During the Clone Wars the best separatist pilot to ever grace the Galaxy,
Tofen Vane, came head to head with the Best Starpilot to ever live, Anakin Skywalker,
after Vane believed that Anakin killed his father in an horrific war crime.
This brewed an intense rivalry between the two, with Tofen Vane vowing to do anything in his
power to slaughter Anakin for his actions, and to bring the Republic to it’s knees.
So if you haven’t seen part 1 and 2 of this comic, make sure you check them out
in the pinned comment, as this story won’t make much sense if you haven’t seen them.
To begin the story Anakin begins a mission briefing with his Clone Troopers, and informs them
that their target today will be a hidden enemy base inside of the Veil Nebula. Anakin suspects
that the recent Valahari attacks on the Republic blockades have been originating from there.
Unfortunately however, interference from the nebula is preventing Anakin from obtaining
the exact coordinates of his arch enemy, Tofen Vane, but of course Anakin had a homing device
planted on Vane’s ship in the last issue, so they have a rough idea of his location.
Anakin then informs his men that he will lead Gold Squadron into the battle first,
engaging their fighters and to draw them away from the base. He also warns his Clones that
these are not droid ships with pre programmed tactics. This is the infamous Raider Squadron,
and is made up of the absolute best pilots in the galaxy, flying highly modified starfighters.
Because of this, Anakin has called up two of the other best pilots in the Jedi order,
Plo Koon and Saesee Tiin to back them and take on Tofen Vane’s Men.
As Saesee Tiin hears this… He is slightly concerned, asking Skywalker if he has considered
that this could be a trap… and hilarious, Master Plo says “I believe the idea of a trap
would only encourage him, Master Tiin”... leading Ahsoka to smile, know that its absolutely true.
Following this, Obi-Wan moves in to take over the briefing, informing the seated Clone Troopers
that once the enemy fighters are occupied, Obi-Wan will move the cruisers in to surround the enemy,
hoping to force their surrender. One of the Clone Troopers then speaks up,
much to the shock of his brothers, saying “General, why not just send in the bombers?”
Obi-Wan then sternly replies to his trooper, telling him “besides military personnel,
the base likely houses civilians. Obviously if the Republic bombed these civilians,
it would be yet another war-crime, violating the Yavin Code and the Galactic Accords.
Following this Obi-Wan orders the clone pilots to their ships, before one of the
members of Gold Squadron walks up and Salutes Anakin, pledging to follow him anywhere.
Hilariously Obi-Wan asks Anakin “Does that pilot know that you just crashed again”...
but anakin brushes his masters comment off, jabbing back at Obi-Wan by saying “If you don’t
crash once in a while, you’re probably not in the fight”... Obi-Wan is slightly angered by this,
but Ahsoka quickly pulls them out of conversation, telling Anakin that his new fighter has arrived.
Ahsoka tells Anakin and Obi-Wan that this is the fastest ship ever produced by Kuat systems,
and Artoo begins to give it an awesome yellow paint job.
Following this, Ahsoka is genuinely worried about her master,
because she knows how dangerous Tofen Vane is, wishing that she was out there to cover
Anakin’s back. Anakin then holds Ahsoka’s chin up and tells her “I’ll be fine”,
reassuring his padawan that he will return to continue her training no matter what.
Following this, something very unfortunate happens. Tofen Vane’s droid discovers that his
ship has Anakin’s homing device attached to it, but he is so confident in his abilities that he
decides to leave on the red painted fighter, because he wants to face skywalker alone.
AS this is happening, Tofen’s protocol droid informs him that he has a transmission from
his homeworld of Valahari, marked Urgent. It is from his mother. As Tofen answers the
holo-transmission, his mother realizes that she has made a terrible mistake by
Marrying Count Dooku, and has now seen the proof that Dooku’s agent, Ventress,
was the one behind the death of her husband and not Anakin. Tofen Vane refuses to admit it,
but he knows the truth. He knows that his father figure and leader has betrayed him in
the most horrendous way, but at this point… he is so lost that he just does not care.
He uses this anger to fuel his fight against the Republic, and to crush anyone who fights for them.
His mother then pleads with him, begging for her only son to return home before he is badly hurt,
or killed. A fury then rushes over Tofen, as he coldly tells his mother that he will not be
returning home, and that she should be proud that he is going to eliminate the corrupt Republic.
Tofen then hands up the holo-transmission, with a burning passion to destroy the republic seeping
through his voice, promising that he will return to his mother and wife after this final battle.
Tofen’s mother then falls to her knees in pain,
telling her son that she loves him… Hoping that she will be able to look into his eyes again.
Following this, tears roll down from Tofen’s eyes, as he looks out of the Neebray whales,
and is very soon informed that the Republic forces have entered the Nebula.
As this happens, Anakin calls for his gold squadron to form on him, and calls Master Plo
and Saesee Tiin into action, ready to strike. Obi-Wan calls for Anakin to take it easy,
but before he can even get the separatist base in visual range, his men are ambushed horribly. Tofen
Vane of course doesn’t recognize the lead fighter at first because it’s a brand new,
modified ship, but he soon realizes that Skywalker has found himself a new ship.
He then orders his men to deal with the other Republci fighters,
as he wants to take Skywalker alone.
As this happens, Masters Plo and Tiin are in critical danger,
under heavy fire from Tofen Vane’s men,
but obi-wan soon brings the cruisers into range, ready to force the separatists into a surrender.
Unfortunately, out of nowhere Tofen Vane calls completely unexpected reinforcements.
He calls the Neebrays in with a low frequency signal, leading them to disastrously ram into
the Republic cruisers before taking a massive bite out of one of them.
Obi-Wan and Yullaren quickly realize what is happening, and know that they must turn off
the low frequency signal, or they are all going to be eaten by the Neebray.
This causes Ahsoka to leap into action, calling on her Shadow squadron to back her up,
as she races out into space, ready to destroy the signal.
She also orders Clone Trooper Striker to get into the gunner’s seat, ready to back her up.
Meanwhile, the two best starpilots in the entire galaxy are locked in a dance of death.
They roll, weave and swerve through the neebray, pushing their fighters to the
absolutely limits of their construction. Each one manages to get small jabs in,
but they are soon foiled by the other’s incredible skill.
Tofen then attempts to get behind Anakin’s fighter,
which would give him a major advantage, before badly damaging Anakin’s heat exchanger.
As Anakin continues his battle, locked in the intense dogfight with Tofen Vane… he realizes
something shocking… He finally understands that the force is strong in Tofen Vane.
Back at the Republic Fleet, many clone troopers are tragically killed by the Neebray,
and Obi-Wan’s cruiser is at its absolute limit. Ahsoka and her Shadow squadron bombers however
are on the move, ready to eliminate the signal, and hopefully save the fleet.
Following this, Ahsoka tell STriker to get his trigger finger ready, and is very happy
to be taking the shot, telling Ahsoka that he will be ready as soon as he can see the target.
After this, Obi-Wan tells Ahsoka that he has carefully followed the yavin Convention,
which is one of the Document which outlines war crimes and the rule of war,
and has given the civilians on board Harko Station enough time to evacuate,
meaning that Ahsoka can bomb the entire place to pieces, without committing a war crime.
After hearing those words, Ahsoka pulls off the unthinkable, blowing the entire station to pieces,
killing everyone on board and saving the entire Republic fleet. Yullaren is incredibly impressed,
and even proud of Ahsoka and her Shadow squadron for saving so many REpublic lives.
As this is happening, Anakin and Tofen Vane continue the most intense fight in
Galactic history, again, dodging, ducking and weaving through each other's immense attacks.
Anakin demands that Tofen give up now that Harko Station isdestroyed,
but he refuses, willing to die foro the Separatist cause.
Following this, Anakin is horrified to see that Tofen Vane’s engines are completely overloading,
burning the young separatist prodigy to a crisp inside of his cockpit. Tofen’s blood
red starfighter eventually crashlands with a horrific clank in the bay of Anakin’s republic
cruiser, before Anakin rushes over to his rival and bullies his charred body out of the wreckage.
Anakin holds his arch enemy in his arms for his final moments of life,
and in Tofen’s final breath, he begs Anakin to bring justice for his father.
Tragically, Tofen then succumbs to his burns and dies a heroic death.
Back on Valahari, Dooku tries to comfort his soon to be wife,
but tears roll down her face and she tells Dooku that she will never marry him
after what he has done. He has not only killed her husband,
but not gotten her only son killed… Surprisngly, this genuinely hurts Count Dooku… He genuinely
felt an attachment to Lady Vane… but unfortunately used horrendous methods to get to her.
Following this, Anakin and Obi-Wan return to Valahari to pay their respects to Tofen Vane,
respecting how he valiantly fought for his people. Anakin even adds
that he was one of the bravest and most honorable man he had ever met
Tofen Vane was the only separatist pilot that the Republic ever respected.
And to end the story, Dooku returns to the Limerge power building in the coruscant works district,
where his master Darth Sidious applauds him for eliminating the threat of the Royal Families.
And to end the story, Sidious names him the Hero of the Confederacy,
rather than the man who really deserved it,
Tofen Vane. Dooku will live the rest of his life in pain that he could not remain with Lady Vane.
Thanks so much for watching, really hope you enjoyed this three part series!
Cheers guys, hope to see you in the next one.