The New Republic fleet does little to thwart the Vong as they center in on Boss B’s base. A huge giant worm creature acts as a giant vacuum that is inhaling everything in its path. Roa is sucked inside, but Han with the help of a Ryn manages to lower the blast doors and stop the suction. Han and the Ryn make it to a shuttle that is filled with fleeing inhabitants. They begin to fly to safety when Han attempts to return to find Roa. The Ryn tells him not to as they would be risking the lives of the refugees. Han realizes that he is in the same predicament that Anakin was in on Sernpidal and wisely chooses to escape.

On the planet Kuat, Reck Desh meets with a telbun who tells him about the Vong defectors. He offers to tell him how to get them back so Reck can gain favor with the Vong in exchange for favors for the telbun once the war is over and the New Republic is destroyed. The deal is made.

On Ord Mantell, Threepio runs into Han who was just finishing an argument with the ryn. Threepio takes him to Leia who mends his wounds. Han leaves to go look for Roa, despite Leia’s position that he’s being reckless. A friend of Boss B’s tracks down Han and tells him that Reck Desh has a big plan involving the entire Peace Brigade. Using Threepio to imitate Leia, he books passage to Bilbringi to investigate Reck’s plan. Unfortunately, the ship he is traveling on is known to be cursed and is called the Queen of Empire. A disguised Elan and Vergere are being boarded onto the Queen of Empire as well. Han tries to eat, but the last bite of food was snatched by the ryn he had just left! The ryn’s introduces himself as Droma, and Han gives an alias in return. Droma’s family has been scattered and he has been searching for them for some time.

Harrar and Nom Anor are meeting to discuss their plans when a message arrives that the Peace Brigade plans to liberate Elan. They are enraged that their plans could fall apart.

On board the Queen, the New Republic guards are attacked as they escorted Elan and Vergere. Showolter was able to hold them off, but a few were killed. Vergere heals his hands temporarily. They go looking for the New Republic backup, but instead they run into Han. Showwalter begs him to hide Elan and Vergere until the reach Bilbringi. Suddenly, the ship is pulled from hyperspace! The Peace Brigade has arrived to claim their prize!

Leia paces the Skywalker residence. She is complaining about Han’s attitude. Luke tells her about the defectors and his plans to meet with them. Threepio moves in quickly and tells them about the attack on the Queen of Empire. Leia, Luke, and Mara take off in the Falcon to help. Nom Anor and a New Republic fleet are also in route.

The Queen is in chaos. Anor has disabled the Brigade shuttle so they cannot escape with the defectors. The New Republic ships arrive and Anor sets up to attack them.

Han attempts to hide the others, but Reck finds them and takes them to his ship. The two argue about Reck’s loyalties as Han tells him about Chewbacca’s and Roa’s wife’s deaths. Reck refuses to apologize saying he had nothing to do with them. Han is tossed into a shaft but is saved when he grabs Droma’s tail. As they attempt to find their way out, they encounter a group of New Republic soldiers coming on board. As Han attempts to talk his way onto a ship, when the Falcon arrives with Luke, Mara, and Leia at the controls! Han and Droma take off after Reck in the Falcon where Han finally tells him who he and his wife and friends really are.

They reach the ship and Han space walks into it. Inside, Hand discovers several of bodies, including Reck and the Vong that were with him, which have all died in a horrible way. Sitting in the sealed cargo hold, he finds Elan and Vergere alive. Elan points out the remnants of the airborne poison all over the floor. Whoever did this it was either gone or dead. He takes them back to the Falcon and they are immediately under attack from Yuuzhan Vong fighters. Droma doesn’t trust the new passengers and they realize that perhaps the Vong are letting them escape a bit too easily. Perhaps something else is going on. Perhaps their two passengers are never meant to be returned to the Vong. Han goes to question Elan and tells her of his suspicions. She agrees that she should be taken to Luke immediately. Han figures it all out and tells Droma to fly towards the Vong. Han attempts to put them into an escape pod, but Elan shoves him in and breaths the bo’tous inside. Unfortunately a quick motion of the ship launched her inside as well. Han grabs the re-breather tool Anakin had given him before he left. Elan begins to bleed violently from all parts of her body. The hatch opens and Droma pulls him out, but ship is still under attack!

Han finds Vergere and as Han appears to attack her she leaps out of the way into an escape pod, but not before leaving him a bottle of her tears. The pod launches, but is apparently destroyed by the Yuuzhan Vong. As the Falcon returns to the fleet, many begin to wonder if there is someone working with the Vong from inside the New Republic.

Back on Coruscant, the Jedi analyze Vergere’s tears. They notice some interesting properties inside them. They are unsure about whether or not Vergere was as bad as Elan. With some trepidation, Mara takes in a few drops of the tears. Immediately she realizes that her disease is subsiding at least for the time being.

On her way to tell her family the good news, Leia ran into Han and Anakin in the middle of reconciliation. He knows that the Vong are to blame for Chewie’s death. Leia tells them the good news about Mara. Anakin leaves, but Han tells Leia he has some unfinished business. He wants to find Roa and help Droma find his missing family. She isn’t happy about it, but understands. She tells him that his escapades need to end soon and starting working on their marriage instead of solving the problems of others.

Back on Obroa-skai, the Supreme Commander of the Yuuzhan Vong fleet Nas Choka, a High Priest named Jakan, and Prefect Drathul contact Nom Anor and Harrar. As punishment for their failure Harrar is moved back to the Outer Rim. Nom Anor is warned that any future issues will be costly to him. The Hutts are allowing the Vong to grow corol on their worlds in exchange for being left alone after the Vong win the war. In addition, Anor learns that the New Republic has a traitor in its midst.