Set between Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the Rebellion is now taken very seriously by the Emperor-- the kid gloves are off. Luke learns the ways of the Force with help from the ghostly Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo considers how to regain his freedom and leave the Rebels, and Leia buries her grief over destroyed Alderaan by running missions and finding allies. Meanwhile, Mara Jade (a Sith apprentice) does the Emperor's bidding... but finds herself in conflict with Darth Vader.

As all this is going on, an Imperial atrocity compels five stormtroopers to think carefully about how they're going to serve the Empire.

(Source: Del Rey)