4/5 Rancors - Michael Stackpole's The Krytos Trap, the third volume in the X-wing saga, picks up almost immediately after the galaxy-shaking events of Wedge's Gamble. The tone is entirely consistent with the other books and once again we have dynamic space combat blended with political intrigue and relationship building among the stalwart members of Rogue Squadron. The primary plotlines of this volume focus on the capture of Corran Horn by the Empire, the efforts of his squad mates to procure bacta for the unfortunate victims of the Krytos virus, the trial of Tycho Celchu for treason, and the terrorist acts sponsored by Corran's old nemesis Kirtan Loor.
Corran disappeared in the battle to take Coruscant at the end of Wedge's Gamble. The New Republic believes he is dead, but he has actually been taken by the Empire to the infamous hidden prison facility Lusankya. Lusankya is notorious for turning prisoners into sleeper agents and releasing them, converting them into walking time-bombs. Tycho's past imprisonment here meant the New Republic leaders never fully trusted him, and in this volume it's that history that is the catalyst for pinning the blame for Corran's "death" on Tycho (hence the treason trial). Ysanne Isard has also relocated to Lusankya after the taking of Coruscant and is directly involved in the attempts to turn Corran into a new sleeper.
I found the over-dramatization of Corran's death to be a bit tiresome. Rogue Squadron loses pilots on a frequent basis, and death is a constant companion for these elite warriors. Why would Wedge and his pilots be so overly focused on Corran's death out of all the people they've lost? I understand that the real reason is Corran is the focal character of these novels, but the lingering over solemn statements and tears for him lessened the impact of other pilots who have been killed in the squadron's history. I'm OK with the idea that the New Republic might make Corran's death a rallying point in the post-Coruscant aftermath, but I don't think his perceived death should have had such a disproportionate impact on Rogue Squadron.
The Krytos virus continues to be a compelling and nasty plot device. The affected alien populations are basically melting into piles of goo when they contract the disease (over several horribly painful days) and the New Republic is strapped for bacta to cure it. The government needs to fix the problem to help legitimize themselves and win the hearts of the population, so to that end Rogue Squadron is set on the track of getting more bacta or finding the right people to develop an alternate cure. They make some progress in this book, but the storyline looks like it will be wrapped in the next book, The Bacta War.
Stackpole's portrayal of the post-takeover Coruscant is well-executed. There is a lot of fear generated by the spread of the Krytos virus, and abetting that fear are the efforts of Kirtan Loor and his organization of Imperials gone underground as terrorists. Admiral Ackbar, Princess Leia, Borsk Fey'lya, and the other government leaders are struggling valiantly to keep the New Republic afloat, and so the trial of Tycho Celchu for treason essentially makes him into a scapegoat for the government's ills. Twi'lek Rogue Squadron pilot Nawara Ven has a great role as Tycho's counsel, and I found the trial more compelling reading than the activities of Wedge and his people in this volume.
Generally this volume reminded me somewhat of the first book, Rogue Squadron, in that there is a lot of setup for events yet to come. Corran's story takes an exciting turn near the end as his heritage is revealed and the final scenes involving Lusankya are absolutely stunning. Warlord Zsinj and his Super Star Destroyer Iron Fist continue to be a distant third-party menace as the New Republic and the remnants of the Empire wait for him to make his move for power. The Krytos Trap was an entertaining read, leaving me ready to roll directly into the fourth volume and presumably the resolution of the Krytos situation.
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