The search for Han Solo is cut short as the rebels find themselves facing death on a planet of Water Breathers.
Following the destruction of the city of Pavillion in the previous issue, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and Kendle are swept out into the oceans of Iskalon by the Iskalon effect. With only one rebreather, Luke and Leia are forced to share the device as they try to make their way back to the surface. As they spot Kendle underwater, the two Rebels begin to follow their friend. However, they are cut off by a Chuhkyvi warrior who scares Kendle away and destroys their rebreather. The warrior leads Leia and Luke out of the wreckage to the surface where they spot Primor, killed during the destruction of Pavillion. As they grieve over the dead Inleshat, Kendle arrives to lament the death of her father-in-law. However, the mysterious Chuhkyvi warrior arrives again to chase Kendle away. Before the Chuhkyvi can attack Kendle, Luke grabs the warrior and forces him to explain his actions. The Chuhkyvi, who identifies himself as Kiro, explains that Kendle had betrayed the Rebels' location to the Empire causing the Imperials to attack Iskalon and destroy Pavillion. As Kendle is to blame, Kiro is attempting to kill the woman for her treachery. As Luke and Leia ponder her words, Luke realizes that Kendle's betrayal has endangered Lando Calrissian's mission to Gamandar.
Meanwhile, Lando, Chewbacca, Mone, R2-D2, and C-3PO have gone to Gamandar to search for Tay Vanis' droid K-3PX, who apparently contains all the information that Vanis had gathered on the Imperials' plans. As the group begins to approach the Gamandar Citadel, Lando puts on a disguise, complete with a beret and an eye patch. R2 takes the time to plug into the local computers to download information. However, as he attempts to catch up with the rest of the team, he is grabbed by an Imperial officer who believes him to be part of the droid crew on Gamandar, sending him to help the Imperials with inventory. Lando meets with Admiral Griggor Tower, using Drebble's name as his alias. As Lando claims that he is searching for Tay Vanis to resolve a debt that Vanis owes him, Lando picks up information on K-3PX, getting Tower's permission to search the droids who are on work detail. However, as the disguised Rebels leave, Tower's spy confirms his suspicions that they are the same Rebels who were on Iskalon.
Lando, Chewbacca, Mone, and C-3PO make their way to the droid work area to search for K-3PX, where they find R2-D2 working hard among the Imperial droids. As Lando searches the droid inventory, he finds K-3PX and purchases him from the Imperial officers who are supervising the droid detail. With their mission complete, Lando tries to lead Vanis' droid back to the Millennium Falcon, but after dropping several hints to the droid, the droid refuses to follow them. However, after Lando mentions Luke Skywalker, K-3PX immediately betrays them, having only been a ruse to capture the Rebels. Kendle had sent them after the wrong droid, hoping to get them captured. All the Rebels save R2-D2 are sent to a prison cell within the citadel to await the arrival of Darth Vader.
The New Essential Chronology placed the search for Tay Vanis (continuing here and concluded in issue #80) after Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire.
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