New Jedi Order 16: Force Heretic II: Refugee
	Sean Williams & Shane Dix
	2003
	28 Years After The Battle of Yavin
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SPOILER ALERT: This Will Spoil The Plot of the Book!

The Jedi, along with help from the Imperial Remnant, lead by Luke Skywalker continue their search for Zonama Sekot.  They land on a planet that is home to a species that had disposed of another racing by consuming them (as in eaten).  The species is not pleased to learn of their search for the mysterious planet and chase them away.   When they retreat to the Imperial cruiser Widowmaker, they are met by several Chiss ships lead by Commander Irolia.  After some convincing, she grants them access to hyperspace routes that will lead to the Chiss homeworld of Csilla.  From there they can seek additional help from the Chiss establishment.

The Millennium Falcon exits hyperspace in route towards Bakura.  Tahiri is still suffering from her mental battle with Riina Kwaad.  Upon arriving in the system along with an escort from Twin Suns squadron among others, they speak with the general in charge of landing but are interrupted by another voice that tells them to go away.  Han notices that one of the ships guarding the planet releases many Ssi-Ruuk fighters that are heading in their direction.  General Panib tells them not to fire upon the ships.  Panib asks them to dock with one of the ships in orbit and says he will meet up with them and explain the situation that has engulfed their planet.  He says the P'w'eck, who were aware one time the slaves of the Ssi-Ruuk have now become their allies.

As they meet with General Panib a lizard creature comes bounding down the hallway towards them. Tahiri flashes to her dreams and believes it's attacking.  But the general stops them and tells them that creature is Lwothin, a diplomat from the P'w'eck foundation that's here to meet with them.

In a meeting, Lwothin recounts the history of the Ssi-Ruuk invasion at Bakura some thirty years earlier.  It was repelled by the Imperials and the Rebel Alliance.  He also recounts what entechment is to them (using the life force from a living being to power ships).  He tells them about the Keeramak, an anomalous Ssi-Ruu born and led the revolt of the P'w'eck to take over their former masters.  Panib tells them that a convoy arrived two weeks earlier and proposed an alliance that was accepted by the Prime Minister of Bakura but not without much resistance from the people.  Panib tells them that the Prime Minister has recently been kidnapped.  Another high-ranking member of the Bakuran government arrives and says he was delayed by another civil unrest incident.  They were able to capture the leader of the group named Malinza Thanas. Malinza had once been taken in by Luke and Mara after her parents died.  They decide to continue on with a ceremony to secure the alliance, and they invite Leia and Han to observe what will certainly be a unique and momentous occasion.

As the recently dubbed Prophet Yu’shaa, Nom Anor has grown his tiny group of Shamed Ones into a formidable rebellion against the Yuuzhan Vong.  He tells them that the war is wrong and hopes that word of this will reach the Galactic Alliance.  He begins to send his disciples out to other worlds to spread his message, while he continues his attempts to get a spy near Shimrra’s inner circle.

Elsewhere in orbit, Jagged Fel and others from the Alliance intercept an unauthorized craft that is coming into the area.  The ship explodes, but not before an escape pod is jettisoned.  When Jag makes contact he is surprised to learn that the occupant is the kidnapped Prime Minister who claims to have just killed his attackers before escaping.

After docking the Millennium Falcon, Tahiri notices a figure approaching the ship.  The creature tells her that they should stick around a while as things are not as they seem on the planet.  The creature was a Ryn, the same species that directed them to Bakura in the first place.  She passes the information to Han.

In their quarters Tahiri finds an object containing a message that reveals Malinza has information they will need and details how to reach her in her prison cell.  Jaina follows up and after only a minor hold up is able to get into the cell block to see her.  Malinza tells her about her group called Freedom that has been working against the New Republic, which she believes is just another oppressive empire like the original Empire.  She claims it makes no sense that she would kidnap the Prime Minister since the P'w'eck would be a viable alternative that she would probably support.  While Jaina believes most of what the girl says she also believes the she probably didn't have anything to do with kidnapping or murder.  Malinza tells her she thinks she's been locked up because she was on the trail of something that she wasn't supposed to find out involving a large amount of money being transferred off world to an unknown source.  Jaina suddenly realizes that the guards have left and the door to the prison was left open.