The High Republic: The Great Jedi Rescue (initially known as The Great Disaster) is a book geared towards young readers, existing within the broader Star Wars: The High Republic transmedia narrative. Disney–Lucasfilm Press released it, complete with stickers, on January 5, 2021. An audiobook version from Disney–Lucasfilm Press became available on September 19, 2024.
The Legacy Run, a Galactic Republic vessel, is transporting colonists and supplies along a key hyperspace lane when the ship's navigator detects an anomaly within the hyperlane. Captain Hedda Casset assumes direct control of the vessel, attempting to maneuver to avoid a collision. During the effort to revert to realspace, the Legacy Run is torn asunder because of its aged condition and the overcrowded state of its compartments, packed with individuals and goods.
The wreckage of the destroyed Legacy Run, including cargo containers and passenger sections, begins to drift in the direction of Hetzal Prime, an agricultural planet. With the debris on a collision course, planetary authorities issue an urgent evacuation order. However, there isn't sufficient time to complete the evacuation process. Fortunately for the people of Hetzal Prime, the Jedi Order sends a message assuring them that assistance is en route.
The Jedi deploy a Longbeam cruiser, which launches three Jedi Vector starfighters manned by Te'Ami, a Duros; Mikkel Sutmani, an Ithorian; Nib Assek, a human woman; and her Wookiee Padawan, Burryaga Agaburry. Te'Ami suggests destroying the debris before impact with Hetzal Prime. Using the Force, Burryaga senses that people remain trapped inside a passenger compartment. On Hetzal Prime, Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm and his Padawan Bell Zettifar discover armed guards preventing farmers from entering a starship hangar. The pair dismount from their Vectors to offer assistance to the local population.
In orbit, the Jedi, including Burryaga and Nib, collaborate to secure the detached passenger compartment, employing the Force to decelerate the falling debris so that the Longbeam can secure it with durable cables. On the surface of Hetzal Prime, Loden and Bell attempt, without success, to persuade the guards to allow the evacuees into the starship hangar. A band of opportunistic pirates on speeder bikes attempt to assault the evacuees, but the two Jedi utilize their lightsabers and Force abilities to redirect blaster fire back at the pirates' speeders, defeating them. Moved by the Jedi's willingness to endanger themselves for strangers, the guards decide to unlock the gates for the evacuees.
In the meantime, the Longbeam completes the process of securing the detached passenger compartment using retro thrusters. Jedi Master Avar Kriss, overseeing the rescue operation on Hetzal Prime, alerts her Jedi colleagues that another compartment containing hyperfuel is headed toward the planet's suns. Although the Jedi are unable to halt the cargo container's trajectory, Master Kriss encourages all the Jedi to combine their Force abilities telepathically to alter the fuel container's path. By uniting their telepathic Force powers, the Jedi guide the hyperfuel container to bypass Hetzal Prime's three suns, preventing a fiery catastrophe from engulfing the Hetzal system. Through the Force, Burryaga perceives the relief felt by the Jedi and the inhabitants of Hetzal Prime.
The passengers aboard the careening wreckage were moved to a Republic vessel, where medical droids examined them. Subsequently, these passengers were transported to Starlight Beacon, the new Jedi space station, which serves as the Republic and Jedi Order's new outpost in frontier space. Burryaga and his fellow Jedi who participated in the Hetzal Prime rescue mission attend the space station's dedication ceremony. In front of an applauding crowd, the Jedi raise their lightsabers and reaffirm their commitment to safeguarding light and life, and to serving as guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy.
- In Light of the Jedi, Hedda Casset is portrayed as having grey hair and describes herself as an "old lady," but in this book, she is depicted with predominantly dark hair and a somewhat younger appearance.
- This book shows Avar Kriss' response to the Hetzal system's distress signal as a full-body hologram, whereas Light of the Jedi presents it as an audio-only transmission.
- The narrative indicates that hyperfuel was inside the cargo container moving towards the Hetzal system's suns, but The High Republic: Light of the Jedi claims it was Tibanna.
- Te'Ami is described as having green skin in Light of the Jedi, but this book depicts her with blue skin.
- ISBN 9781368069830; January 5, 2021; Disney–Lucasfilm Press; US paperback [1]
- ISBN 9781368074254; January 26, 2021; Disney–Lucasfilm Press; eBook [2]
- ISBN 9781760509682; September 29, 2021; Hardie Grant Publishing; Australian hardcover [3]