The Old Republic: Annihilation

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Annihilation is a novel by Drew Karpyshyn which was released on November 13, 2012. This novel is the fourth entry in the Star Wars: The Old Republic novel series. News of the book was released at the Del Rey Star Wars books panel at the 2011 New York Comic-Con. It takes place just after the events of the Star Wars: The Old Republic class stories and focuses on Theron Shan. The paperback edition will be released on October 29, 2013.

Publisher's summary
''The Sith Empire is in flux. The Emperor is missing, presumed dead, and an ambitious Sith Lord’s attempt to seize the throne has ended fatally. Still, Darth Karrid, commander of the fearsome Imperial battle cruiser Ascendant Spear, continues her relentless efforts to achieve total Sith domination of the galaxy.''

''But Karrid’s ruthless determination is more than matched in the steely resolve of Theron Shan, whose unfinished business with the Empire could change the course of the war for good. Though the son of a Jedi Master, Theron does not wield the Force—but like his renowned mother, the spirit of rebellion is in his blood. As a top covert agent for the Republic, he struck a crucial blow against the Empire by exposing and destroying a Sith superweapon arsenal—which makes him the ideal operative for a daring and dangerous mission to end Ascendant Spear’s reign of terror.''

''Joined by hot-headed smuggler Teff'ith, with whom he has an inexplicable bond, and wise Jedi warrior Gnost-Dural, Darth Karrid’s former master, Theron must match wits and weapons with a battle-tested crew of the most cold-blooded dark side disciples. But time is brutally short. And if they don’t seize their one chance to succeed, they will surely have countless opportunities to die...''

Plot summary
The novel begins in a flashback in 3,666 BBY with the birth of Theron Shan. His mother, Satele Shan, later Grand Master of the Jedi Order, names her son and then reluctantly gives Theron to be raised by Jedi Master Ngani Zho. The novel moves then to the present in 3,641 BBY. Now a covert agent with the Republic Strategic Information Service, Theron Shan is on Nar Shaddaa to talk with Morbo the Hutt to plead for the life of Teff'ith, a Twi'lek female smuggler for the Old Tion Brotherhood that Theron has taken under his watch. Morbo the Hutt has decided to have Teff'ith and the crew she is with killed for violating his terms of spice smuggling in his territory. Before talking with Morbo, Theron interrupts a 3 month long SIS operation to free several Republic Military prisoners of war who are being sold by Morbo. Though Theron frees the soldiers, the SIS operation falls apart. Unable to convince Morbo to back off, Theron races to the spaceport. He arrives in time to help Teff'ith, though she is unaware of it, to kill the thugs sent by Morbo. On Coruscant, Director of Republic Strategic Information Service Marcus Trant meets with the Supreme Commander of the Republic Military, Jace Malcom. Together they discuss the state of the Cold War, now turned into the Second Great Galactic War. Trant and Malcom plan a new mission to destroy the Ascendant Spear, a dangerous prototype Imperial battle cruiser under the command of Darth Karrid, a Falleen Sith Lord. The mission is planned as a joint operation between the Republic Military, SIS, and the Jedi Order.

Meanwhile, the Dark Council debates possible candidates to be promoted to the council. Darth Marr puts Darth Karrid's name forward, though the Council is hesitant because she was Darth Malgus' apprentice and Malgus attempted to claim the Imperial throne and was branded as a traitor. Added to that, Karrid is a Falleen, not a pure Sith blood or a Human. The council comes to no decision and though Marr assures Karrid and urges her to be patient, she is angry, determined to be on the council. Theron Shan arrives on Coruscant and is escorted to SIS headquarters. He is chewed out by Trant for disobeying orders and causing the mission to fail. Trant reassigns Theron to the Analytics Department as a punishment. He asks Theron to trust him and to being planning a new special mission, Operation End Game. Theron is able to later develop a plan after a call from Teff'ith and the mention of Ziost inspires him. Darth Karrid meanwhile joins the battle over Leritor where she manipulates Darth Gravus into attacking her and she proceeds to destroy him and the Republic forces. The move wins approval from the Dark Council and they decide to let Darth Karrid join them. Shortly there after, Minister Davidge of the Imperial Ministry of Logistics reports to Darth Marr that there is a risk of loosing Boranall and there is a growing number of Republic ships. Darth Karrid agrees to go there to ensure Imperial rule.

On Coruscant, Theron's plans move forward with Jedi Master Gnost-Dural joining the group. Theron has been chosen by Supreme Commander Malcom to lead the operation. After the meeting, Malcom invites Theron to his apartment. During the conversation, Malcom reveals he was in a relationship with Satele Shan and that Theron's birth date confirmed to Malcom that he was Theron's father. The two agree to talk more later and they part on good terms. Theron and Master Gnost-Dural leave for Ziost. They are able to secure a black cipher from Minister Davidge's office. The black cipher allows the SIS to monitor Imperial transmissions and make further plans. Theron goes to see his mother and confronts her about not revealing who his father is. They argue but Satele stands by her position that it was the right course to take. At the she had believed that Jace Malcom could follow the dark side. After Theron leaves, Satele dreams a flashback. It involves an argument she had with Jace Malcom when she confronted him about brutally pursuing Imperial soldiers after the Battle of Alderaan. Malcom refuses to back down and Satele breaks down but decides to break off their 6 month affair and not reveal to him she is pregnant.

Theron and Master Gnost-Dural leave for Desevro. They arrive at Jigani Port where Teff'ith takes them to Gorvich who is living in Maslovar. Gorvich gives Theron a disguise to enter Reaver Station, an Imperial post. There Theron intends to infiltrate the Ascendant Spear. However, he learns that the Empire attacked Ruan causing massive devastation. Theron contacts Malcom and Trant who acknowledge they knew the attack was coming and the next attack will be to Duro. They plan on allowing the attack to go ahead since Ascendant Spear will not be there. Angered, Theron hatches a plan with Gnost-Dural to have the Ascendant Spear take part in the attack forcing Malcom and Trant to send a fleet. Theron also asks to Teff'ith to inform Satele Shan of what is happening to have her convince Malcom to send the fleet. Meanwhile, Gnost-Dural, aiming to force Karrid to take part in the attack, infiltrates the Ascendant Spear and takes on Darth Karrid and several of her Sith apprentices. Gnost-Dural intentionally lets himself be defeated and taken alive. Theron meanwhile sets off a simulated Republic attack. The confusion allows Theron to also get on to the Ascendent Spear where he begins scouting the ship and hacking into the system. Following Theron's request, Teff'ith fights with Gorvich who wants to keep the ship, the Prosperity. She is able to escape and make her way to Coruscant.

Karrid starts torturing Gnost-Dural to find out what he knows. Teff'ith meanwhile arrives on Coruscant and is taken into custody by two Coruscant Security Force police officers. She is able to surprise one of them and take his blaster and forces the other to contact Satele Shan. After arriving on the scene, Satele is told by Teff'ith what has occurred. Gnost-Dural pretends to finally "crack" and "gives up" that he was hoping to keep Karrid away from Duro. Karrid decides to head for Duro. At the same Satele and Teff'ith convince Malcom to send a fleet to Duro to intercept the coming Imperial attack and the Ascendent Spear. When the Imperial fleet under Moff Nezzor arrives, the Republic is waiting under the command of the Aegis and opens fire surprising the Imperials. The Imperials are routed and Nezzor attempts a suicide run but his ship is destroyed. The two remaining Imperial ships attempt to flee but are destroyed by the Ascendent Spear as Karrid arrives and executes them for cowardice. The Ascendent Spear then faces off with the Republic fleet. Theron meanwhile has started to slice the Ascendent Spear's systems. Targeting systems, shields, and sensors go awry or completely offline. Karrid recognizes a slicer on board and prevents further hacks. Theron frees Gnost-Dural who overwhelms his guards and a Sith apprentice.

They both make their way to Karrid's command pod and begin the attack. Karrid's three apprentices attack Gnost-Dural as Theron starts slicing the command console. Meanwhile the Republic fleet is being hammered and Malcom is running of a time. Theron slices in to convince the ship it is damaged causing Karrid to leave her command pod. Moff Lorman fails to take command, unsure if Karrid is still alive. The Republic fleet begins to tear the Ascendent Spear apart and Lorman gives the order to abandon ship. Karrid runs for the command pod and Theron throws is ruined blaster inside, activating it just before the pod closes. The blaster explodes, killing Karrid. Gnost-Dural has meanwhile killed one of the apprentices and the other two flee with the abandon ship order. The Ascendent Spear falls apart, capsizing under the Republic attack. Malcom lets the thousands of escape pods leave the ship while hoping that Theron and Master Gnost-Dural make it out. The two are able to get into Karrid's personal escape pod, moments before the Ascendent Spear is vaporized by a hyper matter explosion. Theron and Gnost-Dural are brought aboard the Eges and everyone celebrates. Gnost-Dural, Teff'ith, and Theron are awarded the Cross of Glory.

Three days later in the Supreme Commander's office, Malcom meets with Satele Shan, Gnost-Dural, and Director Trant for a debriefing. Theron sends his regrets and is unable to attend. Afterwards, Malcom and Satele discuss Theron as Malcom wants to be closer with his son. Satele tells him to be patient and the two part on good terms. Malcom finds a recording from Theron inviting him to a drink later and Malcom smiles. Meanwhile Theron visits Teff'ith's hotel room and gives her the 10,000 credits promised for delivering the message to Satele Shan. Teff'ith accepts the money but rejects a job offer. Teff'ith tells Theron to stop watching her and leaves. Theron, to himself, vows to watch over Teff'ith because that's what family does. The novel ends.

Behind the scenes
Theron Shan's father was revealed in this novel to be Jace Malcom.