X - Wing : Wedge ' s Gamble X - wing : Wedge ' s Gamble is the second installment in the " X - Wing " series of novels , released in 1996 . It was written by Michael A . Stackpole . The audio version was narrated by Henry Thomas . Publisher ' s summary . " It is the evil heart of a battered and reeling Empire : Coruscant , the giant city - world from whose massive towers the Imperial High Command directs the war . The Rebels will invade this mighty citadel in a daring move to bring the Empire to its knees . But first Wedge Antilles and his X - wing pilots must infiltrate Coruscant to gain vital intelligence information . Capture means death , or worse — enslavement by the vicious leader known as " Iceheart , " Ysanne Isard , now Emperor in all but name . And one of Rogue Squadron ' s own is already her slave , a traitor hidden behind a mask of innocence , working to betray both colleagues and the Rebellion itself . " Plot summary . A month after the conquest of Borleias , the Rebels and Rogue Squadron have to deal with Imperial probes by the rogue Warlord Zsinj , the apparent death of member Bror Jace , and re - populating the squadron with new , hotshot members , Aril Nunb and Pash Cracken . With worries of attacks by Zsinj ' s forces , the Provisional Council of the Alliance , including Princess Leia Organa and Borsk Fey ' lya , meet and decide that an invasion of Coruscant must proceed . With a decision that criminals from the Black Sun organization , imprisoned on Kessel , could be released on Coruscant to help bring resistance against the Empire , the Rogues are first sent to Kessel . After freeing a number of criminals that Corran himself sent there , including Zekka Thyne and his girlfriend , Inyri Forge , sister to former Rogue member Lujayne . After the Black Sun members are placed on Coruscant , Rogue ' s members are covertly inserted onto the planet in small groups . Corran and Erisi Dlarit are put together and meet with Alliance Intelligence agent Winter , Wedge and Pash Cracken are together and meet with agent and Corran ' s former partner Iella Wessiri , and the rest of the Rogues are brought by Mirax Terrik to the Invisisec , an underworld for many of the poor , non - Humans on Coruscant . After Mirax is compromised and meets with Wedge and Corran sees Tycho Celchu speaking to Imperial agent Kirtan Loor , the Rogues think they may have a traitor in their midsts . Meanwhile , the Imperial forces , led by Ysanne Isard , are creating a virus that attacks non - Humans , the Krytos Virus , and are planning on giving the Rebels Coruscant when it is ready . They believe that the Rebels will be taxed for resources if they try to help everyone with the virus and will soon lose Coruscant once again and be finally defeated . The Rogues are informed , after plans from Admiral Ackbar and Fey ' lya are approved , that they must take down Coruscant ' s planetary shields at a precise time in order for the Rebel attack to succeed . After some minor failures and the capture of Aril Nunb , the group formulates a plan . Told of the Rebels impending invasion by a traitor in Rogue Squadron , Isard accelerates the plan to release the virus , informs Loor that he is to stay as a form of resistance when the Rebels invade , and readies herself for an escape from the planet . With help from Black Sun , a group of Bothan spies , and the rest of the Alliance Intelligence on the planet , the Rogues are able to take down the shields in time for the Rebel fleet to arrive . With only two Star Destroyers sent to defend the planet , it easily falls into Rebel hands . However , Corran , investigating a fleeing ship , crashes his Z - 95 Headhunter when an outside force takes control of it . Although Aril Nunb is found safe and the non - Humans of the Rogues are treated and cured of the virus , the squadron ends in turmoil with Corran ' s apparent death and the arrest of Tycho as the apparent traitor responsible for his death . The novel ends with Corran waking as a captive aboard a ship , where Isard informs him that he is on his way to the prison and torture facility " Lusankya " . Media . Cover gallery . This is a gallery of the different cover variations of " X - wing : Wedge ' s Gamble " .