The New Republic ascendant! More and more systems flock to the New Republic as it gains victory after victory over the Imperial Remnant. One important ally comes with promises of fleets, worlds, and….marriage?? Join us for the first Legendary Adventure of 2021 with The Courtship of Princess Leia!
The New Republic is enjoying quite a bit of success and growth in the first few years after the Battle of Endor. Recently, the New Republic has re-captured Imperial Center, Coruscant, and has reformed it as the capital of the government. Imperial warlords across the galaxy are starting to fall as newly formed squadrons take down stranded and hampered Imperial moffs and governors. In light of these victories, the New Republic can finally stop looking at itself as a clean-up operation, and start gaining new allies and expanding again.
One such important ally comes in the form of the Hapes Cluster. Sixty-three worlds comprised an extremely isolated and secluded sector of the galaxy, where their own governments and civilizations thrived, even when the Empire reigned across the galaxy. Now, these worlds are reaching out to the New Republic to show their solidarity and join with them. Not only do they come with new ships, they also come with a fleet, and something even better: worlds that the New Republic citizens can live on. One concern for the New Republic is how many Alderaanians are still trying to find homes, even almost a decade after the destruction of the planet. If the Hapes Cluster were to join the Republic, these refugees would be certain to have a home. This all comes with one major catch, though: the Prince of the cluster, Isolder, offers his hand in marriage to Princess Leia Organa. Under advisement from Mon Mothma and Threkin Horm, the Senator from Alderaan, Leia seriously puts thought into this effort.
This does not sit well with General Han Solo at all. The former smuggler is enjoying a field day in the New Republic military: he has recently been appointed as head of a task force designed to take down Warlord Zsinj, a task that is proving to be harder and harder each passing day. With the news of Leia’s impeding marriage, Han, of course, does something stupid. In a high stakes game of sabacc, he wins the planet Dathomir. It is unclear how the world’s possession was able to be passed through a simple game of sabacc, but it’s probably related to the Separatist attack during the Clone Wars. In retaliation for Asajj Ventress’ assassination attempt on Dooku’s life, and planting Savage Oppress as a mole within the Sith Lord’s lair, Darth Sidious ordered an attack on Dathomir that wiped out almost all of the Witches. It seemed as if only Ventress and a handful of others survived the attack on their villages. Apparently, this attack left Dathomir open to being controlled by non-Witch forces, letting Han Solo become the owner of the planet.
He, Leia, Isolder, and Luke Skywalker all make their way to Dathomir for separate reasons. Han takes Leia to Dathomir in a grand gesture to show her how much she really means to him. Most guys would choose a ring, or use kind words, but Han Solo, seeing how much the Hapan fleet can offer her, offers her a planet of his own. He does, however, have to run a blockade spearheaded by Warlord Zsinj, which he does, effectively stranding him and Leia on the planet. Luke, finding a centuries old hologram from Yoda, heads to Dathomir with Isolder to recover a Jedi training vessel, the Chu’unthor. Luke hopes that enough of the vessel has survived to give him enough material to restart the Jedi Order under his leadership. Isolder hopes to stop Han’s attempt at marrying Leia.
Unfortunately, there are more parties at play than just these four. Despite the massive Separatist attack on Dathomir years ago, some covens of Dathomiri Witches have survived, and are now at odds with one another. Luke and Isolder are captured by the Singing Mountain Clan, who are known for their ability to tame Rancors and take men as breeding stock. (It might be that they were some of the first to keep Nightbrothers, of which Savage and his brother, Feral, were.) Despite their plans to breed with Luke and Isolder, they come to a mutual agreement as Luke connects with the Witch named Teneniel Djo. Another tribe of Nightsisters is led by Gethzerion, a powerful Witch who wants nothing more than to leave Dathomir, even teaming with Zsinj to have a chance at leaving.
Gethzerion almost gets her wish: Zsinj offers her a chance to leave if she can supply Han Solo to him. Han actually even lets himself be captured, as letting himself become a prisoner of Zsinj would stop him from destroying the planet, and the Witches that still live there. This act of mercy and self-sacrifice impresses Leia, and she is able to finally admit to herself what she’s known for a while: she is in love with Han Solo. Luke thankfully rescues Han from Zsinj, and they all attack Zsinj’s Star Destroyer, the Iron Fist, and kill Zsinj.
The story ends on a particularly strange note of finality for some characters, and some new beginnings for others. Zsinj’s wing of the Imperial Remnant is supposedly destroyed along with him, but not until after he destroys a shuttle carrying Gethzerion’s fleet. Han Solo and Leia Organa are wed, and, we’ll soon find out, become pregnant extremely quickly. Luke recovers the Jedi training shuttle from Dathomir, allowing him the ability to restart a new Jedi Order under his wing.
But before the Jedi can be reborn, Leia must contend with the Order’s biggest failure, and her darkest fear: the legacy of fallen and restored Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker.
Legendary Travel Tips:
-This book is preceded by a mess of short stories I can’t find online any more, but by at least X-Wing: Solo Command. The story is followed by Tatooine Ghost, and a short story included in the paperback printing of the novel.
-There are two covers for this novel, the one featured above and another with the trio in their Endor gear with a rancor behind them.
-This novel was written long before The Clone Wars, so parts of the story don’t quite line up with the show. One such detail is that Gethzerion was part of yet another tribe of Nightsisters that irritated Palpatine, but not enough that he would destroy them, just strand them on Dathomir. Clearly, the Dathomiri of TCW can travel off planet, and enjoy a good relationship with Sidious until Savage’s failed attempt on Dooku’s life. Taking them together, though, we get the idea that Grievous’s attack on Dathomir was less about wiping out the entire population of the planet, and was more a single, focused attack on Talzin’s tribe.
You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor!
Essential Legends Collection: Revan | The Old Republic: Deceived | The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance | The Old Republic: Annihilation | Darth Bane: Path of Destruction | | Darth Bane: Rule of Two | Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil | Darth Plagueis | Shatterpoint | Kenobi | Rogue Squadron | Rogue Squadron: Wedge’s Gamble | Rogue Squadron: The Bacta War | Rogue Squadron: The Krytos Trap | Heir to the Empire | Dark Force Rising | The Last Command | Yoda: Dark Rendezvous | Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void | Republic Commando: Hard Contact | Republic Commando: Triple Zero | Republic Commando: True Colors | Outbound Flight | | Survivor’s Quest | Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter | The Courtship of Princess Leia | I, Jedi
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