X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble, penned by Michael A. Stackpole, represents the second book in the X-Wing novel sequence and was made available in 1996. Henry Thomas lent his voice to the audiobook rendition.
Coruscant, a massive city-world serving as the battered and staggering Empire's dark core, is where the Imperial High Command orchestrates the war from towering structures. To cripple the Empire, the Rebels plan a daring invasion of this formidable stronghold. However, Wedge Antilles and his X-wing squadron must first secretly enter Coruscant to gather crucial intelligence. Being caught could mean death, or worse – subjugation by the ruthless "Iceheart," Ysanne Isard, who effectively rules as Emperor. Adding to the danger, a member of Rogue Squadron is already enslaved by her, a hidden traitor working to betray both the Rebellion and their comrades.
Following the Borleias conquest by the Rebels, Rogue Squadron faces challenges, including Imperial probes from the renegade Warlord Zsinj, the supposed demise of Bror Jace, and the integration of new, audacious pilots, Aril Nunb and Pash Cracken, into the squadron. Amid concerns about potential assaults from Zsinj's forces, the Alliance's Provisional Council, which includes Princess Leia Organa and Borsk Fey'lya, convenes and decides to proceed with an invasion of Coruscant. They determine that criminals from the Black Sun syndicate, imprisoned on Kessel, could be freed on Coruscant to foment resistance against the Empire. Consequently, the Rogues are initially dispatched to Kessel. There, they liberate several criminals previously incarcerated by Corran himself, including Zekka Thyne and his partner, Inyri Forge, who is the sister of former Rogue member Lujayne.
After the Black Sun operatives are strategically placed on Coruscant, the Rogue Squadron members are discreetly inserted into the planet in fragmented groups. Corran and Erisi Dlarit are paired together and rendezvous with Alliance Intelligence operative Winter. Wedge and Pash Cracken team up and meet with agent Iella Wessiri, Corran's former associate. The remaining Rogues are escorted by Mirax Terrik to the Invisisec, a clandestine refuge for many of Coruscant's impoverished non-Humans. After Mirax's cover is blown and she meets with Wedge, and Corran witnesses Tycho Celchu conversing with Imperial agent Kirtan Loor, the Rogues suspect the presence of a traitor within their ranks. Simultaneously, the Imperial forces, commanded by Ysanne Isard, are developing a virus that specifically targets non-Humans, known as the Krytos Virus, intending to cede Coruscant to the Rebels once it's ready. Their strategy involves overwhelming the Rebels with the resource strain of managing the virus outbreak, leading to their eventual defeat and loss of Coruscant.
Following the approval of plans devised by Admiral Ackbar and Fey'lya, the Rogues receive instructions to disable Coruscant's planetary shields at a precise moment to facilitate the Rebel assault. Despite facing minor setbacks, including the capture of Aril Nunb, the team devises a strategy. Informed of the impending Rebel invasion by a turncoat within Rogue Squadron, Isard expedites the virus's release, instructs Loor to remain as a form of resistance after the Rebel takeover, and prepares to evacuate the planet. Aided by Black Sun, a contingent of Bothan spies, and the collective resources of Alliance Intelligence on the planet, the Rogues successfully deactivate the shields, allowing the Rebel fleet to arrive. With only a pair of Star Destroyers assigned to defend the planet, it quickly falls under Rebel control. However, Corran, while investigating a departing vessel, crashes his Z-95 Headhunter when an external force seizes control. Although Aril Nunb is rescued, and the non-Human members of the Rogues receive treatment and are cured of the virus, the squadron is plunged into disarray by Corran's apparent death and Tycho's arrest as the suspected traitor responsible. The novel concludes with Corran awakening as a prisoner aboard a ship, where Isard reveals that he is en route to the Lusankya prison and torture facility.
- ISBN 0553568027 ; Released in May of 1996 , published by Bantam Spectra , comprising 357 pages in paperback format.
- ISBN 0553474197 ; Released in May 1996, published by Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing , presented as an abridged version on cassette.
- ISBN 3442247667 ; Released in May 1997 , published by Blanvalet , comprising 375 pages in German paperback format.
- ISBN unknown ; Published by Transworld Publishers , page count unknown, in UK paperback format.
- ISBN 0001054104 ; Released on September 15 , 1997, published by HarperCollins Publishers , UK abridged cassette edition.
- ISBN 9788025221723 , Released in August 2012, published by EGMONT ČR, comprising 348 pages, Czech paperback edition titled (X-wing: Wedgův gambit).
- ISBN 9780593497074 ; Released on April 5 , 2022 ; published by Del Rey ; US paperback edition; The Essential Legends Collection edition [2]