Hyperspace lanes have been a point of contention before, but when the Alliance learns of a chance to disrupt the Empire’s trade, they’re all over it. As they put their best (?) men on the job, the Alliance’s hope is that they can put their trust in some smugglers and thieves! Join the Legendary Adventures as we read Honor Among Thieves!
Early in the Separatist Crisis, around the time of the fabled Invasion of Naboo, the management and taxation of trade routes became a huge point of contention between the Republic and the Trade Federation. Darth Sidious became the functional leader of the Federation, forcing their hand into causing a galactic conflict. The Republic is falling into disarray as minor crises erupted over the galaxy, the Senate reacted with apathy. As the Trade Federation grew in power under Sidious’s leadership, they were given more authority over hyperspace lanes, enforcing large fines and fees on their routes, blocking systems who refused to pay their debts down with extreme interest rates. The Republic would handle the crisis poorly, setting the stage for Senator Palpatine of Naboo to soon become Supreme Chancellor, and eventually Galactic Emperor.
But now, the Alliance has the chance to turn these tables back on Palpatine, using their own form of hyperspace control against the Empire. Rumor has it a scientist named Essio Galassian had discovered a super weapon which controls hyperspace lanes. This superweapon was designed by an ancient, now extinct, species known as the K’kybak. The K’kybak were masters of physics, able to control hyperspace travel, either allowing it or denying it based on their whims and pleasures. This superweapon might have been developed concurrently with the hyperspace-race of ancient times, like the Gree hyperspace rings. As the K’kybak developed this technology, they became reclusive, eventually going extinct and forgotten, until Galassian’s discovery of their weapon on Seymarti V. The planet, after millennia of misuse and miscare had fallen into disrepair, but not out of the limelight of the galaxy, as Luke and Red Squadron are sent on a mission there prior to the book’s events.
In the meantime, Leia asks Han Solo to retrieve an Alliance agent named Scarlet Hark, who is working undercover. While working in secret, she discovers that a man named Hunter Mass has stolen information about the superweapon, so they move to retrieve it from him. Han, Chewbacca, a former (but angry) bounty hunter named Baasen Rey, and Hark extract Mass, but their mission ends with Mass and Baasen shooting each other. Seems like a lot of Han’s missions end up with someone getting shot! This rings warning bells in Han’s mind, who has been burned by Alliance business before, despite the fact that he has recently been moving up in their ranks.
Han, Hark, Chewbacca, and Baasan (who was shot, but not killed!), meet with Luke and Leia on Seymarti V. There, they encounter quite a few surprises. First, stormtroopers and booby traps prevent their trip into the system to find the weapon. Turns out, the Empire is closer to finding the weapon than initially believed! Second, the planet is actually being held together by the weapon, leaving a giant chasm in its center. Finally, they were surprised to find that Galassian was still on the system, controlling the weapon himself!
After a brief battle, Galassian and Baasan fell, leaving the weapon open for Alliance use, if they so chose. But here Han acts as the voice of reason, surprisingly enough. Leia, ever pragmatic, thinks that the weapon would be a huge asset in battling the Empire. It would cripple their fleet movement, their trade, their embargoes, and loosen their grip on the galaxy. Han, on the other hand, wonders if it is worth the soul of the Alliance to start using a superweapon. He wonders if it isn’t too much acquiescing to their way of operating, effectively turning the Rebellion into another Empire. Of course, Legends doesn’t always handle ethical questions well, but I appreciated reading a discussion over the ethics of superweapons, fighting, and even rebellion. Leia does eventually listen to Han, choosing against using the superweapon for the Alliance. Unfortunately, in choosing against using the weapon, the planet is eventually destroyed, so…it all kinda ends in somewhat of a wash?
But all of those questions get pushed to the side when an object, powerful in the Force, is discovered by Darth Vader…
Legendary Travel Tips:
-This novel is followed by either Choices of One or Splinter of the Minds’ Eye, depending on whom you ask!
-This novel is part two in the “Empire and Rebellion” trilogy, but the third trilogy was never released as a Legends novel. Instead, it was edited to fit into the canon and released simply as Heir to the Jedi.
You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor!
Galactic Civil War Era: A New Hope | Scoundrels | Allegiance | Choices of One | Ruins of Dantooine