Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Volume 2- Flashpoint

Zayne Carrick and the others are still on the run from the authorities and the Jedi Masters of Taris. They have taken refuge on Vanquo, a mining colony on the edge of Republic space. There, they manage to trick the miners into believing that the planet is under attack by the Mandalorians. The miners flee, and the fugitives have just enough time to enjoy the fruits of their spoils when the real Mandalorians, who have declared war on the Republic, really do attack the colony.

Jarael, who had been pretending to be a Jedi Master, is taken into custody by the Mandalorians, who imprison her and take her to the station called Flashpoint, behind the Mandalorian front lines. Luckily, Zayne has caught one of the Mandalorians and imprisoned him, but he isn't talking. When he hears about Jarael and being taken to Mandalorian space, the man says they will need his help.

He turns out to be Rohlan Dyre, a Mando'ade, or front line infantryman. However, he had concerns with the way the war was being waged, and why, and when the higher-ups ignored or refused to answer his questions, he quit fighting. Jarael is being taken to Demagol, a Mandalorian biologist who is researching the Jedi. He wants to know what makes them tick and why they can do what they do. To that end, any Jedi captured gets taken to him.

Jarael is already there, and is befriended by the few Jedi captives, who cover for her when they know she isn't Jedi. Zayne and his friends must break into Flashpoint station, free Jarael and the other Jedi, and then break out again- hopefully after piking the Mandalorians.

Then, Zayne and the others must go to the banking planet Telerath, where his parents are living. But his Master, Lucien, has a plan to bring Zayne out of hiding... involving his parents. Can he hide his parents from his former masters before they succeed in hurting or killing his parents?

And we also get to see a bit of Lucien's background, revealed when he makes a visit to his home planet of Coruscant... and we see how much his own mother shaped him, and still commands him today.

This was a bit easier to read than the first volume, and I enjoyed it more as well. Though the Jedi, including his master, are resorting to many bad acts to get Zayne back, presumably for some horrible retribution, other Jedi seem to be willing to help him, although most of them don't know about Zayne yet, like Alek/Squint.

We also get to see more of the Mandalorians and see why they were so feared, though given that Boba Fett and his father were supposedly the last, I think the Republic is going to roll over them like a steamroller. But, we'll see.