The New Jedi Order : Dark Tide I : Onslaught The New Jedi Order : Dark Tide I : Onslaught , the first book of the Dark Tide Duology , is a novel by Michael A . Stackpole , published by Del Rey in 2000 . The galactic maps printed inside were designed by Daniel Wallace and Chris Barbieri . Narration for the audio version was provided by Anthony Heald . Publisher ' s summary . With unsurpassed action and imagination , author Michael A . Stackpole continues " The New Jedi Order " with " DARK TIDE I : ONSLAUGHT " , testing the heroes of the past along with the next generation of Jedi against fearsome enemies from beyond the galactic rim . … " It is a perilous time for the New Republic . Just when unity is needed most , mistrust is on the rise . Even the Jedi feel the strain , as rogue elements rebel against Luke Skywalker ' s leadership . When alien invaders known as the Yuuzhan Vong strike without warning , the New Republic is thrown on the defensive . " " Luke must wield all the awesome powers of a Jedi Master to defeat the gravest threat since Emperor Palpatine . As Leia Organa Solo and Gavin Darklighter lead desperate refugees in a fighting retreat from Yuuzhan Vong forces , Mara Jade Skywalker , Jedi apprentices Jacen and Anakin Solo , and Jedi Knight Corran Horn find themselves tested as never before by a faceless , implacable foe determined to smother the light of the New Republic forever beneath a shroud of darkest evil . … " Plot summary . The alien Yuuzhan Vong have appeared throughout the Outer Rim , attacking different sectors mercilessly . Lando Calrissian ' s planet of Dubrillion is attacked and taken over . Luke Skywalker decides to deal with the Yuuzhan Vong ' s aggressiveness by mobilizing a select few Jedi for various reconnaissance missions . Luke and Jacen Solo go to Belkadan , Corran Horn and the arrogant Ganner Rhysode are sent to the planet Bimmiel to recover a group of missing scientists , and Anakin Solo accompanies Mara Jade Skywalker to Dantooine for the sake of Mara ' s rapidly deteriorating health . Luke and Jacen soon find the ExGal facility on Belkadan littered with the carnage of machinery , before discovering a Yuuzhan Vong outpost utilizing slaves as a means to grow their bioequipment . Corran and Ganner also find the group of scientists along with a Yuuzhan Vong outpost ( also harboring slaves ) whose inhabitants are searching for the remains of a Yuuzhan Vong that died and was recovered by the group of scientists . All the while on Dantooine , Mara is teaching young Anakin ways of the Force previously unknown to the youth . Jacen follows a vision he has , engages in and loses a battle to a Vong warrior on Belkadan , and is taken prisoner and placed in the Embrace of Pain prior to Luke ' s rescuing him . The two Jedi , sensing trouble on Dantooine , depart the planet . Their foresight serves them well , as they arrive just in time to rescue Anakin and Mara from Yuuzhan Vong warriors who have discovered them on the planet and are hunting the two . The Yuuzhan Vong , chasing refugees fleeing from the destruction on Dubrillion , arrive in force to the planet . The resulting " onslaught " sees the slaughter of hundreds of the Vong ' s primary slave invasion force , along with a New Republic victory , though is costly because they lose half of their refugees during the battle . On Bimmiel , Corran and Ganner attempt to rescue two captured scientists . Ganner escapes with the two , leaving Corran to narrowly defeat the two Yuuzhan Vong warriors that appear ; Ganner is forced to rescue the dying Corran , who then survives . Shedao Shai , a male Yuuzhan Vong commander , is later notified of the killing of his kinsmen , Neira and Dranae and the stealing of his ancestor ' s remains . Shai , overcome by vengeance , vows that he will taste the blood of the " Jeedai " ( Vong mispronunciation of Jedi ) responsible . Cover gallery . This is a gallery of the different cover variations of " Dark Tide I : Onslaught " .