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X-Wing: Mercy Kill

X-Wing: Mercy Kill, a Star Wars Legends tale, marks the tenth and concluding installment of the Star Wars: X-Wing saga. Aaron Allston penned this story, which Del Rey initially released as a hardcover on August 7, 2012. The initial paperback version became available on June 25, 2013.

What the Publisher Says

Hardcover Version

Rear Cover Text

The Wraith Squadron's X-wing masters are back, diving headfirst into a high-stakes mission. They'll need all their cunning and firepower to outmaneuver a renegade Imperial General.

Inside Cover Text

It's been three decades since Wraith Squadron's last operation. This elite X-Wing unit, composed of rebels and outcasts, took on the most perilous missions, becoming legends during the Rebellion and the Second Galactic Civil War. Eventually, they disbanded and pursued their own paths. Now, their unique skills are urgently needed for a mission specifically designed for Wraith Squadron.

A respected general within the Galactic Alliance Army is under suspicion for involvement in the notorious Lecersen Conspiracy. This conspiracy almost returned the Alliance to the Empire's cruel control. Tasked with uncovering and capturing the traitor, with full authority to use any means necessary, the Wraiths will become thieves, pirates, impostors, and forgers. They'll also become targets, as they risk everything in a daring plan against a deadly foe.

Story Synopsis

The narrative commences in 13 ABY. Imperial Admiral Kosh Teradoc encounters a Captain Hachat to acquire a valuable piece of art. Their meeting occurs in a cantina on the planet of Ryvester. After Dr. Mulus Cheems authenticates the artwork, Teradoc decides to seize all of Hachat's wealth. When Hachat resorts to insults, Teradoc threatens imprisonment. The situation escalates into a violent confrontation, with Hachat, actually Garik "Face" Loran, abducting Cheems and escaping with the rest of Wraith Squadron, including Elassar Targon, Voort "Piggy" saBinring, Kell Tainer, Hohass "Runt" Ekwesh, Shalla Nelprin, and Bettin. Amidst the ensuing chaos, Teradoc secures the artwork. With Cheems now in their custody, Wraith Squadron informs him of their rescue from Teradoc, acknowledging his captivity. Cheems expresses his gratitude. The artwork, in reality, was a collection of explosives that detonated within Teradoc's base, resulting in his demise. Cheems had deceived Teradoc about the artwork's authenticity to save his own life.

In 19 ABY, Piggy, a Wraith member, undertakes another mission with fellow Wraiths Shalla and Runt. They successfully destroy an Imperial station just before the New Republic's war with the Empire concludes. During this operation, Piggy laments Shalla's impending retirement as the war nears its end.

In 29 ABY, towards the conclusion of the Yuuzhan Vong War, on Chashima, Piggy serves as a sniper for Runt and Estoric Sandskimmer as they flee from a shaper damutek with a newly developed secret Vong weapon. Despite Piggy's assistance, both Wraith members are killed. Piggy is compelled to perform a mercy killing on Runt, shooting him to end his suffering from the amphistaff venom. Piggy subsequently resigns, abandoning his nickname, due to the painful and pointless death of Runt. The weapon the Vong developed proved ineffective against the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, which now held the upper hand.

The narrative then advances to 44 ABY on Ayceezee, where Voort works as a mathematics professor. Face Loran finds him and persuades him to return to prove that Galactic Alliance General Stavin Thaal was involved in the Lecersen Conspiracy.

Voort and Face journey to Coruscant, where Face introduces Voort to Myri Antilles and Trey Courser while Wraith Squadron is in the midst of a mission. This mission involves disabling a spaceport and hijacking a GA military transport. Myri, Trey, and Voort proceed to their "unsafe house," where they meet the rest of Wraith Squadron, including its leader Bhindi Drayson, Jesmin Tainer, Turman Durra, and Viull "Scut" Gorsat, who is revealed to be an Extolled Yuuzhan Vong member. After Wraith Squadron evades the GA military, Voort initially distrusts Scut due to his origins. However, despite Scut's personal reservations about Voort, they learn to cooperate as they and the rest of the squadron plot to expose General Thaal's involvement in the Lecersen Conspiracy.

While the others work to prove Thaal's guilt, Voort, Myri, and Trey are dispatched to Vandor-3 for a droid subversion mission. The planet is occupied by soldiers loyal to Thaal, known as Pop-Dogs. This mission could aid the squadron's investigation. After several days, the Wraith trio convinces the soldiers that they represent an anti-violent movement called the Quad-Linked Militant Pacifists. This ruse leads to increased security, allowing more blasters to be smuggled in, enabling Voort, Myri, and Trey to sneak in miniature droids disguised as blasters. Bhindi soon recalls Voort and Trey from Vandor-3, while Myri remains to continue the mission.

Wraith Squadron travels to Imperial territory and boards the Bastion Princess to further their investigation into Thaal's guilt. After sabotaging the ship, they escape via escape pod and are picked up by a Burst Fire-class Deep-Space Patrol Vessel named the Concussor. Wraith Squadron seizes control of the ship, stranding the crew on a habitable planet with ample supplies. Bhindi then sends Myri a message to deliver to Thaal on Coruscant. The message, from Turman disguised as Imperial Lieutenant Commander Avvan Hocroft, proposes a partnership with Thaal for power. If Thaal responds, Wraith Squadron can gather evidence proving his involvement in the Lecersen Conspiracy. Myri successfully delivers the message to Thaal, but he sends Alliance Captain Voyce Evlen, commanding the corvette Starhook, to confront the Concussor instead. Evlen discovers the Wraiths' plan and attacks the Concussor with her fleet. The attack cripples the Concussor, forcing the Wraiths to evacuate via shuttle, with Voort using a TIE interceptor to provide cover.

Wraith Squadron secretly returns to Vandor-3 via Tatooine to reunite with Myri. Although Thaal didn't respond to Hocroft's proposal, the Wraiths, based on Voort's reasoning, conclude that Thaal is guilty and deliberately feigning stupidity, planning to retire soon. They decide to infiltrate the Caridan animal exhibit, which they suspect is under Thaal's ownership due to his occupation of Vandor-3 during the Yuuzhan Vong War.

On Coruscant, Face interviews Thaal's most recent ex-wife, Zehrinne, seeking evidence of his involvement in the Lecersen Conspiracy. He finds no substantial evidence, only that Thaal has had multiple wives. Face learns that during the Lecersen Conspiracy, equipment from HyperTech Industries, particularly comlinks, was stolen but never recovered. He relays this information to Wraith Squadron as they arrive on Vandor-3, justifying their investigation of the animal exhibit. Face is then pursued by three assassins. He kills two of the assassins and tricks the remaining one into believing he died in a bomb explosion in his airspeeder. Wraith Squadron presumes Face is dead. However, Face's wife, Dia Passik, kills the remaining assassin when he tries to kill her and her daughter, Adra.

The squad's investigation reveals that Thaal has been storing and secretly selling thermal detonators and other illegal items, including sabotaged comlinks designed to relay information back to Thaal. Myri and Trey also discover and free Usan Joyl and Dashan Joyl, the former being a renowned identity forger. The squad prepares to leave before encountering another Wraith Squadron led by Sharr Latt, with members Thaymes Fodrick, Drikall Bessarah, Wran Narcassan, and Huhunna. They are also investigating Thaal. The exhibit's security discovers both Wraith Squadrons, forcing a rapid escape. Their pursuers corner them, forcing Myri and Jesmin to return to Ackbar City on foot to call for backup, while Bhindi and Huhunna provide cover. Bhindi is shot, and the two squads take refuge in Mount Lyss, fending off attackers for days. Usan explains that Thaal has been using him to surgically and genetically alter his and his loyal soldiers' appearances to evade punishment for crime and treason, even changing their background histories. Huhunna arrives with the wounded Bhindi. Despite Drikall's medical efforts, Bhindi dies, failing to pass on command. Voort takes command, despite Scut's reluctance. Voort and Scut discuss the Yuuzhan Vong's issues with the Gamorrean, with Scut criticizing Voort's irrationality and lack of love, which cloud his judgment. Voort continues as leader, receiving backup from Wedge Antilles and Tycho Celchu piloting StealthX X-wing starfighters, escorting a shuttle piloted by Kirney Slane to extract both Wraith teams. Before leaving, the Wraiths leave Bhindi's body behind, rigged with a bomb to kill Thaal's searchers. Thaal believes the late Ton Phanan is still leading the Wraiths.

The combined Wraiths travel to Kuratooine, suspecting Thaal will retire as the millionaire Thadley Biolan, possibly marrying the singer Ledina Chott. Voort resolves his issues with Scut and his feelings about Runt's death, fully embracing his role as leader and devising a final plan to bring Thaal to justice. Dr. Cheems helps Wraith Squadron forge jewels for the plan, grateful for their rescue 31 years prior and because he is Scut's adoptive father. Voort has Trey disguise himself as Biolan/Thaal, and he and other Wraith members kidnap Ledina to frame Thaal, bringing her to a warehouse used for criminal activities. Voort and Myri create chaos in X-wings to attract military attention, while the other Wraiths perform their duties elsewhere on Kuratooine. Thaal arrives, tricked by Turman into believing he is part of a species with valuable jewels (Scut created the alien suit). The Wraiths use Thaal's genetic disguise against him, convincing the public he is wearing makeup to appear as he did before his transformation. Thaal is arrested, and the Wraiths leave secretly. Voort, now reclaiming the name Piggy, enjoyed himself (dancing to an independent band to attract attention and witnesses).

The novel concludes with the revelation that Face survived the assassination attempt and confronts General Borath Maddeus, head of Galactic Alliance Security. Face accuses Maddeus of being part of the Lecersen Conspiracy with Thaal and helping him escape prison after the events on Kuratooine. Face reveals that Maddeus hired him to reassemble Wraith Squadron as a front to uncover Thaal's guilt, so Face assembled two squadrons to mislead Maddeus. Maddeus is arrested, and Thaal is returned to prison. Face becomes the head of GAS, with Wraith Squadron now a secret, unofficial unit.

Production Notes

X-Wing: Mercy Kill, released in August 2012, is the final Star Wars narrative crafted by Aaron Allston before his passing in February 2014.

Canon Notes

On page 152, Piggy, piloting a TIE/IN interceptor, is described as raising its deflector shield's and later escaping using its hyperdrive. However, standard TIE interceptors lack shields and a hyperdrive. Previous X-Wing novels established that Imperial officers or high-ranking pilots could have interceptors equipped with shields and/or hyperdrives.

On page 156, an error occurs during the 29 ABY chapter. The narration states that Piggy cannot risk opening a comm channel to Bhindi Drayson due to the New Republic Intelligence Service's beliefs about the shapers' nest on Chashima. By this time, the New Republic had been replaced by the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, and New Republic Intelligence was replaced by the Galactic Alliance Intelligence Service.

On the back cover, Thaal is referred to as an "Imperial General," despite serving the Galactic Alliance at the time.

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