Star Wars_ The Black Fleet Crisis 03_ Tyrant's Test - Michael P. Kube-McDowell [159]
At various times Michael has called Fairview Village (Camden), NJ; East Lansing, Sturgis, and Lansing, MI; and Goshen, IN home. He currently resides in central Michigan with his wife Gwen, three children, three cats, and “entirely too much stuff.” His publicly acknowledged passions include warbirds, following the Spartans and Phillies, making music, and natural philosophy. Further confessions can be found at his Web home: www.sff.net/people/K-Mac
ALSO BY MICHAEL KUBE-McDOWELL
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THE TRIGON DISUNITY FUTURE HISTORY:
EMPRISE (1985)
ENIGMA (1986)
EMPERY (1987)
ALTERNITIES (1988)
THE QUIET POOLS (1990)
EXILE (1992)
STAR WARS:
THE BLACK FLEET CRISIS TRILOGY:
BEFORE THE STORM (1996)
SHIELD OF LIES (1996)
TYRANT’S TEST (1997)
WITH SIR ARTHUR C. CLARKE:
THE TRIGGER (1999)
STAR WARS—The Expanded Universe
You saw the movies. You watched the cartoon series, or maybe played some of the video games. But did you know …
In The Empire Strikes Back, Princess Leia Organa said to Han Solo, “I love you.” Han said, “I know.” But did you know that they actually got married? And had three Jedi children: the twins, Jacen and Jaina, and a younger son, Anakin?
Luke Skywalker was trained as a Jedi by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. But did you know that, years later, he went on to revive the Jedi Order and its commitment to defending the galaxy from evil and injustice?
Obi-Wan said to Luke, “For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times. Before the Empire.” Did you know that over those millennia, legendary Jedi and infamous Sith Lords were adding their names to the annals of Republic history?
Yoda explained that the dreaded Sith tend to come in twos: “Always two, there are. No more, no less. A Master, and an apprentice.” But did you know that the Sith didn’t always exist in pairs? That at one time in the ancient Republic there were as many Sith as Jedi, until a Sith Lord named Darth Bane was the lone survivor of a great Sith war and created the “Rule of Two”?
All this and much, much more is brought to life in the many novels and comics of the Star Wars expanded universe. You’ve seen the movies and watched the cartoon. Now venture out into the wider worlds of Star Wars!
Turn the page or jump to the timeline of Star Wars novels to learn more.
One
He stood on the highest point on the planet of Almania, the roof of a tower built by the once-powerful Je’har. The tower was in ruin, the stairs crumbling as his boots touched them, the roof littered with debris from battles years gone. From here, though, he could see his city, a thousand lights spread before him, the streets empty except for droids and the ever-present guards.
But he was not interested in looking down. He wanted to see the stars.
An icy wind rippled his black cloak. He clasped his gloved hands behind him. The death’s-head mask he had worn since destroying the Je’har hung on a silver chain around his neck.
Above him the stars winked. Hard to believe worlds existed there. Worlds he would control.
Soon.
He could have waited in his command, stood in the observatory specially constructed for his needs, but for once, he wanted no protective walls around him. He wanted to feel the moment, not see it.
The power of sight was so pitiful against the strength of the Force.
He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. No explosion this time. No bright flare of light. Skywalker had told him of the moment when Alderaan died.
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, the old man had said. At least, that’s what Skywalker told him.
This disturbance would not be as great, but Skywalker would feel it. All the young Jedi would feel it too, and they would know that