Karen Traviss's second and last novel in the Clone Wars TV series spin-off novels, it holds some of the best work by Karen, if being a bit on the slim side. Published in May 2009, five months before she was fired from writing any more Star Wars novels, it was perhaps one of her best. Synopsis: The Clone Wars rage on. As insurgent Separatists fight furiously to wrest control of the galaxy from the Republic, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine cunningly manipulates both sides for his own sinister purposes. Torrent Company’s Captain Rex agrees to temporarily relieve Anakin Skywalker of Ahsoka, his ubiquitous—and insatiably curious—Padawan, by bringing her along on a routine three-day shakedown cruise aboard Captain Gilad Pellaeon’s
newly refitted assault ship. But the training run becomes an active—and
dangerous—rescue mission when Republic undercover agent Hallena Devis goes missing in the middle of a Separatist invasion. Dispatched to a distant world to aid a local dictator facing a
revolution, Hallena finds herself surrounded by angry freedom fighters
and questioning the Republic’s methods–and motives. Summoned to rescue
the missing operative who is also his secret love, Pellaeon—sworn to
protect the Republic over all—is torn between duty and desire. And
Ahsoka, sent in with Rex and six untested clone troopers to extract Hallena, encounters a new and different Jedi
philosophy, which shakes the foundation of her upbringing to the core.
As danger and intrigue intensify, the loyalties and convictions of all
involved will be tested....
The novel opens with a first person point of view of Captain Gilad Pellaeon as he prepares for Clone Captain Rex of the 501st Legion and Padawan Ahsoka Tano, who is on leave from Anakin Skywalker. On the planet JanFathal, Republic Intelligence agent Hallena Devis is assigned to help the fascist government keep its people from from siding with the Separatists. Pellaeon's taking his ship, the Acclamator-class assault ship Leveler out on a shakedown run in the Fath sector when Rex and Ahsoka arrive. Pelleaon tells Ahsoka to change into proper Republic uniform, since a teenager dressing like a slut is wrong in Pellaeon's eyes. In Athar, the capital of JanFathal, Hallena is given a job of sweeping and meets Merish Hath and Shil Kaval, the leaders of the pro-Separatist group, and is invited to join in their rebellion. On Coruscant, Anakin and Padme enjoy a couple of days with each other. On Leveler, Pelleaon and Rex are alerted to CIS forces jumping into the Fath system. On the planet, Merish and Shil announce that the revolution has arrived. In the cargo vessel Wookiee Gunner, Jedi Master Djinn Altis, Callista Ming, and Geith Eris and a few other members of Altis' Jedi sect, debating Yoda's "old school" philosophy.
The revolution of JanFathal has started and Republic Intelligence wants an update but Hallena's unable to respond and gets knocked unconscious by a passing hovertruck as the Separatists invade. On Coruscant, Anakin gets a call from Rex about the situation and Anakin feels uneasy. He departs Coruscant for the Fath system. Shil and Merish find out about Hallena being an operative and hold her hostage but she transmits an emergency message to any nearby ships, warning of the invasion. Altis, aboard Wookiee Gunner, shows up and docks with Leveler. Altis passes the message along and RepInt says that it's Hallena Devis on JanFathal. Pellaeon believes himself to be too close to this and asks Rex to handle the rescue operation and in the meantime, they're going to wait for Intel to catch up to them. Pellaeon gives Altis a pen he borrowed from Hallena so Altis can get a clear sense of her. Rex, Ahsoka, Callista and the 501st Torrent Company descend to JanFathal, Altis homing in on her life force. Callista and Ahsoka protect Torrent Company's flank while they charge into the regent's palace to rescue Hallena. During a philosophical talk, Ahsoka becomes upset when she learns that Altis' Jedi haven't fallen to the dark side nor have any of the other major Force groups: The Witches of Dathomir (not the Nightsisters and Nightbrothers), the Baran Do, the Jal Shey, the Zeison Sha, and dozens of others. Altis distracts Merish and Shil while Rex rolls in a stun grenade and extract Hallena.
Vere dies and the others try to pack it in to get off and manage to ex-filtrate JanFathal. Anakin arrives and escorts the shuttle to Leveler but a Separatist vessel give Leveler chase. Anakin breaks off and goes to stall the Seps while Leveler tries to get away. Before the shuttle gets close to Leveler, it jumps away. Sergeant Coric powers the shuttle down as it won't do Anakin any good in a fight. Anakin makes the choice to land back on JanFathal. Meanwhile, Pellaeon is swearing up a storm about how the nacomputers just fritzed out. Anakin and the others make a plan to steal a CR-20 troop carrier from the Seps and escape in case Leveler and Pellaeon can't make it back to the Fath system in time. Leveler jumps back in time to get the CR-20 docked before plotting a jump to Kemla but the Separatists are still on their tail. Callista falls deep into the Force and uses her skills with electronics to disable the Separatist ships while the Leveler gets away. Hallena walks away from the Republic and joins Altis while Altis and Anakin talk about hypothetical and philosophical stuff. In the end, Altis and his Jedi are on Yarille, helping out the locals recovering from a battle.
All in all, a decent, fast paced novel from Karen Traviss that adds the necessary depth to the TV show. And it did so in a way that most anti-Traviss Star Wars fans didn't feel preached at. I'd recommend this for any fan of Star Wars.
The novel opens with a first person point of view of Captain Gilad Pellaeon as he prepares for Clone Captain Rex of the 501st Legion and Padawan Ahsoka Tano, who is on leave from Anakin Skywalker. On the planet JanFathal, Republic Intelligence agent Hallena Devis is assigned to help the fascist government keep its people from from siding with the Separatists. Pellaeon's taking his ship, the Acclamator-class assault ship Leveler out on a shakedown run in the Fath sector when Rex and Ahsoka arrive. Pelleaon tells Ahsoka to change into proper Republic uniform, since a teenager dressing like a slut is wrong in Pellaeon's eyes. In Athar, the capital of JanFathal, Hallena is given a job of sweeping and meets Merish Hath and Shil Kaval, the leaders of the pro-Separatist group, and is invited to join in their rebellion. On Coruscant, Anakin and Padme enjoy a couple of days with each other. On Leveler, Pelleaon and Rex are alerted to CIS forces jumping into the Fath system. On the planet, Merish and Shil announce that the revolution has arrived. In the cargo vessel Wookiee Gunner, Jedi Master Djinn Altis, Callista Ming, and Geith Eris and a few other members of Altis' Jedi sect, debating Yoda's "old school" philosophy.
The revolution of JanFathal has started and Republic Intelligence wants an update but Hallena's unable to respond and gets knocked unconscious by a passing hovertruck as the Separatists invade. On Coruscant, Anakin gets a call from Rex about the situation and Anakin feels uneasy. He departs Coruscant for the Fath system. Shil and Merish find out about Hallena being an operative and hold her hostage but she transmits an emergency message to any nearby ships, warning of the invasion. Altis, aboard Wookiee Gunner, shows up and docks with Leveler. Altis passes the message along and RepInt says that it's Hallena Devis on JanFathal. Pellaeon believes himself to be too close to this and asks Rex to handle the rescue operation and in the meantime, they're going to wait for Intel to catch up to them. Pellaeon gives Altis a pen he borrowed from Hallena so Altis can get a clear sense of her. Rex, Ahsoka, Callista and the 501st Torrent Company descend to JanFathal, Altis homing in on her life force. Callista and Ahsoka protect Torrent Company's flank while they charge into the regent's palace to rescue Hallena. During a philosophical talk, Ahsoka becomes upset when she learns that Altis' Jedi haven't fallen to the dark side nor have any of the other major Force groups: The Witches of Dathomir (not the Nightsisters and Nightbrothers), the Baran Do, the Jal Shey, the Zeison Sha, and dozens of others. Altis distracts Merish and Shil while Rex rolls in a stun grenade and extract Hallena.
Vere dies and the others try to pack it in to get off and manage to ex-filtrate JanFathal. Anakin arrives and escorts the shuttle to Leveler but a Separatist vessel give Leveler chase. Anakin breaks off and goes to stall the Seps while Leveler tries to get away. Before the shuttle gets close to Leveler, it jumps away. Sergeant Coric powers the shuttle down as it won't do Anakin any good in a fight. Anakin makes the choice to land back on JanFathal. Meanwhile, Pellaeon is swearing up a storm about how the nacomputers just fritzed out. Anakin and the others make a plan to steal a CR-20 troop carrier from the Seps and escape in case Leveler and Pellaeon can't make it back to the Fath system in time. Leveler jumps back in time to get the CR-20 docked before plotting a jump to Kemla but the Separatists are still on their tail. Callista falls deep into the Force and uses her skills with electronics to disable the Separatist ships while the Leveler gets away. Hallena walks away from the Republic and joins Altis while Altis and Anakin talk about hypothetical and philosophical stuff. In the end, Altis and his Jedi are on Yarille, helping out the locals recovering from a battle.
All in all, a decent, fast paced novel from Karen Traviss that adds the necessary depth to the TV show. And it did so in a way that most anti-Traviss Star Wars fans didn't feel preached at. I'd recommend this for any fan of Star Wars.
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