The New Rebellion The New Rebellion is a novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch and was published in 1996 by Bantam Spectra . The novel takes place in 17 ABY , shortly after the Black Fleet Crisis . Publisher ' s summary . " Somewhere in the galaxy , millions suddenly perish — a disruption of the Force so shocking it is felt by Luke at his Jedi academy and by Leia on Coruscant . While Leia must deal with an assassination attempt , a rumored plot against the New Republic , and allegations that Han Solo is involved , Luke seeks out a former Jedi student who may hold the key to the mass destruction . But Brakiss is only the bait in a deadly trap set by a master of the dark side who is determined to rule as emperor . He ' s targeted Luke , Leia , and Leia ' s Jedi children to die . Then billions will follow , in a holocaust unequaled in galactic history . " Plot summary . Summary . The Dark Jedi Kueller sets in motion a plan to bring down the New Republic and the new generation of Jedi . First , he kills over a million innocent natives of the planet Pydyr and then sets off a bomb in the New Republic Senate Hall . As Jedi Master Luke Skywalker searches for the one behind all of this , Leia Organa Solo has her own problems arising from conflicts with newly elected former Imperials in the senate , and the framing of her husband Han Solo by the smuggler Jarril , who is suspected to be responsible for the senate bombing . As Han Solo travels with Chewbacca to the Smuggler ' s Run to investigate the actions of Jarril in hopes of getting to the bottom of the Senate bombing , Luke Skywalker visits Brakiss on Telti looking for information , and Lando Calrissian heads to The Run after Han Solo who he fears is in danger . Meanwhile , Cole Fardreamer , with the aid of R2 - D2 and C - 3PO , discovers a plot to install all New Republic X - wing ' s with remote detonators . Leia becomes aware of this and concedes her position as president to Mon Mothma in order to rescue Luke from Kueller who has taken him prisoner on Almania . After Han rescues Lando , rather than Lando rescuing Han , from the clutches of the crime lord Nandreeson , and the two of them aide hundreds of smugglers after an accidental bombing of the Run , Han also heads to Almania to rescue Luke . Han arrives at Almania in the midst of a vicious battle between New Republic forces led by Wedge Antilles and Kueller ' s fleet . Han is also met by Talon Karrde and Mara Jade who have brought ysalamir i to assist in the battle against Kueller . After a long grueling battle against Kueller , in which Kueller has gained a tremendous amount of power fueled by Luke ' s own anger at himself for allowing Kueller to fall to the dark side , Luke is preparing himself for death at Kuellers hands as Han arrives on the scene with the ysalamiri , sapping both Luke and Kueller of their power , and in doing so allows Leia to finish Kueller with two lethal blaster shots . R2 - D2 and C - 3PO simultaneously thwart Kueller ' s plan to detonate millions of droids across the galaxy . This enables Leia to return to Coruscant and regain her post as president from Mon Mothma . Cover gallery . This is a gallery of the different cover variations of " The New Rebellion " .