A huge invasion force races to take over the known galaxy! These mysterious invaders have seeded their agents for a while…can Luke and his disparate band of Jedi Knights defend all of life as we know it? Join the Legendary Adventures as we read Vector Prime, the first book in the expansive and bold New Jedi Order series!
It has been 44 years since the Great Jedi Purge destroyed most of the Jedi Order. Darth Vader and his terrifying legion of Clone Troopers, for the most part, took care of any remaining Jedi. But two brave Masters, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, watched and guided the new hope for the Jedi Order: Luke Skywalker, son of the Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker. Luke has now revived the Jedi Order, becoming a Master in the ways of the Force. He has recruited others to his cause: ex-assassin-turned-wife Mara Jade Skywalker; former Rebel princess turned former Chief of Staff Leia Organa Solo; the children of General Han Solo: Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin ; former Rebel pilots; and many more.
With the revitalization of the Jedi Order, one crucial aspect has not been brought back: the Jedi Council. Most Jedi operating outside of Yavin IV are mostly independent, with no oversight from Luke (or anyone else, either). These Jedi have been acting as a sort of para-military enforcers, fighting smugglers and pirates across the galaxy. This problem comes to a head when Leia Organa-Solo and Mara Jade Skywalker travel to ease tensions between the Osarians and Rhommamoolians. These tensions have been inflamed by a man named Nom Amor. Unfortunately, while Nom Amor is a problem, a Jedi named Wurth Skidder becomes a bigger one, blowing these tensions into something closer to warfare. With Leia’s political advances defeated and repelled, the New Republic turns their eyes on the Jedi, blaming them for blowing the effort.
Unfortunately, they miss the biggest problem: Nom Amor. Nom Amor is actually an advance agent of an invasion force for an alien species called the Yuuzhan Vong. Nom Amor is also not the only agent already operating in the known galaxy. On a scientific outpost called ExGal 4, on the planet Belkadan, Yomin Carr works with Danni Quee and other scientists. Secretly, Yomin Carr is also Yuuzhan Vong and is in contact with Nom Amor. These two have been working to both seed dissension and seed Yuuzhan Vong weaponry in the galaxy. Yomin destroys the communications on Belkadan, and both starts terraforming the world into one suitable for the Vong while also unleashing a horde of beetles into their atmosphere.
Unlike most of the sentient species, Yuuzhan Vong operate without technology. Their religion forbids it, as they believe that their gods hate technology and curse those who rely too heavily on technology. This means that “seeding” Yuuzhan Vong technology across the galaxy literally means seeding it, as some of the ships are sentient beings. This lack of technology conveniently means that they can enter this galaxy unknown. For example, an asteroid heads to a planet called Helska IV. Yomin Carr stays on Belkadan as the ExGal scientists travel to Helska to investigate the asteroid. The scientists do not know – cannot know – that this is actually an advance Yuuzhan Vong ship. Most of the scientists are killed, but Danny Quee is taken captive on the Vong ship. The Vong leave behind a massive brain of sorts, called a yammosk, which will allow them to coordinate their battles from the planet and begin to invade the rest of the territories of both the Empire and the Jedi.
Other people begin to see the spreading of the Yuuzhan Vong forces. Kyp Durron’s little squadron of Jedi and pilots open fire on Vong coralskippers, which too are sentient ships. These coralskippers have a unique array of weapons. They are able to dissipate the energy blasts of enemy ships via beings called dovin basals. These dovin basals are also key in destroying the shielding of other ships, leaving them vulnerable to attack. In this case, X-Wings become just as protected as poor TIE pilots. Other little insects used by the Vong are able to tear into X-Wing cockpits and vessels, acting like buzz droids did in the Clone Wars. The Jedi squadron is soundly defeated, and a Jedi named Miko is captured and imprisoned with scientist Danny Quee.
Han and Anakin Solo, his youngest child, also come in contact with Yuuzhan Vong technology, sadly to incredibly tragic outcomes. Lando, now running a mining gig on Dubrillion-Destrillon after a series of other failed mining gigs, asks Han and Anakin to help run some of his material to Sernpidal. When they arrive at Sernpidal, something seems off. Their mayor is acting shifty and gravity on the planet seems to be acting very strangely. Initially unknown to them, a Yuuzhan Vong bio-device is causing the gravity of the planet to expand in force, bringing Sernpidal’s moon to the surface of the planet. Han, Anakin, and Chewbacca begin to load refugees onto their ship, the Millennium Falcon. But Chewbacca, too kind-hearted and courageous and generous to leave anyone behind, stays too long on the surface of the planet. As the moon bears down on Sernpidal, Anakin realizes that if he were to save the refugees already on board the ship, he would be forced to leave Chewbacca behind. Anakin pulls away from the planet, leaving Chewbacca to be destroyed when the moon hits the surface of the planet. Han Solo is devastated.
As more of these battles become well-known, the New Republic launches a three-fold defensive strategy against the Vong invaders at Belkadan, Helska IV, and Dubrillion. Luke and Mara Jade travel to Belkadan to figure out what happened with ExGal 4. There, they come into contact with Yomin Carr and engage him in battle. They learn, shockingly, that the Yuuzhan Vong are somehow invisible to the Force, as they cannot sense him and their battle skills are somewhat negated by the warrior. They do emerge victorious, but almost barely. They take what they learn to launch an assault on Helska IV, aiming to destroy the Vong’s base. They do, saving Danni Quee in the process. The Solo children discover battle mind-melding on Dubrillion, driving away the Vong invaders and capturing a coralskipper.
But these victories don’t repel the Vong for long. Though the New Republic and Imperial Remnant begin to believe that the Vong have been repulsed, a Dark Tide begins to seep over the galaxy….
You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor!
Legendary Adventures
Essential Legends Collection: Darth Bane: Path of Destruction | Darth Bane: Rule of Tw0 | Shatterpoint | Rogue Squadron | Heir to the Empire | Dark Force Rising | The Last Command
The New Republic: Heir to the Empire | Dark Force Rising | The Last Command| Isard’s Revenge | Jedi Search | Dark Apprentice | Champions of the Force | Children of the Jedi | Darksaber | Starfighters of Adumar | Planet of Twilight | The Crystal Star | The Black Fleet Crisis | The Hand of Thrawn | Survivor’s Quest