As the war against the Yuuzhan Vong rages across the galaxy, the Jedi get a small edge that may turn the tide of the war in favor of the New Republic. All across the board, in fact, it seems like good news for the Jedi Order – but can it last? Join us as we read New Jedi Order – Edge of Victory II: Rebirth!
Across the galaxy, the effects of the Yuuzhan Vong’s war against the New Republic is having massive ramifications. Some are personal: families are torn, like Jacen Solo and his father, Han; the New Republic and Imperial Remnant stand at a truce of sorts; and the Jedi are feeling more and more emboldened in their war against the Vong. Some contention even exists in the Vong themselves, as some outcasts wage a small war against the culture at large.
For the Jedi, a massive loss is somewhat offset by a curious miracle. The Yuuzhan Vong captured Yavin IV, displacing the Jedi who remained after Anakin Solo’s maligned rescue attempts. Despite being unable to save the planet, Anakin is able to secure a crystal that responds to the Vong in a way that the Force does not. Using the crystal, Anakin is able to get a fuzzy sense of where the Vong are in comparison to him. Tahiri Veila, after being Shaped by the Vong, is also given a deep insight into their culture and their values. But they make enemies of the Peace Brigade, and are forced to travel with Corran Horn across the galaxy. They land on Eriadu, where a dying Jedi gives them the name of a planet, Yag’Dhul. Home to the Givin, it seems as if Yag’Dhul is the next target of the Vong. Hoping to have a chance to spare the planet the heartbreak of a secret invasion, the Jedi travel there only to be imprisoned by the Givin. When the Vong forces arrive, Anakin challenges them to an honor duel, which Tsavong Lah refuses, leaving another Vong, Shok Choka, to accept. Anakin wins, keeping the Givin safe, but Tsavong Lah kills all of the Vong who knew about the duel. The deep animosity between the Solo family and Tsavong Lah continues.
During the mission, Anakin Solo and Tahiri Veila’s feelings for one another come to the forefront, and they share multiple kisses. They do so believing that they are near death, but somewhat shelve their feelings when they are spared from death on Yag’Dhul.
But the fallout between the Vong continues. Nen Yim, a Shamed One, an outcast from Vong society, fights to reveal the truth of their culture to the rest of their people, and show how some Vong are committing “heresy”. As Yim would prove, the Vong’s goals in the known galaxy may be fruitless, as they were operating based on some bad theological information. Yim stands against Shapers, or Vongs who make Shamed Ones out of regular Vong, and ousts the heretics from their governing militaries. Unfortunately, this only serves to broaden the Vong’s goals, rather than weaken their effort.
The division within the Vong is not the only rift that’s rising. Kyp Durron leads a secret mission with New Republic forces, including Jaina Solo, to attack a shipyard at Sernpidal, a planet the Vong won early in the war. Unknown to Jaina, the shipyard was actually filled with Vong citizens, and the New Republic forces are attacking non-combatants. Jaina turns on Kyp, decrying his deceit and his trickery. Jacen Solo, on the other hand, is re-training to be a Jedi, opening himself up to the Force more fully than before. Whereas Jaina did not want to practice aggression against the Vong, Jacen is more than happy to, which causes disputes with his father, Han, as well. The New Republic also seeks to detain Luke Skywalker and his wife, Mara Jade, for the loss on Yavin IV and the attack on the Peace Brigade, but a tip from Borsk Fey’lya allows them to escape. After the loss of Yavin, the New Republic is no longer interested in supporting the Jedi Order.
But there’s a bright spot in all of this. As Luke and Mara escape Coruscant, they finally expel the virus that has beset Mara for a while. When the virus is completely cleared from her system, Mara is able to give birth to a son, Ben Skywalker. This new son may be the hope that the galaxy needs…but the Vong also have a newborn of sorts, one that can track Jedi and kill them…and they’ll move from Star by Star to find them.
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Legendary Adventures
The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime | Dark Tide Duology | Agents of Chaos: 1 – Hero’s Trial / 2 – Jedi Eclipse | Balance Point | Edge of Victory: 1 – Conquest
Essential Legends Collection: Darth Bane: Path of Destruction | Darth Bane: Rule of Tw0 | Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil | Darth Plagueis | Shatterpoint | Kenobi | Rogue Squadron | Rogue Squadron: Wedge’s Gamble | Heir to the Empire | Dark Force Rising | The Last Command