Crucible (novel)

After a lifetime of galactic conflicts, resurrecting the Jedi Order, raising families, and countless galaxy-saving feats, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia have more than earned a peaceful retirement, passing the torch to the next generation. However, destiny has other plans, thrusting them into an adventure that only they can undertake and, hopefully, survive...

Han, Leia, Luke, and Lando reunite with old allies for a fresh mission, fighting to protect the Galaxy from an overwhelming hostile takeover.

HAN SOLO, LEIA ORGANA SOLO, AND LUKE SKYWALKER ARE BACK IN A BRAND-NEW STAR WARS STORY, ONE THAT WILL PUSH THEM IN UNFORESEEN WAYS--AND PERMANENTLY RESHAPE THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE AND THE FORCE.

When Han and Leia Solo arrive at Lando Calrissian's mining operation in the Outer Rim to assist in fending off a hostile takeover, their intention is simply to level the playing field and enforce order. However, the arrival of monstrous aliens bearing a message transforms mere threats into acts of violent sabotage with widespread casualties. As the situation unfolds, what began as a corporate dispute escalates into a battle with significantly higher stakes--and far graver repercussions.

Now, Han, Leia, and Luke join forces once more in a quest to thwart a perilous adversary intent on dominating the entire galaxy. This time, however, the Empire is not the foe. Instead, they face a pair of merciless masterminds with a deadly accomplice and a long-standing grudge against Han Solo. When this deadly duo ambushes Han, he finds himself at a severe disadvantage in the fight of his life. To rescue him, and the galaxy, Luke and Leia must navigate a treacherous path filled with deceit, terrorism, and the immense power of a mysterious artifact capable of warping space, time, and even the Force itself into a cataclysmic nightmare.

The narrative commences on Brink Station within a cantina named the Red Ronto, where Han and Leia Organa Solo await the arrival of Lando Calrissian. Lando had summoned Han and Leia to discuss strategies for addressing the pirate problem plaguing the Chiloon Rift, the location of his latest asteroid refinery. Instead of Lando, they encounter a mysterious young man identifying himself as Captain Omad Kaeg of the Joyous Roamer, an asteroid-tugging vessel currently undergoing repairs due to a recent pirate attack. Kaeg informs the Solos that Lando dispatched him and offers his services as a guide within the nebula. Han and Leia, suspicious of this arrangement, question Kaeg extensively, particularly regarding Lando's absence and lack of prior notification. Kaeg claims to be equally uninformed. Before any agreement can be reached, three members of the exotic species known as the Nargons enter the cantina accompanied by two Mandalorians. Kaeg reveals that the Nargons and Mandalorians are employed by Galactic Exploitation Technologies, or GET, a massive conglomerate seeking to undermine the businesses of independent miners, such as Kaeg, within the nebula. The Mandalorians serve as security against pirates, with the Nargons providing assistance.

The Solos and Kaeg are confronted by the Mandalorians, Scarn and Jakal, and one of the Nargons, Qizak. It is revealed that Kaeg owes them a substantial debt of one million credits from a sabacc tournament. Scarn proposes that Kaeg can easily settle the debt by transferring all his shares in the mining cooperative to Galactic Exploitation Technologies, an offer Kaeg refuses. When Qizak threatens Kaeg, Han and Leia deduce that Kaeg was deliberately entrapped by GET, starting with the pirate attack that crippled the Joyous Roamer. Kaeg was manipulated into participating in the sabacc tournament, and Scarn cheated using a prosthetic eye to ensure Kaeg's defeat and subsequent predicament. Despite Scarn's vehement denials, he eventually agrees to leave Kaeg alone and refund the money owed. However, Qizak accuses Scarn of cowardice for backing down, leading to a violent confrontation when Qizak murders Scarn and severely injures Jakal before attacking the Solos and Kaeg. During the ensuing skirmish, Leia severs both of Qizak's arms and later decapitates him. Han observes that the Nargon's internal structure is composed of machinery. He manages to retrieve one of Qizak's arms as he, Leia, and Kaeg flee from the remaining two Nargons for further investigation (revealing that the Nargons are genetically engineered by GET). He subsequently transmits his findings and the events of the Red Ronto to the Jedi Temple on Shedu Maad.

Grand Master Luke Skywalker receives the transmission and resolves to investigate the Chiloon Rift personally. He begins his investigation on Coruscant incognito, where he meets privately with Sullustan Senator Luewet Wuul. Wuul informs Luke that the owners of GET, Columi brothers Marvid and Craitheus Qreph, are operating as criminal masterminds in the Chiloon Rift, a fact known but not officially acknowledged. Their activities in the Rift are part of their broader scheme to seize control of nearly every major industry in the galaxy. Following Luke's departure for the Rift, Wuul is assassinated through the Qrephs' machinations.

Within the Chiloon Rift, the Qreph brothers attempt to acquire Lando Calrissian's asteroid refinery. However, Lando, aware of the Qrephs' dubious reputation, hesitates to even consider relinquishing his refinery, especially after Han and Leia recount the incident at the Red Ronto. Consequently, the Qrephs dispatch their spy within Lando's organization, Dena Yus, to sabotage and destroy the refinery, an attempt that Han, Leia, and Lando are unable to prevent. Following Han and Leia's reunion with Luke, they agree to conduct a more thorough investigation. However, Han is captured by mercenaries Mirta Gev and Savara Raine, who are employed by the Qrephs. Luke, Leia, Lando, and Kaeg manage to locate the Ormni, the vessel holding Han, by using a tracking beacon Luke had secretly attached to it. However, the Qrephs, realizing Luke's actions, manage to escape to their Base Prime, located deep within the Chiloon Rift, before Han can be rescued. This leaves Luke and Leia to defend themselves against the Ormni's crew before Lando, Kaeg, and Jedi Knights Ben Skywalker and Tahiri Veila arrive to rescue them.

After Luke and Leia are rescued, they are informed of Dena Yus's betrayal (which was discovered before Han's capture) and the location of the Qrephs' Base Prime, revealed by the astromech droid of missing Knight Ohali Soroc, Ninette. The group then travels to Base Prime, situated atop a structure that may be the Mortis monolith, accompanied by a squadron of YVH droids for support. As the assault on Base Prime begins, Han manages to escape captivity alongside Ohali Soroc, her clone Ohali Two, and a psychotic Force-sensitive Mandalorian named Barduun, who later perishes during the confrontation with Ohali Two. Meanwhile, Craitheus is used as a shield by Savara Raine, secretly Vestara Khai, during her duel with Ben Skywalker, resulting in Craitheus being critically wounded. Marvid then betrays Vestara by abandoning her to die and replacing her with a human-Columi clone of her named Savara Two, whose creation Marvid had previously arranged. However, Vestara escapes with Mirta with the aid of the Sith Meditation Sphere known as Ship.

Luke, Han, and Leia reunite to confront the Qreph brothers inside the mysterious monolith atop Base Prime, which the Qrephs had planned to enter previously (requiring a Force-sensitive individual like Vestara or Savara Two). There, all six of them, including Savara Two, are transported to a mysterious world where the Qrephs are granted extraordinary Force abilities. Savara Two is killed by Luke, who uses the Force against her, and then he and Leia prevent the Qrephs from escaping back to the mortal realm. Ultimately, with both of them using the Force against the brothers, Leia kills Craitheus and Luke kills Marvid, before the human siblings disappear into the Force, leaving Han completely alone. However, he manages to bring Leia back first by saying her name, and Luke is brought back when his name is said. The three of them then leave the mysterious world thanks to Lando's guidance from the outside, and they leave with the knowledge that the light and dark sides of the Force are there to balance the Force out.

Three months later, Base Prime has been destroyed, the heart of the Chiloon Rift was cordoned off to prevent anyone from interacting with the enigmatic monolith, and Dena Yus is waiting to be judged for her betrayal. The novel then ends with Luke, Leia, Han, Lando, Ben, Tahiri, Kaeg, Ohali Soroc, and Jaina and Jagged Fel celebrating their victory in the Red Ronto.

• ISBN 9780345511423 ; July 9 , 2013 ; Del Rey ; US hardcover [1]
• ISBN 9780345511423 ; 2013; Del Rey; US hardcover, Science Fiction Book Club edition (1377030) [5]
• ISBN 9780345540898 ; July 9, 2013; Del Rey; US eBook [2]
• ISBN 9780345511430 ; July 1 , 2014 ; Del Rey; US paperback [3]