The author would like to thank the following people for their help in this project:
Janna Silverstein and Ricia Mainhardt for getting the ball rolling, Tom Dupree for naming and championing this monster and Pat LoBrutto for shepherding it home.
Sue Rostoni, Lucy Autrey Wilson and Allan Kausch for trusting me to play with such a core part of the Star Wars universe.
Peet Janes of Dark Horse Comics for his continued championing of Leonia Tavira, which led to her appearance here.
Kevin J. Anderson for having provided the background for half this book and A. C. Crispin and Kristine Kathryn Rusch for working tidbits of story back and forth with me.
Very special thanks to Timothy Zahn who graciously vetted all the pages that featured his characters, offered suggestions that made parts of this novel better, and who worked tirelessly to meld his two new Star Wars novels with this book. Working with Tim on this made the project more fun than I could have imagined.
To the Star Ladies for being a receptive audience, Kali Hale for sharp insights, Tish Pahl for quick lightsaber research and to the other Yellow Dogs—I feel your pain.
To Jennifer Roberson who, as always, caught this tale in bits and pieces and especially to Liz Danforth, who made the manic month in which this book was written endurable for me. I can’t thank you enough for being there (when you’re not in Spain).