X - Wing : Isard ' s Revenge X - Wing : Isard ' s Revenge is the eighth installment in the " X - Wing " series of novels , written in 1999 by Michael A . Stackpole and published by Bantam Spectra . Narration for the audio version was performed by Anthony Heald . Publisher ' s summary . Sleek , swift , and deadly , the famed X - wing fighters have earned their reputation as the Rebel Alliance ' s ultimate strike force the hard way — first in battle , the last line of defense . Now they must make a deal with the devil herself — an enemy whose ultimate goal is their total annihilation . " It ' s the kind of mission only Wedge Antilles and the Rogue Squadron would dare to undertake . Against impossible odds they will stage a daring raid into an enemy stronghold — only to be rescued from certain destruction by an unexpected ally . Ysanne Isard , the ruthless Imperial commander , has appeared on the scene seemingly from out of nowhere . Now she proposes a most unusual alliance , offering to help Wedge rescue his captured comrades from Imperial Warlord Admiral Krennel ' s sadistic prison camp . But her offer is not without a price . Wedge must lead Rogue Squadron in Isard ' s deadly struggle against an enemy made in her own image . It ' s an offer Wedge would love to refuse , for Isard is certain to betray them . But how can they leave their comrades at Krennel ' s mercy ? The answer is : they can ' t — even if it means being caught between Krennel ' s ruthlessness and Isard ' s treachery . " Plot summary . After the death of Grand Admiral Thrawn in Timothy Zahn ' s The Last Command , the New Republic has decided to go after the numerous warlords terrorizing the galaxy . Its first target is Admiral Krennel . The mission seems straightforward at first , but then Isard appears from the dead , offering her services and using New Republic prisoners as bait ( the same prisoners with whom Corran Horn spent some time aboard the " Lusankya " ) . After several initial victories against Krennel , the New Republic begins taking savage political blows from Krennel thanks to Isard . Meanwhile , Iella Wesseri and Mirax Terrik begin investigating a series of strange events and clues , and discover that somebody is setting up a trap for Rogue Squadron . Unfortunately , they are too late to warn Rogue Squadron . While on a mission , the Rogues are ambushed by an entire wing ( 6 squadrons , or 72 fighters ) of assorted TIE - Fighters . With the unexpected aid of a squadron of TIE Defenders , the Rogues manage to win , but not before losing Janson , Asyr , and their two replacement pilots . It is revealed that they were rescued by Isard , and that the Isard working for Krennel is in fact a clone . She makes a deal with Wedge , saying that in return for helping the Rogues defeat Krennel and retrieve the Lusankya prisoners , she is to be granted amnesty for all past crimes . Wedge has no choice but to agree . While most of the galaxy , including Krennel , believe that Rogue Squadron is dead , Mirax finds out that they are still alive when Whistler and Gate escape Isard ' s base . The New Republic then receives a message from Wedge outlining the final decisive attack on Krennel . During the battle , Isard betrays Rogue Squadron and denies their commando and fighter support . Corran decides to land his Defender and liberate the prisoners himself , taking Ooryl and Nrin Vakil with him . Fortunately , Admiral Ackbar suspected a trap and brought secret reinforcements , including a large commando force . Krennel and the Isard clone are killed in the battle , and the Lusankya prisoners are liberated . Meanwhile , Isard takes her extra forces and attempts to steal the Lusankya , which was captured by the New Republic during the Bacta War and almost fully repaired . However , Iella and Mirax predicted her actions and thwarted Isard ' s plan . Isard was killed in the process . At a party celebrating the success of the campaign against Krennel , Janson , who survived Isard ' s ambush , is reunited with Rogue Squadron . Asyr , who also survived , keeps news of her survival secret , wanting to return to Bothawui and try to change the Bothan way of life for the better . Cover gallery . This is a gallery of the different cover variations of " X - Wing : Isard ' s Revenge " .