Ryder Windham penned the junior novel, The Clone Wars: Secret Missions 2: Curse of the Black Hole Pirates, which is a part of the Star Wars Legends continuity. This book represents the second installment in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Secret Missions series, arriving after The Clone Wars: Secret Missions 1: Breakout Squad (2009) and preceding The Clone Wars: Secret Missions 3: Duel at Shattered Rock (2011). Grosset & Dunlap initially released it on July 22, 2010.
Chancellor Palpatine dispatches Jedi Padawan Nuru Kungurama, along with the clone troopers comprising Breakout Squad—Breaker, Knuckles, Sharp, and Chatterbox—on a diplomatic assignment situated within the Unknown Regions. Aboard the Hasty Harpy, piloted by the unconventional cargo pilot Lalo Gunn, the youthful Jedi and his clone protectors are destined for an unforeseen shock as they stumble upon the notorious Black Hole Pirates.
On Bogg 5, a moon situated within the Bogden system, Cad Bane encounters Asajj Ventress. Ventress, accompanied by Jedi Master Ring-Sol Ambase and another pod, journeys to Dooku's secret base. Following a six-day voyage aboard the Hasty Harpy, Breakout Squad finally reaches Chiss space, only to discover a space station instead of a planet. During Nuru's meeting with the Chiss ambassador, a Separatist fleet, led by a Metalorn yacht, launches an assault on the station. Breakout Squad manages to escape and jump into hyperspace. Subsequently, they emerge from hyperspace unexpectedly near a black hole and are seized by pirates who identify themselves as the Black Hole Pirates. Upon recognizing their captives, the pirates claim to be afflicted by the black hole's curse. They proceed to a moon the pirates refer to as Plunder Moon. There, they unearth an ancient temple and utilize an Infinity Gate to teleport back to Chiss space. Upon their return, they successfully repel the Separatists and part ways. It is later revealed that Nuru is Kung'urama'nuruodo of the Second Ruling Family. Sometime later, Ring-Sol Ambase regains consciousness within Dooku's lair.
- ISBN 9780448453934 ; July 22 , 2010 ; Grosset & Dunlap ; US paperback [1]
- ISBN 9780141330518 ; 2010; Puffin Books ; UK paperback [3]