A Glimmer of Hope

A Glimmer of Hope is a short story written by Charlene Newcomb (with illustrations by Mike Vilardi), originally published in Star Wars Adventure Journal #1, and since released on Star Wars Hyperspace. It features the story of Alex Winger, member of the Rebel underground on Garos IV and adopted daughter of the Imperial Governor. It takes place in 7 ABY.



Synopsis
Alex Winger and Doro, members of the underground resistance on Garos IV, secretly monitor an Imperial mining center complex. The amount of Imperial personnel has tripled recently and Alex feels there is something critical being done with the ore shipments in the area. Another underground team on the mission is discovered, so Alex and Doro attempt to run. Doro is killed during their escape, but Alex safely returns home to her life in the governor's mansion. Alex is the stepdaughter of the governor, Tork Winger.

Alex has recurring dreams that she feels somehow will come true. In one dream, a man with sandy brown hair and blue eyes is with her as she scales the Tahika Cliffs.

At breakfast the following morning, Tork asks Alex to help him host a dinner that evening for Captain Brandei of the Imperial Star Destroyer Judicator. Alex agrees and heads off to her classes at the university.

After her classes, Alex meets with Dr. Carl Barzon and Magir Paca, two leaders of the resistance movement on Garos IV. She debriefs them on the mission that ended Doro's life and discovers that a cell member, Scat, was captured. Dr. Barzon reveals that he has isolated a component in the local ore that creates natural cloaking abilities. It is imperative that the underground keep this out of the hands of the Empire. Alex promises to get as much information as she can at the dinner and insists on participating in a daring daylight raid on an Imperial ore shipment.

Alex successfully fires her missiles during the attack, but is discovered by a university classmate, Lej Carner, as she attempts to escape. Another resistance member, Chance, kills Lej and allows Alex to make it to the dinner at the governor's mansion. While at the dinner, Alex has another vision. This time she is in the landing bay of a starship, sitting in the cockpit of an X-wing.

After the dinner, Alex participates in a successful rescue of Scat from the Imperial Headquarters. During the rescue, Alex is able to sense danger when she feels a tingling sensation crawl up her spine.

Characters

 * Lej Carner
 * Doro
 * Alexandra Winger
 * Tork Winger
 * Brandei
 * Trad Mays
 * Carl Barzon
 * Magir Paca
 * Scat
 * Chance

Locations

 * Garos IV
 * Ariana
 * Tahika Cliffs
 * Raithal Academy

Vehicles and vessels

 * Speeder bike
 * AT-ST
 * Landspeeder
 * Imperial Star Destroyer Judicator

Weapons and Technology

 * Macrobinoculars
 * Comlink
 * Plex missile launcher

Behind the scenes
In a later short story, Alex Winger discovers that that she is Force-sensitive and that the sandy brown haired man in her visions is Luke Skywalker.