fHan Solo and Chewbacca think they’re taking an easy job with the fledgling Rebel Alliance; but, unfortunately, the Rebels have a plan of their own – and the Ylesian priests are still chasing their final revenge! Join the Legendary Adventures today as we experience the Rebel Dawn!
You might have heard that the Expanded Universe is notorious for explaining every single detail from a film. This book helps demonstrate that a bit, as the Han Solo trilogy storyline is finished off and the books move to position everybody in place for where we meet them in Episode IV….
Across the galaxy, a fire has been lit, and different people, planets, and systems are rising up against the tyranny of the Empire. As Operation: Knightfall worked toward its conclusion, a small band of rebels on Coruscant, called Whiplash, aided by the help of Jedi, stood up against the Empire and tried to protect its more disenfranchised people. As the Empire grew in size and strength, more planets turned against Imperial rule. Darth Vader’s former secret Apprentice, Galen Marek, brought together a small group of Imperial Senators to stand against the Empire. Emboldened by the former Sith apprentice’s sacrifice, the Rebel Alliance struck out against the Empire across the galaxy, all the way from Kashyyyk to Kamino. Now, the Rebellion needs the help of smugglers Han Solo and Chewbacca, and the two, needing credits yet again, are more than happy to provide.
Following the wedding of Chewbacca to Mallatobuck, Han and Chewie have been travelling the galaxy in the Millennium Falcon, taking jobs, getting credits, and spending them immediately. They travel to Nar Shadaa, where Bria Tharen tries to hire Han and Chewbacca to mount a rescue mission to save the slaves on Ylesia. The pair agree, and are also joined by Lando Calrissian. Han has already freed Bria from the Ylesian priests, so he is more than confident that they can free more now that he pilots the greatest ship in the galaxy! Besides, he and Lando have experience rebelling against corrupt regimes, as Han has taken on the Corporate Sector Authority and Lando has taken on the Centrality. Unfortunately, neither Han nor Lando get paid, as Bria turns her back on them and trains blasters on them. Even though she loved Han at one point, her mind is fully focused on the mission – no time for love in a time of war. She and the rebels take all of Han and Lando’s valuables. Knowing their past relationship, Lando believes Han was part of the betrayal and also walks away from him – after decking him in the jaw. The tension that this failed business venture creates will persist for another five years, when Han and Lando meet again in the clouds.
We’ve been seeing more and more that Han is a good guy, so it is almost disappointing to see so many people turn on him by this point. He has done quite a bit to try and save Bria from the t’landa Til priests, even helping her get back to her family, who believed her lost. He has also helped Lando learn how to pilot the Falcon – of course, before he won the ship for himself. We’re moving more and more toward the Han that we know from A New Hope: ambitious, but jaded and cautious, not letting anybody beneath his tough exterior.
Desperate, Han turns back to the Hutt cartels to try and get work. Jabba the Hutt hires him to run spice, but his job would involve going through the dangerous Kessel Run. Thankfully, Han is a great pilot, making mostly good time with the run. (Or good distance, depending on how you want to use the term parsecs. The book uses it as a measurement of distance, as do the films.) Half-way through though, he is blockaded by Imperials and is forced to dump his cargo. If he thought he was in trouble before, he’s in for it now, as Jabba’s spice drifts lazily through space, away from the Imperials…and Jabba’s intended buyer. Jabba, high as a kite, rejects Han’s pleas for mercy and demands that he pays back everything he owes Jabba.
Time passes, and Bria Tharen is involved in a dangerous mission. On Toprawa, Bria gets her hands on the plans for the dangerous Death Star battle station. This station has been kept absolutely top-secret on every level of Imperial security as it hovers over the surface of Despayre. Unfortunately, Bria and her group of Rebels sacrifice their lives to pass the plans to Leia from the Tantive IV. Thankfully, the resourceful Rebel Alliance is able to deliver the plans to Alderaanian Senator and Princess Leia Organa.
While Bria’s team of Rebels passes the Death Star plans to Leia, Han is being increasingly harassed by bounty hunters. Boba Fett comes to tell him that Bria has been killed and that Greedo is looking for Han, which is an odd show of kindness for the bounty hunter. Han moves to Chalmun’s cantina, hoping to find a job, where he has a fateful encounter with former Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi and young farmer Luke Skywalker…
But we’re not to the Battle of Yavin yet! We still have a few novels to go in the Dark Times, including more stories featuring Han Solo. (And zombies. But, what can you do?)
You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor!
Dark Times Era: Republic Commando – Order 66 | Kenobi | Dark Lord: Rise of Darth Vader | Coruscant Nights I – Jedi Twilight | Coruscant Nights II – Street of Shadows | Coruscant Nights III – Patterns of the Force | The Last Jedi | Han Solo Trilogy #1 – The Paradise Snare | Han Solo Trilogy #2 – The Hutt Gambit | The Force Unleashed | Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu | Lando Calrissian and the Flamewinds of Oseon | Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of ThonBoka | Death Star| Han Solo at Stars’ End | Han Solo’s Revenge | Han Solo and the Lost Legacy