Star Wars Legacy #16: Updates and Review

Now that I've started writing articles on Star Wars Legacy it is obvious that they will need updating as the series progresses. So any storylines which progress or impact the lives of characters mentioned in the articles will be mentioned. So in this article I will add any updates to the active Sith found in issue 16.

First of all some news on the Legacy front. Obviously the new issue is out, if you're behind on Legacy you probably won't get much of what goes on, but there is a flashback which features Obi-Wan Kenobi in the time after Order 66 so that might interest you and the rest will give you a taste of the world of Legacy. If you want more of a taster then Legacy 0.5 will be released this december - it is an updated edition of the guidebook released at the start of the series with info on all the characters ships and organizations on this new series. Lastly a series named Vector has been anounced, starting next year and crossing all four Star Wars comic titles - it is planned as a jumping on point for new readers and will take you through a vast Star Wars timeline, culminating in the Legacy era.

OK, updates - here we go. Obviously there are SPOILERS

Sith: Active Personell

Darth Krayt - Lord Krayt revealed that after Order 66 he returned to Tatooine and became a warlord of the Tusken Raiders, taking back the land that had been claimed by settlers in a conquest of vengeance until he reached the Lars farm where he met Obi-Wan Kenobi. Kenobi ordered him to stop his crusade, he refused and they fought until Obi-Wan bested him. Shamed and mutilated, his people abandoned him and he followed Obi-Wan's order to leave the planet and never return. How he turned to the path of the Sith has yet to be revealed.

Darth Stryfe
Darth Stryfe made his first appearance, he is in orbit over Ossus where he believes some Jedi may be in hiding.

Cade Skywalker - After hearing Krayt's story and demonstrating his own power Cade has decided to begin training in the Sith Order.

Darth Talon - She recieved a dire beating from Cade, who demonstrated how he could use his healing power to maim. After demonstrating how a Sith never asks for mercy she has now been given the role of his teacher.





Well those updates pretty much cover the story other than the intro in which Morrigan Corde accepts the mission of breaking Skywalker out of the Sith temple on behalf of the disgruntled Imperial Moffs who want him for their own power. She meets Cade's former crew, covertly inviting another crew that have unfinished business with them. She then reveals her identity as Cade's mother and sets her plan to free him in motion.

Species of the week #4 -Cardassians

I have been away for some time, and will be away for two weeks more with my free time sapped so I shall post next weeks species post now. I bring you the Cardassians, one of the most interesting species of the Star Trek universe I feel. What makes them so interesting is, despite them being a major part of the plot of the Deep Space Nine series and subsequent appearences in Voyager and various novels and comics there is relativley little known about them when compared to the vast amounts of knowledge regarding the Federation, Klingons, Romulans etc.

Cardassians hail from the planet Cardassia in the Alpha Quadrant, and have formed their own empire known as the 'Cardassian Union'. It is unsure how expansive this empire is or what other species are members of it, aside from the once captive Bajorans. Its is speculated that the size of the Cardassian union is roughly a third of the size of the Federation making it vast and likely including many planets and potentially as many species. While the Bajoran's are the only species documented as 'conquered' by the Cardassians their well equipped military and experienced espionage and intelligence division, the Obsidian Order, would hint at a past of war and conquering considering their imperialistic nature. At the same time, they have good relations with a number of neutral species though never had any formal relations with the other major powers of the quadrant save for non agression treaties along the neutral zone. With no solid relations it would suggest they are indeed a powerful group to be able to deter any possible attacks from the Klingon and Romulan empires. At the end of the Dominion war, while their military was drastically reduced it is believed they are still a major power and certainly have the capacity to rebuild.
The species themselves are humanoid in appearence with thick leathery skin and scales and have raised ridges along their eyelines and centre forhead . They are a cold blooded reptilian species favouring arid climates. They are a very proud and well educated race, largley as a result of the strict upbringing and education system within the Union, and while being more than capable warriors seem to also have a natural gift for using words as weapons. They are quite aristrocratic and seem to share a preference for upper class luxuries and goods again reflective of their proud nature. Their intelligence network is second to none in the alpha quadrant, rivalled only by the Tal Shiar of the Romulan empire. Their adeptness in this field is greatly enhanced by two main factors the species have, all Cardassians have a nearly or completley photographic memory and are naturally resistent to all but the strongest of mental, empathic and telepathic probes. Their memory allows them to adapt quickly to situations and pick out an opponent's flaws with little difficulty.
However, their memory has also been a great weakness on occassion. Relying too much on recalled information than trying something new a number of Cardassian captains have come out of a fray on the losing side, particularily when opposing humans who also adapt quickly though rely far less on memory and more on imagination. Another major weakness of the species is thier inability to cope in cold climates, as the low temperatures slow their metabolism.
The species has a great deal of untapped potential and unexplored regions of their 'Union' making them prime candidates for future novels and comics of the Star Trek expanded universe.

Species of the week #3 - Yautja

I'll confess to now knowing much of this species and therefore much of what I say will be mostly ripped from various wikipedia pages. The only real look I've had at them is seeing the closing section of the not so acclaimed Alien versus Predator film. While perhaps not as great as fans had hoped the film did deliver a very slick looking alien with a great enough presence to spur me to choose them as my article of the week

Yautja
Designation: Sentient
Homeworld: Unknown
Average Height: 7-7.5 feet






As I freely admit I have not seen any of the Predator films for sufficient length to claim to be a fan or any kind of expert of this species. But I know one when I see one and I know they have made their mark on Science Fiction and so more than deserve their place here. And so I commence covering them in one brief article with one last remark - an alien with dreadlocks?! That could never fail!!

The Yautja, also known as Hish-qu-Ten and more commonly referred to as Predators travel from an unkown homeworld in search of beings to hunt. In terms of stature they largely resemble humans that are larger and stockier and with their battle masks on they could at a distance pass for a human to those unfamiliar with them. When the mask is taken away it reveals a drastically different countenance with mottled skin and four mandibles surrounding a tooth filled maw. Physically they are highly resistant to injury of all kinds with only the most deadly attacks able to even slow them down.

A Predator unmasked








Their culture seems to revolve around hunting. They will go out and seek dangerous and worthy prey to hunt. They are known to even breed the highly deadly Xenomorphs (often known simply as Aliens ) in order to hunt them in honour rites and such. Little else of their culture has been seen other than when they descend to hunt their chosen prey, which is always a deadly and capable race. They have attacked humans on occasion, but only on a small scale and only those they deem worthy enough to hunt. It seems to be part of their honour code to only hunt those who can fight back and to leave the weak and defenceless unharmed - perhaps why they prefer Xenomorphs as they are all born deadly. With powerful skills and some of the best weapons technology ever seen, the Yatuja are likely to be able to continue their hunts on many worlds for many years to come.