Rebel Dream: The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines I, penned by Aaron Allston and hitting shelves on March 26, 2002, serves as a part of the broader New Jedi Order series and is the initial installment in the Enemy Lines duology. A segment of this novel was featured in the paperback release of Cloak of Deception. An audiobook adaptation became available on February 20, 2007.
The narrative centers on Wedge Antilles' leadership of the New Republic's response after the Yuuzhan Vong seized Coruscant, the galactic capital. Familiar faces and celebrated figures of the New Republic, such as Luke Skywalker, Han and Leia Solo, Lando Calrissian, Wedge Antilles, along with Jaina Solo, unite in what seems like an impossible defense of Borleias against overwhelming enemy numbers.
With the Yuuzhan Vong's destructive advances persisting without resistance, Luke Skywalker, Han and Leia Solo, and Wedge Antilles find themselves compelled to obliterate that which they risked everything to establish…
Following the Yuuzhan Vong's invasion of Coruscant, the terrified members of the New Republic Advisory Council scatter, pausing briefly to establish a superficial defense on nearby Borleias—a ploy to gain time that deceives no one, especially not the Jedi.
Leia and Han Solo embark on a journey from planet to planet, igniting rebellion against the New Republic's failed appeasement strategies. However, Luke Skywalker undertakes the most perilous task: infiltrating the Yuuzhan Vong's stronghold on Coruscant. His audacious plan for entry is either ingenious or suicidal, contingent on the outcome. A Yuuzhan Vong invasion fleet rapidly approaches Borleias, determined to eradicate the galaxy's remaining defenders…
Wedge Antilles, leading Fleet Group Three, retreats from the catastrophe at Coruscant to Borleias, now under Yuuzhan Vong control, with the intention of reclaiming the planet. Spearheading the assault are Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker, Corran Horn, Rogue Squadron, and the Wild Knights under Saba Sebatyne's command. The Star Destroyer Mon Mothma breaches enemy defenses, allowing Lando Calrissian and his YVH-Series battle droids to land, alongside other New Republic forces. Following the destruction of an enemy rakamat, the planet is quickly secured. Wedge deploys his forces at the former site of the Alderaan Biotics facility, preparing to defend the planet, despite uncertainty about the government's status and his family's whereabouts.
Simultaneously, former Kuati senator Viqi Shesh is held captive by the Yuuzhan Vong, facing execution for her failure to capture Ben Skywalker. However, she manages to persuade Warmaster Tsavong Lah to spare her life by convincing him that his new arm implant is being sabotaged by shapers and priests.
Back on Borleias, Wedge's strategy is complicated by the arrival of Councilor Pwoe and his associates. Following the death of Borsk Fey'lya, Pwoe asserts his claim to the position of Chief of State. He instructs Wedge to defend Borleias as a rearguard, while secretly planning to negotiate a settlement with the Yuuzhan Vong. Wedge agrees, but only after securing control of the Lusankya, complete authority over all forces near Borleias, and the freedom to recruit volunteers. Pwoe reluctantly concedes, leaving Wedge to his plans as he flees the planet. Wedge, along with key figures like the Skywalkers, Lando, and Booster Terrik, establishes a group known as the Insiders to create resistance cells independent of the New Republic, aimed at fighting the Vong on both conquered and spared worlds.
Wedge receives additional intelligence when Wolam Tser, a renowned documentarian, and his assistant Tam Elgrin arrive from occupied Coruscant. Unbeknownst to Wolam and the New Republic forces, Tam is under Yuuzhan Vong mental control, forced to spy for them under Viqi Shesh's direction.
Tsavong Lah responds to the New Republic's occupation of Borleias by dispatching a large war fleet under Wyrpuuk Cha to reclaim the planet and avenge the Vong's humiliation. Wedge plans a prolonged, intensive campaign against the commander, allowing the Yuuzhan Vong to slowly achieve their objectives, but at a devastating cost in lives and resources. However, during what was intended as a feigned battle, the Lusankya and the Millennium Falcon emerge from hyperspace within the enemy fleet, forcing Wedge to immediately destroy the Yuuzhan Vong fleet to prevent further losses. Fortunately, Danni Quee informs Wedge that the yammosk coordinators were swiftly eliminated, giving the New Republic forces the advantage needed to quickly defeat Cha and his fleet.
Wedge, however, is deeply dissatisfied. The Super Star Destroyer's arrival not only disrupted his plan but also brought politically problematic personnel with limited competence. The Lusankya's captain, Eldo Davip, is merely a Commander on a ship that warrants an Admiral in command. Han and Leia Organa Solo meet with Wedge and are recruited into the Insiders. Their initial mission is to transport the Jedi survivors of the Mission to Myrkr to safety in the Maw.
The loss of Cha's fleet angers Tsavong Lah, who is also investigating potential treachery among the shapers and priests. Realizing the need for a more skilled commander, he consults his father, Czulkang Lah, a renowned but aging Yuuzhan Vong tactician who currently trains young warriors. He persuades Czulkang to lead a massive fleet to Borleias and completely destroy the garrison. Simultaneously, he summons Nen Yim to examine his implants for signs of sabotage.
While on Borleias, Luke Skywalker experiences disturbing visions of the dark side of the Force on Coruscant. He begins to plan a journey there, a plan strongly opposed by his wife, who wants to remain close to their infant son, Ben. Iella Wessiri Antilles, recently arrived on Borleias, offers the services of New Republic Intelligence, including Wraith Squadron, to assist Luke. Meanwhile, Lando devises a plan to surprise Yuuzhan Vong forces targeting refugee ships. When a Yuuzhan Vong ship intercepts a refugee vessel, they are ambushed by Rogue Squadron, and their boarding team faces Alema Rar and Lando's droids. The Vong team is quickly defeated and eliminated in the ensuing battle.
Meanwhile, Jaina Solo, Kyp Durron, and Jagged Fel arrive on Borleias from Hapes. As Luke prepares to go to Coruscant, he offers Jaina command of his Twin Suns Squadron so she can employ psychological warfare against the Yuuzhan Vong by impersonating Yun-Harla, the Vong's Trickster Goddess. Jag and Kyp also join this elite squadron, and with Wedge's approval, Jaina begins her role as a Yuuzhan Vong deity. During a practice run, Czulkang Lah's fleet arrives, and one of the ships launches living hostages on a trajectory towards Borleias, condemning them to die as fiery meteors. Thanks to skillful flying by Jag, Jaina, and Kyp, most of the hostages are rescued. However, Wedge realizes that this new commander is far more formidable than Cha had been. To counter this new threat, Wedge conceives the Starlancer Project, a fake superweapon. Lah quickly learns of this weapon through Yuuzhan Vong scouts and Tam Elgrin, who has been spying on Danni Quee, but refrains from killing her, believing she does not deserve death.
Jaina nearly decides to accompany Luke and Mara to Coruscant, but Tahiri Veila dissuades her, explaining that the Yuuzhan Vong highly value the Twin sacrifice, and if Jacen is alive, she would be captured and likely forced to fight to the death by Jaina's presumed dead brother Jacen. Tahiri volunteers to go in her place, leaving Jaina to resolve her issues with Jag and Kyp. However, Jaina remains emotionally distant, isolating herself due to the Yuuzhan Vong War claiming those she loved, such as Chewbacca and her youngest brother Anakin, and she fears that if the war continues, she will die. She does not want her loved ones, including her parents, uncle Luke, aunt Mara, and others, to grieve for her as they have for Chewbacca and Anakin.
Wedge initiates a test of the Starlancer weapon while the Millennium Falcon begins its mission to the Maw, and as expected, Yuuzhan Vong forces converge on the New Republic's deception. However, Czulkang Lah is more interested in capturing Jaina Solo than destroying the weapon, and thanks to a tracking device placed by Tam Elgrin, he identifies her fighter. Jagged Fel, aided by a pair of Jedi shadow bombs, breaches the interdiction net, allowing Twin Suns to escape, but becomes trapped in the process. Jaina refuses to abandon him, and she and Kyp Durron disobey Wedge Antilles to rescue him. After they land, Jag asks Jaina why she saved him, and she replies that she is tired of everyone leaving her. Jag assures her that he will not leave, and he convinces Wedge Antilles that she made the right decision.
Czulkang Lah, frustrated by his failure to capture Jaina, reluctantly prepares a full-scale assault on Borleias, encouraged by his son, who is convinced of the danger of the Starlancer weapon. Following her near-death experience in combat, Jaina reconciles with her mother upon Leia's return to Borleias, resolving a long-standing conflict between them.
Amidst the chaos of the Yuuzhan Vong attack, Lando Calrissian transports Luke, Mara, Tahiri, and the Wraiths to Coruscant, where they descend from orbit in disguised drop pods. Although the Record Time is destroyed, Lando escapes in a B-wing starfighter, with YVH 1-1A, back to Borleias.
Back on Borleias, Tam overcomes his brainwashing and confesses everything, preventing the Yuuzhan Vong from tracking Jaina Solo. Despite the advance warning, the New Republic forces are slowly pushed back by the overwhelming numbers, and even the best efforts of Twin Suns and Rogue Squadron cannot prevent the ground outpost from falling. However, just as the New Republic troops and pilots are completely surrounded, the Lusankya launches a devastating orbital bombardment on the massed Vong troops, annihilating the invasion force. In light of the loss, Czulkang Lah withdraws his forces, and the New Republic forces, joined by Lando, celebrate their victory.
- ISBN 0345428668 ; March 26 , 2002 ; Del Rey ; US paperback
- ISBN 9788025215975 ; January 18 , 2011 ; EGMONT ČR ; Czech paperback