Star Wars Insider Review | Tales from the Occlusion Zone: No Big Deal
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Max Nocerino 
Max checks out the latest short story hidden amongst the pages of the newest issue of STAR WARS INSIDER magazine
Star Wars Insider 222 hits shelves on Halloween 2023 and gives us not one, but TWO short stories in its pages. In my living memory, I cannot recall a time when this happened, so this may be a historic first. Insider 222 kicks off the third and final Phase of The High Republic Initiative, and we have migrated from the Tales of Enlightenment story collection to the new Tales from the Occlusion Zone successor. This tale takes place a year after Starlight Beacon fell. It details how the Nihil have used advanced technology to close off an ENTIRE swath of space called the Occlusion Zone. A shroud that cannot be penetrated by standard hyperdrives.
A REPUBLIC AT WAR
The Republic is not officially at war, but it’s as close as it can be. Especially with the escalating clashes with the NIHIListic pirates led by the cold-hearted Marchion Ro. The main characters are the familiar couple, Joss and Pikka Adren and they are going on a reconnaissance mission to the edge of the Occlusion Zone. This cute couple was introduced at the very beginning of Phase 1, so it’s only fitting that they kick off Phase II. I admire their bravery in any situation, as this mission seems safe, but could turn deadly quite fast. And there are only two of them in one ship. Yikes. As you probably can ascertain, this mission goes south very fast and leaves us an acceptable cliffhanger to rev us up for the next Insider issue.
VERDICT
This story was pretty standard and there isn’t anything I can praise OR critique. I hope this “cute” couple survives Phase 3, though. as Joss got a very big surprise from his wife, just before take-off.
join me next time for my next Star Wars Insider review, and be sure to subscribe if you haven’t already!
FORCE FACTS
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 Dehydrated Bantha milk powder is not a standard ration in Galactic Republic supplies. It sounds nasty to me, but apparently, it is good for pregnant human women to drink.
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The Occlusion Zone is maintained by an advanced piece of tech, called Stormseed devices. It’s quite a technological marvel and likely inspired the Interdictor cruisers used by the Galactic Empire, several centuries later.
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The Adren’s trusty ship has a “generic medical screening program” with an “obstetrical application”. Try saying that 3 times fast. Obstetrics is the science of pregnancy and childbirth and it is quite insane, that a lowly starship from 200 years before the Clone Wars has this feature, when the state-of-the-art Polis Massa facility in 19 BBY, lost Padme in childbirth. Yet, perhaps since it was a mining settlement, it didn’t have the proper equipment (yet it had midwife droids???) or Padme truly died of a broken heart, which apparently cannot be remedied in the galaxy, despite their highly advanced medical technology.
Max Nocerino is a regular Staff Writer for The Future of the Force. He is a passionate Star Wars fan and loves the literature of the galaxy far, far away. Follow him on Twitter where he shares his love of the Force frequently!
