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Starfighters of Adumar (1999) is the ninth and last book in the X-wing (series) series. It was written by Aaron Allston.
Summary
The planet of Adumar is an anomaly, settled by anonymous colonists during the early years of the Old Republic and isolated ever since. But now it has been discovered. The Adumari love pilots, so the New Republic's best snubfighter jock, General Wedge Antilles, is dispatched as a diplomat, along with three of Rogue Squadron's finest: taciturn Colonel Tycho Celchu, pessimist Major Derek "Hobbie" Klivian and child-at-heart extraordinaire Major Wes Janson. They are also aided by native guide and sword-fighting champion Cheriss ke Hanadi, New Republic diplomat and former Y-wing pilot Tomer Darpen, and New Republic Documentarian Hallis Saper, who wears a second head (the other is the head of a 3P0 protocol droid which she uses as a camera).
Wedge assumes that he will somehow hammer out a treaty and bring the planet of Adumar into the New Republic, but it becomes quickly apparent that all is not as it seems. Firstly, the Empire's best pilot, General Turr Phennir, and three of his best are here too. Secondly, Adumar is not a united planet, and right now Wedge is only talking to its largest nation, Cartann. Thirdly, the Cartannese seem to like nothing better than killing each other for bragging rights, and Wedge is expected to join in—especially since they try to kill him for bragging rights too. (Phennir seems to have no problem with it.) Fourthly, a certain woman whom Wedge is acquainted with, Iella Wessiri, is on-planet as a New Republic Intelligence operative and has been so for the past six months—despite the fact that, supposedly, Adumar was only discovered a few weeks ago. (It also doesn't help that Wedge would like to be a little more than friends with her.) After several air duels with many Cartannese pilots, Wedge finds out that Cartann is planning to go to war with the other nations of Adumar, and wants its new diplomats to assist with the war effort. Phennir agrees, but Wedge, unwilling to compromise the New Republic's ideals, refuses. As a result the refusal, as well as Tomer's willingness to sacrifice Wedge to preserve relations with Cartann, Wedge and his wingmen are forced to run the "gauntlet", braving mobs of citizens and pilots eager to kill them for honor.
Wedge and his wingmen, as well as Iella and Cherris, manage to flee to one of Cartann's rival countries. There, they plan to use the combined might of every one of Cartann's enemies to overthrow its corrupt leadership and unite the planet. After a massive aerial battle its capital city, Cartann is defeated and agrees to ally with the other nations of Adumar to form a united planet. The Imperials, bitter over their loss, send a fleet to take Adumar by force, but a combined New Republic and Adumarian fleet manages to repel them.
With the conflict on Adumar over, Wedge and Iella spend a romantic moment with each other, putting a positive note on their future relationship.
The novel is celebrated in the Star Wars fandom for author Aaron Allston's use of humor, which is frequent and often genuinely funny. Allston often characterizes the four pilots through their joking styles: Tycho with occasional and devastating one-liners, Hobbie with pessimistic backtalk, Janson with constant irreverencies, and Wedge as the smirking straight man.
External links
"Starfighters of Adumar"