Battle of Ord Mantell The Battle of Ord Mantell was a battle fought during the first year of the Yuuzhan Vong War . It marked the first use of a qworlth skaal during the war . Background . As the Yuuzhan Vong moved into the Mid and Inner Rims , the " Jubilee Wheel " space station in orbit around Ord Mantell became a transit point for refugees fleeing the advancing front line . The Yuuzhan Vong decided to launch an attack on Ord Mantell , ostensibly in the hope that the projected deaths of countless refugees would do much to destabilize the already floundering New Republic . In reality , the battle was a ruse intended to trick New Republic leaders into trusting the would - be Yuuzhan Vong defectors Elan and Vergere . Prior to the battle , as part of her mission to earn the confidence of the New Republic Intelligence Service and gain access to the Jedi , Elan had warned the New Republic of the Yuuzhan Vong plan to attack Ord Mantell . By sacrificing some of their forces in an abortive attack on the system , the Yuuzhan Vong hoped to convince their enemies that Elan ' s information was accurate and therefore that her defection was genuine . The battle . With intel provided by Elan , the New Republic hoped to set a trap for the Yuuzhan Vong . The bulk of a task force commanded by New Republic General Yald Sutel hid behind Quatin , the fifth planet of the system . When the Yuuzhan Vong emerged from hyperspace , the New Republic task force moved in behind them and proceeded to engage . Both fleets were roughly evenly matched in terms of numbers and firepower . During the height of the battle , the New Republic ' s battlecruiser was overwhelmed and destroyed by enemy fire . In response , Sutel brought his flagship , the Imperial Remnant star destroyer " Erinnic " under the command of Imperial Vice Admiral Ark Poinard , into the battle . When the " Erinnic " attempted to engage the lone Miid ro ' ik warship however , the Yuuzhan Vong vessel turned away and began to bombard the surface of Ord Mantell before proceeding to launch a qworlth skaal beast , at the " Jubilee Wheel " . Despite the efforts of New Republic star fighters , the beast , which was protected by the warship ' s dovin basal s , caused severe damage to the station and was able to inhale a number of the stations inhabitants to be enslaved by the Yuuzhan Vong . Despite the damage wrought by the Yuuzhan Vong fleet , the New Republic and Imperial forces soon gained the upper hand . As the Yuuzhan Vong began to withdraw , Poinard determined that his ship was too badly damaged to attempt a pursuit . Sutel agreed and expressed his belief that seeing their battered ships limping home might give the Yuuzhan Vong pause . Aftermath . The New Republic ' s victory at Ord Mantell temporarily helped reinforce the authenticity Elan ' s false defection . Her seemingly genuine intel helped to finally convince the Jedi to meet with her . Her plans unraveled however when she was intercepted en route to Coruscant by Peace Brigade members . The heavy cost of Elan ' s ruse , including the losses suffered at Ord Mantell , led to Supreme Commander Nas Choka punishing the Priest Harrar and Commander Tla , who had organized the plot , by sending them back to the Outer Rim . Han Solo , who was on the Wheel in his search for Reck Desh , was one of the few to escape the qworlth skaal ' s clutches . Piloting a stolen shuttle away from the " Wheel " with the help of the Ryn Droma , Solo was able to escape the battle and continue his hunt for the Peace Brigade member . Despite the New Republic victory , Ord Mantell would eventually fall to the Yuuzhan Vong . A number of refugees from the planet would end up on Gyndine which was subsequently attacked as well . Eventually the planet was liberated by Mandalorian forces under Mandalore Boba Fett . Behind the scenes . " The New Essential Guide to Droids " confuses the " Jubilee Wheel " and the Wheel space stations , mistakenly stating that Big Bunji was the Wheel ' s administrator and that the Wheel ' s Master - Com controlling intelligence aided Big Bunji against the Yuuzhan Vong assault .