We all know how close the Jedi came to discovering the truth—before it was too late. Some Jedi had their suspicions. Others were manipulated. And a few… well, a few came dangerously close to exposing everything.
One of them was Ronhar Kim, a Jedi Master from Naboo. And if things had gone just a little differently, he might’ve revealed the biggest secret in the galaxy.
Yes, this is the story of the Jedi who nearly uncovered Palpatine’s true identity as a Sith Lord—right at the start of the Clone Wars.
It all unfolds in Star Wars: Republic #64. In that issue, we follow Ronhar Kim and his Padawan, Tap-Nar-Pal, as they come up with a bold plan to unmask the hidden Sith operating from within the Republic.
This story takes place just after the events of Attack of the Clones, when Count Dooku told Obi-Wan that the Sith were influencing the Senate. Ronhar took that warning seriously. He proposed using midi-chlorian testing on members of the Senate. The idea was simple: if someone in the Senate had an unusually high count, that person could be the Sith Lord hiding in plain sight.
However, Palpatine quickly realized the danger. If the Jedi carried out that test on him, his secret would be exposed—and his entire plan would unravel because of one simple scan. So he gave Ronhar Kim a political excuse to shut the idea down, saying it would cause unrest and suspicion in the Senate.
But Kim wasn’t backing down so easily. He suggested that if the Supreme Chancellor himself volunteered to be tested first, the rest of the Senate would follow. It would set a precedent—one that could unmask the Sith without causing panic.
After hearing Kim’s proposal, Palpatine immediately started looking for a way to stall. He asked Kim if he had already shared the idea with the Jedi Council. When Kim said no, Palpatine told him to keep it that way—framing it as needing time to “think it over” and consider the political consequences.
But before Kim left, Palpatine casually asked for one more thing: where would he be heading next, in case he wanted to discuss the idea again in person.
Naively, Kim answered:
“Merson. We’re establishing a staging area for patrols to keep the surrounding sector clear of pirates.”
What Kim didn’t know was that Palpatine had just gotten exactly what he wanted—a target on his back. He passed the coordinates to his apprentice, Count Dooku, and set a trap.
After that final meeting with Palpatine, Ronhar Kim and his Padawan, Tap-Nar-Pal, were deployed to the planet Merson—and it would be the last mission either of them would ever see.
As soon as they landed, everything went wrong. Kim, Clone Commander Dox, and their troops were immediately overwhelmed by a massive Separatist force. The numbers didn’t match their intel. They had been told there would be minimal resistance—maybe a few squads. Instead, they were ambushed by a full army of battle droids.
Up in orbit, Tap-Nar-Pal flew a Delta-7 Aethersprite alongside Republic Captain Gilad Pellaeon, who quickly realized the mission was doomed. Pellaeon refused to send transports down to evacuate the ground forces and ordered a full retreat. Kim reluctantly agreed, instructing Tap to fall back with the captain and leave the system.
But Tap didn’t listen.
Defying his master’s orders, he plunged his starfighter into the atmosphere, determined to help Kim escape. He believed he could buy enough time for Kim and the remaining clone troopers to regroup and retreat. But the odds were impossible. His fighter was torn apart mid-flight, and Tap-Nar-Pal was killed instantly—crashing directly into the advancing droid army below.
Kim had no time to grieve. With only ten clones left and surrounded on all sides, he ordered Commander Dox to make their final stand. He told Dox simply: “Die well.”
Ronhar Kim fought bravely, but was eventually shot multiple times and fell to the ground. Wounded and bleeding out, he had one final realization—he had been set up. The second Sith Lord wasn’t just hiding in the Senate. He was closer than anyone had guessed.
Before he could act on that final thought, a B2 super battle droid stepped forward and ended his life with a shot to the head.
