Bloodline (novel)

BEHOLD THE ORIGIN OF THE RESISTANCE

When the Rebellion triumphed over the Empire above Endor, Leia Organa was optimistic that a long-lasting era of peace would follow. However, decades of bitter disputes and political stalemate in the New Republic Senate have made that hope seem like a distant dream.

Now holding the position of a respected senator, Leia is forced to confront the threats that endanger the fledgling democracy, originating from both internal and external sources. Criminal masterminds, disloyal politicians, and Imperial supporters are instigating disorder throughout the galaxy. Driven to take action, senators are advocating for the selection of a First Senator, with the expectation that this influential role will provide strong leadership to a fractured galaxy.

As Darth Vader's daughter, Leia is suspicious of the idea of entrusting such significant power to a single individual, even when some suggest her as a candidate. However, a new adversary may leave Leia with no other choice, as a mysterious threat emerges on the fringes of the galaxy....

On Hosnian Prime, Senator and Princess Leia Organa, along with fellow members of the New Republic's Galactic Senate, are present at a dedication for a Jelucani fogstone statue honoring her deceased adoptive father, Bail Organa, who founded the Rebel Alliance. Following a speech by her colleague Senator Tai-Lin Garr about the positive outcomes of the Galactic Civil War, Leia delivers a concise address on her father's lasting influence. Despite the apparent solidarity among the senators, tensions are escalating between the Populists, who advocate for greater independence, and the Centrists, who support a more centralized government and a stronger military. After the ceremony, Leia engages with other senators, including the Centrist Lady Carise Sindian, who seeks Leia's assistance in securing the governorship of Birren. Leia assures her that her staff will look into the matter.

Returning to her office, Leia tells her intern Korr Sella of her intention to resign from her position as Senator in the near future, expressing her dissatisfaction with the increasing gridlock and infighting within the Senate. Leia later brings up the topic again with her husband Han Solo, who has achieved success as a starship racer. Despite living separate lives, they maintain regular contact through Hologram. The next day, Yendor Brethen, the Twi'lek Emissary of Ryloth, appeals to the Galactic Senate to take action against Rinnrivin Di, the leader of a Nikto crime syndicate that is disrupting Ryloth's trade with other worlds. Following some deliberation, Senator Leia consents to embark on a fact-finding mission to the planet Bastatha, which serves as Rinnrivin's headquarters. While the Centrists are hesitant to support a Populist Senator, Ransolm Casterfo of Riosa, a young and charismatic senator, volunteers to accompany Leia as a gesture of bipartisanship. After arranging the details of her journey with her pilot Greer Sonnel, Leia visits Ransolm's office to build trust. Although Leia is unsettled by the presence of old Imperial artifacts in Senator Casterfo's office, she finds Ransolm to be approachable and trustworthy, despite their differing views on the former Empire. Later, Greer arranges for Joph Seastriker, a starfighter pilot in the New Republic, to escort Leia's ship to Bastatha, a world known for its shady reputation. Leia travels to Bastatha, a hot, irradiated planet where the population resides underground, accompanied by her protocol droid C-3PO, intern Kor Sella, and Senator Casterfo. Upon arrival, the New Republic delegates are welcomed by Magistrate Tosta and Xun, who guide them on a tour of a casino to promote Bastatha as a tourist destination. While at the cantina, Leia notices an older woman with dark, streaked hair from Daxam IV observing them intently. Back at their ship, Leia and Ransolm receive an invitation to meet with a private business delegation, which turns out to be Rinnrivin's Nikto subordinates. The armed Nikto abduct Leia and transport her away in a hovercraft. They bring her to Rinnrivin, who tells her about his people's desire to escape Hutt control. Rinnrivin also tries to persuade Leia to convince the New Republic to ease its regulations on the spice trade. Before they can continue, Ransolm, who has placed a tracker on her cloak, interrupts their meeting and rescues Leia. Leia and Ransolm flee Rinnvirin's hideout in a stolen hoversled and are soon found by Seastriker's X-wing starfighter. While Leia is annoyed with Ransolm for interrupting her meeting, they develop a mutual respect. Leia considers Casterfo to be an intelligent, moderate, and honest Centrist and plans to introduce him to her colleagues Garr and Varish Vicly to foster bipartisanship. The Bastatha authorities later secure Rinnvirin's lair, but the crime lord has already escaped. However, Leia discovers that Bastatha's gambling revenue is being channeled into a network of shadow corporations based in the Outer Rim. Leia believes this operation is too complex for the Hutts and suspects another party, recalling the mysterious woman from Daxam IV.

Upon their return to Hosnian Prime, Casterfo and Leia advocate for Senator Yendor's appeal and urge the New Republic to take action against Rinnrivin Di's cartel. In response, several Populist and Centrist senators accuse Ransolm and Leia of endangering each other and withholding information. As the proceedings continue, Senator Carise Sindian of Arkanis takes the floor to propose a motion to eliminate the office of Chancellor and establish a new position called First Senator, which would have significant authority over the military and economy. Although the Senate is not swayed by Sindian's arguments, most of the Centrist and neutralist senators are convinced by Senator Casterfo, who emphasizes the gridlock and infighting in the Senate. As a result, the Senate approves Casterfo's motion, much to the disappointment of the Populists, including Leia. Despite disagreeing with Casterfo, Leia and her Populist colleagues respect his sincerity. At the urging of Tai, Varish, and C-3PO, Leia reluctantly agrees to postpone her retirement plans and run as the Populist candidate for First Senator. Although Han is annoyed by her change of heart, he respects his wife's decision. Later, Leia meets with Lady Carise Sindian in her office to discuss the governorship of Birren. During the meeting, Leia mentions that she was adopted by Bail and Breha Organa. Unconcerned and wary of royal titles, Leia agrees to support the Centrist Senator's bid for the governorship. Sindian immediately begins preparations to travel to Birren to claim her title. Later, Joph Seastriker and his fellow starfighter pilots, including Greer and Temmin Wexley, watch a starfighter acrobatic competition near the Senate building. While chatting with Senator Organa and Greer, Joph learns that Leia is sending Greer on a mission to the planet Pamarthe to investigate whether Rinnrivin is hiring pilots from there. Under Leia's direction, Joph and Greer travel to Pamarthe, where they discover that a group known as the Amaxine warriors operates a base on the planet Daxam IV. Back on Hosnian Prime, Leia chats with Sindian, who is leaving for Birren to claim the governorship of that planet. During their conversation, Leia remarks that the post of First Senator might not be a bad idea. While traveling to Birren, Lady Carise anticipates the day when the galaxy would be properly governed and the strength of the Centrist worlds revealed. After returning to Hosnian Prime, Joph and Greer discuss their findings with Leia aboard her starship, the Mirrorbright. Joph and Greer talk about Daxam IV and the Amaxine warriors, a purported warrior people who had left the galaxy after refusing to make peace with the Old Republic. While Joph has been unable to find any record of the Amaxines in the public informational grid, he found references to the Amaxine in certain clusters of the galaxy; mainly Centrist worlds. Greer suspects that some Centrist senators are taking bribes in return for hiding Rinnrivin's drug cartel. Leia admits her admiration for Senator Ransolm, describing him as the only Centrist senator she can trust. Princess Leia and Ransolm later meet for dinner at the Hanging gardens near the Senate complex. During the dinner, Leia discusses her findings about the Amaxine warrior and their apparent connection to Rinnrivin and the Centralists. In return, Ransolm talks about his support for the move to reintroduce the death penalty to Riosa and expresses an admiration for Leia's role in killing Jabba the Hutt. Ransolm then goes on to talk about his harsh childhood under Imperial rule and the loss of his parents. Finding a kindred spirit, Leia in return tells Ransolm about her torture at the hands of Darth Vader prior to the destruction of Alderaan. Due to their meeting, the two uneasy allies become friends. However, Leia omits to mention that Vader was her true father.

The following day, Leia and her fellow Populist senators including Tai-Lin Garr meet at the Senate complex's banquet hall. There, Leia discovers a note written with the message "Run." Leia orders an evacuation and a bomb destroys half of the senatorial conference building. While no senators were killed during the so-called "Napkin Bombing," many people were wounded and the media treated the incident as the most serious security incident since the end of the Galactic Civil War. The Centrists and Populists soon begin accusing each other of staging the bombing to gain political capital. Ransolm and Leia suspect that the bombing is linked to their investigation into Rinnrivin's criminal cartel. Preliminary investigations show footage of an alleged female Twi'lek bomber. Ransolm decides to take Greer with him to Daxam IV to investigate the Amaxines while Leia decides to visit Ryloth with Joph Seastriker. To avoid drawing attention, Ransolm and Greer rent a small Jeconne courier for their mission to Daxam IV. Ransolm has arranged to meet a dealer in old Imperial artefacts known as Crimson Blade. Upon landing, Ransolm and Greer discover that Crimson Blade is Arliz Hadrassian, the mysterious woman they had sighted at the casino on Bastatha. Hadrassian introduces herself as a former TIE fighter pilot who had lived during the time of the Galactic Civil War. Pretending to be an Imperial sympathizer, Ransolm spends the next two hours chatting with her. Later that night, Greer takes the Jeconne courier for a flight above Daxam's atmosphere and discovers that the Amaxines have several armed starfighter squadrons. She quickly deduces that the Amaxines are a paramilitary organization with significant funds and ties to organised crime. Meanwhile, Senator Organa and her entourage visits Ryloth on the Mirrorbright where she is greeted by Emissary Yendor. While in the Ryloth archives, Organa and her team search for material on Rinnrivin. They find that he started off at the lowest rung of the Hutts' spice operation but mysteriously became the leader of one of the largest galactic criminal enterprises. Lacking sufficient evidence, they suspect that someone is secretly funding Rinnrivin. Taking their ship into space, Joph discusses his team's findings with Casterfo and Greer, who report that they have discovered some spy satellites above Daxam IV sending periodic updates to several worlds including Ryloth. They suspect that Ryloth is being used by Rinnrivin as a relay station. Leia is annoyed with Joph for "improving" Castero's orders without consulting her. However, she is mollified when Joph traces the signal to the Expansion Region planet of Sibensko, which is in Centrist space. Back on Daxam IV, Ransolm reassures Greer that he is only toying with Hadrassian as part of his investigation. Later, Ransolm visits Hadrassian's compound and purchases the helmet of an Imperial Royal guard. After deeming Casterfo trustworthy, Hadrassian takes Ransolm to meet her Amaxine Warriors at a nearby camp. The Amaxine youths are training with Force pikes, the weapons of the former Royal Guards. Having studied the techniques in old holos, Ransolm volunteers to duel with an Amaxine warrior. Despite being haunted by his childhood memories of Vader, Ransolm manages to defeat his opponent but spares his life. Later, Ransolm briefs Greer about the information that he managed to obtain on the Amaxines. He learns that the Amaxines operate several bases but their main headquarters is on the planet Sibensko, a watery planet known as a crime haven. Ransolm also gains Greer's trust. Unable to contact Leia on Ryloth, Casterfo contacts his sponsor Lady Carise and informs her about Rinnrivin's connection to the Amaxines. Carise, who is undertaking a coronation ceremony on Birren, downplays the threat posed by the Amaxines and tells her colleague to concentrate on more "important" things. As a result, Casterfo comes to realize that the Centrists are equally apathetic and inactive as their Populist opponents.

Following her mission to Ryloth, Leia and her team travel to Harloff Minor where she organizes a discreet meeting with Rinnrivin Di. During their meeting, Leia talks about her rise from rebel to Senator and then returns the holocube showing her killing Jabba. Based on her meeting, Leia deduces that Rinnrivin and the Amaxines do not see "eye to eye" due to Rinnrivin's objection to the Napkin Bombing. She suspects the Amaxine set Rinnrivin up or that they are both being funded by the same entity. After their offworld side trips, Leia and Ransolm return to Hosnian Prime to discuss their findings. Leia agrees to guide the official investigation into the Napkin Bombing while Ransolm agrees to investigate his Centrist colleagues. Both senators also agree to investigate Sibensko. As part of his investigation, Ransolm invites thirty fellow Centrists to a private reception where he displays his Imperial artefacts, knowing that several of the senators are avid collectors. During the reception, Ransolm deduces that many of the Centrists are sympathetic to the "Old Empire". Due to his harsh childhood at the hands of the Empire, Casterfo finds himself disillusioned with the Centrist party. Meanwhile on Birren, Lady Carise discovers a wooden music box among Lord Mellowyn's possessions. This music box is engraved with the message "FOR PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA OF ALDERAAN." Inside the box, she finds a recorded audio message from Senator Bail Organa telling his adopted daughter of her true parentage. Lady Carise learns that Leia and her brother Luke Skywalker are the offspring of Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker, the man who became Darth Vader. Lady Carise toys between honoring her sacred vow to Leia and using it as weapon to damage her political rival's credibility. Joph and Greer travel to Chrome Citadel where they accept a job to smuggle materiel from Daxam IV to Sibensko. With the Populists rallying around her, Leia decides to leave for Sibensko before her candidacy is officially announced. While Leia and Ransolm make preparations to travel with the two pilots to Sibensko, Lady Carise returns to Hosnian Prime and contacts Arliz Hadrassian via hologram. Both are secretly working for the First Order, a remnant of Imperial loyalists hiding in deep space, and plot to undermine the New Republic in order to prepare the Galaxy for the return of the First Order. While Hadrassian is convinced that Ransolm is an Imperial sympathizer, Carise points out that he is still loyal to Leia. She decides to use her new-found knowledge to turn Ransolm against Leia.

Before Senator Organa's scheduled nomination hearing for the post of First Senator, Lady Carise visits Ransolm and tells him Leia's secret. Later, Senator Varish nominates Leia on behalf of the Populists as First Senator in the presence of the Galactic Senate. However, Ransolm objects to her nomination on the grounds that she has concealed her true parentage as Darth Vader's daughter. As proof, Castefo presents Leia's music box which contains Bail Organa's recording. With the Senate in uproar, Leia admits that her father was Darth Vader. While Senator Ransolm is praised by his Centrist colleagues, he feels tormented for betraying Leia's trust and friendship. In the wake of Ransolm's revelation of her true parentage, Leia loses the support of most of her Populist colleagues except Senators Varish and Tai-Lin; with the former reading out the entire constitutional passage declaring that no person should have to answer for the crimes of a parent. However, Kor Sella angrily resigns in protest of Leia's perceived dishonesty. Leia regrets keeping the secret of her parentage between herself, Luke, and Han and withholding that information from her son Ben Solo. While listening to a holorecording of her adopted father, she pens a letter to comfort her son Ben. Despite the political fallout from Leia's scandal, Joph and Greer elect to remain loyal to the Senator and confirm they are still keen on participating in the mission to Sibensko. Leia informs them that Rinnrivin is funnelling large amounts of spice and money to Centrist worlds and that a paramilitary organization called the Amaxines are massing for war. She suspects the Amaxines are behind the Napkin Bombing. Before leaving, Leia settles some "unfinished business" with Ransolm. Casterfo is bitter towards her for withholding the truth about her parentage due to his hatred for Darth Vader. Following an angry exchange, Leia storms out of Casterfo's office; leaving a guilt-stricken Ransolm to reflect on his actions. Prior to her departure, Leia returns to the Galactic Senate to officially withdraw her nomination for First Senator. She then gives a brief speech outlining how she learned about her true parentage from her brother Luke Skywalker. Lady Carise takes the floor to assassinate Luke's character; prompting Senator Tai-Lin to defend Luke's character and service to the New Republic. Tai-Lin then defends Leia and stresses that she retains his personal friendship and political support. Leia obtains approval from the Senate for a leave of absence; Ransolm does not join his fellow Centrist senators in questioning her motives.

While preparing to depart on the Mirrorbright for Sibensko, Greer experiences bloodburn and collapses on the floor. Joph and Dr. Harter Kalonia treat her and fret about revealing her secret. Prior to leaving with Greer and Joph, Leia contacts her husband Han Solo and tells him about her secret mission. Leia, Greer, Joph, and C-3PO travel to Sibensko on a freighter. They used a tracker to locate Rinnrivin's holocube. At the spaceport, Leia poses as an indentured servant and Threepio as her overseer. Joph and Greer discover that their dealer Padric is an Amaxine and that their cargo is destined for Hosnian Prime. After accessing a computer terminal, Leia and C-3PO discover that the Amaxines and a mysterious entity are funnelling billions of credits into Rinnrivin's crime cartel. They also discover that Riinrivin is funnelling the money to the Centrist worlds for what she suspects is an armed buildup. Shortly later, Joph reveals that the Amaxines are using Sibensko as a base. After C-3PO downloads the banking records into his memory banks, Leia orders her companions to leave while she investigates the Amaxine base. However, they are cornered by Rinnrivin and his henchmen. A gunfight breaks out and Leia fires at the bolt connecting a water tunnel, causing it to crush Rinnrivin and his men to death. While her companions return to the freighter, Leia travels to the Amaxine base where she discovers a large hangar bay containing various starfighters including X-wing starfighters and old vintage TIE fighters. Leia is soon pursued by several Amaxines but manages to flee onto a landing platform that is protected by a force field. Leia is soon cornered by a Y-wing and a B-wing. Leia is saved from destruction by the arrival of her husband Han Solo, who uses a modified racer to shoot down the Amaxine fighters. One of the stricken Amaxine fighters crashes into the sea, triggering a massive explosion which destroys the underwater spaceport and the Amaxine base; wiping out all evidence of the paramilitary group and Rinnrivin's financial dealings. Watching the destruction unfold, Leia and Han deduced that the stricken ship had triggered the explosions which destroyed the base. Despite the setback, Leia comforts herself with the knowledge that they stopped a paramilitary force planning to attack the New Republic. Later, back on Hosnian Prime, Leia updates her husband about her adventures with Casterfo and her plan to resign from the Senate once her term has expired. Leia fears that other like-minded groups seeking to subvert the New Republic are operating throughout the Galaxy. Meanwhile, Lady Carise has an animated hologram conversation with a furious Arliz Hadrassian. Hadrassian attacks the Centrists for refusing to secede from the New Republic while Carise criticizes Hadrassian for their premature attack on the Galactic Senate. Hadrassian demands retribution against Leia but Lady Carise believes that the Populist politician's credibility has already been destroyed. Carise instead advises Hadrassian to target the next prospective leader of the Populist faction. After their conversation, Carise reflects on her work as a clandestine agent of the First Order. While Hadrassian viewed the Amaxine warriors as a vanguard against the Republic, Carise saw them as a distraction meant to sow chaos in order to prepare the galaxy for the First Order's return. In the First Order's scheme, the Amaxines were merely intermediaries that the First Order used to operate through Rinnrivin's cartel, which was helping to rebuild the former Imperial fleet.

Despite Lady Carise's confidence that Princess Leia would not gain the numbers to address the Senate again in the wake of the Vader parentage scandal, a guilt-stricken Ransolm Casterfo votes in favor of the Senate granting the disgraced politician a hearing. As a result, Leia secures a slim majority by just one vote. This news brings comfort to Leia and Han, with the latter planning to return to managing the hyperspace championship round of the Five Sabers. Later, Leia attends a Populist function where her friend Tai-Lin Garr announces his intention to run as the Populist nominee for First Senator. Later, Leia addresses the Galactic Senate and informs them that her investigation into Rinnrivin's crime cartel uncovered its links to the Amaxines, who were responsible for the Napkin Bombing. She cites the banking record data taken from the Amaxine warrior's secret base on Sibensko as evidence. She reported that the Amaxine's base was destroyed along with their entire storage of bombs, thermal detonators, and explosives. Leia then warns the Senate that the Amaxine warriors were preparing for a a full-scale military assault on the New Republic and urges her fellow Senators to be on their guard. While most of the senators are hostile and dismissive, Senator Ransolm vouches for Leia and informs the Senate about his trip to the Amaxine base on Daxam IV. He also tells the Senate that the Amaxine leaders spoke of war and admired the "Old Empire." Casterfo regains Leia's respect but his actions infuriate Lady Carise, who decides to eliminate the dissident Centrist senator. Meanwhile, Joph and Greer decide to store the ton of explosives they had smuggled for the Amaxine warriors at a secret storage unit. Leia later reconciles with Senator Casterfo and commends him for his integrity.

The Claudia Gray written novel, Bloodline, is a canon addition to the Star Wars universe. The story unfolds six years before the events depicted in Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, focusing primarily on Princess Leia Organa's experiences as a member within the Galactic Senate of the New Republic. The narrative details Princess Leia's battles against various threats, both from within and outside, which ultimately culminate in the establishment of the Resistance seen in The Force Awakens. The novel, which had its initial announcement on October 10, 2015 ahead of The Force Awakens' premiere, was released to the public on May 3, 2016. It was initially going to be called New Republic: Bloodline, but was later shortened to Bloodline. Rian Johnson, director of Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, provided some concepts that were integrated into the narrative. The paperback edition of the book became available on January 31, 2017.

WITNESS THE RESISTANCE'S BEGINNINGS

Leia Organa had hoped that the Rebellion's victory over the Empire over Endor would usher in an era of enduring peace. However, after decades marked by intense internal conflict and partisan deadlock in the New Republic Senate, that hope now seems like a far-off memory.

As a highly regarded senator, Leia is now tasked with confronting the dangers that threaten to destabilize the fragile democracy, originating both internally and externally. Underworld bosses, treacherous politicians, and steadfast Imperial loyalists are actively spreading chaos across the galaxy. Driven by a sense of urgency, senators are advocating for the election of a First Senator, with the expectation that this powerful position will bring much-needed leadership to a divided galaxy.

Being the daughter of Darth Vader, Leia is naturally wary of the idea of concentrating such significant power in the hands of one individual, even when her own supporters suggest her as a possible candidate. However, a new and ominous threat emerging at the galaxy's edge may leave Leia with no other choice.

On Hosnian Prime, Senator and Princess Leia Organa, along with other representatives from the New Republic's Galactic Senate, attend a ceremony to dedicate a Jelucani fogstone statue in honor of her late adoptive father, Bail Organa, the founder of the Rebel Alliance. Following a speech from her colleague Senator Tai-Lin Garr about the positive results of the Galactic Civil War, Leia gives a brief speech about her father's lasting legacy. Despite the show of unity among the senators, tensions are rising between the Populists, who favor greater autonomy, and the Centrists, who advocate for a stronger central government and a more powerful military. After the dedication ceremony, Leia socializes with the other senators, including the Centrist Lady Carise Sindian, who asks for Leia's help in acquiring the governorship of Birren. Leia promises to have her staff investigate the matter.

Back in her office, Leia confides in her intern Korr Sella about her plans to step down as Senator in the near future, citing her frustration with the growing deadlock and bickering in the Senate. Leia later raises the topic again with her husband Han Solo, who has become a successful starship racer. Despite living separate lives, they regularly correspond via Hologram. The following day, the Twi'lek Emissary Yendor Brethen of Ryloth appeals to the Galactic Senate to take action against a Nikto crime cartel led by Rinnrivin Di, which is disrupting Ryloth's offworld trade. After some debate, Senator Leia agrees to undertake a fact-finding mission to the planet Bastatha, which serves as Rinnrivin's base. While the Centrists are reluctant to aid a Populist Senator, the young, charismatic Ransolm Casterfo of Riosa volunteers to accompany Leia as a show of bipartisanship. After making preparations for her trip with her pilot Greer Sonnel, Leia visits Ransolm's office to gain his trust. While Leia is disconcerted by the presence of old Imperial artifacts in Senator Casterfo's office, she finds Ransolm to be friendly and trustworthy despite their philosophical disagreement about the former Empire. Later, Greer arranges for the New Republic starfighter pilot Joph Seastriker to escort Leia's ship to Bastatha, which is reputed as a seedy world. Leia travels with her protocol droid C-3PO, intern Kor Sella, and Senator Casterfo to Bastatha; a hot, irradiated planet where the population lives underground. Upon landing, the New Republic delegates are greeted by Magistrate Tosta and Xun, who take them on a tour of a casino to showcase their efforts to market Bastatha as a tourist destination. While at the cantina, Leia notices an older woman who is part of a group from Daxam IV with dark, streaked hair watching them intently. Back at their ship, Leia and Ransolm receive an invitation to meet with a private business delegation, which turns out to be Rinnrivin's Nikto henchmen. The armed Nikto kidnap Leia and bundle her away into a hovercraft. They take her to meet Rinnrivin himself, who tells her about his people's desire to break free of Hutt domination. Rinnrivin also

The courage of the Junior senator in facing her is something Leia acknowledges. She also commends him for prioritizing the common welfare over the aspirations and agendas of his own political group and for taking a stand for righteousness. Leia advises him that he has the potential to be a respected politician, urging him to seek out allies who share his values in order to break the impasse in the Senate and avert conflict. Ransolm makes a commitment to continue advocating for his convictions and principles. Ten days later, the former Senator Leia goes with her friend Senator Tai-Lin to his inaugural campaign event, which takes place in a park on Hosnian Prime. Leia runs into Kor Sella, her former assistant, during the rally; Sella expresses regret for rejecting her because of her lineage. While the Senator is speaking to the crowd, Hadrassian shoots him down as punishment for the deaths of her Amaxine warriors. Hadrassian takes her own life to hide her ties to Lady Carise before she can be apprehended. The Galactic Senate proclaims a formal period of mourning following Tai-Lin's assassination. Using the information that C-3PO obtained from Sibensko, Hadrassian and her Amaxines are connected to Rinnrivin's criminal organization and the Napkin Bombing. Lady Carise then uses manipulated footage of Ransolm shaking hands with Hadrassian to falsely accuse the junior senator of the Napkin Bombing and the murder of Senator Tai-Lin Garr. Leia quickly comes to the conclusion that Ransolm was set up to damage the reputation of the up-and-coming politician. Later, Leia encounters Casterfo as he is being escorted to a prisoner transport at the Senate complex hangar. Ransolm is scheduled to be tried, convicted, and put to death on Riosa, his home planet. Leia offers to assist the Senator in contesting the accusations against him, but Casterfo is unsure of her chances of success given her sullied reputation and a clandestine Centrist plot. Casterfo calls Leia his only genuine friend in the Senate before he departs. Leia infers from her conversation with Ransolm that the Centrists are solely interested in war and are prepared to get rid of members of their faction who do not share their fervor for power. The Senate votes to postpone the vote for the First Senator in the aftermath of Tai-Lin Garr's assassination and Casterfo's arrest. Lady Carise and her Centrist allies backed this proposal because they had started working on a new plan: withdrawing the Centrist planets from the New Republic and enlisting in the rising First Order. Realizing that Lady Carise was the one who started the controversy around her true identity, Leia gets in touch with the leaders of the Elder Houses and persuades them to approve a resolution that permanently revokes Lady Carise's royal titles and governorship of Birren. Leia informs Carise of this information before she leaves the Senate, adding that this is punishment for betraying her vow of secrecy and framing Ransolm. ### Dawn of the Resistance Later that night, Leia gathers a number of New Republic officers, soldiers, and pilots, including Nien Nunb, Caluan Ematt, Admiral Ackbar, Harter Kalonia, Joph, Greer, Snap Wexley, and Zari Bangel, in an empty hangar bay. Leia informs them that she is forming a new organization called the Resistance because the Senate is unwilling to take action against threats to the New Republic. ## Development The involvement of author Claudia Gray and the title New Republic: Bloodline were revealed on October 10, 2015, when Bloodline was initially announced. Gray incorporated a number of ideas into the book that were created specifically for the backstory of the movie Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, which is set six years after Bloodline. In the earliest drafts of The Force Awakens, the character of Ransolm Casterfo appeared in various forms. Rian Johnson, the writer and director of Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, also contributed a number of concepts that were eventually included in the book. The political factions and the structure of the New Republic's government are two of these concepts. A key component of the novel's plot is the revelation that Darth Vader was Anakin Skywalker and that Leia Organa is his daughter, which results in her being discredited. Michael Arndt created that plot point, along with Leia's crucial role in the Republic's reconstruction, as one of the backstory elements for the protagonists of the Star Wars original trilogy in the years following Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi and prior to The Force Awakens. This was also a component of a suggested animated short that would have taken place before The Force Awakens and was pitched in 2012. "Scandal of Blood," the short's working title, was dubbed Star Wars House of Cards by Lucasfilm Story Group creative executives Pablo Hidalgo and Rayne Roberts. Both Hidalgo and Roberts expressed a desire to see the tale adapted into a book. Like many other concepts that the Story Group presented to Senior Editor Jennifer Heddle, this one was incorporated into Bloodline. USA Today published a description of the book along with an excerpt from its thirteenth chapter on February 4, 2016. There are five point-of-view characters in the book, including Leia Organa, her pilot and staffer Greer Sonnel, the Centrist senator Ransolm Casterfo, the antagonist Lady Carise Sindian, and the New Republic starfighter pilot Joph Seastriker. ## Media ### Editions - ISBN 9780345511362 ; May 3 , 2016 ; Del Rey ; US hardcover [11] - ISBN 9780425286784 ; May 3, 2016; Del Rey; US hardcover, Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition [12] - ISBN 9780425286739 ; May 3, 2016; Del Rey; Signed edition [13] - ISBN 9781101885253 ; May 3, 2016; Del Rey; US eBook [3] - ISBN 9781101885260 ; January 31 , 2017 ; Del Rey; US mass market paperback [4] - ISBN 9780593974360 ; April 1 , 2025 ; Random House Worlds ; US paperback [14] ### Gallery