This week's Friday Feature on the Star Wars Galaxies official site is a sneak peek at what's in store for Chapter 7, the next free expansion for Star Wars Galaxies.

During SOE Fan Faire 2007, the Star Wars Galaxies team shared a preview of Chapter 7 during the Galaxies Gathering session. If you didn't make it to Fan Faire this year, here's your chance to get an early look at the exciting new features planned for the next Chapter! Heroic encounters, a collection system, species origins, and more are all on deck for Chapter 7.

Heroic Encounters

A heroic encounter is a high-level challenge for a group of players looking to earn a huge reward. These encounters will take place in an instanced zone where players will take on challenging foes in epic battles like no other.

During the Galaxies Gathering, the team gave panel attendees a sneak peek at Axkva Min and her protectors.

Players who complete a quest or a series of quests can gain access to the underground caves where Axkva Min has been sealed after falling out of favor with the Nightsisters. The group of up to eight players will encounter multiple protectors, each with their own abilities, creating a series of boss fights culminating in a grand battle with a newly re-designed Axkva Min.

In these heroic encounters and quests, high level players can not only confront Axkva Min, but also a legion of Tusken warriors, as well as other familiar faces in the Star Wars universe.

Read more about Chapter 7 here.