Timothy Zahn - Choices of One

Star Wars: Choices of One is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously.

Copyright 2011 by Lucasfilm Ltd. & or where indicated. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

Excerpt from Star Wars: Riptide copyright 2011 by Lucasfilm Ltd. & or where indicated. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization.

Published in the United States by Del Rey,
an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

D EL R EY is a registered trademark and the Del Rey colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.

This book contains an excerpt from Star Wars: Riptide by Paul S. Kemp. This excerpt has been set for this edition only and may not reflect the final content of the forthcoming edition.

Cover Art: John Van Fleet

eISBN: 978-0-345-53267-1

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v3.1

For mom:
Who never doubted that this whole writing gig would work out someday.

A IREN C RACKEN ; Rebel leader (human male)
B IDOR F ERROUZ ; Imperial governor of Poln (human male)
C ARLIST R IEEKAN ; Rebel leader (human male)
D ARRIC L ARONE ; stormtrooper (human male)
G ILAD P ELLAEON ; senior bridge officer, Chimaera (human male)
J OAK Q UILLER ; stormtrooper (human male)
H AN S OLO ; captain, Millennium Falcon (human male)
K ORLO B RIGHTWATER ; stormtrooper (human male)
L EIA O RGANA ; Rebel leader (human female)
L UKE S KYWALKER ; Rebel (human male)
M ARA J ADE ; Emperors agent (human female)
N USO E SVA ; warlord (nonhuman male)
S ABERAN M ARCROSS ; stormtrooper (human male)
T AXTRO G RAVE ; stormtrooper (human male)
T HRAWN ; Imperial officer (Chiss male)
V AANTAAR ; refugee (Troukree male)
V ESTIN A XLON ; Rebel leader (human male)

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

The choices of one shape the futures of all.

Jedi saying

T HE LAST HYPERSPACE JUMP HAD BEEN A TRICKY ONE, STARTING AS IT did in one minor star system barely on the charts and ending in another even more obscure one. But the ISD Chimaeras officers and crew were the finest in the galaxy, and as Commander Gilad Pellaeon looked over the repeater display he confirmed that theyd made the jump precisely.

He strode down the command walkway, gazing at the Chimaeras long prow, wondering what in space they were doing here. The Chimaera was an Imperial Star Destroyer, a kilometer and a half of heavy armor and awesome weaponry, the very symbol and expression of Imperial power and authority. Even the arrogant anarchists of the Rebellion hesitated before going up against ships like this.

So with that same Rebellion boiling ever more loudly and violently across the Empire, with Lord Vader himself tasked with tracking down and destroying their leadership, what in the name of Imperial Center was the Chimaera doing on passenger transport duty?

This is insane, Captain Calo Drusan muttered as he came up beside Pellaeon. What in the galaxy is Command thinking of?

It does seem a bit odd, Pellaeon said diplomatically. But Im sure they have their reasons.

Drusan snorted. If you believe that, youre a fool. Imperial Center has gone top-heavy with politicians, professional flatterers, and incompetents. Reason and intelligence went down the garbage chutes a long time ago. He gestured at the starlit sky in front of them. My guess is that someones just trying to impress everyone with his ability to move fleet units around.

Could be, sir, Pellaeon said, a small shiver running up his back. In general, Drusan was right about the way the Imperial court was going, though even a ships captain shouldnt be discussing such things out loud.

In this case, however, Drusan was wrong because this particular order hadnt come from some flunky at Imperial Center. That was how it had looked, and how it was clearly intended to look.

Unlike the captain, though, Pellaeon hadnt taken the order at face value, but had taken the time to run a backtrack. While it had indeed come through proper channels from Imperial Center, it hadnt originated there. It had, in fact, come from an undisclosed location in the Outer Rim.

According to the top-secret dispatches Drusan had shared with his senior officers, that was where Grand Admiral Zaarin was right now, quietly touring the edge of Imperial space aboard the ISD Predominant.

Which strongly implied that the Chimaeras orders had come from the Grand Admiral himself.

Incoming ship, Captain, the sensor officer called from the starboard crew pit. Just jumped into the system. Sensors read it as a Kazellis-class light freighter.

Drusan whistled softly. A Kazellis, he commented. Thats a rare birdthey stopped making those years ago. We have an ID yet?

Yes, sir, the comm officer called from the portside crew pit. Code response confirms its the Salabans Hope.

Pellaeon cocked an eyebrow. Not only had their mysterious passenger arrived, but hed arrived within minutes of the Chimaeras own appearance. Either he had a highly developed sense of timing, or he was remarkably lucky.

Vector? Drusan asked.

Directly starboard, the sensor officer called. Range, eighty kilometers.

Not only practically on top of the Chimaera in time, but in position, as well. Pellaeons estimation of the freighters pilot went up another couple of notches.

Of course, not everyone saw it that way. Kriffing fool, Drusan grunted. Whats he trying to do, run us down?

Pellaeon took a few steps forward and peered out the starboard viewport. Sure enough, the glow of a sublight drive was just barely visible out there against the background stars.

Except that the glow shouldnt have been visible. Not at that distance. Not unless the pilot was hauling his sublights for all they were worth, and then some.

And the only reason someone would do that

Captain, I recommend we go to full alert, Pellaeon said urgently, turning back to Drusan. That ships running from something.

For a moment Drusan didnt reply, his eyes flicking past Pellaeons shoulder to the approaching freighter. With an effort, Pellaeon forced himself to remain silent, letting his captain work through the logic in his own unhurried, methodical way.

Finally, to his relief, Drusan stirred. Full alert, the captain called. And reconfirm that identity code. Just in case hes not running from anyone, but is thinking of ramming us.