Edited by Peter Schweighofer Published by Bantam Books December 1997 From the desperate flight of a civilian mail carrier carrying vital Rebel intelligence through an Imperial blockade, to a suicidal commando raid on an impregnable Imperial prison, to a Corellian smuggler mysteriously hired by an actor turned Jedi Knight turned Imperial assassin for one final transformation, these tales capture all the high adventure, imaginative genius, and nonstop action that are hallmarks of the Star Wars saga.

    Corran looked back toward his father and was set to whistle when he heard the scrape of metal on a rock.  He glanced up and triggered one shot from the blaster carbine.  The azure bolt streaked past Thyne as he leaped down from a large dolmen, then Thyne's right heel caught Corran in the shoulder and spun him to the ground.  His blaster carbine bounced away, firing off two random shots.  He felt Thyne's left arm tighten around his neck and then he was hauled to his feet as the alien straightened up, his body shielding Thyne from fire.
    The muzzle of a blaster pistol ground in under the right corner of Corran's jaw.  A glow rod lit up, bathing the right side of Corran's face with light.  The muscles on the arm around his neck bulged, constricting his breathing and killing any thoughts of struggling.
    Thyne growled loudly, sending angry echoes of his voice throughout the cavern.  "Your partner is dead if you don't show yourself in five seconds."
    Those five seconds took an eternity to pass for Corran, and he filled with an unending series of if-onlies.  If only I had tucked the blaster pistol into my waistband when I took the carbine.  If only I had the stiletto.  If only I'd been more quiet in my advance.