The ninth comic book in the Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron comic series is X-Wing Rogue Squadron 9, which carries the additional title of "Battleground: Tatooine, Chapter 1". Dark Horse Comics made it available on June 25, 1996.
The level of crime and death that Jabba the Hutt was responsible for pales in comparison to the upheaval that followed his passing! Jabba's heritage involves a stash of stolen Imperial weaponry and hardware, stashed away somewhere on the desert planet of Tatooine. Whoever unearths this treasure will possess enough firepower to control the entire planet, maybe even the whole sector! Consequently, Rogue Squadron needs to locate it before someone else does, or they might find themselves on the receiving end of it!
Wedge Antilles and Admiral Gial Ackbar are watching a recording made by a stormtrooper that captures an incident involving a man called Lirin Banolt. The recording, which was made on Tatooine not long after the abduction of Princess Leia in 0 BBY, depicts the trooper attacking Banolt for possessing additional I.D. cards. The trooper murders Banolt, even though Banolt insists on his loyalty to the Emperor and that he has high-ranking friends within the Empire. Ackbar informs Antilles that Banolt used to impersonate an Imperial agent, providing "exclusive deals" in exchange for bribes, only to vanish and restart the con under a different identity. Surprisingly, it was discovered that Banolt owned an Imperial Holonet transceiver, which suggests that he may have indeed had connections to the Empire. Ackbar instructs Antilles to take Rogue Squadron to Tatooine to investigate and rendezvous with their operative there, but he cautions him to be wary of the lawlessness that has ensued following the death of Jabba the Hutt. Tycho Celchu believes that the agent is Winter, because Ackbar referred to the agent as "she".
Winter is getting ready for Rogue Squadron's arrival in Mos Eisley, and she intends to use Huff Darklighter's gathering for the anniversary of his son Biggs' death as a disguise. The Rogues divide up within the city to attempt to gather information on the ongoing gang conflicts while keeping a low profile. As Antilles, Celchu, and Elscol Loro arrive in their X-Wings to formally attend the reception, a hooded spy notifies Firith Olan of the Rogues' presence. The Twi'lek, who is plotting from Jabba's palace, intends to launch an attack that evening.
Loro voices her displeasure at having to mingle with Imperial sympathizers like Huff Darklighter as Antilles and Loro get ready for the reception. Antilles understands her sentiments, but he urges her to do what is necessary for the mission. Celchu is getting ready to meet his date when Betsi startles him; however, Winter quickly steps in to claim Celchu, asking him to refer to her by the alias "Windmere Wellen".
Wes Janson, Dllr Nep, Hobbie Klivin, and Plour Ilo are at a bar taking in a music performance. Plour instigates a fight after a Gran irritates her, and the Rogues depart. A Devaronian approaches them as they leave, offering to hire them for a job that is supposedly to persuade a client to pay off gambling debts. The Rogues take the job for eight hundred credits, distrusting the man but deciding to go along with it until they learn the truth about the situation.
Huff is reminiscing with Antilles about the Death Star trench run at the Darklighters' reception, arguing that his son Biggs became a hero by staying in the fight while Antilles ran away, even though Antilles had been ordered to leave the battle after his ship sustained damage. While observing an ice sculpture of Biggs that is melting, Celchu tells Winter about how he was speaking with his family on Alderaan over the Holonet when the Empire destroyed the planet, which was the event that turned Celchu into a rebel.
Raiders show up at the reception and start attacking everyone. Winter and Celchu make a move to get a valuable data disk that is locked in Darklighter's safe, as Winter had planned the raid as a diversion. A fierce battle breaks out despite their claims that they were instructed not to hurt anyone. A group of Rodians take the disk from Darklighter's safe, which leads Winter to believe that the attackers weren't the raiders she had hired. As Antilles, Loro, Celchu, and Winter chase after the attackers, Darklighter examines the devastation and curses Firith Olan's name.