In October 1996, revered Star Wars veteran author Michael A. Stackpole completed the third installment in the epic X-Wing saga. This time, Tycho Celchu's on trial for the murder of Corran Horn and only the evidence of a dead man can save him. Synopsis: The Rebels have taken Coruscant. But their problems are far from over. A killer virus called Krytos is wiping out the indigenous population, and a counterrevolution is exploding. At the center of the storm is the highly charged treason trial of Rebel hero Tycho Celchu. While agent provocateurs carry out their acts of terrorism, the fledgling state can be defended only by the blood and courage of the Rogue Squadron. As the X-Wing fighters scramble to save the Rebellion, Corran Horn, given up for dead in Ysanne Isard's inescapable prison, discovers he alone holds the key to freeing Coruscant from the Empire!
The novel opens with Wedge holding a funeral for Corran. Kirtan Loor, on orders from Isard, leads the counterrevolution. The Provisional Council remains unconvinced of Tycho's innocence, despite Wedge's claims. Warlord Zsinj is causing problems near Thyferra, raiding the New Republic's bacta supply lines. Meanwhile Corran Horn is being tested for betrayal; he fails because he refuses to betray his friends so Isard has him placed with the other prisoners--the most notable of which is General Jan Dodonna, who was captured just after the Battle for Yavin IV (A New Hope) when Vader invaded. Also there is General Evir Derricote, imprisoned for his failure at Borleias. The trial starts and things don't look good for Tycho; Halla Ettyk treats all of Rogue Squadron like they're threats while Nawara Ven insists on proper protocol for questioning the witnesses. Fliry Vorru corners Kirtan and proposes and alliance which Kirtan agrees to. Despite Wedge's attempt to help, the case for Tycho being innocent goes awry. More doubt is placed on him than before. Admiral Ackbar sends Rogue Squadron on a mission to orbital tide-locked Ryloth, while the trial is put on a temporary hold.
Vorru orders Kirtan to target a school of innocent civilian kids; Kirtan cautiously agrees, but is wary of Vorru. Meanwhile, Wedge and the Rogues arrive on Ryloth and Wedge is greeted by Cazne'olan, someone he met a couple years back (X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Battleground: Tatooine a comic done by Stackpole during the almighty rein of Dark Horse comics in the 1990s). Corran tells Dodonna and Urlor Sette that he plans on escaping Lusankya. Twi'lek warrior Tal'dira challenges Wedge to fight like a warrior--Tal'dira chooses the merchant Koh'shak to fight Wedge--but he refuses and points out the gifts he brought were meant for warriors; Tal'dira applauds Wedge for his honor. Corran, despite Derricote's attempt to kill him, manages to escape Lusankya; Derricote ends up dead thanks to Dodonna whom Corran promises to come back and rescue. Back at the trial, Nawara heavily questions Quarren New Republic Intelligence agent Tsillin Wel about the amount of credits the Empire paid into Tycho; they learn that Tycho is of middling importance to them, as was Crix Madine, both of whom had six accounts by the Empire, though neither were aware of them. Nawara speculates that this draws attention to the point of Tycho being innocent, but neither he nor Tycho fully believe things can be easily won.
The Rogues manage to destroy one of Zsinj's war ships above the graveyard of Alderaan. Wedge suspects foul play and orders Nawara back to Coruscant via a long route to Tatooine. Kirtan Loor overcomes his deeds and turns himself into Nawara Ven, saying he has evidence to clear Tycho. Corran somehow wishes for the stormtroopers searching for Derricote to go away and they do. He learns that Tycho wasn't of use to Isard, and neither was Madine; the true spy for Isard shocks Corran. Iella Wessiri goes to bring Kirtan Loor to the trial. Vorru warns Borsk Fey'lya about an attack on a bacta storage cell in one of his (Vorru's) sectors. The Rogues are sent to deal with it. Corran ends up in a desolate museum where holograms of deceased Jedi are set up. Corran learns that his father, Hal Horn was an apprentice to Neeja Halcyon. Stormtroopers invade and Corran takes Neeja's lightsaber and fights his way out. One their way to the trial, Nawara, Kirtan, and Iella are ambushed by Diric Wessiri--Iella's husband. Diric kills Loor thinking he's Derricote; Iella asks him why and Diric, dying, responds "Lusankya." During the fight above the bacta station, a portion of the mountains break loose and a Super Star Destroyer bursts out, the IFF transponder reading Lusankya. Tycho, distraught, demands to represent himself; Emtry and Whistler point out that there is one witness left--Corran bursts into the courtroom and informs them about Tycho's innocence and that the traitor is none other than Erisi Dlarit. Erisi and Vorru flee with Isard on Lusankya. The Rogues are ordered to pursue Zsinj, even though evidence suggests Isard's going to take over the bacta cartels on Thyferra. The Rogues, except for Pash Cracken, resign and leave; Pash retakes command of Cracken's Flight Group.
I swear, it seems like a lot was given away, but a lot wasn't mentioned either. It's hard to sum down a 355 page novel where things are constantly happening and most of Stackpole's plot points from the series are wrapped up here. Nevertheless, The Krytos Trap is one of the best of the Star Wars Expanded Universe novels that deftly weaves starfighter battles with political intrigue and a dash of what the galaxy far, far away's court system is like. I'll be back soon with the conclusion to Stackpole's four-part X-Wing story soon in Star Wars: X-Wing: The Bacta War.
The novel opens with Wedge holding a funeral for Corran. Kirtan Loor, on orders from Isard, leads the counterrevolution. The Provisional Council remains unconvinced of Tycho's innocence, despite Wedge's claims. Warlord Zsinj is causing problems near Thyferra, raiding the New Republic's bacta supply lines. Meanwhile Corran Horn is being tested for betrayal; he fails because he refuses to betray his friends so Isard has him placed with the other prisoners--the most notable of which is General Jan Dodonna, who was captured just after the Battle for Yavin IV (A New Hope) when Vader invaded. Also there is General Evir Derricote, imprisoned for his failure at Borleias. The trial starts and things don't look good for Tycho; Halla Ettyk treats all of Rogue Squadron like they're threats while Nawara Ven insists on proper protocol for questioning the witnesses. Fliry Vorru corners Kirtan and proposes and alliance which Kirtan agrees to. Despite Wedge's attempt to help, the case for Tycho being innocent goes awry. More doubt is placed on him than before. Admiral Ackbar sends Rogue Squadron on a mission to orbital tide-locked Ryloth, while the trial is put on a temporary hold.
Vorru orders Kirtan to target a school of innocent civilian kids; Kirtan cautiously agrees, but is wary of Vorru. Meanwhile, Wedge and the Rogues arrive on Ryloth and Wedge is greeted by Cazne'olan, someone he met a couple years back (X-Wing Rogue Squadron: Battleground: Tatooine a comic done by Stackpole during the almighty rein of Dark Horse comics in the 1990s). Corran tells Dodonna and Urlor Sette that he plans on escaping Lusankya. Twi'lek warrior Tal'dira challenges Wedge to fight like a warrior--Tal'dira chooses the merchant Koh'shak to fight Wedge--but he refuses and points out the gifts he brought were meant for warriors; Tal'dira applauds Wedge for his honor. Corran, despite Derricote's attempt to kill him, manages to escape Lusankya; Derricote ends up dead thanks to Dodonna whom Corran promises to come back and rescue. Back at the trial, Nawara heavily questions Quarren New Republic Intelligence agent Tsillin Wel about the amount of credits the Empire paid into Tycho; they learn that Tycho is of middling importance to them, as was Crix Madine, both of whom had six accounts by the Empire, though neither were aware of them. Nawara speculates that this draws attention to the point of Tycho being innocent, but neither he nor Tycho fully believe things can be easily won.
The Rogues manage to destroy one of Zsinj's war ships above the graveyard of Alderaan. Wedge suspects foul play and orders Nawara back to Coruscant via a long route to Tatooine. Kirtan Loor overcomes his deeds and turns himself into Nawara Ven, saying he has evidence to clear Tycho. Corran somehow wishes for the stormtroopers searching for Derricote to go away and they do. He learns that Tycho wasn't of use to Isard, and neither was Madine; the true spy for Isard shocks Corran. Iella Wessiri goes to bring Kirtan Loor to the trial. Vorru warns Borsk Fey'lya about an attack on a bacta storage cell in one of his (Vorru's) sectors. The Rogues are sent to deal with it. Corran ends up in a desolate museum where holograms of deceased Jedi are set up. Corran learns that his father, Hal Horn was an apprentice to Neeja Halcyon. Stormtroopers invade and Corran takes Neeja's lightsaber and fights his way out. One their way to the trial, Nawara, Kirtan, and Iella are ambushed by Diric Wessiri--Iella's husband. Diric kills Loor thinking he's Derricote; Iella asks him why and Diric, dying, responds "Lusankya." During the fight above the bacta station, a portion of the mountains break loose and a Super Star Destroyer bursts out, the IFF transponder reading Lusankya. Tycho, distraught, demands to represent himself; Emtry and Whistler point out that there is one witness left--Corran bursts into the courtroom and informs them about Tycho's innocence and that the traitor is none other than Erisi Dlarit. Erisi and Vorru flee with Isard on Lusankya. The Rogues are ordered to pursue Zsinj, even though evidence suggests Isard's going to take over the bacta cartels on Thyferra. The Rogues, except for Pash Cracken, resign and leave; Pash retakes command of Cracken's Flight Group.
I swear, it seems like a lot was given away, but a lot wasn't mentioned either. It's hard to sum down a 355 page novel where things are constantly happening and most of Stackpole's plot points from the series are wrapped up here. Nevertheless, The Krytos Trap is one of the best of the Star Wars Expanded Universe novels that deftly weaves starfighter battles with political intrigue and a dash of what the galaxy far, far away's court system is like. I'll be back soon with the conclusion to Stackpole's four-part X-Wing story soon in Star Wars: X-Wing: The Bacta War.
