Corran and Ganner realize that the two missing members of the group have been kidnapped.  They follow them back to the camp and believe that the Vong are looking for the archeological items that the scientists recently packed up.  They also notice there are fewer slaves and those still alive are growing weaker.

As the battle approaches, Gavin Darklighter instructs his Rogue Squadron to hold off the coralskippers so the New Republic forces can attack the ground Vong troops directly.  They others analyze the Vong’s plan and believe they are headed for Ithor, one of the populated New Republic planets.  It would also signal that the Vong are much more entrenched the galaxy than they had feared.
 
Luke sends Mara off to help Leia round up any refugees that may be fleeing while he, Anakin, and Jacen are sent out to other locations to protect the camps.  As Mara and Leia approach the camp, the encounter Yuuzhan Vong warriors that had been posing as humans.  During the fight, Mara kills one, but Leia is nearly killed herself.  At the last moment she is saved by her Noghri bodyguard, Bolphur, who is killed in the process.

Corran and Ganner return to the Vong camp in hopes of using the slashrat kill scent against them.  After using a decoy to lure the Vong warriors away, Corran and Ganner discover the two missing students inside their camp.  They have been tortured and are suspended in the air in constant pain.  Because of this, every time they try to help the students, more pain is inflicted upon them.  Corran decides that perhaps he can trick the organic device holding them by using the Force to inflict pain on them so the device will relax and they can use lightsabers to cut them down.  He tells Ganner to touch his arm with his lightsaber and he projects that pain onto the two students.  The ploy works and they rescue them.  Unfortunately the Vong warriors return.  Corran tells Ganner to use the Force to get the students to safety while he holds them off.  Corran kills one, but the other’s serpent like spear bites Corran and poisons him.  Corran was, however, able to inflict serious damage on the Vong.  Suddenly, slashrats begin pouring into the area and start to devour the injured Vong warrior.  Corran knows he is next as the numbness overtakes him, but instead he feels himself floating up and realizes that he is becoming one with the Force.

The ground assault of Dantooine begins, but the Vong are using slaves and reptoids in the attack.  Luke can sense them through the Force so he can dispatch them easily, but unfortunately there are too many and Luke is quickly overwhelmed.  Anakin and Jacen, along with Elegos are facing the same thing.  Leia arrives and tells them to get everyone aboard freighters before they are all killed.

Rogue Squadron is now tasked with protecting the many freighters retreating out of the system.  As they attempt to jump to hyperspace, a Yuuzhan Vong cruiser blocks their route.  Just then Admiral Kre'fey arrives with additional ships that all open fire on the cruiser which knocks it out of the way.  Leia docks with the Admiral and they head back to Coruscant to deliver their report.

Chancellor Fey’lya and his council are unimpressed with the report.  Apparently the New Republic fleet was not even involved in the battle; it was only ships from Agamar.  Gavin is incensed by this and begins arguing with Fey’lya and the others saying they are insane.  Fey’lya threatens him with “forced resignation”, but Kre'fey comes to his defense and says that if Gavin goes so does the military.  He also suggests that if Leia would want to return to lead the Senate, he would gladly back her side.  Fey’lya laughs at this until Leia asks if he wants to be remembered as the person that ruined the Republic so badly that she had to return to save it.  He backs down and agrees to give the military what it needs.  He also agrees to put out the information to the full Senate and the Holonet.  Leia and the others are pleased, but they know that his compliance will most likely be short lived.

Because so many other Rogues were lost in the attack, Jaina is invited to become a full time member.  Wedge Antilles and Tyco Selcu are awaiting Gavin’s return and offer whatever help they can to the effort.

Anakin tells Jacen about dreams he’s had of not being able fight off the reptoids, but he can’t do enough and he finds his family among the many dead people he couldn't save.  Jacen feels guilty for killing all the reptoids since they were merely slaves.  He also reconsiders his idea to go off on his own to learn about the Force.  Anakin also tells him that he has decided to choose Luke’s path with the Force.  Instead of using it as a blunt weapon or a crutch, he looks upon the Force as an advisor or source of strength.  They decide that perhaps there is a happy medium by learning all the many Jedi methods that are available.

Corran recounts how he thought he was dead as he tells Luke about how Ganner had returned to save him.  His time in the bacta tank had healed his wounds.

Shedao Shai, the Vong Commander, overlooks the carnage leftover from the slashrats with great displeasure.  One of the warriors retells the story of the students and how two Jedi came to rescue them.  Shy is appalled that they would leave his warriors, who were Shai’s cousins, to be eaten.  He also is told that his grandfather’s remains were taken by the scientists.  Shedao Shai vows revenge on the Jedi and to find Corran and kill him.