The Hutt Gambit
Encyclopedia
The Hutt Gambit is the second volume in The Han Solo Trilogy
, by Ann C. Crispin
. It was first published in 1997.
and an alliance of smugglers
and mercenaries
.
In the wake of an attack on Rampa II by one of the groups that would go on to form the Rebel Alliance
, Emperor Palpatine
instructed each sector moff to end the smuggling of contraband material. In response, the previously ineffectual Moff who governed Hutt Space, Sarn Shild, proclaimed that he would restore law and order
to Hutt Space. This announcement was met with dismay by the Hutts, with the leaders of clan Desilijic, Jabba
and Jiliac, instantly planning to bribe
Shild into sparing the Hutt homeworld, Nal Hutta. Towards this end, the Hutts paid smuggler (and erstwhile Imperial officer) Han Solo
to travel to Imperial Center
and bestow gifts upon Shild. However, Shild informed Solo that, while he would spare Nal Hutta if the Hutts became law-abiding, he intended to execute order Base Delta Zero upon Nal Hutta's moon, Nar Shaddaa, the home of millions of smugglers and their families. Shild also intended to blockade Nal Hutta and Nar Hekka until the Hutts capitulated and agreed to military occupation
and the presence of customs inspectors.
Shild then instructed Admiral Greelanx, the commander of his sectorial fleet, to mobilise his fleet and progress to Nar Shaddaa. However, on the following day, Greelanx received an anonymous message from Exocomm instructing him to lose the battle, albeit in a realistic and loss-minimising fashion.
As Shild's sectorial fleet assembled near Teth, Solo returned to Hutt Space. The Hutts then instructed him to again attempt to bribe the Imperials, this time targeting Greelanx. Solo infiltrated Greelanx's flagship
, the Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser Imperial Destiny, at Teth, giving him a platinum
ring set with a Bothan glitterstone. In exchange for the ring and a number of valuable gemstone
s (to be delivered after the battle, regardless of the outcome), Greelanx sold his battle plan to the Hutts.
The Hutts then decided to sacrifice Nar Shaddaa to the Imperials while hiding behind the planetary shielding of Nal Hutta, hiring a small mercenary
fleet to protect the planet. In the meanwhile, Solo, along with fellow former Imperial Mako Spince, recruited the denizens of Nar Shaddaa into a loose fighting unit. Their forces were bolstered when the Hutt mercenaries, led by Captain Renthal, agreed to fight alongside the smugglers. As the smugglers began repairing and upgrading their ships in preparation for the defense of Nar Shaddaa, Spince and Solo devised a battle plan.
The textbook Imperial strategy prepared by Greelanx saw the Imperial fleet emerge from hyperspace
on the far side of the moon, within range of Nar Shaddaa's sensors. The skirmisher
s, sixteen Guardian-class light cruisers, would then surround Nar Shadda in a shell formation, while the capital ships, deployed in a wedge formation, and line ships deployed further away from the planet. The Imperial fleet would then converge upon Nar Shaddaa, with the picket ships leading the way, and execute order Base Delta Zero upon the moon, deploying Lambda-class shuttles and troops to the surface to exterminate any who survived the orbital bombardment.
The outnumbered and outgunned smugglers' battle plan saw the bulk of their forces hide behind the debris orbiting Nar Shaddaa in order to ambush the Imperial skirmish ships in two waves, several scout ships would engage the Imperial pickets before retreating, drawing the Imperials in a series of ambushes by the First Strike Element (consisting of most of the smaller ships) and the Second Strike Element (consisting of most of the larger, more heavily armed ships). As the capital ships approached Nar Shaddaa, a fleet of illusory ships generated by the stage magician
Xaverri would appear to attack them from behind, forcing the capital ships to pivot around in order to bring their forward firing weaponry to bear. As the capital ships turned, the mercenaries were to flank them and fire upon their vulnerable rear engines, hopefully destroying or immobilising enough ships to force a retreat.
The battle took place as the smugglers prepared for a formation drill. The smugglers' plan unfolded largely as scheduled, although three ships in the First Strike Element deployed too early, with two of them destroyed as a result. The illusion was deployed when the capital ships were 500 kilometres from the Nar Shaddaa debris field, and succeeded in drawing their fire. The flanking attack took a severe toll on the Imperial fleet, and Greelanx took the opportunity to sound the retreat, complying with his orders (Captain Fel only partially complied with his command, leaving the site of battle at one-quarter speed to allow the surviving TIE Fighters to board his vessel). The smugglers were victorious, although more than a quarter of their fleet had been destroyed.
As a result of the defeat, the Empire refrained from any further incursions into Hutt Space, possibly because the Hutts voluntarily opted to double their tax
contributions. Shild committed suicide
after being summoned before the Emperor for his failure, and Greelanx was summarily executed by Darth Vader
for treason
shortly after Solo had returned to his ship with the remainder of his payment. Han listened in on Vaders killing of Greelanx from an adjoining room. Rebel Alliance commander Bria Tharen later speculated that the entire battle had been orchestrated by the Emperor in order to depose the corrupt yet popular Shild.
The Han Solo Trilogy
The Han Solo Trilogy is a trilogy of science fiction novels set in the Star Wars galaxy. The series serves as a prequel to the events of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. The trilogy follows the origins of Han Solo before the movies, and helps further establish his character. The trilogy was...
, by Ann C. Crispin
Ann C. Crispin
Ann Carol Crispin is an American science fiction writer, the author of twenty-three published novels. She has been writing since 1983...
. It was first published in 1997.
Nar Shaddaa
One of the central conflicts of the story was the Battle of Nar Shaddaa, which was fought between the Galactic EmpireGalactic Empire (Star Wars)
The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...
and an alliance of smugglers
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
and mercenaries
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
.
In the wake of an attack on Rampa II by one of the groups that would go on to form the Rebel Alliance
Rebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
, Emperor Palpatine
Palpatine
Palpatine is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Star Wars saga, portrayed by Ian McDiarmid in the feature films.Palpatine first appeared as the unnamed Emperor of the Galactic Empire in the 1980 film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back...
instructed each sector moff to end the smuggling of contraband material. In response, the previously ineffectual Moff who governed Hutt Space, Sarn Shild, proclaimed that he would restore law and order
Law and order (politics)
In politics, law and order refers to demands for a strict criminal justice system, especially in relation to violent and property crime, through harsher criminal penalties...
to Hutt Space. This announcement was met with dismay by the Hutts, with the leaders of clan Desilijic, Jabba
Jabba the Hutt
Jabba the Hutt is a fictional character in George Lucas's space opera film saga Star Wars. Designed as a large, slug-like alien, his appearance has been described by film critic Roger Ebert as "Dickensian," a cross between a toad and the Cheshire Cat....
and Jiliac, instantly planning to bribe
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
Shild into sparing the Hutt homeworld, Nal Hutta. Towards this end, the Hutts paid smuggler (and erstwhile Imperial officer) Han Solo
Han Solo
Han Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise played by Harrison Ford. Introduced in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire...
to travel to Imperial Center
Coruscant
Coruscant is a planet in the fictional Star Wars universe. It first appeared onscreen in the 1997 Special Edition of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, but was first mentioned in Timothy Zahn's 1991 novel Heir to the Empire...
and bestow gifts upon Shild. However, Shild informed Solo that, while he would spare Nal Hutta if the Hutts became law-abiding, he intended to execute order Base Delta Zero upon Nal Hutta's moon, Nar Shaddaa, the home of millions of smugglers and their families. Shild also intended to blockade Nal Hutta and Nar Hekka until the Hutts capitulated and agreed to military occupation
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
and the presence of customs inspectors.
Shild then instructed Admiral Greelanx, the commander of his sectorial fleet, to mobilise his fleet and progress to Nar Shaddaa. However, on the following day, Greelanx received an anonymous message from Exocomm instructing him to lose the battle, albeit in a realistic and loss-minimising fashion.
As Shild's sectorial fleet assembled near Teth, Solo returned to Hutt Space. The Hutts then instructed him to again attempt to bribe the Imperials, this time targeting Greelanx. Solo infiltrated Greelanx's flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
, the Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser Imperial Destiny, at Teth, giving him a platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
ring set with a Bothan glitterstone. In exchange for the ring and a number of valuable gemstone
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
s (to be delivered after the battle, regardless of the outcome), Greelanx sold his battle plan to the Hutts.
The Hutts then decided to sacrifice Nar Shaddaa to the Imperials while hiding behind the planetary shielding of Nal Hutta, hiring a small mercenary
Mercenary
A mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
fleet to protect the planet. In the meanwhile, Solo, along with fellow former Imperial Mako Spince, recruited the denizens of Nar Shaddaa into a loose fighting unit. Their forces were bolstered when the Hutt mercenaries, led by Captain Renthal, agreed to fight alongside the smugglers. As the smugglers began repairing and upgrading their ships in preparation for the defense of Nar Shaddaa, Spince and Solo devised a battle plan.
The textbook Imperial strategy prepared by Greelanx saw the Imperial fleet emerge from hyperspace
Hyperspace (science fiction)
Hyperspace is a plot device sometimes used in science fiction. It is typically described as an alternative region of space co-existing with our own universe which may be entered using an energy field or other device...
on the far side of the moon, within range of Nar Shaddaa's sensors. The skirmisher
Skirmisher
Skirmishers are infantry or cavalry soldiers stationed ahead or alongside a larger body of friendly troops. They are usually placed in a skirmish line to harass the enemy.-Pre-modern:...
s, sixteen Guardian-class light cruisers, would then surround Nar Shadda in a shell formation, while the capital ships, deployed in a wedge formation, and line ships deployed further away from the planet. The Imperial fleet would then converge upon Nar Shaddaa, with the picket ships leading the way, and execute order Base Delta Zero upon the moon, deploying Lambda-class shuttles and troops to the surface to exterminate any who survived the orbital bombardment.
The outnumbered and outgunned smugglers' battle plan saw the bulk of their forces hide behind the debris orbiting Nar Shaddaa in order to ambush the Imperial skirmish ships in two waves, several scout ships would engage the Imperial pickets before retreating, drawing the Imperials in a series of ambushes by the First Strike Element (consisting of most of the smaller ships) and the Second Strike Element (consisting of most of the larger, more heavily armed ships). As the capital ships approached Nar Shaddaa, a fleet of illusory ships generated by the stage magician
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
Xaverri would appear to attack them from behind, forcing the capital ships to pivot around in order to bring their forward firing weaponry to bear. As the capital ships turned, the mercenaries were to flank them and fire upon their vulnerable rear engines, hopefully destroying or immobilising enough ships to force a retreat.
The battle took place as the smugglers prepared for a formation drill. The smugglers' plan unfolded largely as scheduled, although three ships in the First Strike Element deployed too early, with two of them destroyed as a result. The illusion was deployed when the capital ships were 500 kilometres from the Nar Shaddaa debris field, and succeeded in drawing their fire. The flanking attack took a severe toll on the Imperial fleet, and Greelanx took the opportunity to sound the retreat, complying with his orders (Captain Fel only partially complied with his command, leaving the site of battle at one-quarter speed to allow the surviving TIE Fighters to board his vessel). The smugglers were victorious, although more than a quarter of their fleet had been destroyed.
As a result of the defeat, the Empire refrained from any further incursions into Hutt Space, possibly because the Hutts voluntarily opted to double their tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
contributions. Shild committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
after being summoned before the Emperor for his failure, and Greelanx was summarily executed by Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
shortly after Solo had returned to his ship with the remainder of his payment. Han listened in on Vaders killing of Greelanx from an adjoining room. Rebel Alliance commander Bria Tharen later speculated that the entire battle had been orchestrated by the Emperor in order to depose the corrupt yet popular Shild.