X-wing Rogue Squadron Volume 3 (Various)

Today's review is of a Star Wars Omnibus: X-wing Rogue Squadron Volume 3, and collects the final story arcs from the Rogue Squadron comic series: In the Empire's Service, The Making of Baron Fel, Family Ties, Masquerade, and Mandatory Retirement.  Each is reviewed below.

In the Empire's Service
Nine months after the Battle of Endor, the Rogues take on some new members (to ireplace those lost last time) and are sent to help capture Brentaal IV, a world being run by an incompetent local Imperial leader.  Sate Pestage (currently acting Emperor after Palpatine's death) and his top admiral, Ysanne Isard, use the situation to manipulate other Imperial factions vying for power and send Baron Soontir Fel, the feared ace Imperial TIE Fighter pilot, to the planet in an attempt to save it.  The Rebels are victorious and capture Fel in what seems to be a large blow to the Empire.  But is there more to the story?

Rating (art): B-
Rating (story): B+

The Making of Baron Fel
In this short story arc ten months after Endor, the recently-captured Soontir Fel shocks Wedge Antilles by revealing that he is married to Wedge's sister, who has fled per Fel's orders to safety.  Soontir proceeds to provide Antilles with this tale, starting from childhood through to present day.  He concludes by agreeing to join the Alliance if they help him find his wife.

Rating (art): B
Rating (story): A-

Family Ties
Another short story set ten months after Endor.  This time, a few Rogues are sent to Corellia to look for Fel's wife.  They find instead that her nephew has been kidnapped in an attempt to get to her.  Can the Rogues help Corran Horn (who features heavily in other novels) and Corellian Security crack the case?

Rating (art): B
Rating (story): C+

Masquerade
Eleven months after Endor, the Rogues are sent to Axilla to find Princess Leia after she is kidnapped from a diplomatic event on Eiattu.  New Rogue Baron Fel features, as does Rebel agent Winter, Han Solo, and Chewbacca.  Meanwhile, Imperial leader Sate Pestage senses treason from Ysanne Isard, and takes steps to ensure his safety that could have long-reaching consequences for the galaxy.

Rating (art): C-
Rating (story): C-

Mandatory Retirement
One year after Endor, Sate Pestage is believed to have committed treason and gone over to the Rebellion.  As Ysanne Isard seeks to find him and consolidate her power with the Imperial Council, the Rogues are sent to Ciutric to retrieve Pestage and bring him in.  One Rogue pays the ultimate price . . . can the rest of the team overcome the loss and accomplish the mission?

Rating (art): B
Rating (story): A-

Overall
The third and final volume in the Rogue Squadron saga is the best.  The stories and characters (Soontir Fel, an honorable Imperial, is a personal favorite) are better this time around, and the relevance of the tales to the greater Star Wars canon is much higher.  It's no longer just random stories about pilots; you see the greater struggle for ascension to the Imperial throne and its implications.  Some stories (like Masquerade) are still poor, but overall, this is better.  A nice way to conclude the series, which would have been nicer if they had tied up the side tale about Fel's wife.

Rating: B