Information about the author
Since 1978, Timothy Zahn has written nearly seventy short stories and novelettes, numerous novels, and three short fiction collections, and won the Hugo Award for best novella. Timothy Zahn is best known for his Star Wars novels: Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, The Last Command, Specter of the Past, Vision of the Future, Survivor's Quest, Outbound Flight, and Allegiance, with more than four million copies in print. His most recent publications include the science fiction Cobra series and the six-part young adult series Dragonback. He holds a B.S. in physics from Michigan State University and an M.S. in physics from the University of Illinois. He lives with his family on the Oregon coast.

Extract
CHAPTER 1

"Captain Pellaeon?" a voice called.