The High Republic: Tempest Runner

The High Republic: Tempest Runner is a canon audio drama written by Cavan Scott set in the High Republic Era starring the Nihil Tempest Runner Lourna Dee. It was released on August 31, 2021 by Random House Audio. An accompanying script book of the audio drama was published on March 15, 2022.
==Publisher's summary==
In this Star Wars audio original, delve into the cutthroat world of one of the High Republic's greatest foes, the merciless Lourna Dee.
The Nihil storm has raged through the galaxy, leaving chaos and grief in its wake. Few of its raiders are as vicious as the Tempest Runner Lourna Dee. She stays one step ahead of the Jedi Order at the helm of a vessel named after one of the deadliest monsters in the galaxy: the Lourna Dee. But no one can outrun the defenders of the High Republic forever.
After the defeat of her crew, Lourna falls into the hands of the Jedi–but not before she hides her identity, becoming just another Nihil convict. Her captors fail to understand the beast they have cornered. Just like every fool she's ever buried, their first mistake was keeping her alive.
Lourna is determined to make underestimating her their last.
Locked onto a Republic correctional ship, she's dragged across the galaxy to repair the very damage she and her fellow Tempest Runners inflicted on it. But as Lourna plans her glorious escape, she makes alliances that grow dangerously close to friendships. Outside the Nihil—separated from her infamous ship, her terrifying arsenal, and her feared name—Lourna must carve her own path. But will it lead to redemption? Or will she emerge as a deadlier threat than ever before?
==Plot summary==
===Part One: Retreat===
====Prologue====
In the prologue, the Er'Kit Andrik Keller enters a cantina on the planet Sran in the Ash Worlds. There, he is greeted by a serving droid and a masked hulking figure. Over drinks, Andrik strikes a conversation with the hulking figure, who recruits him for a mission to rescue a woman named Lourna Dee.
At a briefing room in the Galactic Republic's space station Starlight Beacon, two Republic Defense Coalition pilots named Jano Brayson and Teff meet up. Jano is flying with Firebird Squadron and has recently transferred from Aurora IX. Teff has also recently transferred from the Kolaador system. Several Jedi including Jedi Masters Estala Maru and Avar Kriss also attend the briefing, which is chaired by senior administrator Velko Jahen. He introduces Master Kriss, who briefs the attendees about the joint Jedi and Republic Operation: Counterstrike against Nihil forces. The Jedi Council and Republic believe the Nihil are scattering but their leader, the Eye of the Nihil believed to be Lourna Dee, is still on the run.
Back at the cantina on Sran, Andrik is unfamiliar with Lourna but reveals that he is a Nihil. The masked figure also confirms he is a Nihil. The hulking figure pays for Andrik's drinks. Andrik tells the hulking figure that he was part of a Nihil group that attacked the Republic Fair under the orders of Marchion Ro, the the Eye of the Nihil. Andrik says that it was a blood bath before mentioning the Tempest Runners, which the hulking figure is unfamiliar with.
Meanwhile, Kriss explains that the Jedi and Republic have learned from Nihil prisoners taken at Carlac that the Nihil are divided into three war bands known as Tempests, which are led by Tempest Runners who wield considerable autonomy. Brayson regards the Nihil as animals, having lost friends on Valo. Kriss believes that the Eye outranks the Tempest Runners within the Nihil hierarchy.
Andrik tells the hulking figure that the Tempest Runner Pan Eyta would be furious if he learned that the Republic thought that Lourna was the leader of the Nihil. Andrik reveals that Lourna had a role in Pan's death. Back at Starlight Beacon, Kriss tells the briefing that Eyta perished with his starship Elegencia during a failed raid in the Cyclorrian shipyards after the Valo Atrocity. Meanwhile, Andrik reveals that Lourna betrayed Eyta by abandoning him during the Cyclorrian raid.
====Raid on Relay Post Esilon One====
Aboard the flight deck of the Lourna Dee, Andrik Keller informs his superior Storm Tasia that they are approaching their target. Tempest Runner Dee enters the deck, catching Tasia by surprise. Tasia reports they have only received contact from Drohon. Dee asks H7-09 if they have heard any news from the other Tempest Runners. When Tasia asks if they had lost contact with the rest of the Tempest, Lourna angrily headbutts her. She then warns the rest of the flight crew that she will not hear any talk of defeat. She reminds her Nihil followers about their raiding ways before giving a rallying war speech.
Meanwhile at Relay Post Epsilon One, comms officers Raleigh and Macken reactivate the Targes scanner just in time to detect the presence of the Lourna Dee. Dee orders Andrik to fire the opening shot. In response to the Nihil attack, Macken opens a comm and calls for reinforcements. Since the relay station is protected by deflector shields, Dee orders Andrik to ready the gas torpedoes. The gas torpedoes cause a hull breach on level three, releasing war cloud into the space station. Macken orders Darvel to reseal the deck just as Master Maru responds to their distress call.
Back at Starlight Beacon, Maru informs Master Kriss that the Lourna Dee is attacking Relay Post Epsilon One in the Galov system. Kriss postpones the rest of the briefing and scrambles the Z-29 Skyhawks and Jedi Vectors to respond to the raid. As Dee and her lieutenants are about to prepare boarding parties, Marchion Ro contacts them via holoprojector and emphasizes the importance of capturing the relay station for the Nihil cause. He authorizes the deployment of boarding parties.
At the Republic hangar bay aboard the Longbeam cruiserAurora IX, Jano and Teff board their Skyhawks. Jano runs into the Wookiee Jedi Padawan Burryaga Agaburry, who joins his Master Nib Assek. This marks Jano's first encounter with a Wookiee Jedi. The pilots board their starfighters. While waiting in the hangar, Firebird Leader Errington briefs Firebird Squadron, telling them that they will launch as soon as the Aurora arrives at the target location. Kriss also tells the Longbeam cruisers to prepare to jump into hyperspace. The Ataraxia and its escort Longbeams blast into hyperspace.
Back at Epsilon One, Raleigh and Macken managed to seal the door to the operations center before the Nihil can breach it. However, Nihil boarders breach other parts of the relay post. Over the comms, they hear Wilkes being gunned down. As the Nihil boarders use a burning torch to cut through the door, Macken comforts Raleigh, telling him to have faith that the Jedi will come to their aid. As the Nihil lay siege to the operations center, Ro expresses dissatisfaction with the progress of the boarding by comparing Dee unfavorably to Pan. They are interrupted by the arrival of the Jedi and Republic reinforcements.
====The counter-attack====
Marshal Kriss orders Firebird Leader to deploy his Skyhawks. Firebird Leader reminds their wingmates including Jano and Teff that their orders are to disable the enemy warship. The Lourna Dee deploys several starfighters to counter the Republic and Jedi reinforcements. Aboard the Lourna Dee flight deck, Dee requests reinforcements but Ro says that Zeetar's Tempest will not make it in time. When Dee asks if the Gaze Electric could come to their aid, Ro tells them to ride the storm before terminating communications. Tasia realizes that Ro has abandoned them. Dee orders H7-09 to deploy the scav droids and to engage the nearest Longbeam cruiser Karvoss Dawn.
The Lourna Dee opens fire on the Karvoss Dawn, destroying the cruiser. Firebird Leader orders Firebird Squadron to take evasive action. As Jano and Teff avoid debris, they also tangle with a pursuing Nihil fighter. Jano's Skyhawk is damaged but the two are saved by Burryaga's starfighter. Over the comm, Burryaga wishes that the Force be with them in Shyriiwook, which Jano and Teff do not understand. Burry's master Nib Assek joins the conversation and tells Jano that his starboard wing has been damage. Jano reassures them that he can still fly. Kriss orders the starfighters to concentrate fire on the Lourna Dee in order to prevent the ship's escape.
Assek asks Marshal Kriss about the crew of the relay station. When Burryaga asks if they should board, Kriss tells them to focus on the space battle and reassures them that the crew will be saved. As the Nihil boarders are about to cut through the door to the flight deck, Raleigh and Macken prepare for a final stand. To their surprise, two lightsabers slice through the door. Jedi Master Sskeer and Padawan Keeve Trennis take out the Nihil boarders before introducing themselves to the comms crew. The Jedi reveal that Raleigh and Macken are the only survivors of the Nihil raid. Trennis informs Kriss that she, Skeer, Ceret and Terec have taken several Nihil prisoners. The four soon receive news that the Nihil ship has deployed several scav droids to destroy the relay station. Kriss orders all starfighters to destroy the relay station.
Later, Andrik recounts the Battle of Galov to the hulking figure, telling him that many of the scav droids were destroyed by the Republic fighters. When the hulking figure asks what happened to Dee, he continues the story. Aboard the Lourna Dee, Dee and her flight crew learn that most of their scav droids have been neutralized. Dee rules out sending reinforcements and tells Tasia to order the boarding parties to retreat. Before H7-09 can target the station, a missile hits the flight deck. H7-09 is damaged and commences self-repair. Dee and Andrik discover that the targeting controls have been disabled. While Tasia contacts the boarding crew, Dee switches the targeting controls to manual mode.
At the cantina, the serving droid asked Andrik about the scavenger droids. Andrik and the hulking figure respond that the scavenger droids only exist to tear things apart and do not care whether they live or die. Aboard the relay station, Trennis gives Macken her rebreather. The group run into several marauding scavenger droids with the Jedi deflecting their blaster bolts with lightsabers. Realizing that the Nihil intend to destroy the relay station, Marshal Kriss directs Burryaga and Assek to take out the Lourna Dee turbolaser. Sskeer uses his physical Trandoshan strength and his Force powers to patch up a hull breach, saving the Jedi and the two relay station survivors.
====Boarding the Lourna Dee====
Meanwhile, the Jedi Vectors disable the Lourna Dee weapons systems. Disarmed, Dee orders her crew to prepare the ship for a hyperspace jump. The relay station experiences several explosions. Kriss is worried but is able to re-establish contact with Master Sskeer and his team, who confirm they are safe and well. Kriss orders the Jedi and Republic starfighters to prevent the Lourna Dee from escaping. With their hyperdrive and engines disabled, Dee orders her flight crew to flee on their starfighters while she appears to prepare for a last stand. She also dons her mask.
Determined to capture Dee, Marshal Kriss assembles a combined Jedi and Republic boarding party including Assek, Burryaga, Trennis, Sskeer, and members of Fire Squadron. In the Nihil ship's hangar, Tasia and Andrik engage in a gun battle with Republic fighter pilots. Tasia injects herself with a stim canister to "fire" herself up. Assek leads her team including Burryaga, Jano, Teff, and Firebird Leader through a corridor. Firebird Leader Errington is killed by an automated flamethrower. Assek and Burryaga use their Force powers to push back the flame throwers, causing the cannon's fuel canister to explode, killing several Nihil defenders. Jano is upset about Errington's death. Kriss liaises with the team via comms.
Meanwhile, Kriss lands in a shuttle with Sskeer and Trennis in the Lourna Dee hangar. Sskeer commends Trennis for her piloting skills. Seeing the shuttle, Tasia convinces Andrik they could use it as an escape vehicle. However, the Jedi can sense their presence through the Force. Against Tasia's advice, Andrik opens fire on the Jedi after injecting himself with a stim. Andrik later recounts his battle with Marshal Kriss to the masked figure and the serving droid. When questioned by the hulking figure, he admits leaving Dee behind on the flight deck.
Assek's team battle their way to the flight deck. Burryaga uses his lightsaber to slice through the door. They encounter what appears to be a masked and armed Dee, who is making her last stand with blasters. Jano shoots her in the helmet. Assek expresses disapproval since they wanted to capture her alive. Burryaga however is unable to sense Dee's presence. Teff attempts to remove her helmet but this triggers a booby trap which explodes, killing him. When Eyta asked if Dee perished during the gunfight, Andrik replies that "she was not finished yet."
Meanwhile, Andrik and Tasia engage in a gun battle with Kriss and her team. Sskeer uses the Force to move the shuttle that the two are hiding behind, exposing their position. Unable to move, Tasia surrenders to the Jedi but Andrik flees with Sskeer in hot pursuit. Later, Andrik recounts fleeing from the Trandoshan Jedi. Andrik is trapped by loose wreckage while freeing. Before Sskeer can take him into custody, he is attacked by Dee, who is armed with a vibro-ax. Despite his injuries, the Trandoshan uses the Force to hurl Dee against the bulkhead. While Sskeer fights with Dee, Andrik takes the opportunity to flee into an escape pod. To Dee's dismay, he leaves her behind.
Trennis arrives and uses the Force to hurl Dee against the wall, incapacitating the Nihil. She then attends to her wounded master before pursuing Andrik. Andrik fires up the escape pod before Trennis can detain him. In the present, Andrik admits abandoning his Tempest Runner, which angers the hulking figure. He explains that he caught up with a Frizznoth survivor on Cerea, who had abandoned ship when the Jedi arrived. Andrik mentions that the Jedi took Dee to Starlight Beacon.
====Aftermath====
At Starlight Beacon's medcenter, Master Assek and Trennis discuss the aftermath of the battle of the relay station. Sskeer is undergoing treatment in a bacta tank. They believe that Lourna Dee perished after she blew herself up with a thermal detonator, killing Teff. Assek says that she attempted to save the pilot. They are interrupted by Burryaga who informs them that the pilot Jano is missing from his ward.
Jano infiltrates the Nihil ward where he attempts to avenge Teff's death by killing Tasia. He locks the door to the ward, preventing the Jedi from entering. Jano attempts to strangle Tasia but she fights back. Before he can throttle her to death, Dee attacks him with a ventilator. At that point, Assek and Trennis enter the room. Trennis does not realize that the green-skinned Twi'lek is actually Dee but recognizes her as the Nihil who assaulted Master Sskeer. Dee attempts to escape but is overpowered by Burryaga. After subduing her, Assek introduces herself. To hide her identity, Dee says that her name is "Sal Krost."
In the present, the hulking figure surmises that the Jedi did not know who they had captured, believing she had perished aboard her ship. Andrik thinks that her trusted droid H7-09 had served as her decoy. Andrik proposes that the two of them join forces to rescue Dee, using a locator. The hulking figure tells Andrik that Dee who have abandoned him had she had the opportunity. He then kills Andrik and destroys the serving droid with his blaster. Revealing himself as the former Tempest Runner Pan Eyta, he contacts Trilok, telling him that he knows where Dee is being held.
===Part Two: Remembrance===
====Incarceration====
Inside Starlight Beacon's security wing, Tasia confronts Dee, telling her that she knows her true identity. Tasia is disgusted that Dee pretended to fall in battle while sacrificing the lives of her followers. In a nearby cell, another Nihil prisoner Sont Eval fights the guards before being subdued with a stun baton. Dee tries to convince Tasia not to expose her true identity by reminding her that she saved her live at the medcenter. When Tasia reminds Dee of the time she headbutted her, Dee responds that they need to work together to survive and escape. Shortly later, a guard summons "Sal Kros" for an interrogation.
Inside the interview room, "Sal Kros" is questioned by the Mon Calamari Chief Tarpfen, who is the head of security at Starlight Beacon. "Sal Kros" is evasive claiming that she was a member of Lourna Dee's Tempest who was just following orders. Tarpfen notices her sharpened teeth and asks "Sal" to recount her life story before joining the Nihil. Dee continues her stalling tactics and claims that truth is relative. When Tarpfen asks what would motivate someone to join the Nihil, she claims they are motivated by a desire for riches and money.
====A royal childhood====
Dee experiences a flashback to her childhood growing up with her younger brother Inun on the planet Aaloth. Despite Inun's warnings, Dee runs her blurrg too hard, causing it to fall and collapse. Dee contacts her older sister Haleena for help. Returning to their family home at the Aaloth Palace, Dee and Inun are confronted by an angry mob protesting the first family's rule. When a Twi'lek protester grabs Inun, the palace gun opens fire on the protesters, resulting in a massacre.
Back in the interrogation room, Dee claims that her family were "nobodies." When Tarpfen presses Dee for more details about her family, she tries to turn the question back on him. Inside the Aaloth Palace, Haleena attends to the wounded Dee and her brother Inun. Dee tells Haleena that they left their blurrgs in the field. In the infirmary Dee discusses the riot and the famine with her father Yudiah Dee and Haleena. Yudiah is reluctant to talk about politics but Haleena insists that Dee is old enough to know. The assessor from the Twi'lek homeworld of Ryloth is due to arrive to collect taxes. Dee suggests that Aaloth could make money from mining but her father disagrees, insisting that Aaloth remain an agricultural colony.
When Tarpfen asks about her upbringing, Dee continues stalling. In the flashback scene, Dee meets with her lover Bala Waleen while recovering from her leg injury inside the infirmary. Bala confirms that Ryloth and the other Twi'lek colonies are dealing in spice. He also reviews that the Ryloth government has hosted representatives from the Zygerrian Alliance, who are involved in slavery. He reveals that the Zygerrians have set up camps on Malus. Bala removes a spice spider that had landed on Dee's shoulder. He explains that spice spiders produce pure glitterstim webs.
Later, Bala introduces Dee, Haleena and Yudiah to Vardem Kroleyic of the Zygerrian Alliance, who is interested in exploiting Aaloth's mining potential. During the meeting, Dee reveals that they found spice spiders on the Sal Plains near the mountains. However, Yudiah is unwilling to allow Aaloth to be opened to spice mining and terminates the comms meeting with Kroleyic. He orders the palace guard to travel to the plains and burns the grass. Yudiah also banishes Bala from the palace. A distraught Dee disagrees with her father and warns that his decision will be the end of their family.
====Bala's betrayal====
Later, Inun lends Dee his comlink, taking pity on his older sister. Bala contacts his girlfriend and agrees with Dee that Yudiah is being "pigheaded." Bala reveals that Kalla Secaria, the captain of the guard, has disobeyed her father's orders to burn the grass. Bala reveals that he and the guards are stirring up the people to overthrow Yudiah and place her in charge as Keeper. Bala convinces Dee to open the gates of Aaloth Palace to the crowd.
As the mob storms Aaloth Palace, the Dee family retreat to the First Family's saferoom. Yudiah searches for a cache of blasters only to realize it is empty. Against her father's orders, Dee opens the door of the saferoom to the mob, which is led by Captain Secaria. Secaria orders Dee's family except her to line up against the wall. Bala thanks Dee for her work and reveals that Ryloth's Clan Assembly has signed the articles of membership to join the Republic. As long as Aaloth pays taxes to Ryloth and Ryloth pays taxes to the Core Worlds, the Republic will leave them alone.
When Dee proposes exiling her family except Inun, Haleena denounces Dee for her treason. Outside the saferoom, Bala reneges on his promise to install Dee as Keeper of Aaloth, revealing that he will be taking the position. Shortly later, Secara executes Dee's family except her. Bala and Secara then force her to sign a declaration abdicating her right as Keeper and transferring her power to Bala. Bala reveals that he exploited his relationship with Dee to become Keeper and that she is no longer of use to him. Bala then drugs Dee with glitterstim, knocking her unconscious. In the present, Dee recounts her tragic family history towards Tarpfen, who is sympathetic to her plight.
Following a nightmare about Dee comforting Inun, she finds herself being processed by a medical droid. Vardem decides to sell Dee as a slave to the Hutt Cartel. Dee is restrained by Twi'lek protesters while the medical droid fits her with a slave collar. Back in the present, a sympathetic Chief Tarpfen decides to sentence her to correctional training aboard the Restitution as a means of giving her a second chance. He asks her to take advantage of the training opportunities to rebuild her life. Later, Dee rejoins Tasia in her cell. Tasia has also been sent aboard the Restitution and agrees to keep Dee's secret.
===Part Three: Restitution===
====Processing====
Dee and Tasia travel aboard a shuttle to the Restitution. As the shuttle lands, they chat with another Nihil prisoner named Quin, who is unaware of Dee's true identity. As they are being processed, Dee hints to Quin that she has been locked up before. In a flashback scene, the teenage Dee is imprisoned in the slave pens of Zygerria with a sick Gamorrean sow and a female human slave. When Dee defies a Zygerrian guard by speaking up, he uses her slave collar to electrocute her as punishment.
Back in the present, Counselors Wittick and Fry give a welcoming address to the new prisoners, explaining that Restitution is on a never-ending journey carrying prisoners to do reconstructive work as part of their criminal sentences and rehabilitation. He tells them that prisoners will be paid three credits to bur food from the commissary, contact family members and access certain leisure facilities. As the prisoners lined up to receive their numbers, blocks and uniforms, Quin attempts to escape but is quickly recaptured. Fry and Wittick manage to convince Quin to submit by warning that they are willing to use force as a final resort.
Dee recounts her experience in the Zygerrian slave pen to Tasia. Fearful of getting infected by the sick Gamorrean sow, Dee convinces a guard to arrange for the sick Gamorrean's removal. When the other slave expresses concern that Dee has condemned the Gamorrean, she replies that she is more concerned with their survival. In the present Dee, Tasia and Quin are assigned to K Block where the meet their fellow inmates, the Aqualish Parr, the Ottegan Ola Hest, and a Gloovan. Wittick ushers Tasia and dee into their cell, telling them that they can use credits to buy furniture. When they are alone, Tasia warns Dee that at least two of Pan Eyta's Tempest are aboard the Restitution and may seek to take out Dee. Tasia agrees to keep Dee's identity a secret from the other prisoners, the Republic and the Jedi.
====Liberation and brawling====
In the past, the human slave shows symptoms of the disease that was affecting the Gamorrean. Lady Kroleyic orders the guard to take her away for execution to avoid infect the rest of the slaves. The desperate slave grabs Dee's arm and pleads for help. Dee is only concerned for her own survival. Before the Zygerrians can respond, Republic and Jedi forces attack the Zygerrian slave camp. In the present, Dee meets another Twi'lek prisoner in the Restitution mess hall named Sestin Blin, who is serving a sentence for defrauding the Guild of Compassionate Merchants. Dee shares her experiences in the Zygerrian slave pen with Sestin.
In the past, Dee uses the human slave as a shield when Lady Kroleyic shoots at her. However, Dee later embellishes the account by claiming that the slave threw herself in front of her. Dee knocks the blaster out of Kroleyic's hand but the Zygerrian gains the upper hand. However, the Jedi Master Oppo Rancisis arrives and uses the Force to pull Kroleyic off her. A Jedi Padawan named Dal Azim attends to Dee, telling her that she is free. Dee claims that Kroleyic murdered her friend.
Dee's story is interrupted by another prisoner named Muglan, who bullies the newcomer Tasia with the help of Ola Hest. Hest demands that Tasia reveals their comlink. Dee intervenes and demands that they let go of her comrade. She claims that she stole their comlink and destroyed it. When they refuse to release Tasia and start beating her up, Dee fights Muglan and Hest, resulting in a brawl in the mess hall.
===Part Four: Recrimination===
====In the infirmary====
At the Restitution med bay, Dee or "Sal Krost" is hospitalized with three fractured ribs and a broken radius from her fight with Muglan and Hest. Counselor Wittick tells her that Tasia is fine but has been reprimanded for her role in the fight. Wittick says that the prison authorities will be investigating why there were no security droids in the commissary at the time of the fight. Dee responds that Ola Hest runs the prison and has guards in her pocket and spies in every block. Wittick admits that he is impressed with how Sal fought back against Muglan and remarks that she fights like a soldier.
This leads Dee to recount her time at the Carida Military Academy. Believing that Dee has potential as a peacekeeper, Master Oppo Rancicis brings her to the Academy, where he encourages her to enroll. Not willing to go into a family or enter the foster care system, Dee enrolls using her late brother's name Inun. A few days later, "Inun" takes part in a running exercise up a hill. The instructor droid chastises her for not keeping up with her fellow cadets by increasing the weight of her gravity pack. Unwilling to be beaten, "Inun" ploughs ahead and overtakes the other cadets. She taunts a Selkath cadet named Lalutin, who had been bullying her.
In the present, a prisoner named Leela sings the nursery rhyme "shrii ka rai ka rai" much to the annoyance of Dee. Dee is joined by Sestin Blin, who has been rostered to the sick bay for cleaning duty. Sestin tells her that Wittick plans to discharge her back into the general population today. The two Twi'leks agree to look out for each other.
====Caridan flashbacks====
At her quarters in the Carida Military Academy, "Inun" chats with Master Rancisis via a comm terminal. The Jedi Master has been assigned to oversee the construction of a new Temple Outpost on the distant planet of Falaston. Having read Captain Reese's report, Rancisis is impressed by Inun's training progress and affinity for flight. "Inun" admits she struggles with accepting the chain of command and struggles with the rigors of military training. Due to the poor frequency of the comms unit, their conversation is interrupted. "Inun" loses her temper and smashes the comm terminal. As punishment for damaging Academy property, Reese is ordered to run 50 laps of the Academy Square wearing a gravity pack and to rebuild the comms terminal. 
In the present, Dee returns to K Block where she is reunited with Sestin, who tells her that the Restution is expected to land on a planet soon. Sestin looks forward to making money from their restitutive work. Dee also reunites with Muglan and Ola Hest, who remind her of her position in the prison "pecking order." While playing a card game with Tasia and Quin, Dee asks Tasia if she took Hest's comlink. Tasia denies it and tells Dee that Hest has gained her respect for standing up to Gloovan. Counselor Fry summons the prisons to assemble in the common area.
In the command area, Counselor Wittick briefs the prisoners that they will be working to rebuild a settlement on Arbra that was torched by the Nihil. The prisoners will be provided with power rigs, tools and uniforms.
In the past, "Inun" and her fellow cadets take part in training exercise to repair and maintain their starships. While repairing her starship, "Inun" is disturbed by Lalutin and Wilson, who attempt to use their seniority to force "Inun" to hand over her servodriver. Since the servodriver is covered in engine juice, Lalutin orders her to clean it with her uniform. "Inun" refuses and smashes Lalutin in the head with the servodriver. Seeing his friend incapacitated, Wilson attacks "Inun" but she bests him.
Defying Captain Reece, "Inun" climbs aboard her stolen starfighter and escapes. Before escaping, she reveals that "Inun" is a pseudonym. Captain Reese and the other cadets attempt to pursue her in their starfighters but find their ships cannot launch since Dee had tampered with their fuel injectors. In the upper atmosphere, Carida Control attempts to deactivate her starfighter's engine and activate the recovery beacon. However, Dee reveals that she has overridden their override system. Fleeing into space, she vows not to let anyone tell her what to do.
====Laboring on Arbra====
Lourna and her fellow prisoners disembark on Lourna. She chats with Sestin, who talks about her two grown up sons Silus and Ita. Dee, Sestin and Tasia are assigned to Work Party Three. Wittick informs them that they are scheduled to spend five days on Arbra rebuilding the damaged settlement. The prisoners are assigned arm rings, which allow the authorities to track their movements. Viewing the damage, Dee and Tasia recognize Nihil lightning bolts, confirming the settlement was attacked by Nihil.
The settlement's administrator turns out to be Dee's former Academy classmate Lalutin, who reminds the prisoners that they will be helping to rebuild the settlement as part of their prisoner rehabilitation programme. Dee recognizes her former nemesis. Later, Dee and Sestin are assigned to use a Binary loadlifter to clear debris at the old logging station. Sestin tells Lourna that Ola Hest was a former Hutt enforcer who destroyed a children's medcenter on Novor after the Sisters of the Ninth Plane refuse to pay Hutt protection money. Hest was subsequently captured by a Jedi known as the "Blade of Bardotta". Due to her ruthless reputation, Sestin warns Dee to be careful around Hest.
While attempting to lift a piece of wreckage, the object falls on top of Lourna, pinning her to the ground. Sestin calls the authorities for help via comlink. Sestin also tries to free Dee but is unable to lift the heavy wreckage. She leaves to get help Shortly later, a vindictive Lalutin arrives, having recognized his former nemesis as the Nihil leader Lourna Dee. Seeking revenge against Dee for fracturing his skull, the Selkath administrator contacts Starlight Beacon via comlink. Before he can reveal Dee's identity to controller Velko Jahen, Lalutin is shot dead by Tasia. Before Tasia can free Dee, they are confronted by Pan Eyta, who has been searching for Lourna.
===Part Five: Revenge===
====Crossing paths with the Nihil====
Pan Eyta thanks Tasia for leading him to Lourna Dee. When Dee asks what happened to Sestin, Tasia claims that Eyta killed her. Tasia also reveals that she used a comlink in an attempt to contact Marchion Ro but her transmission was picked up by Eyta. In a flashback scene, Eyta and Trilok intercept Tasia's coded signal. Eyta sends Tasia away to check on the others while Dee has a tense reunion with the former Tempest Runner Eyta, who reveals her survived her poisoning attempt with the help of a medica on Port Yonder. Eyta's body still has not fully recovered from Dee's poisoning attempt and he vows vengeance.
In the past, Dee disguises herself as a Mandalorian and kills at least three opponents in a bar fight on Nurasenti. She attracts the interest of her former boyfriend Bala Waleen, who has become the Keeper of Aaloth. Waleen does not recognize his former girlfriend and hires her to transport his glitterstim shipments, which have been attacked by the Nihil pirates. Dee convinces Waleen to provide a starship called the Tycoon Trader. A Hutt Cartel informant tells Tempest Runner Eyta and his underlings Jinnix and Towl that a ship carrying glitterstim will be traveling along the Roon way. The Nihil set a course for the Abrion sector.
Aboard the Tycoon Trader, Dee argues with the pilot droid RL-18. She also chats with Bala via comms. Waleen says they have not found the leak but believes that their spice mines are crawling with Nihil infiltrators. Suddenly, the Tycoon Trader is pulled out of hyperspace with its acceleration compensations and comms knocked online. Meanwhile, Eyta orders his crew to deploy gas torpedoes against the Tycoon Trader. RL-18 panics but Dee reassures the droid that she has studied the Nihil and has a plan to fight back.
Later, Lourna recounts her battle with the Nihil boarders. After the Nihil deploy their gas torpedoes, Towl and H7-09 board the ship. They destroy RL-18 but are ambushed by Dee, who takes out both boarders. Hearing Towl and H7-09's distress, Jinnix boards the Tycoon Trader where he finds his fallen comrades. In the present, Eyta says that he regrets not blowing up the Tycoon Trader during their first encounter, describing Dee as trouble.
In the past, Dee lures Jinnix into the cargo hold and seriously wounds him with thermal detonators. Due to his Colicoid physiology, Jinnix puts up a fierce last stand but Dee ultimately prevails and kills him. Her actions impress Eyta, who decides to recruit her into his Storm.
====Vengeance====
At Aaloth Palace, Keeper Bala is discussing production quotas with Ryloth's Assessor when his comms is interrupted. One of the former Twi'lek protesters, who now works in his administration, tells him that Renza from Nal Hutta is inquiring about their next shipment of glitterstim. Bala then asks Boona, another former protester, if they have received any word from the Mandalorian mercenary. Just then, their comms are jammed. The Nihil warship Elegencia begins bombing Aaloth's settlement, terrifying the civilians and destroying Aaloth Palace.
After landing their shuttle, Pan Eyta and his pirates capture Bala attempting to flee to his ship. When Bala asks who betrayed him, Dee reveals that she was the Mandalorian mercenary he had been in contact with. When Bala asks how Dee could betray her own planet and home, Lourna counters that Aaloth stopped being her home after Bala murdered her family and sold her into slavery. Dee offers to strip Aaloth's metals for the Nihil and takes the late Jinnix's starship. Dee then forces Bala to say her name before shooting him dead.
====Narrow brush with death====
In the present, Eyta attempts to kill Dee. He argues with Tasia, who wants him to help her escape. Eyta instead chokes her, pinning her against the wall of the logging station. After choking Tasia into unconsciousness, Eyta is interrupted by his associate Trilok, who contacts him via comlink. Trilok does not understand why Eyta is taking so long to retrieve Dee. Before he can finish Dee off, the Twi'lek stabs him in the neck with a piece of shrapnel.
After crushing Eyta's comlink, Dee manages to weaken the hulking Dowutin by removing the tubes of his ventilator. Despite being incapacitated, Eta manages to grab Dee's leg. Before he can hurt her, Sestin returns with a loadlifter carrying wood and hydraulics. At Dee's urging, she uses the loadlifter to throw Eyta into a logging pit.
Later at the Restitution infirmary, Dee tells Counselor Wittick that Sestin and Tasia saved her from being killed by the Dowutin. She also claims that the Dowutin killed Administrator Lalutin. Dee learns that Tasia is in a coma at the infirmary. Wittick informs Dee that the Dowutin escaped the logging pit. In addition, eight prisoners were killed and three escaped. While conversing with Wittick, Dee learns that Ola Hest and her friends made an unsuccessful escape attempt.
Despite their rapport, Wittick senses that "Sal Krost" is hiding something. While on cordial terms, Dee is unwilling to confide in the Counselor. Wittick confides about the devastation caused by the Nihil attack on the Republic Fair on Valo, where his sister and her children live. While Dee regards Sestin as a friend, she still believe that she cannot open up. While experiencing flashbacks, Dee reveals her true identity as the infamous Nihil Tempest Lourna Dee.
===Part Six: Renewal===
====Promotion====
Following Lourna's revelation of her true identity, Wittick attempts to ingratiate himself with Dee. Following her work shift, he invites her into the workroom office. When Dee asks why he did not report her to the Jedi following her revelation, Wittick replies that he believes that everyone deserves a second chance. He tells Dee that she should be free to live her own life, a good life.
In a flashback scene, Dee travels with the Nihil droid H7-09, whom she treats with disdain. While filing her teeth, one of her Nihil subordinates informs her that the Nihil have received a summons to gather at the Great Hall of the Nihil in No-Space for a Meet. At the Great Hall, Dee meets up with the Tempest Runners Pan Eyeta and Kassav, the latter of whom boasts of destroying the Reliquary with a proton bomb.
The Eye of the Nihil Asgar Ro and his son Marchion Ro officiate over the meeting. Asgar addresses the assembled Nihil Strikes, Clouds, and Storms. After praising the valor of the Nihil, he orders that the former Tempest Runner Xanaven be brought out in chains. Asgar accuses Xanaven of breaking the Nihil policy of sharing spoils and Paths with the other Tempests. Xanaven denies the charges against him. Before Asgar can execute Xanaven, the Tempest Runner breaks free of his chains. Dee jumps on Xanaven and kills him, earning the respect of Asgar and the assembled Nihil. Asgar appoints Dee as his newest Tempest Runner. Eyta and Kassav are jealous but join the crowd in chanting for Dee.
====Trouble with Ola Hest====
During the prisoners' free time, Dee chats with Sestin. Sestin invites Dee to watch a holoflick before lockdown but Dee decides to head back to her cell. On the way, she encounters Ola Hest, who tells her that she should have accepted Sestin's invitation to watch the holodrama. When Dee asks where Muglan and Parr are, Hest replies that it is none of her business.
Returning to the cell block, Dee finds her associate Quin being beaten up by Muglan and Parr, who accuse Dee of stealing from Hest. Dee comes to Quin's aid and fights Parr and Muglan. She breaks Parr's cheekbone and sends Muglan to the infirmary. When Wittick confronts Dee over her actions, she replies that she was following the Jedi example. When Wittick tells Dee that the prison governor wants to put her into isolation, Dee tells him that Parr and Muglan are Hest's minions. Sensing Wittick's frustration with the prison bureaucracy, Dee proposes that they can work together and shares a story about her life as a Nihil Tempest Runner.
====Nihil intrigue====
In a flashback, the Gungan Nihil Wet Bub challenges Kassav to an arm wrestle aboard the Nihil corvette New Elite. Kassav wins and Wet Bub is forced to yield ten credits. Dee enters the competition and challenges Kassav to an arm wrestle. Despite her smaller size, Dee proves to be a formidable opponent and Kassav yields. Following the competition, Dee meets with Kassav in his cabin.
In Kassav's cabin, Dee meets with Kassav and Eyta, who is participating via holoprojector. Kassav reveals that he and Eyta had conspired with Xanaven to assassinate Asgar Ro. Xanavan was supposed to kill Asgar but Dee interfered by killing Xanavan. Kassav and Eyta reveal that they despise Asgar for dominating the Nihil's operations and monopolizing access to the Paths. They propose assassinating Asgar and replacing him with his son Marchio as Eye of the Nihil, believing they can control the younger Ro better. Dee is initially reluctant to participate in the conspiracy until Kassave promises her a bigger share of the cut and more independence. Faced with little choice, Dee joins the conspiracy.
Putting their plan into action, Dee pretends to betray Kassav and Eyta's conspiracy to Asgar Ro via holoprojector. Dee tells Asgar that Eyta and Kassav plan to invite him aboard the Elegencia where the assassination is purported to take place. Dee proposes that they work together to take out the two rival Tempest Runners with a thermite bomb. When Dee suggests that they can share more of the Paths, Asgar reveals that these paths belong to his family and will be passed down to his son and heir Marchion.
Seeking to eliminate his rivals, Asgar proposes sending Kassav and Eyta on a raid against the Togrutas. Dee will then warn the Togrutas about the raid. While Kassav and Eyta may survive, their Tempests will be destroyed, undermining their trust and support. Asgar asks Dee to consider whom she trusts more before terminating communications. Dee is upset about the political intrigue she has gotten herself embroiled in. When her droid H7-09 attends to her, Dee orders the droid to transfer a Path to her smallest Strikeship for a secret mission. Once the droid has done that, Dee activates a memory wipe of that moment for H7-09 to ensure secrecy.
====Desperate measures====
The Restitution enters a communication relay, which allows the prisoners to communicate with family members. While Dee is heading back to her cell, Ola Hest hints that she has forced Sestin to do something. Back in her cell, Quin confesses that she went along with Tasia, who had reported Dee's presence to Pan Eyta. Eyta tells Dee that the Republic believes that Eyta died during a skirmish with the Jedi aboard the Elegencia. After discovering Sestin's hologram with an image of children Silus and Ita, Dee realizes that Hest has blackmailed Sestin by threatening to harm her sons.
To get Counselor Fry to admit herself to the infirmary, Dee stages an accident by hitting her head against the bedframe multiple times and pretending that she fell from her bed. At the infirmary, Sestin is about to kill the comatose Tasia with a scalpel when she is interrupted by Dee. Though Sestin is desperate to save her children from being murdered by Hest's underworld contacts, Dee tries to convince her that there is another way. Following a struggle, Dee manages to grab the scalpel from Sestin. She then kills Tasia with the scalpel, which triggers the alarm on the life-support machine. Dee is quickly apprehended by security droids and medical staff. When Counselor Wittick arrives, Dee claims that Hest coerced her into killing Tasia by threatening her friend Sestin.
In the past, Dee meets with Kassav and Eyta in the Great Hall following the death of Asgar Ro. They gather for a memorial. When Kassav tells Dee that they cannot trust her, she replies that the three are involved in the conspiracy. During the ceremony, Ro tells the Tempest Runners that his father's death paved the way for him to take over the leadership of the Nihil. He reminds them of their place in the hierarchy. During the memorial ceremony, they burn the remains of Ro and his blaster on a pyre. Marchion Ro then gives a speech vowing to continue the legacy of his father and the Nihil.
Following Tasia's murder, Dee is locked in an isolation cube next to Ola Hest's cube. Hest taunts Dee, telling her that Counselor Wittick cannot protect her anymore. Dee counters that she saved Sestin from killing Tasia. When Hest responds that she is untouchable, they are interrupted by an explosion. As a klaxon sounds, the prison administration issues an alert. Dee realizes that the Restitution has been attacked by Pan Eyta, who survived the encounter on Arbra and has come to finish Dee once and for all.
===Part Seven: Reckoning===
====The first wave====
Aboard the Restitution common room, Sestin and Quin discuss Lourna Dee's murder of Tasia. Sestin tells Quin that she is aware that Sal is actually Lourna and a member of the Nihil. Quin acknowledges that Dee was a Tempest Runner, one of the top three leaders of the Nihil. When questioned, Quin admits that Dee was implicated in both the Great Hyperspace Disaster and the attack on the Republic Fair. Quin minimizes her role by emphasizing that she was a Cloud who only took part in slicing. Their conversation is interrupted by klaxons ringing and a PA announcement ordering all prisoners to return to their cells. 
Meanwhile, Dee and Ola Hest ask a security droid about the bombardment. The droid says that this is privileged information. Based on the sounds, Dee deduces that Pan Eyta's ship is drilling into the Restitution hull. They convince the security droid to tell Governor Arman to broadcast a distress signal warning that Pan Eyta is attacking the Restitution. However, the ship's internal communications are overloaded. Dee tells Hest that Eyta is looking for her.
In the common area, the prisoners bang on their cell doors as Eyta's forces drill through the Restitution hull. Counselor Fry and the other prisoners listen over the comlink as Counselor Hazeltow leads the defense of the starship at Deck Seven. However, the Nihil boarders deploy a gas that incapacitates the defenders. This is followed by a breakdown in the ship's automated systems, causing the prisoners to break out of their cells. A prison riot ensues in K block's common area as the prisoners attack the guards, prompting Fry to call for security droids. Amidst the riot, Sestin and Quin attempt to escape but are cornered by Fry, who is armed with a stun baton.
Meanwhile in the isolation unit, the doors to Dee and Hest's cells open as the automated systems break down. Hest takes the opportunity to attack Dee, who fights back and gains the upper hand over the crime boss. Counselor Wittick, who was suspended earlier, interrupts the fight and stuns Hest. Due to the gas released into the ship's ventilation systems by the Nihil, Wittick gives Dee a rebreather unit.
====Escaping the scav droids====
While Fry attempts to subdue the prisoners in the K Block common area, Wittick and Dee enter the K Block common area. After Dee disarms Fry, she passes the stun baton to Quin. Dee manages to convince the prisoners and guards to stop fighting in order to join forces to repel the boarders. The prisoners and guards take up position in a corridor as several scav droids approach, moving weapons they have salvaged from the armory.
The scav droids are joined by a masked Reeman Nihil raider. One of the prisoners attempts to defect, claiming to be Nihil, but the Nihil shots them dead. Wittick guns down the Reeman raider. Pursued by scav droids, the group flee down a stairwell which leads to a door. The scav droids pursue them, killing half of the party and inflicting casualties. They reach the door only to find it jammed. While Dee, Quin, Sestin, and Wittick attempt to unlock the door, Fry is attacked by a scav droid. Dee attacks the scav droid with the stun baton while Quin manages to unlock the door.
Wittick attacks a scav droid attempting to sneak up on Dee. The group manage to evacuate the stairwell and lock the door. Fry loses an arm to the scav droids. The group find themselves in another corridor where they encounter Ola Hest, Parr and Muglan who reluctantly joins them. Wittick uses a plasma torch to cauterize Fry's wound. Hest also discovers a maintenance shaft. Fry, who has also sustained a stomch wound, convinces Wittick to let her stay behind to fight off the marauding scav droids.
The maintenance shaft leads the group into the Restitution mess hall. The scav droids pursue them through the shaft but they seal the door. Quin manages to salvage a communication unit from a wrecked scav droid, which she uses to slice into their computer systems. While she attempts to slice into the coms unit, the prison Governor makes an announcement on the loudspeaker. Under duress, he calls for Lourna Dee to surrender and then calls for Jedi reinforcements. The prison governor is shot by Pan Eyta, who demands that Dee surrender in 30 minutes or he will blow up the Restitution with explosives. Hest wants to turn Dee over but Quin warns that they cannot trust Eyta. Dee decides to surrender herself in order to save the other prisoners and the guards.
====Turning the tables on Pan Eyta====
Later, Hest brings a masked Dee to the Restitution hold where they are met by Eyta and his lieutenant Trilok. Eyta insists on seeing under the mask but Hest refuses and threatens him with a knife, prompting him to shoot her dead. Dee removes her mask, confirming her identity. Dee then asks Trilok about what reward Eyta offered him for betraying her. Eyta demands to know Dee's plan. Dee reveals that she was stalling them until Muglan, Parr, Sestin, Quin, and Wittick arrive. Wittick demands that Eyta and Trilok surrender to the Republic Correctional Alliance.
Trilok orders the scav droids to attack them but Quin reveals that she has successfully hacked Eyta's scav droids, which she orders to attack Trilok. Dee then attacks Eyta, gaining the advantage and forcing him to his knees. Eyta dares Dee to kill him but Wittick tells Dee that she can choose an new life. Dee tells Quin to stand down the droids and allows Wittick to take Eyta into custody. Eyta warns Dee not to walk away from him.
===Part Eight: Rebirth===
====Lourna's triumph====
Working with Quin, Wittick transmits a distress message. Quin discovers evidence in the Restitution computer systems that Wittick is unwell and due to be medically discharged at the end of his next your of duty. Reflecting on Wittick's earlier comment that Lourna Dee was his last chance to do something good, Dee realizes that his altruism was motivated by self-interest. Dee is angry with Wittick because she does not want anyone else but herself to control her own destiny.
The reprogrammed scav droids manage to fix the communications and restore the ship's systems. Taking over the loudspeaker system, Dee announces that she has captured the Dowutin Pan Eyta and executes him in the presence of a horrified Sestin and Wittick. Addressing the remaining prisoners via the loudspeaker system, she gives them the choice of escaping in escape pods and shuttles or joining her and the Nihil. While Muglan and Quin volunteer to join the Nihil, Sestin and Wittick attempt to reason with Dee.
Since her blaster only has one shot, she kills Wittick but jettisons Sestin into an escape pod. Sestin's escape pod is later picked up in the Darkknell system by the RDC patrol vessel Moonseeker, who relays their discovery to Velko Jahen aboard Starlight Beacon. Sestin tells the pilot that they were attacked by a Nihil Dowutin and that he friend "Sal Krost" launched into an escape pod. Protecting Dee, Sestin claims that Sal was killed.
====Homecoming====
Aboard a Nihil cruiser, the Talpini Zeetar receives an incoming holo from the Nihil leader Marchion Ro. Both leaders are relieved that they have survived. When Ro asks how many ships Zeetar's Tempest has, he reports nine ships and tells Ro that his dreadnought Technocrat was destroyed by the Jedi. Zeetar agrees to rendezvous at the Great Hall using a Path transmitted by Ro. When Zeetar asks about Lourna, Ro says that she is dead. Their conversation is interrupted by Dee, who joins via comms. Shortly later, Zeetar's ship is joined by the former Republic prison ship Restitution.
Aboard the Restitution flight deck, Muglan asks Dee if they should power weapons. Dee reassures him that they are in the presence of their fellow Nihil. When Ro expresses surprise that Dee survived, Dee replies that the Republic's records were wrong and that she was merely bidding her time. Quin then brings Dee's new mask, which she had fashioned in the repair shop. After Dee dons her mask, she introduces Quin as her new Tempest and renames the prison ship Lourna Dee.
==Legacy==
In June 2022 a French language version of the audio drama was released by Lizzie Audio.
==Media==
===Editions===
*; August 31, 2021; Random House Audio; Digital download
====International====
*; June 8, 2022; Lizzie Audio; French language download (358 minutes)
===Cover gallery===
File:HighRepublicTempestRunner-PrelimCover.jpg|Placeholder cover
File:The_High_Republic_Tempest_Runner_final_cover.jpg|Final cover
File:THRTempestRunner-FR-Audiobook.jpg|French cover
==Credits==
==Appearances==
==Sources==
==Notes and references==
==External links==
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Category:Audiobooks with French editions
Category:Canon audio dramas
Tempest Runner