Cover Artist: Steven D. Anderson

Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker are traveling the galaxy, meeting with Talon Karrde's old associates and informing them that their services are no longer needed. After they finish with one smuggler group, they are contacted by Karrde, who informs them that he received a message for them from Admiral Parck on Nirauan but it was stolen by a man named Dean Jinzler before it could be retransmitted to them. They travel to the Unknown Regions to find out that the Chiss have discovered the remains of Outbound Flight and wish to return it to the New Republic. Luke and Mara rendezvous with the Chiss, led by Aristocra Chaf'orm'bintrano to join the expedition. While there, they find there is an Imperial delegation led by Chak Fel, and it appears that Dean Jinzler is there as well, pretending to be a New Republic diplomat. Before they leave, they are intercepted by a shipful of Geroons who wish to pay their respects to Outbound Flight for destroying their Vagaari slavemasters. Finally complete, the group travels deep into the Chiss stellar stronghold called the Redoubt to find the remains of Outbound Flight. As they board the crashed expedition, they discover to their surprise that there are survivors aboard who have made this their home ever since it was destroyed, and are not exactly happy to see Jedi or Chiss. Finding themselves separated and prisoners, the Jedi team and the Imperial team free themselves and begin exploring the wreck to learn what they are up against. Suddenly the Geroons attack everybody else and begin operations to disable all of what remains of Outbound Flight so they can steal one of the Dreadnaughts. The Jedi and the Imperials discover that the Geroons are actually the Vagaari and fight back, defeating the forces that are left behind. Dean Jinzler comes to terms with his feelings regarding his long dead Jedi sister who was on Outbound Flight and Aristocra Formbi reveals that this whole operation was a trap to draw the Vagaari into attacking the Chiss in their home space so the Chiss would be willing to destroy them. Luke and Mara take an old Jedi starfighter to intercept the stolen Dreadnaught, and between the two of them, they defeat the Vagaari aboard the starship, ending the battle. The survivors of Outbound Flight are relocated for their own safety, and Luke and Mara are left to wonder what might still be out there in the Unknown Regions.