. As a member of the Kage species, she explains that her species' memories begin almost from birth. Thus she can remember her parents, siblings and what it felt to be with them. Missing her family, she asks if Engle would like to be her brother. Engle cannot remember his family but willingly accepts her offer. The two embrace.
===Breaking the truce===
Back in the present, Silvain contacts Engle by comlink and tells him to convince the Bethunians to withdraw and return to their city. Engle asks if Silvain is certain and she says yes. Engle, who is resting on the hull of a twin artillery unit, speaks to the soldiers and attempts to convince them to tell their leaders to leave. He says that if they don't their ambitions will leader to failure, loss, death and pain.
In response to Engle's actions, General Viess derides the Jedi as pompous and self righteous while Marshal Tozen decides that they need to kill the Jedi for being obstacles to their plan. Viess warns that killing one Jedi would prompt a response from the rest of the Order. Tozen suggests that they could deny that the Jedi were ever on Gansevor since the planet is not part of the galactic comms network. After Viess agrees to kill the Jedi with the "proper incentive," she demands that he allow her mercenary forces to sack Firevale for twelve hours. Tozen reluctantly agrees to her demand. Tozen's droid Sevens is also present.
Putting their plan into action, Viess attacks Engle with a rocket launcher. She also orders the Bethunians and mercenaries to resume their attack on Firevale, which comes to the shock of the citizens and Silvain. When Sicatra asks Silvain about her promise the attacks would stop, Silvain says do not be afraid. Prince Colden replies that they are being realistic and warns that the city cannot withstand the firepower of Viess' mercenary army. Silvain accepts that Firevale's defense cannot hold but reassures her hosts that Engle can. Engle survives the blast and activates his lightsaber.
==Media==
===Cover gallery===
File:The-Blade-3-Final-Cover.jpg|Final cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli
File:TheBlade3-solicit-cover.jpg|Solicit cover by Giuseppe Camuncoli
File:TheBlade3-variant-Giangiordano.jpg|Variant cover by Valerio Giangiordano
File:TheBlade3-finalvariant-Yu.jpg|Variant cover by Leinil Francis Yu
File:TheBlade3-variant-Yu.jpg|Reveal variant cover by Leinil Francis Yu
==Appearances==
==Collections==
*Star Wars: The High Republic - The Blade
*Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II – Quest of the Jedi Omnibus
==Sources==
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==Notes and references==
==External links==
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