The visit does not start well: when they emerge from hyperspace, they find an Imperial Star Destroyer in orbit of Honoghr. To her surprise, Khabarakh allows Chewbacca to accompany them to the Noghri homeworld of Honoghr.

Leia, in the meanwhile, makes good on her promise to meet Khabarakh clan Khim'bar of the Noghri, a race of deadly assassins in ambivalent service to the Empire.

This takes Han, Lando and Luke to the planet New Cov, where Bothan spies once rushed into battle with the Imperials seemingly for the heck of it, and where Han believes the Bothans are protecting something. They are convinced that Fey'lya is making a play for political power regardless of any potential military consequences-such as the presence of an Imperial Grand Admiral-and decide to dig up dirt on his past. On Coruscant, Han Solo and Leia Organa discuss Admiral Ackbar's current charges of treason, leveled by Bothan Senator Borsk Fey'lya. The two prevent Ferrier's crew from making off with any New Republic ships, and then commandeer Ferrier's slicer codes to sneak Luke's ship higher up the priority ladder.

While trying to find a way through the Sluissi bureaucracy, Luke inadvertently passes by a notorious ship thief, Niles Ferrier, and Lando catches the distinctive scent of Ferrier's favorite tobacco on his clothing. Luke Skywalker is still stuck at Sluis Van with a crippled X-Wing, despite the tension brewing back on Coruscant, and Lando Calrissian has not been treated for his relatively minor injuries. Despite the praise of Karrde and his associates, Mara curses herself, knowing that with the cyclic reawakening of her powers, the nightmares are coming soon. This proves wise, as Thrawn was actually aware of their presence and had ordered in an ambush Mara's 'overreaction' is the only thing that allows them to flee. However, Karrde's second in command, the Force-sensitive former Emperor's Hand Mara Jade, can't shake a premonition and breaks stealth to begin fleeing the system. Karrde and his staff, aboard the freighter Wild Karrde, surreptitiously spy on the proceedings. Not long after the events of Heir to the Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn carries out a military operation to seize the abandoned base of smuggler Talon Karrde on the surface of the planet Myrkr.

Dark force rising