Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire was an audio drama, an adaptation by John Whitman, drawing from the source material in the book of the same title by William C. Dietz. Its purpose was to connect the narrative between the video games Dark Forces and Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. Peter Moore directed the performance, which incorporated music from the original Star Wars movies' musical score created by composer John Williams.
William Dietz's Dark Forces: Soldier for the Empire, part of the Star Wars saga, continues. This brilliantly written story sheds light on the events that shattered Kyle Katarn's young life, transforming him into a solitary figure devoted solely to revenge. The Rebel Alliance enlists Katarn, a freelance fighter, to assist their cause in numerous dangerous situations. However, Katarn's motivations for fighting the Empire are personal, and he has no loyalty to the Rebel cause. He is content to fight alongside the Rebel Alliance, as it allows him to oppose the powerful Empire, against which he harbors a deep-seated hatred. Katarn's troubled past reveals that he was once an Imperial soldier in training, dedicated to serving the Emperor.
After discovering the fate of his father, Kyle Katarn informs Jan Ors, the Rebel agent he helped escape Imperial captivity, that he has reconsidered his allegiance to the Empire. Before he can further contemplate his defection, he realizes that both he and Jan are under surveillance. Kyle allies himself with the Rebels as they hastily flee the cruise ship, Star of Empire, and soon finds himself a wanted man by the Empire. Jan introduces him to Mon Mothma, a Rebel leader who assigns him what appears to be a suicide mission. Kyle is tasked with infiltrating an Imperial research facility to steal the plans for the Empire's next superweapon, a mobile space station known as the Death Star. Mon Mothma also assigns Jan Ors to provide Kyle with support. Unbeknownst to Kyle, Jan has secret instructions: should Kyle exhibit any signs of being an Imperial double agent, she is to eliminate him before he can betray them.
- ISBN 9781565112025 ; March 1, 1997; HighBridge Audio; Cassette tape [1]
- ISBN 9781565112780 ; August 18, 1998; HighBridge Audio; Compact disc (part of the Collector's Trilogy) [4]