Dark Force Rising | Chapter 3 | The Lost Holocron

The Lost Holocron

Chapter 3 of Star Wars: Dark Force Rising (1992) (EU: 9 ABY) by Timothy Zahn.

The Story So Far

The New Republic is beleaguered by numerous Imperial hit-and-fade operations. To fulfil the needs of the victimised member worlds, New Republic warships have been pressed into relief shipping. With many vulnerable capital ships funnelled through Sluis Van, the Imperial Remnants used mole miners stolen from Lando Calrissian’s enterprise to assault the shipyard in an attempt to hijack warships.
Leia Organa Solo has been evading abduction from a mysterious alien task force. Leia and Chewbacca go to ground on Kashyyyk, where another incident occurs. Together with the Wookiees, she neutralises the threat, capturing the Noghri operative Khabarakh, but not before Chewbacca 's childhood friend Salporin is killed.
During the subsequent interrogation, Khabarakh identifies Leia as daughter-and-heir to the revered Lord Vader. Leaning on that reverence, she offers a one-on-one meeting as a show of good faith from the New Republic towards the Noghri people. She returns to Coruscant in the interim to prepare for her meeting in one-month’s time over the forest Moon of Endor.
Meanwhile, from a chance sighting while on Myrkr, Han Solo and Lando are informed by an unforthcoming Talon Karrde of the recent Imperial reformation under a non-human Grand Admiral after he declines to supply the New Republic with logistical support. Han and Lando arrive with Luke Skywalker at Sluis Van in time for Lando’s override codes to foil the Imperial assault. They are alerted to a political emergency on Coruscant and Han leaves ahead of Luke and Lando.

Chapter 3

Admiral Ackbar is under house arrest on suspicions of treason. On the day of the attack on Sluis Van, money had been transferred into his account on the crossroads planner of Palanhi — known for its fence-sitting during the Galactic Civil War.
Han arrives back to Coruscant and is quickly shepherded by Leia to a special hearing of the New Republic Council. Mon Mothma presides as Han recounts his experience over Sluis Van. During Fey'lya's allegations against Ackbar, Han blurts out his uncorroborated discovery that the Imperials are being led by a Grand Admiral. The council suspends further inquiry to investigate this new claim and continue with Han's Sluissi testimony.
Han, Leia, and Chewbacca visit Ackbar. Ackbar doubts that the old Imperial files will contain useful information; the position of Grand Admiral was one of Emperor Palpatine's efforts to exercise direct control over both military and political spheres.
Since landing, Han senses unease in Chewbacca, but Leia is not yet ready to speak about their time on Kashyyyk.

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