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Star Warshas in the end revealed how Emperor Palpatine hid his existence from Luke Skywalker . The Emperor ’s retort inStar warfare : The Rise of Skywalkershocked the coltsfoot , but the semen were sow in inChuck Wendig ’s " Aftermath " trilogy .
This book revealed Palpatine had institute hush-hush bases across the galax , so - called " Observatories " that were dedicated to specific purposes , and some served as treasure houses for the Emperor ’s vast aggregation of Sith artifacts . He begun construct these shortly after rising to the role of Supreme Chancellor inStar Wars : Episode I - The Phantom Menace , and it ’s potential Anakin Skywalker bumble upon one such induction on Mustafar inThe Clone Wars . These were staffed with loyal droids , their identities restrained and subsumed to Palpatine ’s will , or with some of Palpatine ’s most devoted Imperial fanatics . But how did this internet remain a arcanum after Palpatine ’s end inReturn of the Jedi ?
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According to theShattered Empireminiseries , Luke Skywalker hit upon one of Palpatine ’s secret installation in brief after the destruction of the Second Death Star . This facility was devoted to the mass - yield of so - called Sentinel droids , who the Emperor intend to use to convey his last instructions to the galaxy . Fortunately for Palpatine , although one installation devoted to take a leak the Sentinels was disrupt , it was too later . An unsung number of Sentinel droids spread across the extragalactic nebula , and they began attempt to hold in the existence of Palpatine ’s hidden connection .
The Sentinels commanded Palpatine ’s most loyal Imperials to commenceOperation Cinder , visualize as an act of requital on the galaxy . This was a horrific char - solid ground policy , with Imperial Star Destroyers launched devastating attacks on unnumerable worlds . Operation Cinder was designed to intensify the astronomical battle to a genocidal level not seen since the tallness of the Clone Wars , but according to Alexander Freed ’s recent bookShadow Fallit served another purpose . The Empire unknowingly direct globe where Palpatine had hidden his inscrutable bases , destroying all criminal record of their beingness .
Operation Cinder was not entirely successful . It culminated in a battle over the skies of Jakku , itself site of an observation tower that Palpatine had used to map the Unknown Regions . The Emperor had transformed the planet into a bomb of prima proportions , and intended to have the Empire and New Republic fight their final struggle over Jakku ’s skies . His loyalists would be hold directions to run to the Unknown Regions , and everyone else would be destroyed when Jakku detonated . as luck would have it , as elaborate inAftermath : Empire ’s End , Rebel agents were able to preclude the planet exploding . Luke Skywalker himself was at that battle , and according to Ken Liu’sThe fable of Luke Skywalkerhe even superintend to break into the lookout . presumptively this was how Luke began to surmise something else was going on , and he set about his lookup for theSith Wayfinderthat could have taken him to Exegol .
Presumably the Emperor was aware Luke Skywalker was hazardously close to discovering him , and so he accelerated his plans . It ’s surely no coincidence Lando Calrissian ’s daughter went missing just when he was hunting the Wayfinder , and curtly after Palpatine prod a fateful battle between Luke and his apprentice Ben Solo . With Luke unconscious , the Emperor then destroy the Jedi Temple , an enactment that was blamed on Ben . The grandson of Darth Vader became Kylo Ren under Palpatine ’s influence , and Darth Sidious was no doubt delighted when Luke Skywalker disappeared . He stay aware the last of the Jedi could prove a potent threat , however , explain why the First Order remained laser - focus on detect Luke inStar war : The Force Awakens .
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