Summary
WhileThe Acolytehas revealed a massive Jedi cover-up during theHigh Republic era,Star Warsactually introduced another Jedi conspiracy 6 years ago that’s so much bigger than the events onBrendok. Audiences were shocked whenThe Acolyte’s endingrevealed that the Jedi, particularlyVernestra Rwoh, had created a massive cover-up for the events on Brendok and the deaths of the JediMaster Indara, Master Torbin,Master Kelnacca, andMaster Sol, placing the Order knee-deep in a massive conspiracy. This, however, is far from the Jedi’s first cover-up inStar Wars.
One of the Jedi Order’s most notable conspiracies, introduced 6 years ago, surrounds the planet Malachor. First appearing in canon in theStar Wars Rebelsseason 2 two-part finale “Twilight of the Apprentice,” the planet Malachor has a long history with the Sith. InRebels, it’s explored byKanan Jarrus,Ezra Bridger, andAhsoka Tano, and it’s where Ahsoka has her fateful confrontation with her former master Darth Vader.
But Malachor has a much longer history that is hinted at inRebels, which actually dates back to the days ofStar WarsLegends.InKnights of the Old Republic, Malachor V was the location of the final battle of the Mandalorian Wars, and where a superweapon was activated. While part of a different conflict, the same thing happened in canon. A superweapon was activated on the planet, turning combatants into dust – but it was forgotten, leading to a massive Jedi cover-up.
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Malachor’s Existence Was Removed From The Jedi Archives
Star Wars Sourcebook Confirms A Cover-Up
Malachor was a prominent Sith planet, and was also the location of a huge and climactic battle in canon between Jedi and Sith over a thousand years before the events ofRebels. Because of the Sith nature of the planet,Malachor’s existence was actually completely erased from the Jedi Archives. This is an unprecedented cover-up, similar to theerasure of Kamino by Count Dookuleading to the events of the Clone Wars.
One of their most fearsome strongholds resided on the Outer Rim planet of Malachor. Rumors spread that the Sith bastion hid unstoppable weaponry and forbidden knowledge. Fearing the worst, the Jedi laid siege to the temple. The battle left no survivors. The Jedi archives erased all records of the planet, hoping to bury the Sith secrets along with the dead.
The Fantasy Flight GamesStar Warssourcebook titledUnlimited Powerrevealed this, quoted above, about the future of Malachor after the deadly conflict there. This not only has some big ramifications for the Jedi Order’s reputation, but also sets the stage really well for the Order’s willingness to cover up dark side-related events.The Acolytepresents another one of these instances that was clearly kept a secret by Jedi such as Vernestra Rwoh, who seem to want to suppress the dark side in all ways.
What Really Happened On The Sith World Of Malachor?
A Jedi vs. Sith Conflict & A Superweapon
As described inRebelsand pictured in the comicDarth Maul#2 by Cullen Bunn and Luke Ross, the Great Scourge of Malachor happened over a thousand years beforeStar Wars: Episode I -The Phantom Menace. It began as a battle between the Sith Empire and the Jedi Order. ASith Lordnamed Darth Tanis had designed a superweapon into the temple on Malachor, and it was fired during the battle. This incredibly deadly weapon killed all life on the entire planet.
As a Force-powered weapon, life was directly sucked out of every living being there, leaving petrified husks of warriors, both Jedi and Sith, strewn across the battlefield. Some of these statue-like corpses were still standing even by the time ofRebels. During theGalactic Republic era,all of this was covered up by the Jedi Order to keep Sith Force weapon secrets away from any potential Jedi or otherwise who went looking for them. This conspiracy yet again proves that the Jedi Order of old is not always the most honest group in theStar Warsgalaxy.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
