Star Wars: Cataclysm (The High Republic)

After the thrilling events of After five years of conflict, the planets Eiram and E’ronoh are on the cusp of real peace. But when news breaks of a disaster at the treaty signing on Jedha, violence reignites on the beleaguered worlds. Together, the royal heirs of both planets--Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A’lbaran--working alongside the Jedi, have uncovered evidence that the conflict is being orchestrated by outside forces, and all signs point to the mysterious Path of the Open Hand, whom the Jedi also suspect of causing the disaster on Jedha. With time--and answers--in short supply, the Jedi must divide their focus between helping quell the renewed violence on Eiram and E’ronoh and investigating the Path. Among them is Gella Nattai, who turns to the one person she believes can unravel the mystery but the last person she wants to trust: Axel Greylark. The chancellor’s son, imprisoned for his crimes, has always sought to unburden himself of the weight of his family name. Will he reconcile with the Jedi and aid in their quest for justice and peace, or embrace the Path’s promise of true freedom? As all roads lead to Dalna, Gella and her allies prepare to take on a foe unlike any they’ve ever faced. And it will take all of their trust in the Force, and in one another, to survive.

Autorentext

Lydia Kang is an author of adult and young adult fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. She is also a doctor and practices internal medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. She became a Star Wars author with the short story “Right-Hand Man” in the 2020 anthology From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back, which describes the critical scene in which 2-1B attaches Luke Skywalker’s prosthetic hand. Her historical fiction includes the bestselling titles Opium and Absinthe, A Beautiful Poison, The Impossible Girl, and The Half-Life of Ruby Fielding. She is the co-author of Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything, an NPR Science Friday Best Science Book of 2017, as well as Patient Zero: A Curious History of the World’s Worst Diseases. She lives with her three kids, physician husband, and two very codependent dogs, one of which looks uncannily like an Ewok.

Klappentext

After the thrilling events of The High Republic: Convergence, the Jedi race to confront the Path of the Open Hand and end the Forever War.
 
After five years of conflict, the planets Eiram and E’ronoh are on the cusp of real peace. But when news breaks of a disaster at the treaty signing on Jedha, violence reignites on the beleaguered worlds. Together, the royal heirs of both planets—Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A’lbaran—working alongside the Jedi, have uncovered evidence that the conflict is being orchestrated by outside forces, and all signs point to the mysterious Path of the Open Hand, whom the Jedi also suspect of causing the disaster on Jedha.
 
With time—and answers—in short supply, the Jedi must divide their focus between helping quell the renewed violence on Eiram and E’ronoh and investigating the Path. Among them is Gella Nattai, who turns to the one person she believes can unravel the mystery but the last person she wants to trust: Axel Greylark. The chancellor’s son, imprisoned for his crimes, has always sought to unburden himself of the weight of his family name. Will he reconcile with the Jedi and aid in their quest for justice and peace, or embrace the Path’s promise of true freedom?
 
As all roads lead to Dalna, Gella and her allies prepare to take on a foe unlike any they’ve ever faced. And it will take all of their trust in the Force, and in one another, to survive.

Leseprobe
**Chapter One

THE REPUBLIC EXECUTIVE BUILDING, CORUSCANT**

Chancellor Kyong Greylark sat in her spacious chambers. She was facing away from her vast desk, looking out over the skyline. It was near twilight, and the sun’s golden light reflected against the spires and domes of shining silver, making them appear gilded.

It was a time of day that usually brought her a sense of peace and calm. But much as she tried to relax, her hands still gripped the edges of her chair as if she were on her ship, the Aurora Sun, crashing. A shiver ran down her spine, and the headdress of jadeite—a family heirloom—made a twinkling sound.

A door opened to her chambers.

“Chancellor Greylark,” her aide said. “A message is incoming—”

“News about Jedha?” Kyong said.

“No, Chancellor.”

Kyong silenced her with an upraised hand. It was the one time today she could have peace. Or at least seek it out, even if it would not come when she beckoned.

“I told you I wanted no interruptions unless it was about the peace accords,” Kyong said.

“But . . . it’s Chancellor Mollo, on Eiram. It’s about your son.”

Kyong turned around in her chair, mouth in a fixed line, and nodded. This time, the carved jadeite drops dangling in parallel arches over her head made no noise. She pressed a button on her desk, and a holoimage of Chancellor Mollo appeared.

“Chancellor Greylark,” he said in his baritone voice. The Quarren was situated in a room far less grand than hers. His chancellor’s robes were dun-colored and edged in silver, and his facial tentacles swayed with expectation. “I trust you are well?”

“I am fine, Chancellor Mollo. Thank you.” She allowed a small nod, but that was all. A smile would say that she was inappropriately well considering her only child was incarcerated and the Greylark family was an embarrassment to the whole Republic. A frown would mean that she was not handling the political fallout well. A chancellor with a murderous son? The truth was unfathomable, yet there it was. “How is everything faring on Eiram?”

“Not perfect, but well. There is a slight incident happening on the shared moon, Eirie. I only just heard about it. Something about a downed transport ship that needs repairs. Oh, and the plans for the rebuilding of the Erasmus Capital City are under way. Communications between Queen Adrialla and Monarch A’lbaran are ongoing. Stiff and uncomfortable, but happening, thanks to the newly wedded heirs. Xiri and Phan-tu are keeping the tensions down.”

“As always,” Kyong said with a slight bow, “I am grateful that you are doing so much outreach in the Outer Rim.”

“And I, grateful that you tolerate the hunk of metal that is Coruscant, and the endless political complexities there. Any news about Jedha?” Mollo asked. “Our incoming messages from there suddenly stopped a little while ago. It’s concerning.”

“We await confirmation of the signing of the peace accords,” Kyong said. “Any moment now.”

Mollo nodded. “Good. It is a shame that our security wouldn’t allow our attendance. Nevertheless, I look forward to celebrating here with both the queen and the Monarch in due time.” He paused, tentacles twitching. “There is something else. I wanted to speak to you. About Axel. There’s been a proposal passed about by several different members in our advisory committees regarding his incarceration.”

Kyong’s eyebrows twitched. She had heard of no such discussion regarding Axel. The sentencing had been done swiftly after his capture in Eiram and he had arrived weeks ago at the prison on distant Pipyyr, somewhere near Bakura, but within the Outer Rim. When she imagined him in a cell, she would stop breathing for several seconds, so she had fixed the problem by trying desperately to not think of him at all.

Mollo went on. “You haven’t heard of it, beca…