4/5 Rancors - The adventures of Wraith Squadron continue in Iron Fist, book six in the X-wing series and Aaron Allston's second contribution. The Wraiths have successfully completed their first covert mission, although there were losses along the way. One of the elements that keeps these books engaging is that characters are actually killed once in a while, giving them an element of danger sometimes lacking in the books following the main film characters. To replace Wraith's losses, they pick up Dia Passik, a Twi'lek and former slave dancer, Shalla Nelprin, a martial arts expert, and Castin Donn, a computer hacker who has issues with non-human species.
As the story begins, the Wraiths are brainstorming in an attempt to discern Zsinj's overall plan. Several entertaining team sequences lead to the conclusion that the key to Zsinj is his Super Star Destroyer Iron Fist. But how to draw him out? They develop a plan to pose as pirates in the hopes of gaining Zsinj's attention and eventually taking a shot at him. The first mission involves stealing equipment including TIE Interceptors for the pirate charade they've planned. From there the missions involve staged pirate assaults on various shipping and planetary concerns aligned with Zsinj.
The Wraiths' fake pirate band is named the Hawk-bats and skilled actor Garik "Face" Loran poses as their leader, General Kargin. The Wraiths walk a delicate line between pretending to be pirates and not actually inflicting harm on innocent civilians. It's an intriguing tactic and it feels more like a strategy of the Rebellion rather than the legitimate government of the New Republic. However, it's part and parcel of the infiltration tactics Wedge established as a cornerstone of Wraith Squadron. In the end this pretend-pirate strategy does not force the team into any significant moral dilemmas with one exception that takes place in a memorable dinner sequence with Warlord Zsinj himself on the Iron Fist.
A small concern I had with the fifth book, Wraith Squadron, was somewhat magnified in Iron Fist. Allston's plots feel a shade unfocused, as the team seems to drift from mission to mission. I believe this may a deliberate tactic by Allston to capture the feel of being sent on missions that don't always have clearly explained objectives; it also plays into the chaotic vibe of the Wraiths as a group as they try to figure out who they are and what they can do stop an elusive enemy. However, for the reader it can come across as disjointed, and occasionally in the middle of a chapter I had to back up a bit to remind myself exactly what planet and what mission they were currently on.
Rich characterizations continue to be Allston's strength in this volume. The arc of Lara Notsil, a former Imperial agent now aligned with the Wraiths and struggling to find her true identity, is compelling. Castin Donn's arrogance coupled with his keen computer skills lead him to an unnecessary end but also to a key aspect of the final plan to take on Zsinj. Face and Ton Phanan have a moving sequence together mid-book and almost every character in this large cast gets an opportunity to shine.
The climactic battle is fantastic as I've come to expect from the prior books in the series. Zsinj is not content with just one Super Star Destroyer, and he makes a play for a second being built at the Kuat Drive Yards in a move which places various members of the Wraiths and Rogues on both sides of the battle (although all working for a common purpose, of course). Great action, high stakes, and as usual not all the pilots come through unscathed.
Iron Fist is a worthy continuation of the X-wing saga. Allston is one of the most amusing writers in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and more jokes hit than miss. His characterizations are a strong point and aid in overcoming any lack of focus in the plot.
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