Star Wars: Republic Commando: Hard Contact was the first Star Wars novel by Karen Traviss. It's about a recently formed squad called Omega and all about the beginnings of the war, especially a Jedi dealing with the Republic having its own army of clones and how she deals with that. Synopsis: As the Clone Wars rage, victory or defeat lies in the hands of elite squads that take on the toughest assignments in the galaxy--stone-cold soldiers who go where no one else would, do what no one else could... On a mission to sabotage a nanovirus research facility on a Separatist-held planet, four clone troopers operate under the very noses of their enemies. The commandos are outnumbered and outgunned, deep behind enemy lines with no backup--and working with strangers instead of trusted teammates. Matters don't improve when Darman, the squad's demolitions expert, gets cut off from the others during planetfall. Even Darman's apparent good luck in meeting a Jedi Padawan vanishes once she admits to her woeful inexperience. For the isolated clone commandos and stranded Jedi, a long, dangerous journey lies ahead, through hostile territory brimming with Trandoshan slavers, Separatists, and suspicious natives. A single misstep could mean discovery...and death. It's a virtual suicide mission for anyone--anyone except Republic Commandos.
The novel opens with a first-person account of the last time Darman hears from his squad in the Battle of Geonosis. After evacuation from the planet, Darman is assigned to a new squad called Omega. He's not the only one: there's Atin from Prudii Squad, Niner from an unknown squad, and Fi from another dead squad. Jedi Master and General Arligan Zey assigns them to the planet Qiilura, where the nanovirus research facility is. Apparently, a Separatist scientist named Ovolot Qail Uthan, is developing a nanovirus that is aimed at clone troopers. She's guarded by a True Mandalorian mercenary. Zey tells Omega that there's a Jedi Master and his Padawan, Etain, are on the planet and haven't reported in since before the Clone Wars kicked off. Etain, meanwhile, is on the run from a Weequay mercenary working for the True Mandalorian, who's name is Ghez Hokan. The local human farmers take Etain in and hide her from Hokan, despite the fact that she's a Jedi and beings on the Outer Rim heavily mistrust Jedi.
Omega heads for Qillura and when they get there, they paratroop down when their transport is blasted out of the sky. Niner, Fi, and Atin land near each other but Darman gets separated and tries to find his squad. Instead, he meets a local shape-shifter called Jinart, who lures him to Etain. It's there, during their initial meeting, that she shows she doesn't have knowledge that the galaxy is in a war and that she was unaware that the Republic had an army of clones. After days of travel, Etain becomes more and more confident in becoming a commander while learning tactics and military strategy from Darman. Ghez Hokan has not only killed Etain's Master but has also removed a Neimoidian for incompetence and gets an army of Battle Droids to help him secure the base. The Weequay gets captured by Niner and the others and within days, the meet up with Etain and Darman.
Using the Force, Etain learns that Hokan has hidden Dr. Uthan in one of two buildings. They devise a strategy to infiltrate both places at once and locate the doctor. Things don't go as planned. Hokan, though expecting an army of clone troopers, beings to sabotage the base except for the research lab. The virus is their last defense against the clones but circumstances force them to flee the base. Hokan is killed by Fi while Darman brings Uthan down. They rendezvous in a field where Master Zey shows up and stays on Qiilura with Etain to train the locals in self-defense. Darman and the rest of Omega leave Qiilura as hey head back into the war.
All in all, a very good first novel for Karen Traviss to explore the Star Wars galaxy. Well crafted, great character arcs, and a strong, believable cast kept my interest. It lagged a bit in the middle where the only action is both groups planning to take each other down and with the members of Omega Squad searching for one another.
The novel opens with a first-person account of the last time Darman hears from his squad in the Battle of Geonosis. After evacuation from the planet, Darman is assigned to a new squad called Omega. He's not the only one: there's Atin from Prudii Squad, Niner from an unknown squad, and Fi from another dead squad. Jedi Master and General Arligan Zey assigns them to the planet Qiilura, where the nanovirus research facility is. Apparently, a Separatist scientist named Ovolot Qail Uthan, is developing a nanovirus that is aimed at clone troopers. She's guarded by a True Mandalorian mercenary. Zey tells Omega that there's a Jedi Master and his Padawan, Etain, are on the planet and haven't reported in since before the Clone Wars kicked off. Etain, meanwhile, is on the run from a Weequay mercenary working for the True Mandalorian, who's name is Ghez Hokan. The local human farmers take Etain in and hide her from Hokan, despite the fact that she's a Jedi and beings on the Outer Rim heavily mistrust Jedi.
Omega heads for Qillura and when they get there, they paratroop down when their transport is blasted out of the sky. Niner, Fi, and Atin land near each other but Darman gets separated and tries to find his squad. Instead, he meets a local shape-shifter called Jinart, who lures him to Etain. It's there, during their initial meeting, that she shows she doesn't have knowledge that the galaxy is in a war and that she was unaware that the Republic had an army of clones. After days of travel, Etain becomes more and more confident in becoming a commander while learning tactics and military strategy from Darman. Ghez Hokan has not only killed Etain's Master but has also removed a Neimoidian for incompetence and gets an army of Battle Droids to help him secure the base. The Weequay gets captured by Niner and the others and within days, the meet up with Etain and Darman.
Using the Force, Etain learns that Hokan has hidden Dr. Uthan in one of two buildings. They devise a strategy to infiltrate both places at once and locate the doctor. Things don't go as planned. Hokan, though expecting an army of clone troopers, beings to sabotage the base except for the research lab. The virus is their last defense against the clones but circumstances force them to flee the base. Hokan is killed by Fi while Darman brings Uthan down. They rendezvous in a field where Master Zey shows up and stays on Qiilura with Etain to train the locals in self-defense. Darman and the rest of Omega leave Qiilura as hey head back into the war.
All in all, a very good first novel for Karen Traviss to explore the Star Wars galaxy. Well crafted, great character arcs, and a strong, believable cast kept my interest. It lagged a bit in the middle where the only action is both groups planning to take each other down and with the members of Omega Squad searching for one another.
No comments:
Post a Comment