When Darth Vader first emerged in the Imperial military structure, he didn’t arrive with titles, medals, or polite introductions. He entered the Empire like a shadow with a lightsaber – silent, unstoppable, and deeply feared. But for many in the ranks, his presence didn’t make sense at first. Why did this unknown figure suddenly speak with the Emperor’s authority? Why did he bypass the chain of command? Who was this man?
That confusion – and the fear that followed – played out in full in Darth Vader (2017) #12, where we see just how uneasy Imperial officers were with Vader’s sudden rise.
Table of Contents
“Who Is This Man?”
In the earliest days of the Empire, most officers didn’t even know who Vader was. He appeared suddenly, cloaked in black, carrying a red lightsaber, and speaking with the authority of the Emperor – but without any known past. He hadn’t come up through military channels. He hadn’t earned their trust.
So naturally, they didn’t respect him.
“That’s the problem, isn’t it? We don’t know who he is. Palpatine elevates this person out of nowhere… tells us nothing about him… lets him act with no restrictions whatsoever. It’s not right.”
Vader’s lack of a clear identity made the military uneasy. Some thought he was just a tool – an enforcer, a weapon, or perhaps a terrifying bodyguard. Others whispered worse things behind closed doors. A few even acted on their fear.
Assassination attempts were made. Contracts were sent to kill him. According to Vader’s own analysis:
“The kill contract against you was from the highest levels of the Imperial Executive Building… There is a 97% probability the signal originated there.”
Vader didn’t need to guess where the threat was coming from. He had confirmation. Someone in Palpatine’s inner circle – possibly even among the elite officers themselves – wanted him dead.
The Apprentice Demands Answers
After barely surviving multiple attacks, Vader confronted the Emperor. He knew where the threat came from. He suspected high command. And he wanted to act.
“I was the target of a kill order. The contract originated here… from the highest levels of Imperial government.”
Palpatine’s response? Cold and calculated:
“If I wanted you dead, my apprentice, I would not require such indirect methods.”
Then he gave Vader a lesson, not sympathy:
“If you do your work properly, you will never lack people who wish you were dead. It is the prize of power – and also the joy. Your enemies will be numberless, infinite. And so you will never lack for people to destroy.”
But even Palpatine understood the risk. If the officers didn’t respect Vader’s role – or worse, kept trying to kill him – the Empire would fracture. So, he gave Vader what he needed: a stage.
Vader’s Public Declaration of Authority
Palpatine called a meeting with the Empire’s elite military officers. These were the people who helped him run the galaxy. Many had fought in the Clone Wars. Some had known Jedi personally. And most still didn’t fully trust the new order.
Palpatine addressed the tension head-on:
“You are the elite officers of my Imperial military… but I understand that our shared vision remains new. Perhaps some elements of the heresy remain unclear. It is time to eliminate any confusion.”
Then he introduced Vader – officially and without compromise:
“This is Lord Vader. He speaks with my voice. A command from him is a command from me. Pass this information down to your men. All must understand.”
And with that, the rules changed. Rank didn’t matter. Chain of command didn’t matter. From now on, Vader’s word was law.
The Lesson That Silenced the Room
What happened next silenced any remaining doubt.
Vader stepped forward and spoke directly to the room:
“Two attempts have been made on my life. Evidence suggests a conspiracy within the Imperial officer corps… I do not yet know the individuals behind these attempts, although I have my suspicions. It does not matter.”
Then, with no warning, he called out five random names.
“But five of you, chosen at random…”
“…found themselves unable to breathe.”
Vader force-choked all five – publicly, without a hint of hesitation. Officers who had once scoffed at him stood frozen as their peers died right in front of them.
“I will always survive. But they will not.”
No one in that room forgot what they saw. Vader didn’t just kill. He didn’t just punish. He made a point.
Palpatine had warned him not to rule over an Empire of corpses. But Vader knew that without action, there would be no order – only doubt.
So he took some. Instead of taking them all.
The message was sent. Loudly. Clearly. Permanently.
