New Jedi Order 4: Agents of Chaos 1: Hero's Trial
	James Luceno
	2000
	25.5 Years After The Battle of Yavin
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SPOILER ALERT: This Will Spoil The Plot of the Book!

After months of battle, the Yuuzhan Vong decide to bring their priests to assist with their invasion efforts. The planet of Obroa-skai, home to a vast library, lies in ruins. Harrar is the Vong priest in charge of overseeing the collection of information and their captives. He takes a moment to question one prisoner, a fellow a priest, who tells him of the Jedi and the Light and Dark Sides of the Force. Harrar realizes that he must eliminate the Jedi if he is to bring the religion of the Yuuzhan Vong to this galaxy.

After looking over the collected material, Harrar meets with a priestess named Elan and another being named Vergere (her pet). Nom Anor is also present. He has been recruiting help to carry out sabotage attacks throughout the galaxy. Harrar tells of his concern that they may never be able to convert most of the natives to their religion as long as the Jedi live. They discuss the poison that has been released into the galaxy.

A Vong assassin enters kills the captives using a poison that he breathes out. The poison is so effective that it kills the assassin in the process. The poison is from a bo'tous and is carried inside a host. Elan will carry these eggs in her lungs and allow herself to be captured so she can attempt to knock out a large number of Jedi in one swift attack.

On Kashyyyk, a memorial service is finally being held for their fallen hero, Chewbacca. Luke Skywalker, Han and Leia Solo, and their children are all in attendance. Mara Jade Skywalker is still fighting her illness and is unable to attend. Chewbacca’s family gives Han one of Chewie’s bowcasters, and much to Han’s surprise they tell him they plan to continue Chewie’s life debt! Two of his relatives are chosen to do this, but Han declines saying he still isn’t yet ready to replace Chewbacca.

Back on Coruscant the Senate is bogged down in arguments over what to do against the Vong. Bel-dar-Nolek of the Obraon Institute is upset that the Republic will do nothing until the Vong threaten the core worlds. He is upset with the Jedi as well. Admiral Kre-fey says he will go to Obrao-skai and attempt peace talks, but few are happy with this decision.

Han tells Leia that he still feels responsible for Chewbacca’s death and wonders what type of life he would have led if Han hadn’t dragged him around the galaxy. He tells her he plans to get revenge on the Yuuzhan Vong. He does not take the Falcon with him and even thinks about donating it to a museum (along with himself he muses).

Back on Coruscant, Luke returns to Mara. Her spirits are dwindling as she had hoped things would have improved in the galaxy after the treaty with the Empire.

Elsewhere Han runs into a man named Roa. Roa was a mentor to Han during his smuggling days and hadn’t seen him in 30 years. Roa’s wife was recently killed at the hands of the Vong. Another smuggler, Reck Desh, has been working with the Vong and played a hand in his wife’s death. Reck’s group, known as the Peace Brigade, has been scouting for the Vong. Roa proposes that Han help him hunt down Reck. Han agrees. Before Han leaves, he speaks with Leia who is preparing to leave for Ord Mantell on a mission. She urges Han to make amends with Anakin soon. Anakin enters and gives Han a tool that Chewbacca had made. Han accepts the peace offering and departs with Roa on his ship, the Happy Dagger. It is only then that Han learns that they will also be traveling to Ord Mantell!

In another part of the galaxy, New Republic ships are having some success attacking a Vong ship. It is destroyed much to the delight of the crew. Several believe the victory was too easy. An escape pod is captured and inside they find Elan and her pet. Elan tells her captors she wishes to speak to the Jedi saying she has information about the mysterious spore borne illness. A few Senators and Luke are told about the supposed defectors. While some information has been given she will only speak further to the Jedi personally. She did reveal that the next Vong attack will be on Ord Mantell. The New Republic sends its fleet and Elan earns the trust she needs.

Once on Ord Mantell, Han and Roa run into some strange creatures known as Ryn that turn out to be the same species as Vergere (the pet). They learn that they must find someone named Boss B. After checking for any information around the area, they run into the bounty hunter Bossk. Bossk has learned of Chewbacca’s death and makes a disparaging remark about it. Han throws a punch and a bar brawl ensues.

Vergere’s disfigurement is the result of an experiment. Elan talks to Vergere about the Jedi and the Force and even expresses her desire to use the Force. Vergere is unsure that will be a possibility.

Han and Roa are released from prison at the request of Boss B who, they are told, would like to meet with them. Boss B looks to be a combination of a human and a Hutt, and was a former employer of Han’s. He thanks Han for killing Jabba the Hutt and agrees to help them find Desh. Suddenly the Yuuzhan Vong attack begins on the planet!