Outbound Flight (novel)

Outbound Flight is an Expanded Universe novel written by Timothy Zahn. Originally slated for an October 25, 2005 release, the hardcover book was not published until January 31, 2006 by Del Rey. The two pictures featured inside the novel were illustrated by A. J. Kimball. It was released in paperback almost exactly one year later on January 30, 2007 and includes the short story Mist Encounter. Outbound Flight tells the story of the mysterious Outbound Flight Project mentioned in Heir to the Empire and Survivor's Quest, both by Zahn. Zahn intended them to resemble the Original Trilogy and Prequel Trilogy in format, with the latter being made first.

Characters featured in the novel include Palpatine, CEDF Commander Mitth'raw'nuruodo, Jorj Car'das, Jorus C'baoth, Lorana Jinzler, Kinman Doriana, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker.

Previews of Outbound Flight are available in Jedi Trial and Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen.

Editions

 * ISBN 0345456831; January 31, 2006, Del Rey, 453-page hardcover
 * ISBN 0739303244; January 31, 2006, Random House Audio, Abridged CD
 * ISBN 034545684X; January 30, 2007, Del Rey, 420-page paperback

Publisher's summary
On an epic voyage far beyond the Republic, the Jedi will confront their most extraordinary enemy—and test the limits of honor and sacrifice against their most devastating challenge&hellip;.

'''It began as the ultimate voyage of discovery&mdash;only to become the stuff of lost Republic legend&hellip;and a dark chapter in Jedi history. Now, at last, acclaimed author Timothy Zahn returns to tell the whole extraordinary story of the remarkable&mdash;and doomed&mdash;Outbound Flight Project.'''

''The Clone Wars have yet to erupt when Jedi Master Jorus C'baoth petitions the Senate for support of a singularly ambitious undertaking. Six Jedi Masters, twelve Jedi Knights, and fifty thousand men, women, and children will embark&mdash;aboard a gargantuan vessel, equipped for years of travel&mdash;on a mission to contact intelligent life and colonize undiscovered worlds beyond the known galaxy. The government bureaucracy threatens to scuttle the expedition before it can even start&mdash;until Master C'baoth foils a murderous conspiracy plot, winning him the political capital he needs to set in motion the dream of Outbound Flight.''

''Or so it would seem. For unknown to the famed Jedi Master, the successful launch of the mission is secretly being orchestrated by an unlikely ally: the evil Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, who has his own reasons for wanting Outbound Flight to move forward&hellip; and, ultimately, to fail.''

''Yet Darth Sidious is not the mission's most dangerous challenge. Once underway, the starship crosses paths at the edge of Unknown Space with the forces of the alien Chiss Ascendancy and the brilliant mastermind best known as "Thrawn." Even Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, aboard Outbound Flight with his young Padawan student, Anakin Skywalker, cannot help avert disaster. Thus what begins as a peaceful Jedi mission is violently transformed into an all-out war for survival against staggering odds&mdash;and the most diabolical of adversaries.''

Timothy Zahn's unique mix of espionage, political gamesmanship, and deadly interstellar combat breathes electrifying life into a Star Wars legend.

New characters

 * Algrann
 * Ar'alani
 * b'Crevnis
 * Brooks
 * Caulfmar
 * Drixo
 * Duefgrin
 * Evrios
 * Feeven
 * Maris Ferasi
 * Filvian
 * Gilfrome
 * Grassling
 * Jhompfi
 * Siv Kav
 * Justyn Ma'Ning
 * Migress
 * the Miskara
 * Mitth'ras'safis
 * Mosh
 * Omano
 * Pakmillu
 * Dillian Pressor
 * Katarin Pressor
 * Progga
 * Dubrak Qennto
 * Jerv Riske
 * Simikarty
 * Sivv
 * TC-18
 * Vissfil
 * Yal'avi'kema

New creatures

 * Billinus dragon
 * Bribb
 * Darokil
 * Giffa
 * Tarsh

New droids

 * Metalwork droid
 * WA-2 waitress droid

New planets

 * Barlok
 * Crustai base
 * Lonnaw
 * Pesfavri
 * Roxuli
 * Roxuli asteroids

New species

 * Brolf
 * Frunchettan-sai
 * Karf
 * Pashvi

New vehicles and vessels

 * Bargain Hunter
 * Springhawk
 * Chaf Exalted (Chiss heavy cruiser)
 * Chiss attack cruiser
 * Chiss heavy fighter
 * Chiss long-range shuttle
 * Geroon defender ship
 * Trade Federation escort cruiser
 * Vagaari close-in fighter
 * Vagaari civilian transport
 * Vagaari plunder ship
 * Vagaari shuttle
 * Vagaari warship

Cover gallery
This is a gallery of the different cover variations of Outbound Flight.