Kathy Tyers - The truce at Bakura

HEIR TO THE EMPIRE

Moves with a speed-of-light pace that captures the spirit of the movie trilogy so well, you can almost hear John Williamss soundtrack.
The Providence Sunday Journal

A splendidly exciting novel read and enjoy, the magic is back. Nashville Banner

DARK FORCE RISING

Continues [Zahns] remarkable extrapolation from George Lucass trilogy. Chicago Sun-Times

Zahn has perfectly captured the pace and flavor of the Star Wars movies. This is space opera at its best.
Sunday Oklahoman

THE LAST COMMAND

Intelligent, fast-paced fun, a worthy conclusion to the trilogy. Chicago Sun-Times

Filled with characteristic Star Wars technology and cosmic battles the detail and plot development far exceed what are possible in a two-hour movie.
Indianapolis Star

Zahn has been faithful to the regular characters, capturing the nuances of their personalities to the point that reading the books is like watching the movies again and again. Sit back with this book and savor the fun and excitement. It moves at the pace of a Star Destroyer in hyperspace.
The Flint Journal

This edition contains the complete
text of the original hardcover edition.
NOT ONE WORD HAS BEEN OMITTED .

STAR WARS: THE TRUCE AT BAKURA

A Bantam Spectra Book
Bantam hardcover edition / January 1994
Bantam reissue / February 1997

SPECTRA and the portrayal of a boxed s are trademarks
of Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc.

, TM & 1994 by Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.
Used under authorization.
Copyright 1997 Lucasfilm Ltd.
All rights reserved.
Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 93-11388.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
For information address: Bantam Books.

eISBN: 978-0-307-79627-1

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v3.1

I cant think of Star Wars without remembering the opening fanfare from its soundtrack. I cant imagine an Imperial Star Destroyers long, triangular silhouette without hearing ominous triplet rhythms. And who can picture the Mos Eisley cantina without that inimitable jazz band?

It is with grateful admiration that I dedicate this novel to the man who composed the musical scores for the three Star Wars movies:

John Williams

A bove a dead world, one habitable moon hung suspended like a cloud-veiled turquoise. The eternal hand that held the chain of its orbit had dusted its velvet backdrop with brilliant stars, and cosmic energies danced on the wrinkles of space-time, singing their timeless music, neither noticing nor caring for the Empire, the Rebel Alliance, or their brief, petty wars.

But on that petty human scale of perspective, a fleet of starships orbited the moons primary. Carbon streaks scored the sides of several ships. Droids swarmed around some, performing repairs. Metal shards that had been critical spaceship components, and human and alien bodies, orbited with the ships. The battle to destroy Emperor Palpatines second Death Star had cost the Rebel Alliance heavily.

Luke Skywalker hustled across one cruisers landing bay, red-eyed but still suffused with victory after the Ewoks celebration. Passing a huddle of droids, he caught a whiff of coolants and lubricants. He ached, a dull gnawing in all his bones from the longest day of his life. Todayno, it was yesterdayhe had met the Emperor. Yesterday, he had almost paid with his life for his faith in his father. Yet a passenger sharing his shuttle up to the cruiser from the Ewok village had already asked if Luke really killed the Emperorand Darth Vadersingle-handed.

Luke wasnt ready to announce the fact that Darth Vader had been Anakin Skywalker, his father. Still, hed answered firmly: Vader killed Emperor Palpatine. Vader had flung him into the second Death Stars core. Luke would be explaining that for weeks, he guessed. For now, he merely wanted to check on his X-wing fighter.

To his surprise, it was overrun by service crew. Behind and above it, a magnacrane lowered Artoo-Detoo into the cylindrical droid socket behind his cockpit. Whats up? Luke asked, standing to catch his breath.

Oh. Sir, answered a khaki-suited crewman, disengaging a collapsible fuel hose, your relief pilots going out. Captain Antilles came back on the first shuttle and went on patrol immediately. He intercepted an Imperial drone shipone of those antiques they used for carrying messages back before the Clone Wars. Incoming from deep space.

Incoming. Someone had sent a message to the Emperor. Luke smiled. Guess they havent heard yet. Wedge wants company? Im not that tired. I could go.

The crewman didnt smile back. Unfortunately, Captain Antilles touched off a self-destruct cycle while trying to release its message codes. He is manually blocking a critical gap

Cancel the relief pilot, Luke exclaimed. Wedge Antilles had been his friend since the days of the first Death Star, where theyd flown in the final attack together. Without waiting to hear more, Luke spun toward the ready-room. A minute later, he was hopping back and pulling up one leg of an orange pressure suit.

Crewers scattered. He sprang up the ladder and into his inclined, padded seat, yanked on his helmet, then touched on the ships fusion generator. A familiar high-energy whine built around him.

The man whod spoken climbed up behind him. But, sir, I think Admiral Ackbar wanted to debrief you.

Ill be right back. Luke closed his cockpit canopy and ran an Alliance-record speed check of his systems and instruments. Nothing flagged his attention.

He switched on his comlink. Rogue Leader, ready for takeoff.

Opening hatch, sir.

He punched in the drive. An instant later, the dull ache in his body turned to ferocious pain. All the stars in his field of vision split into binaries and spun around each other. Crewers voices babbled in his ears. Dizzily, he reached down inside himself for the quiet center Master Yoda had taught him to touch

To touch

There.

Exhaling one trembling breath, he measured his mastery of the pain. Stars shrank into singular gleams again. Whatever had caused that, hed deal with it later. Through the Force, he quested outward and found Wedges presence. His hands moved on the X-wings controls almost effortlessly as he steered toward that end of the Fleet.

On his way, he got his first good look at the battle damage, the swarming repair droids and tow vessels. Mon Calamari Star Cruisers were plated and shielded to withstand multiple direct hits, but he thought he remembered several more of the huge, lumpy crafts. Fighting for his life, his father, and his integrity in the Emperors throne room, he hadnt even felt the gut-wrenching Force disturbances from all those deaths. He hoped he wasnt getting used to them.