10 Years Ago, Star Wars Revealed Palpatine’s Strangest Monument To Order 66

Ten years ago, Star Wars revealed that Palpatine established an unexpected monument to Order 66. The Clone Wars were the ultimate Jedi trap, and Order 66 was the greatest revenge of the Sith. Almost ten thousand Jedi were slaughtered in an instant, cut down by the clone troopers they’d commanded moments ago.

With hindsight, it’s amusing that Order 66 seems to have required a personal communication from Darth Sidious. I don’t think that’s a coincidence; this was surely a command that gave Darth Sidious great joy, and he’d have loved contemplating the deaths of Jedi in accordance with his orders.

But it seems I underestimated the sheer extent of Palpatine’s delight in issuing Order 66. Charles Soule and Axel Maleev’s Lando miniseries – published a decade ago – revealed the Emperor established an unexpected monument to the event.

Palpatine Wanted A Permanent Reminder Of Order 66

O-66 Introduced In Star Wars

The Lando miniseries sees Lando Calrissian unwittingly steal Palpatine’s personal yacht – a vessel packed with Sith artifacts. Furious at the theft, Palpatine commands a bounty hunter named Chanath Cha to track down the yacht, using Darth Maul’s old Sith Interceptor, the Scimitar. Chanath Cha is also given one of Palpatine’s personal droids, who seems aware of Sith secrets.

And here’s the delightful touch; Palpatine’s Sith droid has been given the designation O-66. It’s a fact that has slipped past me for years, but I spotted it rereading the issue and couldn’t help laughing aloud. Palpatine wanted O-66 as a permanent reminder of the Jedi slaughter, and he probably cracked a smile every time he spoke to the droid.

What Happened To O-66?

Chanath Cha and O-66

We don’t actually know much about O-66’s fate after the events of the Lando comic. The droid was apparently programmed to act as custodian of the Scimitar, and Chanath Cha suspected it was dangerous; she literally removed its head and dumped the body so it couldn’t betray her, planting a bomb to add further security.

Chanath Cha’s plan didn’t work out, though. O-66 abandoned the bounty hunter – and her marks – when the yacht’s self-destruct was set. The Scimitar hasn’t been seen since, and it’s reasonable to ᴀssume O-66 remained in Palpatine’s service until the Emperor’s death – and perhaps beyond.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to learn the Sith droid had found its way to Exegol by the time of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. No doubt Palpatine would still enjoy having a permanent reminder to his greatest victory.

Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars Return of the Jedi

Created By

George Lucas

Cast

Ian McDiarmid, Sam Witwer, Ian Abercrombie

First Appearance

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Died

Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise Of Skywalker

Alliance

Sith, Empire

Race

Human


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