Lost Stars

On Jelucan, a planet situated in the Outer Rim, the Galactic Empire's influence has grown. Thane Kyrell, an aristocrat, and Ciena Ree, a rural resident, develop a strong friendship due to their shared enthusiasm for flying. For both of them, enrolling together in the Imperial Academy with the goal of becoming fighter pilots serving the glorious Empire is a dream come true. However, Thane's perspective shifts drastically when he witnesses firsthand the brutal strategies the Empire uses to maintain its strict control.

Thane, now embittered and disillusioned, makes the decision to join the burgeoning Rebellion. This places Ciena in a difficult situation, forcing her to choose between her allegiance to the Empire and her affection for the man she has known since their childhood.

As they find themselves on opposing sides of the conflict, will these former friends discover a means to reconcile, or will their obligations ultimately divide them and the entire galaxy?

The narrative commences in 11 BBY on Jelucan, a planet located in the Outer Rim. Following its recent annexation by the Galactic Empire, many of the planet's inhabitants are heading to the capital for an Imperial ceremony that will celebrate the event. Thane Kyrell and Ciena Ree, two young children, are traveling to the event alongside their families. Ciena's family resides in the valleys with the First Wavers, a group of hardworking individuals descended from the planet's original settlers. They adhere to a strict code of honor and make minimal use of technology. Thane's family belongs to the second wave of colonists, who are generally wealthier and reside in urban areas. Tensions often exist between Second Wavers and Valley Kindred, leading to strained relationships.

Despite their contrasting backgrounds, both children share a deep fascination with ships and the act of flying. They both take note of the same Lambda-class shuttle as it approaches the ceremony grounds. It turns out that Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin is aboard the shuttle, and he presides over the ceremony. While the people of Jelucan are observing, Thane and Ciena sneak away to inspect the ships. They independently come across the shuttle behind a security perimeter. However, they are not alone; a group of older second wave boys spots Ciena and begins to insult her for being from the valley. Thane, despite being a second waver himself, defends Ciena and gets into a fight with the older boys. Ciena joins him in the fight. Before the situation escalates, Tarkin and his entourage interrupt the altercation.

The older boys flee, but Thane and Ciena remain. Instead of punishing them, Tarkin begins to question them. Discovering their genuine interest in the ship, he quizzes them and quickly realizes that they are intelligent children. He invites them inside the shuttle, where they continue to impress him by identifying the controls. Tarkin delivers a speech about the glory of serving the Empire and the possibility that they could one day pilot a shuttle or even command a Star Destroyer for the Empire. This experience sets the two children on a new path: to attend an Imperial Academy and become officers in the Imperial Navy.

Five years later, Thane and Ciena have developed a strong friendship and become flight partners, despite their families' disapproval of their relationship. They train on Thane's brother's ship, which has been unused since he left for the academy. Over the course of several years, the two train together whenever possible, supporting each other and becoming an inseparable team. Ciena is there to encourage Thane when he reaches his physical limits, and Thane assists Ciena with her studies when she struggles. Their hard work pays off when they are both accepted into the most prestigious school: the Imperial Academy on Coruscant.

Upon their arrival, Thane and Ciena are immediately separated during the orientation process. They are assigned rooms and quickly befriend their new roommates. They reunite at a reception for new cadets. Along with their new friends, Thane and Ciena excel at the Academy, often competing for the top spot in their classes. As time goes on, their friendship deepens. However, they also begin to realize that their feelings for each other are evolving into something more. Thane notices that the valley girl he grew up with has blossomed into an attractive young woman. Ciena also has feelings for Thane but is confused and conflicted by them.

Their cohort continues to perform well until a few years into their academy careers. The group is participating in an exercise where they are tasked with building laser cannons from spare parts. Ciena's cannon functions perfectly, but Thane's fails to power on. The instructor soon discovers that it has been sabotaged. Inexplicably, the evidence points to Ciena as the culprit. Jude, Ciena's roommate, conducts her own investigation and concludes that Thane sabotaged his own cannon. With insufficient evidence to prove either scenario, neither of them is expelled, but they both fail the assignment. This causes them to lose their top positions in the class.

They both approach Jude to ask her to continue her investigation into the sabotage of Thane's cannon. She concludes that the Academy itself was responsible, citing politics and corruption within the ranks. Thane and Ciena have a major argument about whether or not they should take action. Thane insists that they should, but Ciena's sense of honor and loyalty prevents her from doing so. Thane storms off in anger.

Two and a half years pass, and the two continue to compete, climbing back to the top of their cohort. However, their competition is no longer friendly. They no longer socialize and drift apart in many ways. Thane begins to grow disillusioned with the Empire, while Ciena becomes even more loyal. They are assigned to different specializations as they near the end of their time at the Academy, with Thane focusing on Elite Flight and Ciena on Command. This further reduces their interactions. Despite the distance, they cannot deny the lifelong connection they share.

As graduation approaches, the top students are invited to attend a ball at the Imperial Palace. Naturally, Thane and Ciena are among those selected. They reconnect at the ball and begin to reconcile. With their friendship restored, Thane sees an opportunity to take their relationship further. However, he hesitates, not wanting to jeopardize their fragile bond. They are simply happy to be friends again.

After graduation, Ciena is assigned to the Star Destroyer Devastator, while Thane is assigned to a classified battle station as a TIE fighter pilot. They go their separate ways but promise to see each other as soon as possible, parting with a kiss on the cheek. A few weeks later, Ciena participates in the capture of the Tantive IV. She witnesses an empty escape pod launch from the ship toward the desert planet below. The Devastator's next destination is the Death Star. Upon learning this, Ciena contacts Thane, who is now stationed there. They are excited about the prospect of seeing each other again.

Before they have the chance to meet, Alderaan is destroyed. They both witness the event. Thane's TIE squadron is dispatched to Dantooine to investigate the Rebel Alliance base that is reportedly located there. Upon discovering the abandoned base, he finally realizes that the Rebel Alliance is not the disorganized group he had been led to believe. They are organized and well-equipped. His faith in the Empire continues to diminish. On the Devastator, Ciena notices that the data feeds from the Death Star have gone dark. Although her superiors deny it, she suspects that the station and all of her academy friends aboard it are likely dead. This was confirmed when she was ordered to escort Lord Vader from his TIE fighter back to the Devastator, as well as to scout out the wreckage of the Death Star to confirm whether or not it was truly gone, the ensuing wreckage and mangled metal was the only view she could see for miles around. She had confirmation that her friend Jude was dead, this fear was intensified by the aura of Darth Vader and the wheezing noise of his respirator apparatus, her fear was so great that she had been frozen stiff in her place. Berisse Sai had tried to ease her fear by joking that, "He's a bit tense in person the first time meeting him." Her pain and woe of the loss of her friend Jude was eased by her new found friend, Berisse, the faltering loyalty to the Empire was added onto when the Imperial news had reported that the Death Star had "been damaged by Rebel forces."

Thane's squadron returns to the fleet from Dantooine, where he encounters Ciena. She had believed that he had died on the Death Star. They share their first kiss, only for Thane to be deployed to a garrison on the spice world of Kerev Doi. It is here that Thane reaches his breaking point. After witnessing the mistreatment of Bodach'i slaves, Thane's disillusionment reaches its peak, and he realizes that he must escape. He calls Ciena, and they have a serious conversation. They are unable to express their true feelings due to monitoring by the Imperial Security Bureau, but they both understand what they need to do. Thane believes that they both agree to desert at the first opportunity, while Ciena believes that they agree to remain true to their oaths and serve, attempting to reform the Empire from within.

Thane deserts and returns to Jelucan. Ciena volunteers to find him. In the wake of the Death Star's destruction, the Empire is willing to welcome him back without punishment. She finds him, and their misunderstanding comes to light. Ciena pleads with him to return, but he refuses. She realizes that this is likely the last time she will see him, and they finally make love. Afterward, they confess their love for each other and realize that they must go their separate ways. Ciena tells Thane to leave the planet, as she will report him as AWOL after a week. Despite this threat, she ultimately returns to the Devastator and reports Thane as dead.

Eighteen months after the destruction of the Death Star, Thane meets with Rebel pilot Wedge Antilles during a supply run. After a long night of drinking and talking, Thane becomes convinced that the Rebellion is his best option for fighting against the Empire's tyranny. While he does not fully subscribe to their idealistic principles, it seems like the most effective course of action. Simultaneously, Ciena is transferred to the Super Star Destroyer Executor when Darth Vader transfers his flag to the new ship. She is aboard when the probe droid locates the Rebel base on Hoth. Thane, now a Rebel, is stationed there. Shortly before the Battle of Hoth Thane converses with Dak Ralter. After having retreated back to the base at the end of the battle and exiting his Snowspeeder he switches vessel and escapes to the rendezvous point in his X-wing. As he departs from Hoth, he sees the Imperial fleet and realizes that he might one day encounter Ciena in battle and unknowingly kill her.

After being instructed to coordinate the TIE fighters pursuing the Millennium Falcon through the asteroid field, Ciena goes off duty and studies the battle tapes from Hoth. She recognizes Thane's flying skills and realizes that he has joined the Rebellion. As the Empire pursues the Falcon to Cloud City on Bespin, Ciena is tasked with leading a team to sabotage the ship's hyperdrive. She succeeds, but it is later repaired, and the Falcon escapes. Ciena is certain that she will be executed for her failure, but Vader simply walks away.

Back on Jelucan, Ciena's mother is accused of embezzling funds from the mine where she works as a supervisor. Ciena knows that this is impossible and requests leave to stand by her mother in accordance with her people's traditions. She arrives to find that Thane is the only person who has come to support her mother. From his perspective, he returns to support her, but also in an attempt to move on from her. He believes that meeting her again will prove to him that the Empire has corrupted the good person she once was. However, this turns out not to be the case, although their reunion is strained. Thane convinces Ciena to go flying with him, just like they used to. They do so and realize that nothing has changed between them, except that they are now on opposing sides of a war. They return to the fortress, their secret childhood hideout near Thane's parents' hangar. There, they have a heated exchange and then make love for a second time.

Thane attempts to recruit her into the Rebellion, but he fails. Ciena believes that if all the good people abandon the Empire, it will become even worse. Thane leaves Jelucan while he still has the chance. Ciena's mother is found guilty and sentenced to hard labor. Ciena returns to the fleet after realizing that she could not defend her mother without sacrificing her career in the Imperial Navy.

Some time later, the Executor arrives at the second Death Star. Ciena has mixed feelings about the fact that they have built another one. Meanwhile, Thane prepares for the impending Battle of Endor. Two days later, Ciena participates in what she believes is a practice TIE scramble. It turns out to be the Battle of Endor. Ciena is caught in the blast wave from the station, and her TIE is destroyed. Thane celebrates the Rebellion's victory over the Empire on Endor.

Ciena survives, but she is impaled by debris and forced to take medical leave. During this time, the New Republic establishes a provisional council, and the galaxy begins to undergo significant changes. Ciena is eventually cleared for duty, promoted to captain, and given command of her own Star Destroyer, the Inflictor, at the young age of 25.

As she assumes command, she receives orders to participate in a major battle between the Empire and the New Republic above the desert world of Jakku. Meanwhile, Thane and Corona Squadron are tasked with boarding and attempting to capture Imperial ships, as the Republic needs to strengthen its fleet. Thane and his team end up on the Inflictor. The Empire is losing the Battle of Jakku, and the Inflictor is sustaining heavy damage. Ciena realizes that her ship is being boarded and initiates the self-destruct sequence. However, it has been disabled by the Rebel boarders. She locks herself on the bridge and sets the ship on a collision course with Jakku.

After her announcement, Thane realizes her plan, forces his way onto the bridge, and tries to persuade her to save herself by coming with him. She refuses, and an intense fight ensues. Thane manages to stun her as the ship plummets into the atmosphere. They reach an escape pod and launch, but it is too low. After a rough landing, they are met by a New Republic team. Ciena is arrested as an Imperial war criminal. She awaits trial, but Thane is confident that she will be released, as he now believes in the Republic's inherent goodness and fairness. He vows to wait for her for as long as it takes so that they can be together.

A month after the Battle of Jakku, the Empire has ceased launching major offensives and has retreated to the Core Worlds and Inner Rim. Within the New Republic government, there is discussion about the remnants of the Empire capitulating. Meanwhile, in the Queluhan Nebula, the Imperial fleet rearms and restaffs with conscripts. Nash, a TIE squadron commander, vows to avenge Ciena's presumed death on the rebels.

• ISBN 9781484724989 ; Released on September 4 , 2015 ; Published by Disney–Lucasfilm Press ; US hardcover edition [2]
• ISBN 9781405277884 ; Released on October 8 , 2015 ; Published by Egmont UK Ltd ; UK paperback edition [7]
• ISBN 9781368013789 ; Released on August 1 , 2017 ; Published by Disney–Lucasfilm Press; US paperback edition [3]