Star Wars_ X-Wing 02_ Wedge's Gamble - Michael A. Stackpole [149]
“Hardly an injustice, given the circumstances.”
“Perhaps not, but I will find a way to use it. I will return you to them after they have convicted and executed him. His wrongful death will gnaw away at consciences and undercut the Rebellion’s illusion of moral superiority.”
“I’ll tell them the truth.”
“The only truth you’ll know is the truth I give you.” Isard’s smile slithered cruelly onto her face. “We are bound to Lusankya, my private workshop for people like you. By the time I am finished with you, your mind will be mine and your heart’s desire will be what I wish.”
Corran shook his head violently, hoping the pain would be enough to make him black out. It was not. “I will never betray my friends.”
She laughed again. “I have heard this chorus many times before and it always sounds so sweet. You will betray them, Corran Horn, just as Tycho Celchu betrayed you. You will be the instrument of Rogue Squadron’s death and will strike a mighty blow against the Alliance’s precarious unity. When I am through with you, little man, you will become the instrument of the Emperor’s vengeance and nothing and no one will be able to stop you.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael A. Stackpole is an award-winning author, editor, game and computer game designer. As always, he spends his spare time playing indoor soccer and now has a new hobby, podcasting. Mike will publish A New World, the sequel to Cartomancy, this July, and is currently at work on ideas for a half-dozen other novels.
To learn more about Mike’s podcasting, please visit www.tsfpn.com (the website of The SciFi Podcast Network).
BOOKS BY MICHAEL A. STACKPOLE
THE WARRIOR TRILOGY
Warrior: En Garde
Warrior: Riposte
Warrior: Coupé
THE BLOOD OF KERENSKY
TRILOGY
Lethal Heritage
Blood Legacy
Lost Destiny
Natural Selection
Assumption of Risk
Bred for War
Malicious Intent
Grave Covenant
Prince of Havoc
Ghost War
THE FIDDLEBACK TRILOGY
A Gathering Evil
Evil Ascendant
Evil Triumphant
Eyes of Silver*
Dementia
Wolf and Raven
Once a Hero*
Talion: Revenant*
STAR WARS® X-WING SERIES
Rogue Squadron*
Wedge’s Gamble*
The Krytos Trap*
The Bacta War*
Isard’s Revenge*
Star Wars®: I, Jedi*
Star Wars®: Dark Tide
Star Wars®: Onslaught
Star Wars®: Ruin
THE DRAGONCROWN
WAR CYCLE
The Dark Glory War*
Fortress Draconis*
When Dragons Rage*
The Grand Crusade*
THE AGE OF DISCOVERY
A Secret Atlas*
Cartomancy*
*published by Bantam Books
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.