“I’m with Rogue Squadron. Impossible is our stock in trade, and success is what we deliver” (154).
The third book in Michael Stackpole’s Star Wars X-Wing series (and the third X-Wing novel to be published in 1996), The Krytos Trap offers another wild ride in this series complete with a courtroom drama and a prison escape sequence. After the New Republic captured “Imperial Center” (or the planet Coruscant) as detailed at the end of the previous book Wedge’s Gamble, maintaining control of the planet has proven difficult for the Provisional Council. For starters, Ysanne Isard (“Iceheart”) has left behind a horrid disease known as the Krytos virus which has ravaged the non-human species living on the planet and has bred distrust in the new government (for example, we are given a brutal depiction of a Gamorrean who has been infected with the disease and subsequently turned into jelly while he struggles to breathe). Tragically, there is not enough Bacta to cure everyone infected with the disease, so difficult decisions need to be made, leading to panic and resentment toward humans, and on the planet Thyferra (where bacta is manufactured) rival factions Zaltin and Xucphra have been jockeying for monopolistic control over the bacta production while an independence movement led by Ashern rebels have damaged production (as previously mentioned in Rogue Squadron). As such, the cost of bacta is high and it is bankrupting the New Republic. If Isard or Warlord Zsinj decided to strike at Coruscant it could cripple the fragile New Republic. Isard has also tasked her associate Kirtan Loor with leading a conflagration of terrorist groups on Coruscant known as the Palpatine Counter-insurgency Front to disrupt New Republic activities (detonating blasts around Corran Horn’s memorial, bombing schools, and attacking bacta containment facilities). Kirtan Loor builds up a network of surrogates like Nartlo and Fliry Vorru (a former Imperial Moff who fought with Tarkin and one of the criminals on Kessel who was released by the New Republic onto Coruscant where he was intended to help lead the New Republic Security Force [NRSF]).
Meanwhile, the cohesion of Rogue Squadron has been significantly hampered by the apparent death of Corran Horn at the conclusion of the previous book. Suspicion has once again turned inward as the Rogues turn their ire toward on Tycho Celchu (I believe his name is pronounced “Sel-Chew”), who is suspected of being an Imperial spy and possibly a sleeper agent for Isard following his time at the Lusankya prison. He is blamed for the death of Corran Horn as well as the death of Bror Jace, and a significant portion of this book concerns his trial, which is presided over by Admiral Ackbar from a high bench in the courtroom with generals Madine and Salm seated below him to the left and rich respectively. If he is found guilty, Tycho faces the penalty of death. And his public trial comes at a precarious time for the New Republic which is is eager to demonstrate its superior open judicial system which is contrary to the secretive Imperial way of doing things. And the New Republic is eager to prevent any hint of a pro-human bias while the Krytos virus rages on. Tycho’s alibi in his trial is that he was negotiating with a Duros Captain named Lai Nootka in a freighter called the Star’s Delight regarding spare parts for a Z-95 Headhunter, which would make it impossible for him to be a traitor during that time period, but no one can seem to find a record of the ship. Tycho’s trial seems to be falling apart even though most of the evidence against him is merely circumstantial. A Twi’lek and fellow X-Wing pilot named Nawara Ven serves as Tycho’s counsel, while the prosecutor is Commander Halla Ettyk, a 34-year-old female Alderaanian with black hair who served in General Airen Cracken’s intelligence organization.
The newer members of Rogue Squadron include: Asyr Sei’lar, a Bothan pilot; Inyri Forge, who is from Kessel and whose sister Lujayne Forge was a Rogue pilot before she was killed in her sleep in an Imperial stormtrooper raid on Talasea (as detailed in Book I Rogue Squadron); along with Portha, a Trandoshan who was made an unofficial member despite his inability to fly. Each pilot was appointed by bureaucrats in order to appeal to various constituencies within the New Republic. In this novel, it was once again difficult for me to keep all the different characters straight; but Asyr Sei’lar (a Bothan female) and Gavin Darklighter (a human male from Tatooine) continue their budding romance, in what is perhaps one of the first instances of an inter-species relationship in Star Wars (Asyr is forced to choose whether she will be loyal to the Bothans or to Rogue Squadron). There is also an unspoken attraction between Wedge Antilles and Iella Wessiri, even though Iella is married to Diric Wessiri, a former Imperial prisoner; and also an unspoken romantic attraction between Corran Horn and Mirax Terrik (the Corellian female smuggler, daughter of Booster Terrik and captain of the Pulsar Skate). And lastly, some Rogue Squadron members have come from the two prominent families on Thyferra, the bacta-producing planet: one is the presumed dead Bror Jace represented the Zaltin Corporation, and Erisi Dlarit who still flies with Rogue Squadron.
And in yet another simultaneous plot-thread in The Krytos Trap, we follow Corran Horn who has actually been captured by Isard and imprisoned in her fearsome Lusankya prison where he is tortured and forced to undergo a brainwashing ritual (beginning with a “level four narco-interrogation”) intended to train him to kill his fellow Rogue Squadron members. Isard muses about making Corran Horn leader of her own “Avenger Squadron” while she tortures him. However, Corran Horn proves to be surprisingly unresponsive to the tests so he is released into the general prison population where he meets a cohort of soldiers, one of whom is an old man named “Jan” who serves as the de facto leader of the prisoners (this character is likely meant to be Jan Dodonna, a Commenor-born veteran of the Clone Wars and leader of the Rebel Alliance who has appeared in a wide variety of Star Wars movies, books, and comics including Episode IV: A New Hope along with many of the X-Wing novels).
“…here at Lusankya, time is abundant.” -Ysanne “Iceheart” Isard
Rogue Squadron is dispatched on various minor missions in this novel, such as to a remote space station in the Yag’Dhul system where they confiscate a vital batch of bacta from Warlord Zsinj’s forces (the troops defect in the hopes that Zsinj’s fearsome ship The Iron Fist does not arrive in time). While Warlord Zsinj’s forces make several appearances, Zsinj himself remains an elusive, shadowy villain we will no doubt encounter in a future novel. The Rogues are also dispatched to Ryloth in order to procure a substance known as “ryll” (specifically the rarest grade called “kor” which makes up about 3% of all ryll, and which is colored charcoal black because it absorbs light except in the ultraviolet range which Ooryl the Gand can see). The ryll will be used by Qlaern Hirf, a Vratix native of Thyferra and proud member of the Ashern Circle, in order to synthesize a new bacta vaccine called “rylcta” at a hidden New Republic location (and thereby bypass the need for more bacta). But Rogue Squadron also a faces a conflict with Warlord Zsinj’s forces near the asteroid belt remains of Alderaan in which their haul of ryll is obstructed –and Mirax Terrik aboard the Pulsar Skate is feared dead (though she later resurfaces just fine).
As The Krytos Trap approaches its climax, Kirtan Loor considers a plan to hijack bacta and enrich himself but this makes him fearful that Ysanne Isard will retaliate against him –“he realized once again that only by escaping her could he possibly survive” (239). He comes to the dark realization that the power he has accumulated is a threat to Iceheart, so he defects to the New Republic and promises to deliver exonerating testimony in Tycho Celchu’s trial. But en route to the trial, he is shot and killed by a hooded assassin, one of Iceheart’s sleeper agents –it turns out to be none other than Diric Wessiri, husband of Iella Wessiri (a Rogue Squadron pilot and member of Tycho Celchu’s counsel team). Iella unknowingly kills her own husband. As she cradles him in her arms, he utters: “Thank you for freeing me” (310). I was a little unclear about this scene –if Ysanne Isard had a sleeper agent this close to Rogue Squadron the whole time, why not simply activate Diric Wessiri much earlier, and have him assassinate all of Rogue Squadron while they are sleeping or something along those lines? Wouldn’t he be more valuable if operated quietly in the shadows while slowly eliminating key members of the New Republic? This all struck me as a bit far-fetched, almost as if Isard is not particularly serious about destroying Rogue Squadron.
Meanwhile, deep within in the bowels of the Lusankya prison, Corran Horn hatches a plan for escape after he hears footsteps emanating from beneath the ground. He soon discovers that Ysanne Isard has actually reversed the artificial gravity at Lusankya, meaning that prisoners are actually kept unknowingly upside down, thus making it impossibly difficult for them to escape. Corran tests this theory by tossing a stone upward until it passes the point of natural gravitational pull and it falls “downward” onto the ceiling. This was quite the surprise! Corran Horn manages to make his way through security and deeper into Lusankya (he is briefly followed by Evir Derricote, the man behind the Krytos virus, until Jan follows and kills him, but Corran must carry on alone since the Imperials would suspect something is afoot if Jan disappeared but Corran can sneak out if the Imperials are distracted searching for Derricote). On his way through the Lusankya prison, Corran hides in various highly secured chambers, including one with a datapad that allows Corran to access his own Lusankya record, wherein he learns that he has been rendered “unsuitable for conversion.” Relieved that he is not a sleeper agent, Corran quickly searches for Tycho’s record, as well, and much to his shock, Tycho’s record reads the same phrase –“unsuitable for conversion.”
“But that’s not possible. Tycho’s a spy. I know it! Anger tore though Corran and immolated his brain. He wanted to believe that Ysanne Isard had planted this information so he’s not believe Tycho was a spy, but she had no way of knowing he’s get where he was to see it” (280-281).
Armed with this new knowledge of his fellow Rogue’s innocence, Corran then passes through another fascinating corridor that turns out to be a museum dedicated to the history of the Jedi, with numerous holos and statues of fallen Jedi (though they have been defaced by the Empire). Indeed, the Empire had sealed up this whole room. Inside the Jedi Museum, Corran finds one particular Jedi named Nejaa Halcyon, a Jedi Master during the Clone Wars and his apprentice that Corran realizes is in fact his own father, Hal Horn! Corran learns that he is a descendant of the Jedi. He picks up a lightsaber and fights his way out of the Lusankya –and in yet another twist, the Lusankya prison is actually a super star destroyer (eight kilometers in length) buried beneath the Manarai Mountains on Coruscant. Shortly after he flees onto the surface of Coruscant, the Lusankya super star destroyer emerges from its underground location, causing massive earthquakes and killing millions. Rogue Squadron is sent out to fight the Lusankya as it leaves Coruscant in a hail of cannonfire, attacking the Golan Space Defense Station. But just before the Lusankya makes the jump to hyperspace, Erisi Dlarit claims she is caught in the ship’s tractor beam and she departs with the Lusankya. It is only after this conflict, that both Corran Horn and Wedge Antilles put the pieces together –it was actually Erisi Dlarit, not Tycho Celchu, who was the traitor all along! She had been feeding secret information about Rogue Squadron to Iceheart.
Inside Tycho Celchu’s courtroom, Corran Horn’s droid Whistler begins squealing and suddenly Corran Horn himself arrives: “Begging your pardon, Admiral, I think Whistler intends for me to be called as a witness… It wasn’t easy… but as for impossible, Admiral, you know impossible is what Rogue Squadron does best of all” (328). Corran provides exonerating evidence to the court, proving Tycho Celchu is innocent. And, in a somewhat bizarre twist, Pash Cracken apparently also knew the truth that Tycho was not the spy but he kept this information a secret (which he obtained through the droid Emtrey) in order to flush out the real spy –why would Cracken not simply secretly share this knowledge with Wedge Antilles or even Admiral Ackbar? This was an eyebrow raising twist.
At any rate, in the end Isard flees Coruscant aboard the Lusankya and heads for Thyferra where she plans to control the bacta supply through the dominance of the Xucphera faction (by placing Fliry Vorru as Minister of Trade) –but why wouldn’t Isard simply remain on Coruscant? If the Lusankya can successfully wipe out millions, why wouldn’t she simply attempt to utterly decimate the New Republic stronghold? Couldn’t she essentially annihilate the entire population of Coruscant? And also, how did the Lusankya manage to escape detection for so long underground on Coruscant? Were there truly no scanners showing an enormous super star destroyer buried beneath the city?
Anyway, all the members of Rogue Squadron decide to resign their posts in order to truly go “rogue” and follow Iceheart to Thyferra and finally put an end to her (much to Borsk Fey’lya chagrin, because he intended for the Rogues to join the Mon Calamari vessel Mon Remonda in pursuit of Warlord Zsinj). This happy little twist sets up a nice hook for the fourth book. And the closing celebration of the novel (in which members of Rogue Squadron are awarded the Coruscant Star of Valor, the highest award the New Republic can bestow upon military personnel) features a rare appearance by Luke Skywalker as he embraces his old friend Wedge and shares that he has been researching the Jedi history uncovered by Corran Horn in the Jedi Museum. Luke informs Corran that Corran is actually the grandson of the Jedi Nejaa Halcyon. He offers Corran the chance to embrace his heritage and train to be a Jedi, but Corran rejects this opportunity in favor of joining the Rogues as they plan to go after Iceheart on Thyferra. At this point, Corran Horn starts to seem like the most ludicrously flawless character in the whole Star Wars universe -a fighting ace X-Wing pilot, dashingly handsome, incredibly intelligent, and now also a Jedi? This is all a bit ludicrous in my view. But Corran’s prison escape arc from the Lusankya prison is my favorite part of the novel. Corran’s future remains to be seen in the next X-Wing novels, as well as in Michael Stackpole’s I, Jedi. Thus concludes another rollicking X-Wing adventure, albeit one with numerous confounding plotholes and a bewildering number of characters. I look forward to continuing the journey as Rogue Squadron inevitably confronts the fearsome Ysanne Isard and the elusive Warlord Zsinj in future books in the series.
“Citizens of the New Republic, the last vestige of the Empire’s evil has been rooted out of Coruscant. What was once an Empire is now just a collection of bitter people clutching at whatever power they can find to keep themselves apart from those they have hurt. What they do not realize, and the reason they are doomed to failure, is that all the power in the galaxy comes from the free and willful investing of power by one person in another. Human and non-human, gendered or not, young, old, hale or infirm, we can only give power, we cannot take it. Stolen power evaporates and when it does, the empires that were built on it and of it collapse, never to rise again” -Mon Mothma (353).
Other Notes
- Bacta is an organic product from the planet Thyferra (I believe this is pronounced “Tie-Fair-Uh”) made through blending of alazhi (which comes in different potencies depending upon location, soil content, rainfall and even spontaneous mutation) and kavam (a compound of other ingredients).
- The Vratix are an insectoid spider-like species from Thyferra who harvest bacta. They communicate somewhat similar to a hive mind, and they are genderless in that they can be both the mother and father of their offspring. They pronounce the “C” sound with “T.” One character example in the book is Qlaern Hirf. The Verachem are members of the Vratix race who conduct the mixing of the alazhi and kavam for bacta (see above bullet point).
- Thyferra is a world in the Polith system, where Bacta is produced and distributed by the Zaltin and Xucphra factions.
- When Rogue Squadron transports its X-Wings across a far distance in the novel, they use a large modified rebel transport ship called the Courage of Sullust.
- Notably, Corran Horn’s flight suit is described as green, black, and grey since he brought it from the Corellian Security Force, unlike the other jumpsuits in Rogue Squadron which are orange. But in this novel, the Rogues are given new jumpsuits with evergreen overalls, dark grey flank panels, black sleeves, leg stripes, and trim. On the left sleeve is the Rogue Squadron crest. The crest also appears on the evergreen hawkbilled caps designed by a Kuati but Wedge had decided to veto it.
- Corran’s father was Valin “Hal” Horn and he initially thought his grandfather was Rostek Horn (who also worked for CorSec) but he learns in this book that his biological grandfather was Nejaa Halcyon. Rostek Horn married Nejaa Halcyon’s widow after he died in the Clone Wars and he pledged to care for her and Corran, protecting them from the Jedi Hunters. Corran’s own prized medallion from his father has secretly born the image of his grandfather all along.
- Corran Horn’s R2 droid is Whistler.
- Wedge’s R5 droid is Mynock.
- Gavin Darklighter is mentioned as the youngest member of Rogue Squadron.
- A “DIE-fighter” is mentioned in this novel. I believe this ship is a certain type of TIE-fighter also colloquially called an “ugly” by the Rogues.
- One interesting world that is mentioned is an Empress-class space station located in the Yag’Dhul system, a colorful planet at the center of a solar system which the Givin call home. The Givin apparently first appeared in Episode IV: A New Hope and they have been variously referenced in both the Legends as well as new Canon timelines.
- Warlord Zsinj’s flagship is called the Iron Fist, one of the Super-class Star Destroyers created by the Kuat Drive Yard’s shipworks before the Empire collapsed. These ships are considered fleets unto themselves, carrying 144 fighters, with a crew of over a quarter of a million people, with over a thousand missile launchers, ion cannons, and turbolaser batteries.
- Derra IV is mentioned again in this novel as disastrous Rebel battle.
- Durga the Hutt is referenced a couple times briefly in this novel as a criminal who resisted efforts by Fliry Vorru to reinvigorate the Black Sun syndicate on Coruscant. “Black Sun was Xizor’s dream, not mine.” Corran Horn also remembered an instance of a violent situation back during his CorSec days in which some spice runners were brutally massacred after angering Durga the Hutt.
- I picked up on a few interesting little references to “Nerfhide chairs,” and “transparisteel desks” in this book.
- An Imperial prison on Garqi is mentioned.
- “Sithspawn!” is used as a curse word a few times.
- The Manarai Mountains on Coruscant are referenced (these were first mentioned in the Thrawn trilogy and have appeared in various books and comics since).
- There are apparently no skyhooks on Tatooine (I first learned about skyhooks from the Shadows of the Empire novel).
- At one point, Gavin Darklighter orders lomin-ale, a cheap, green, frothy, bitter and spicy ale (note Bothans don’t seem to like these cold drinks).
- We learn that Mon Mothma grew up in one of Chandrila’s port cities, where her mother was governor and she learned to love the Silver Sea. There is a nautical theme to her personal quarters.
- Some facts about the planet Ryloth: there are black basalt mountains against a dusky red sky, the planet rotates on its axis one per year, the same side of Ryloth faces the sun, Kala’uun exists near the terminus line where day and night meet, making it one of the cooler sunside locations. Ryloth is ruled by a variety of differing clans.
- Sevari flashpistols are mentioned as being carried by a Twi’lek named Koh’shak.
- The Duros species are tall, slender blue-skinned creatures with stoic facial features.
- Opalescent glowstones are described as technological lamps designed to look like natural stones on Ryloth.
- “Sienn’rha” is described as the only good thing Bib Fortuna ever accomplished. He stole her from a darkside family and meant to present her to Jabba the Hutt, but she was saved by Luke Skywalker.
- The lingering shards of Alderaan have formed an asteroid field commonly known as “The Graveyard.”
- “The Complete History of Corvis Minor” is a book discovered by Corran Horn (recall that Corvis Minor first appeared in the Thrawn trilogy).
- Coffee is also called “Caf” in Star Wars. And a “tapcafe” is a bar or cantina.
- In the Jedi Museum, Corran Horn finds a memorial to a Jedi named Avan Post, a Jedi Master from Chandrila who served with distinction in the Clone Wars, in addition to his own grandfather Nejaa Halcyon, a Jedi Master from Corellia who died during the Clone Wars.
- Ryshcate is a little brown pastry from Corellia briefly mentioned in this novel.
- E-Web Heavy Repeating Blasters are mentioned.
- Super Star Destroyers only started being used by the Empire after the Battle of Yavin.
- Luke Skywalker references Tibanna gas on Bespin in this novel (first referenced in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and later in the Thrawn trilogy).
Stackpole, Michael A. X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble. Dey Rey, NY, NY, 2021 (originally published in 1996). It was dedicated to the memory of Patty Vardeman. I read the newly released “Essential Legends” edition.