Warning: contains a preview of Doctor Aphra #9!
In a preview of Doctor Aphra #9, Star Wars' best rogues have the weight of the galaxy on their shoulders. The last issue saw Doctor Aphra and Sana Starros trying to locate a Nihil hyperdrive. Now, they are trying to prevent a dangerous entity from capitalizing on an opportunity that could make them the most powerful - and dangerous - force in the galaxy.
Doctor Aphra is a rogue archaeologist who looks out for her bottom line. She is known for betraying her friends and crews, but is often able to gain the help of old friends and former allies. In this series, Doctor Aphra has joined up with Sana Starros, a smuggler who is very aware of the dangers that crime syndicates pose to the galaxy. The two were recently attacked and are now dealing with the fallout of their run-in as they plan their next move.
Now, StarWars.com has released a new preview for Doctor Aphra #9. Written by Alyssa Wong with art by Minkyu Jung, this upcoming issue has Aphra and Starros heading to Midarr. After an attack by Vukorah, an operative for the Unbroken Clan, that nearly killed the duo, Sana is recovering from a shrapnel wound. The preview reveals just what these two rogues are going to do now. Check it out here:
This new preview shows Sana being treated for her wounds, while revealing the danger posed by the Unbroken Clan. This is a newer crime syndicate within the Star Wars universe. It is definitely less known than the Hutts and the White Worms, but the organization is quickly proving to be a dangerous collective with high aspirations. Vukorah leaves a path of bodies behind her, and she is just one part of the syndicate. With such deadly members it is no surprise that this group is after something as dangerous as Nihil technology, even though this makes it all the more important they don't claim the hyperdrive.
The Nihil are a recently introduced marauder group that operated during the time of the High Republic. They were direct foes to the Jedi at that time, though they disappeared by the time the Empire rose. As the High Republic publishing initiative has continued to roll out, Star Wars stories of every era have been incorporating more elements from that period in the series timeline. Previous issues in Doctor Aphra have referred to the High Republic, but this is one of the first instances where Nihil technology is being made accessible to the galaxy as fans know it. The Nihil's sinister technology is advanced even hundreds of years later, which is why it is currently being sought after - and why it is imperative that Aphra and Sana get to the hyperdrive first.
As the preview states, the hyperdrive's unveiling could turn into a bloody affair, particularly with how desirable the technology is. Nihil technology opens up dangerous new potential for a crime syndicate to become more powerful than all of its competitors. The reputation of the Unbroken Clan would heighten significantly, as would the fear of it. Fear and reputation are what syndicates like the Hutts thrive on, so gaining this hyperdrive would shift the Unbroken Clan up in the galactic hierarchy and make them a truly fearsome threat. However, Aphra's no hero, and she's on the trail of the hyperdrive not for selfless reasons, but because she's on the payroll of a competing dynasty. Whoever wins, the galaxy is far from safe, but fans will see how this dilemma pans out when Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #9 releases on April 21.
Source: StarWars.com