Darth Vader (2020) 25

Darth Vader 25 is the twenty-fifth issue of the 2020 canon comic book series Star Wars: Darth Vader. The issue was written by Greg Pak, illustrated by Raffaele Ienco and Carlos Lopez, and published by Marvel Comics on July 20, 2022.
==Publisher's summary==
The Dark Lord of the Sith relentlessly tracks a corrupt Imperial governor. But is Vader still driven by his quest for order – or has his encounters with shades from the past awoken new motivations? Meanwhile, few figures in the galaxy are more different than Sabé, handmaiden of Padmé Amidala, and Ochi of Bestoon, assassin of the Sith. So when they're forced to work together in Vader's ambit and the knives inevitably come out, who's still standing at the end? And what will that lonely soul have to say when Vader returns?
==Plot summary==
===On the run===
On Gabredor III, Governor Tauntaza escapes with a Crimson Dawn operative on a speeder bike. With Darth Vader in pursuit, Tauntaza orders a B1 battle droid riding on a speeder bike to activate his ammo mag. The droid thinks nobody will survive that but Lord Vader uses his lightsaber to deflect the ammo mag's blast. 
The Crimson Dawn operative panics upon learning they are being chased by Vader. Tauntaza tells him to stay focused and asks if Crimson Dawn's next extraction will be better than the first given the threat posed by Vader. The Crimson Dawn operatives brings Tauntaza to their twin ion engine transport, reassuring her that Vader can't fly. Tauntaza replies that she can flee into space, allowing her to choose the next battlefield. 
After the Governor and her rescuers flee aboard, Vader attempts to use the Force to pull down the transport. At the urging of Tauntaza, the Crimson Dawn operatives use their twin ion engines. While Vader is feared, Tauntaza tells him that there are things in the galaxy more powerful than him. Vader's exertion damages the ship's systems but the Crimson Dawn starship manages to flee. When the lead Crimson Dawn operative says that Crimson Dawn always delivers, Tauntaza tells him to get her to her destination so that she can prepare for the real battle. On the ground, an Imperial Lambda-class shuttle approaches Lord Vader. 
===Following orders===
Back at the Gabredor III science colony, Ochi informs the others that Lord Vader has departed on the Imperial shuttle towards the Governor's flagship without them. When Ochi asks Sabé to call the colony to send a transport, Sabé responds that if Vader wanted them to join him, he would have commanded it. She says that they have a job to do now. Aira and ZED-6-7 confirm that the Governor was using the facility to process the energy she harvested from the planet. Aira is unsure what the Governor is using to harvest the energy. ZED-6-7 volunteers to access the data bank for more information. 
When Ochi says that he will find a transport to follow Vader, Sabé orders him to stay on the ground and follow orders. When several stormtroopers surround him, Ochi boasts that he is a master assassin and can kill them in seconds. Ochi asks the stormtroopers why they are obeying a rebel sympathizer. ZED reminds Ochi that Sabé has been given the title of Lieutenant Commander while Sabé adds that Vader bestowed the title upon her.
===Boarding the Governor's flagship===
Meanwhile, Vader's shuttle approaches the Imperial Star Destroyer. Two Imperial Navy officers contact the bridge crew, telling them that Governor Tauntaza has been exposed as a traitor to the Galactic Empire and to allow Lord Vader to board their ship and apprehend the Governor. The ship's commanding officer responds with shock. Vader fights his way into the command bridge, taking out several Imperial Navy officers and B1 battle droids with his lightsaber. 
Aboard the bridge, Vader demands to know where Tauntaza is. The commanding officer says that the Governor is away on a mission and that this is a misunderstanding. He asks Vader to reconsider his hostile stance. Vader orders a communications officer to contact his Super Star Destroyer Executor. He orders his crew to destroy Governor Tauntaza's flagship if he doesn't countermand this order within two hours. Vader then demands to know where the Governor is. 
===The approaching storm===
Back on the planet, Kitster Banai arrives at the science colony with news of an approaching storm. Sabé explains that they cannot leave because the Governor is trying to drain Gabredor III's living energy. Zed informs the others that he has discovered the technology that Tauntaza has been using. Ochi suggests waiting for the storm to pass so that they can carry out their mission to kill the Governor. Sabé counters that the Governor is creating the storm. ZED explains that the storm is an artificially created sandstorm moving towards them. 
Sabé tasks Kitster with evacuating the liberated conscripts but Aira says that she might need them to help dismantle Tauntaza's weapon. Kitster tells Aira to hunker down at the science colony while he accompanies Sabé to investigate the threat they are facing. When Ochi suggests hunkering down, Ochi tells him to come along. Sabé, Kitster, Ochi and the stormtroopers ride on speeder bikes towards the storm. They discover that a large vehicle with tank tracks is causing the storm. 
As they approach the vehicle, Kitster and his speeder bike are swept away. Ochi proposes leaving but Sabé says that they have to find Kitster. Sabé is also swept away, prompting Ochi to ask a stormtrooper if they can leave. Meanwhile, Vader's shuttle descends into the storm vortex. An officer explains that Tauntaza has a facility below. Though the crew think they won't survive, Lord Vader commands them to bring the shuttle through the vortex. Though the storm damages the shuttle, Vader uses his Force powers to land the shuttle in a nearby forest. 
On the ground, Ochi tells Lord Vader that Sabé disappeared inside the storm and is presumed dead. When Ochi proposes hunkering down and calling the Executor for extraction, a local villager disagrees and believes that storm will kill them. When Vader asks where are their ships, the villager explains that the Governor confiscated everything that can fly. He adds that all of their speeders have been wrecked except for Kitster's racer, which he doubts anyone can operate. Vader says that he will try out the racer.
==Development==
B1-series battle droids are featured within Darth Vader (2020) 25, serving both Crimson Dawn and the Galactic Empire.Darth Vader (2020) 25 When asked why the Empire was relying on battle droids, author Greg Pak could not recall the exact reason, but reasoned it could have been as simple that the team liked battle droids and had permission to include them. 
==Media==
===Cover gallery===
File:DarthVader2020-25-cover.jpg|Final cover by Paul Renaud
File:DarthVader2020-25-solicit-cover.jpg|Solicit cover by Paul Renaud
File:DarthVader2020-25-Textless.png|Cover art
File:DarthVader2020-25-variant-Reis.jpg|Variant cover by Rod Reis
File:DV2020-25-TextlessReisVariant.png|Textless variant by Rod Reis
File:DarthVader2020-25-variant-Sprouse.jpg|Choose Your Destiny variant cover by Chris Sprouse
File:DarthVader2020-25-variant-Sprouse-uncolored.jpg|Choose Your Destiny variant cover by Chris Sprouse, uncolored
==Appearances==
==Collections==
*Star Wars: Darth Vader Vol. 5 — The Shadow's Shadow
==Sources==
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*Darth Vader (2020) 43
==Notes and references==
==External links==
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