When we think of Mace Windu, we picture an unshakeable Jedi Master, someone who embodies the Jedi Order’s strength and conviction.
But what if I told you that even Mace wasn’t immune to the pull of the dark side?
In Shatterpoint, a mission to his homeworld of Haruun Kal puts Mace to the ultimate test—not just as a warrior, but as a Jedi trying to stay true to his beliefs in the face of overwhelming darkness.
Let’s dive into this rare moment when Mace Windu almost lost himself to the very forces he swore to fight.
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When Mace Windu’s Mission to Haruun Kal Became a Fight for His Soul
In the novel Shatterpoint, Mace Windu returns to his rugged home world, Haruun Kal, just six months after the brutal battle of Geonosis.
This time, he’s not there to wage war but to find someone close to him—his former Padawan, Depa Billaba.
The Jedi Council has received troubling reports: Depa, who had been leading a guerrilla resistance against the Separatists, has vanished.
Mace’s mission is to locate Depa and bring her back to the Order.
But as soon as he sets foot on Haruun Kal, Mace realizes that this mission isn’t going to be as straightforward as it seems.
Haruun Kal is a world shaped by violence, with the constant threat of the jungle’s dangers and its war-torn inhabitants.
The mission quickly takes Mace into far darker territories than he expected, forcing him to confront not only his former Padawan’s choices but his own deepest beliefs about justice, the Force, and the very nature of the Jedi way.
A Welcome That’s Anything but Warm
Upon arrival, Mace is immediately confronted by the harsh reality of Haruun Kal.
The planet is divided between the native Korunnai, who wield the Force in their own raw way, and the offworlder Balawai, who exploit the planet’s resources while aligning themselves with the Separatists.
His first steps are rocky as he’s apprehended by Lorz Geptun, the city’s Security Chief and leader of the militia faction.
After some tense negotiations, Mace is allowed to enter the capital city, Pelek Baw.
Here, he’s supposed to meet a local contact, but within moments, the contact is killed, and Mace is knocked unconscious.
When he awakens, he’s in the company of Nick Rostu, a young, fiery Korun warrior, who introduces him to a harsh but loyal group of rebels.
Mace’s journey into the jungle begins—a relentless, dangerous quest to track down Depa, but also a journey into the heart of Haruun Kal, a world that seems to bring out the darkness in everyone who crosses its paths.
Mace Windu’s Confrontation with Kar Vastor and His Own Darkness
As Mace travels deeper, the jungle becomes less a location and more an antagonistic force. He loses members of his party in brutal ways, from deadly creatures to lethal Separatist attacks.
Along the way, he encounters Kar Vastor, a fierce and unpredictable Force-user who embodies the savage nature of the jungle.
Vastor, with his Akk Guards, exudes raw, primal power and offers Mace an uneasy alliance.
It is through Vastor that Mace begins to confront an idea that shakes his core beliefs: the dark side isn’t only in the obvious acts of aggression or hatred; it can lie in the desperation, violence, and ruthless survival demanded by places like Haruun Kal.
In Vastor’s raw Force power, Mace sees a reflection of himself—a warning of what he could become if he lets go of his Jedi principles.
Finally, Mace finds Depa Billaba, but she’s not the Jedi he remembers. She’s lost herself to the violence and brutality of the jungle, committing atrocities in her quest for justice.
She’s crossed a line, and her actions reflect not just a turn to the dark side but a complete rejection of the Order’s ideals.
The revelation is devastating, forcing Mace to confront the possibility that even Jedi, with all their training and discipline, can be broken by war.
The confrontation between the master and former student is as emotional as it is physical.
Mace is left with no choice but to arrest her, torn between his loyalty to the Jedi Order and his memories of the young Padawan he once trained.
It’s a painful moment—a realization that, in this war, even the best of the Jedi can be tempted by darkness.
A Battle for Survival and a Costly Victory
Mace’s mission doesn’t end with Depa’s capture. A fierce battle erupts as droid starfighters attack and Balawai forces converge.
With the help of the Halleck, an assault ship standing by, Mace leads a desperate fight to survive.
He faces relentless droid starfighters and militia attacks, using every ounce of his strategic skill and combat ability to protect his team.
The struggle climaxes in a showdown where Mace confronts both Depa and Kar Vastor, ultimately defeating them but sustaining severe injuries himself.
The cost of the mission is high, leaving Mace physically and emotionally scarred, with a deeper understanding of the toll the Clone Wars will take on the Jedi Order.
Aftermath and Reflection
After the events on Haruun Kal, Master Depa Billaba is taken back to the Jedi Temple, where she is held in detention, grappling with the toll of her time in the jungle and her fall to the dark side.
Meanwhile, Kar Vastor faces trial for his war crimes, and his brutal tactics and influence over the Akk Guards finally brought to an end.
Nick Rostu, who fought valiantly alongside Mace, is awarded the temporary rank of major for his bravery, recovering in a medical center in the capital.
Throughout his journey, Mace Windu keeps a personal journal, capturing his reflections on the challenges he faced and the difficult choices made along the way.
By the end of the mission, he finds himself contemplating the prophecy of the “Chosen One.” With all that he has seen, Mace places his hope in Anakin Skywalker, believing that, perhaps one day, Anakin might bring balance to the Force.