The New Jedi Order : Vector Prime The New Jedi Order : Vector Prime is the first installment of " " . It is a science fiction novel written by R . A . Salvatore and published by Del Rey in October 1999 . The galactic maps printed inside were designed by Daniel Wallace and Chris Barbieri . The audio version was narrated by Anthony Heald . Publisher ' s summary . Hardcover . Back cover . Twenty - one years after the Battle of Endor , the New Republic will face an even darker enemy … Inside flap . " With the exciting arrival of , the next era of " Star Wars " history is about to begin . Here , fantasy and science fiction ' s most acclaimed authors propel the legendary epic into the next millenium [ sic ] , introducing us to a rich cast of characters that features old favorites — Luke Skywalker , Han Solo , and Leia Organa Solo — along with the next generation of Jedi and never - before - seen creatures , droids , and deadly agents of darkness . In " Vector Prime " , the launch novel for this thrilling new saga , author R . A . Salvatore takes the " Star Wars " universe to previously unscaled heights of action and imagination , expanding the beloved story of a galaxy far , far away … " " Twenty - one years have passed since the heroes of the Rebel Alliance destroyed the Death Star , breaking the power of the Emperor . Since then , the New Republic has valiantly struggled to maintain peace and prosperity among the peoples of the galaxy . But unrest has begun to spread ; tensions erupt in outbreaks of rebellion that , if unchecked , threaten to destroy the Republic ' s tenuous reign . " " Into this volatile atmosphere comes Nom Anor , a charismatic firebrand who heats passions to the boiling point , sowing seeds of dissent for his own dark motives . In an effort to avert a catastrophic civil war , Leia travels with her daughter Jaina , her sister - in - law Mara Jade , and the loyal protocol droid C - 3PO , to conduct face - to - face diplomatic negotiations with Nom Anor . But he proves resistant to Leia ' s entreaties — and , far more inexplicably , within the Force , where a being should be , was … blank space . " " Meanwhile , Luke is plagued by reports of rogue Jedi Knights who are taking the law into their own hands . And so he wrestles with a dilemma : Should he attempt , in this climate of mistrust , to reestablish the legendary Jedi Council ? " " As the Jedi and the Republic focus on internal struggles , a new threat surfaces , unnoticed , beyond the farthest reaches of the Outer Rim . An enemy appears from outside known space , bearing weapons and technology unlike anything New Republic scientists have ever seen . Suddenly Luke , Mara , Leia , Han Solo , and Chewbacca — along with the Solo children — are thrust again into battle , to defend the freedom so many have fought and died for . But this time , all their courage , sacrifice , and even the power of the Force itself may not be enough . … " Paperback . Twenty - one years after the Battle of Endor , the New Republic will face an even darker enemy … " The Galactic Empire has ended the war with the New Republic , but the galaxy is far from peace . Unrest is spreading everywhere , and threatens to destroy the New Republic ' s tenuous reign . " " Into this fragile moment comes Nom Anor , a mysterious and charismatic firebrand who is sowing seeds of mistrust and anger through his call for a " simpler time " . Little do his followers know the truth which hides behind his words . " " When ExGal - 4 , a scientific outpost on Belkadan , discovers an odd comet - like object coming through the vast distance between the galaxies , astrophysicist Danni Quee takes it upon herself to investigate . She journeys to the Helska system , unaware of the danger which threatens the survival of the entire galaxy : the Yuuzhan Vong . " " Jedi Masters Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade Skywalker , along with the Solo ' s and Chewbacca are thrust into the middle of the danger once more , forced to fight with all they have to save the galaxy . " " But this time , the Force itself may not be enough . " Plot summary . Leia Organa Solo rides on the " Jade Sabre " . She , Jaina Solo , and Mara Jade Skywalker are going to Rhommamool to speak with its leader , Nom Anor . Rhommamool and its neighboring planet , Osarian , are on the brink of war . The Osarians don ’ t want Leia to go to Rhommamool , because they figure that it would rally support for the planet , which they consider their enemy . As a result , they send some Z - 95 ’ s out at them . The " Jade Sabre " is originally going to just evade the attackers , when Wurth Skidder , a Jedi who is staying on the Mon Calamari cruiser " Mediator " , which is between the two planets , comes out and destroys them . It is clear that it was mostly just so that he could have some fun . Leia is furious . A protocol droid , C - 9PO , is captured by the Red Knights of Life on Rhommamool , and destroyed along with many others at the Square of Hopeful Redemption , with Nom Anor looking on in amusement . At ExGal - 4 , on the planet Belkadan , Yomin Carr , a Yuuzhan Vong agent , is waiting for the invasion to begin . When Carr sees the blip he was waiting for , he disables the communications of ExGal - 4 and contacts Nom Anor , letting him know that the invasion has been initiated . On the way back , he picks up a beetle , a creature that he had brought , hoping that it would spread ; indeed , it is spreading quickly . The other scientists discover the blip and think that it is an asteroid , because it is not transmitting any signals . A crew member suggests contacting ExGal Command , but they decide against the action as the blip could be an object from their galaxy that just rebounded back in . Carr is instrumental in having them arrive at this decision . Nom Anor sits more than halfway across the galaxy , excited to have heard from Carr that the move forward has begun . Luke Skywalker and Jacen Solo meet with the New Republic Advisory Council , headed by Chief of State Borsk Fey ' lya on Coruscant . Luke is hounded by some councilors because some Jedi are playing law keeper too strongly . Luke suspects that their complaints are because Jedi are giving smugglers a hard time ; he suspects that some councilors have illegal dealings with them , thus , when Jedi attack the smugglers , it affects the councilors . Luke and Jacen discuss their differences of opinion of what the Jedi should be , and whether or not the Jedi Council should be re - established . Nom Anor discusses with his underlings , explaining that he ’ s behind Mara ’ s disease . He hopes to learn how Mara was doing at this meeting . The meeting is terrible for Leia ; Nom Anor is terribly rude to her . They leave . Anor instructs his underlings to see to it that their departure takes them by the Square of Hopeful Redemption . The protagonists share their opinion of Nom Anor , and show their reaction as they fly over the Square of Hopeful Redemption . Han Solo and Anakin Solo are trying to fix the " Millennium Falcon " , which Anakin damaged by trying to show off and be like Jaina . Han and Luke discuss the meeting and Lando Calrissian ’ s whereabouts with the council . Luke thinks if he could get someone from the Outer Rim ’ s thoughts and insights , he could use that to get the councilors to see his point of view . The scientists at ExGal - 4 track the ' asteroid ' to the Helska system . With its current vector , it will collide with the fourth planet in that system , which is made of ice . At this point they try to contact ExGal Command . It doesn ' t work . The extragalactic " asteroid " is actually a living worldship , led by Prefect Da ' Gara . Tu Shoolb tells the Prefect that he ' d been consulting his yammosk , the worldship ' s genetically engineered war coordinator . It is anxious to begin . The ExGal scientists detect a tail on their extragalactic object . They reason that it must be a comet . Only Yomin Carr knows the truth . He does something that will destroy the planet . Prefect Da ' Gara and the 5 , 000 that are on board prepare for landing , and put on their protective ooglith cloakers and gnulliths , which help them to breathe . They follow the yammosk down into the ice to establish a base . The ExGal - 4 scientists see the " comet " impact with the fourth planet of the Helska system ; to their surprise , there is no explosion . They want to contact ExGal , but the communications were not operative yet . They considered taking their unreliable ship , " Spacecaster " , to send a communication , but decide to wait . Leia and Jaina are in the cockpit of " Jade Sabre " , near Coruscant . Mara is tired , so Jaina is piloting alone . Leia thinks of Nom Anor , and attempts to contact again . There is a huge Mon Calamari Star Defender , the " Viscount " , newly commissioned by the New Republic . Since they are nearing Coruscant , Leia goes to get Mara , as she requested . The disease has attacked Mara ' s womb this time , which greatly disturbs her . Jacen talks to Anakin , who is constantly practicing with his lightsaber , saying that Jedi are not to use the Force to right every wrong , and not to use the Force to gain glory for themselves . They decide to spar , to see whose philosophy wins out in a fight . Despite not practicing with the saber nearly as much as Anakin , Jacen wins out . He says , " We ' re not a galactic patrol . " Jacen then goes to see how Han and Chewbacca are faring . He finds Chewie in a very disagreeable mood . Mara meets back up with Luke , and they exchange stories . They decide to take a trip to the Outer Rim . Leia meets with the councilors to tell them of her mission . Han sends Chewie with her . Councilor Fyor Rodan comes out and begins hounding Chewie . Chewie disposes of him by hanging him by his collar on a coatrack . They meet up and inform Leia that they are going on a trip to talk to Lando . Three members of ExGal - 4 , Danni Quee , Cho Badeleg , and Bensin Tomri decide to go to the ice planet . They ask Carr , but he politely declines . His real reason is that he has orders to stay away from them . He discreetly damages the " Spacecaster " . He then contacts Prefect Da ’ Gara , and tells him to beware of Danni . Belkadan will soon be poisoned , yet Carr will survive onplanet , as he ’ ll have his ooglith cloaker . Yomin goes out with Garth Breise to fix the transmitter . They see some reddish brown beetles . Carr suggests that they may be the source of the problem . They decide to climb anyway . They find the problem . Carr , however , cuts Breise ’ s rope , and Breise falls to his death . Danni and the other scientists in the " Spacecaster " see a storm moving toward their ExGal - 4 Base . They try to establish contact , but can hear very little . They decide to move on . Nom Anor launches missiles at Osa - Prime . He knows he ’ ll have to flee , but he does it mainly as a distraction for the New Republic . The " Millennium Falcon " , " Jade ’ s Sabre " , and Luke ’ s X - wing ( piloted by a thrilled Jaina ) arrive at Reecee . Leia manages to leave without her Noghri guard , Bolpuhr , noticing . Luke and Jacen talk about re - creating the Jedi Council . Han and Chewie go to Riebold ' s Foam and Sizzle — a place where fights , even deadly ones , are not frowned upon , as long as one cleans up after oneself — to find out about Lando . They find a Sullustan Han knows , Dugo Bagy , and he tells them that Lando is looking for new mining techniques to apply to more profitable areas , like the asteroid in the Hoth system , known as Kerane ' s Folly , which contains pure platinum . Many have tried mining it , but were killed because of other asteroids . They also learn that Kyp Durron is causing a lot of trouble for the smugglers - Kyp and other pilots , known as The Dozen - and - Two Avengers . ExGal - 4 scientists Jerem Cadmir , Tee - ubo Doole , Luther De ' Ono , and Bendodi Ballow - Reese leave the base to investigate the storm Danni told them about as she was taking off . They find it ; it isn ’ t a storm . It is a plague , probably caused by beetles , causing a molecular change in the plant life . It fills the air with poisonous gas . They don ’ t have enough air for all of them to get back . They all sacrifice their air so that Jerem will have a chance of surviving . Danni and the crew in the " Spacecaster " arrive at Helska IV . They are confused as to why the planet appears to be untouched . They assume that a ball of gas must have been what collided . They detect strange energy from the planet . They begin to circle the planet when they detect hundreds of chunks of debris . They find out that they are ships of some kind . The ships take out the " Spacecaster " ’ s ion engines and hyperdrive so they can ’ t escape , meaning that the attackers know about the workings of their ship . The Yuuzhan Vong send a villip , and Prefect Da ’ Gara communicates to them through it . He tells them to follow the coralskippers . They refuse , and are shot down . Jerem makes it back to base , only to be killed ( honorably ) by Yomin Carr . Carr takes his sample of the deadly gas and the beetle . He could still do as he was ordered — he would see if the scientists that remained would be able to find a cure of the " Plague " . Danni wakes up down on the planet . She watches as the last member of her crew , Bensin , as he is killed by the Yuuzhan Vong . Da ' Gara says that Yomin Carr demanded honor for her . He throws her down a hole , and he jumps in after her . Luke , Leia , Han , and the others go to visit Lando ' s new venture at Dubrillion , and its twin , less - habitable planet , Destrillion . They give Jaina a test in Luke ' s X - wing . They have R2 - D2 feed her the wrong coordinates ; she arrives just a little ways away . She adapts well and finds her way . They meet Lando again here . He shows them his TIE Advanced fighters he uses to run the belt . They are modified to be very safe , and Jaina wants to run the belt . The Solo kids take part in the run here , all making it on to Lando ' s board of best times . Jaina ' s run is outstanding . The plague is spreading at the ExGal - 4 base . As the communications are being fixed , Carr re - destroys them , and kills Lysire Donabelle , the person making repairs . Nom Anor and his assistant escape from Rhommamool in a hidden , modified A - Wing . They do considerable damage to the Mon Cal cruiser in the process . Nom Anor contacts Da ' Gara , and reports that his next target is Sernpidal . They discuss using the tactic called Yo ' gand ' s Core , which uses gravity to pull a moon and a planet into a collision . Jacen and Anakin argue again about the Force , using Jaina ' s amazing flight to debate whether it was a result of the Force guiding her actions or the fact that she practiced piloting a lot . Then Kyp Durron walks in to say hello . He is obviously a little upset that Jaina has taken his record in running the belt , but offers them the opportunity to join his squadron , the Dozen - and - Two Avengers . Kyp leaves , and takes off with his squadron ; the kids watch the disciplined and high - profile take - off , complete with music . Leia , Luke , Lando , and Mara watch the takeoff , too . Lando then offers to let Luke and Mara run the belt . Lando would have loved to have such names on his leader board , but they don ' t want to fly . They do , however , get Han and Chewie go together in the TIE bomber , in hopes of beating Moss Deevers and Twingo , a pair of cocky smugglers . When they go , there is a malfunction in the communications and shields . Kyp ponders the future of the Dozen - and - Two . They check for recent traffic . They detect a Spacecaster class vessel coming from Belkadan . They are headed to the Helska system . Kyp sends out a signal for someone to investigate Belkadan , while he takes his squadron to the Helska system . Luke flies into the asteroids to try to rescue Han and Chewie ; Luke also has no shields . He finds and rescues them . They were exactly tied with Moss and Twingo when they lost communications , but Lando adds five seconds , so they hold the record for a twosome . Nearly all of Kyp ' s squadron is taken out by a squadron of Yuuzhan Vong coralskippers in a skirmish at Helska IV . Kyp escapes to hyperspace , along with another A - wing , but Kyp has 3 grutchin s on him . Lando asks Han to go to Sernpidal to run some cargo , and Han reluctantly agrees . Luke and Mara go to Belkadan ( as per Kyp ' s call for someone to go there ) . Kyp ’ s X - wing has been damaged by the grutchins . He rerouts some power , and began making short hyperspace hops toward Sernpidal , the closest inhabited planet . The Yuuzhan Vong bring a man named Miko Reglia in with Danni Quee . He says that he is a Jedi with the Dozen - and - Two . The Yuuzhan Vong say he is not worthy . Danni and Reglia begin looking for a way to escape . Da ’ Gara reports to Nom Anor about the attack . He says that he thinks the two ships that had escaped were destroyed . They are now going to begin " breaking ' the Jedi , in order to test the extent of his willpower . More Yuuzhan Vong are on the way soon : one more ship on this day , and one within the week . Danni and Reglia knock out the Yuuzhan Vong that enter their prison chamber , and take their cloakers and breathing creatures . Da ' Gara stops them , and takes them to an assembly of Yuuzhan Vong . Another worldship arrives , and Prefect Ma ' Shraid enters . They speak through the telepathic war coordinator , the yammosk . Then , they feed Miko to the giant creature . Han , Chewie , and Anakin arrive at Sernpidal , and something strange is going on . The planet ' s moon is abnormally close . Their ship is raided , and people make off with some of their cargo . They then take off , and do a reading . They find that something on the planet was pulling the moon closer and closer . The item is just east of Sernpidal City . Anakin volunteers to investigate , and the mayor goes with him , while Han and Chewie round up as many people to take on the " Falcon " as is possible . The planet has less than seven hours until the moon impacts . Luke and Mara arrive at Belkadan , only to find it covered with gas . They decide to land to see if there are any survivors . They go down , and have trouble locating the ExGal - 4 outpost , but eventually , they succeed . Yomin Carr readies his weapons as he watches the " Jade Sabre " land . Luke and Mara land . The ground is covered with dead beetles . They get into the compound , and find one living beetle , but it is slowing down . Mara notices some goo at its mandibles . They search through , and all the computers are still on and working . They have R2 begin downloading everything from the main computer , as they split up to explore the compound . Mara finds the journal of a scientist , and a beetle in a bottle . In the journal , it says that Carr kept saying that the disaster was just a weather pattern . It ended saying , " I believe it is linked to " . It ends here . She hears a screech from R2 in the other room , and runs there . Artoo is hit by Yomin Carr . Mara rushes in and fights him . She has many surprises from his fighting tactics and equipment , but ends up killing him . Before he dies , Yomin Carr says that she was worthy . They then regroup , finish the download , and take off . Mara ’ s disease worsens . They think that there might be some sort of connection between the beetles , Belkadan , and her disease . They find two balls there . One of them inverts , and says many things in a foreign tongue . They then look at some of the data Artoo downloaded . They find out that the comet came in the Helska system . They set coordinates for there . Miko struggles . The yammosk doesn ' t kill him ; it just brings him in close many times over again , tormenting him . Danni feels bad for him in his suffering , but is only able to watch . Anakin and the mayor arrive at a crater , and find a living thing inside , the source of the problem . Anakin shoots at it , but it has no effect . The creature then reverses its pull , resulting in it moving deeper into the ground . The Falcon then comes to pick them up . The mayor refuses to go , and instead takes a thermal detonator and destroys both himself and the creature to ensure that it would not harm any other planet . Da ’ Gara connects his mind to that of the yammosk , and they exchange thoughts . He then contacts Nom Anor . He says that Sernpidal will die this day , but that several ships are escaping . He has dispatched four full battle groups to intercept and follow them to the next planet . There , open warfare will begin . Chewbacca loads two children into the relative safety of the " Falcon " , and then debris falls onto a shuttle . He and Anakin go to remove it . They succeed , allowing many lives to be saved . The winds are escalating now , as the moon is approaching . Anakin and Chewbacca save another toddler . The " Falcon " is too high for Chewbacca to get in . He tosses Anakin up to Han . Then , the ground shifts , and Chewbacca is thrown . Anakin rushes to the controls to move the ship to Chewbacca . Just as he is getting into position , the wind knocks a building onto the Falcon . Anakin realizes that if he waits any longer , they will all die . He heads skyward , leaving a helpless Chewbacca on the doomed planet . Luke and Mara arrive at Helska IV . Luke takes off in his X - wing to get a look . His systems are shut down , and he begins plunging toward the planet , caught in some sort of tractor beam . Han is very upset about Chewie ' s death . He takes his anger out on Anakin , saying that he was the one that left Chewie . Luke fires up his shields , only to have them depleted almost immediately . However , this distracts the beam , and he is able to move back up just a little bit . Luke shoots nine torpedoes and manages to get to the surface safely , but several of the coralskippers begin bearing down on him . He is having trouble escaping in his damaged X - wing . Han decides to go back to Sernpidal for a hopeless search for Chewie , when someone calls for help . Several insects are attacking them . The ship blows up , destroying the attackers , too . Then , Han sees a ship in the distance transmitting a distress signal . It is Kyp . Han calls Anakin for a copilot ' s help , but while he accepts his help as copilot , he shows no sign of forgiveness . The " Falcon " breaks from the convoy to get Kyp ’ s X - wing . Han thinks it is a trap when several of the insects are there and start attacking the " Falcon " . Anakin rushes to the guns , but can ’ t get them all , as some are on the hull . He rushes to the power re - routing area , and puts the main cable on the hull . This shocks all of the creatures , and they relinquish their grip . He then goes back to the gun and blasts them . They then attach a tow cable onto the X - wing and bring it back to the convoy . The " Jade Sabre " comes to pick up Luke ' s X - wing . They decide to go back to Dubrillion . There are thousands of rock - like ships on Helska IV ; with an unknown number on nearby planets . Kyp is indeed alive , and he joins Han on the " Falcon " and informs him of the situation . They then detect some of the rocky starfighters . They have to get all of the ships , even the slow ones , to Dubrillion . Anakin does some calculations . They will beat the enemy there . . . but not by a broad amount of time . Han is clearly angry . Here , he tries to blame Lando , saying that it ’ s his fault that he was there . Lando points out that Han saved many lives . He says that he has plenty of guns and ships ; it won ’ t be a problem concerning a shortage of equipment ; rather , it ' ll be a shortage of people to operate them . Leia tries to console Han . The kids sympathize with Anakin . Leia tries to contact the New Republic for assistance . The " Rejuvenator " is the closest ship with substantial firepower . It is 3 days away . The Yuuzhan Vong ships will be here in less than 2 . No - one has heard from Luke . The kids convince their parents to let them commandeer some TIEs . They have to stay close to the planet , where they could use the projected shields . Leia occupies Chewie ’ s seat as copilot of the " Falcon " . Kyp flies as a gunner . The battle begins . The outer ships have trouble . Finally , they fall back near the " Falcon " . The " Falcon " ' s screen practically turns red , as the enemy blips are so concentrated . The Solo children start in the atmosphere , where " Belt - Runner I " can provide shielding for them , as they have been instructed by their parents . When the " Belt - Runner I " is disabled , they decided that they ' d be just as safe here as they are in space . They head up and save a pilot , but as soon as their parents find out , they are not happy . The coralskippers are overwhelming them . They are instructed to go back . Anakin , however , has an idea ; they ' d run the belt before , so they should be able to outfly the enemy . They go in , and connect their minds and senses through the Force , giving them each extra pairs of eyes and ears . The link didn ' t last long , though , and Anakin soon finds himself spinning . He pulls the hyperspace lever to avoid being hit . Han and Leia are not happy . They instruct the twins to return to planet as they search for their youngest son . The twins land , and are greeted by cheering crowds . Jacen thinks about their mind connection , and regards the fact that his view of the Force needs amending . Anakin hoped that his siblings are alright ; he doesn ' t want to have caused their deaths . Even though he is alone , he could accept his death , but not the death of Jacen and Jaina . He , too , considers his view of the Force , and considers amending it . The third worldship has arrived . They have tested the planetary defenses . The yammosk will soon spawn , and they will install the new one on either Dubrillion or Destrillion . Also , Belkadan is almost finished with its transformation ; they will be able to grow yorik coral there . They are soon ready to begin the second level of conquest perpetuation . Han is furious . They set out , looking for Anakin . Leia senses him - he is alive , at least . Luke and Lando study the coralskipper , which is actually a living thing . Luke then learns of Chewie ’ s death . Luke tells Lando that he needs to get to Helska IV . He knows that ’ s where they are . He asks if he had any mining ships that could get through ice ; Lando just laughs . Later , when Luke is alone , he heard Anakin ’ s call ; he is alright . He knew that Leia heard it too , and that she ' d soon bring him back . Leia and Han find Anakin through the Force . He comes back on the ship . Han hugs him , then scolds him . There is a description of how the mining craft will work here . C - 3PO translates the message from Yomin Carr . It says that his work is done for now , and that the movement of the Praetorite Vong is under way . Threepio is then taken to the coralskipper to see what he can learn from it . He learned that it was living , and " refueled " by eating rocks , which it could spit out for ammo , or as one method of moving ( getting an opposite reaction ) . The other method is by the thumb - sized creature on the nose , which works by focusing gravity fields . Luke reasons that the same type of creature was used to " pull " the shields from his ship in his earlier encounter with them . There is good news , though ; some considerable New Republic firepower arrives to help guard . Mara is skeptical about Luke ' s mining plan . Luke reassures her that everything will be alright . Jacen and Jaina have different plans . They decide to take the mining vessel and its carrier ship , instead of Luke and Mara . They leave a message with R2 . The Star Destroyer " Rejuvenator " ' s captain , Commander Warshack Rojo , wants to go and face the coralskippers on Helska IV immediately in order to get back to the " more important " issues of the New Republic . Leia wants to wait six days , when more firepower could be taken out to the system . Rojo is convinced he could handle it , though . Just then , they see the mining ship take off , and R2 comes in with a message . Han is angry at first , but Luke explains that they were Jedi ; they would start having many big responsibilities . They then decide to move out ( at the insistence of Rojo ) , with Han , Leia , Anakin , and Lando in the " Falcon " , Luke and Mara in the " Jade ’ s Sabre " , and Kyp leading a squadron of fighters . Jacen fires off toward the ice planet . He fires a booster jet , and that may have alerted the enemies to his presence . Once he gets into the planet , he feels a cry for help . Jaina is concerned about the thruster jet that Jacen fired . She tries to hide her carrier ship , the " Merry Miner " . She is not successful , and some coralskippers begin closing in on her weaponless ship . Jacen begins swimming , and sees a base in the water . He senses the strange call near him , up near the crust of the planet . Several other swimmers approach him . Just as Jaina is about to be destroyed , the Rejuvenator came out of hyperspace to her rescue . Kyp Durron called to her asking sarcastically if she needed help . Jacen is waved toward the end of the line . The person in front of him has many tattoos and scars , and only one eye . The people have progressively fewer marks around their eyes ( the only part visible ) , and Jacen figured that he was last . They get to a small room near the crust , and there are two people in there . Jacen recognizes the Jedi Miko , but he wasn ' t the source of the call . It was the girl with him . He is grunted at , and it is clear that he , as the lowest ranking warrior , is to wait outside as a sentry . Just as they are to take Miko away to " kill " him , they notice the saber on Jacen ' s belt . He begins to fight them . Prefect Da ' Gara watches the Battle of Helska IV unfold through the yammosk . A battle ensues . At first things proceed well ; then , thousands of coralskippers are launched from the planet . Things go downhill ; Republic ships are being taken out . Rojo is taking his Star Destroyer down to the planet , but the brilliant coordination of the coralskippers is causing major damage to his ship . Anakin catches on to the tactic . He knows that the ships are somehow connected , like he and his siblings were earlier , through the Force . Jacen fights down on Helska IV . Danni manages to get one of the Yuuzhan Vong ’ s suits off and send him into the cold water . Then , a thud bug hits her . Rojo has clearly underestimated these forces . The coralskippers take out the " Rejuvenator " . Jacen is having trouble against the remaining four Yuuzhan Vong . He can defend for now , but cannot concentrate on attacking , or he ' ll be killed . 2 of the Yuuzhan Vong begin struggling , a Human hand on their faces . . . Miko manages to get to the Vong ' s noses , the release point of the cloakers , and then he takes them down into the cold water with him as a last , heroic act against the Vong . Jacen is able to take out the other two . He takes Danni , and the two squeeze uncomfortably into the cramped mining ship . The space battle is proceeding badly . The New Republic forces need to retreat , but Jacen is still on the planet . Just as they are getting desperate , Jacen blasts out of the planet . Jaina wastes no time and picks him up in a very impressive maneuver , and , as if in one action , escapes to hyperspace at the same time . The others follow her . Jacen comforts Danni in the small , cramped ship . The protagonists exchange stories , and they figure out that it was the yammosk that allowed the extremely efficient coordination of the coralskippers . They decide that they have to take it out . They decide to use shieldships , vessels Lando uses on Nkllon , in order to evaporate some ice , thus stealing energy from the planet and destroying it . The commanders of the Republic ranger ships don ' t want to go in ; they want to wait for reinforcements . Luke knows that they need to catch the enemy by surprise , and the way to do that is to go back - immediately . Kyp decides to go with his starfighters . Some ships are lost coming out of hyperspace , as they have to come in extremely close in order to gain the full surprise . The battle begins . When Da ’ Gara realizes there is another attack , he rushes to the yammosk . He reckons the only reason they ' d come back would be to rescue Danni , who may still be on the planet ( his assumption is wrong ) . He is baffled as to the use of the shield ships . The yammosk thinks the tactic is to reflect energy to take out the dovin basals and surface cannons . Da ' Gara wants Danni Quee to remain with him . Luke ( down close to the planet ) , notices a drop in temperature . Dense fog gives him cover . Jaina is piloting the " Jade Sabre " with Mara next to her on the guns . She cannot establish a Force link with Han , as he is not Force - sensitive . But he is an excellent pilot , and they fly well together , anyway . She is startled when she makes a run on a coralskipper , and Mara fails to fire ; she has passed out . Jaina jumps over to her , and the ship is hit , plummeting toward the planet . Jaina rushes back to the controls , but they keep falling . Luke keeps detecting the temperature dropping . He is dismayed when he sees his wife ’ s ship falling toward the planet . Leia and Han see it , too . Luke rushes to intercept , and just as he passes under it , he flips over , and fires his repulsors , giving the " Sabre " a lift , and it re - stabilizes . It is getting very cold . Ice crystals are forming in the atmosphere of Helska IV . It is looking bad for the New Republic forces . Some shield ships are being destroyed . Suddenly , some coralskippers begin colliding . The coordination is clearly lost . Coralskippers begin retreating back to the planet . The planet looked distorted , like they were looking at it through a glass globe . It is the fourth state of matter , the Mezzicanley Wave . Now the ice will begin expanding , and the planet will soon explode . Han has to turn the Falcon around , despite the fact that Luke is still down there , a similar situation , so similar , to Anakin ’ s retreat from Chewie . He has other lives to save on the Falcon ; he cannot put them in danger for Luke . Helska IV blows . They are relieved to see that Luke ’ s X - wing has escaped . R2 is quite frozen from that chilling experience on Helska IV . The remaining Vong forces are being hunted by Kyp and others . Mara is losing her fight with her disease , and there is nothing Luke can do directly . But he could study the bug that she felt was connected to it on Belkadan . Mara had discussed going alone to Dagobah , or some other Force - fueled place , to meditate on what was happening inside her . Leia realizes what a threat they ' d just faced and how much trouble they ' d be in if more came . She knows she ' ll have to take on new responsibilities that she really doesn ' t want , as Ambassador Leia . Nom Anor is on a small core world , stirring hatred for the New Republic . He knows that there are Yuuzhan Vong warriors running throughout the galaxy , with no way to control them . He knows they would recover , though . Han remembers Chewie here , at the destroyed Sernpidal . He then feels as if the bubble that protects his family is broken , and the galaxy is suddenly a more dangerous place . He now isn ’ t so confident that Mara will survive . Leia tries to reassure him that she would , though . Behind the scenes . At the time of its first publication , " Vector Prime " was extremely controversial among " Star Wars " fans because its plot called for the death of Chewbacca , making the Wookiee the first major character from the original trilogy to be permanently killed off in the Expanded Universe novels . Opinion was sharply divided as to whether this death of a beloved character was a cheap ploy to boost sales and interest in the new series , or if it served the dramatic purpose of declaring that not even the core characters were necessarily " safe " anymore . Chewbacca ' s death was later marked as Number One in " Star Wars Insider " " 20 Most Memorable Moments of the Expanded Universe " . While Chewbacca ' s death marked the first major character from the original trilogy to die in an Expanded Universe novel , the death of Crix Madine in " Darksaber " was the first death of a speaking character . According to in " " , Sue Rostoni , Shelly Shapiro , and Lucy Wilson all expressed that one of their biggest regrets from the series were death threats that author R . A . Salvatore received due to Chewbacca ' s death . In fact , the editorial team of Del Rey felt that someone had to die to renew interest in " Star Wars " . They were vetoed the possibility of killing Luke Skywalker , and as they felt that killing Han Solo and Leia Organa wasn ' t enough , writer Randy Stradley suggested to kill Chewie . It was one of the few EU books to have its own television commercial . It was released on the in late 1999 and featured a narration by Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker , speaking over a montage of scenes from the original trilogy as " The Emperor ' s Theme " played . The novel said the Moddell sector was close to the Veragi sector and Dalonbian sector in the Outer Rim Territories , yet according to a new source , " The Essential Atlas " , the Modell sector is on other side of the Outer Rim . Chapter 4 of " Vector Prime " was published as a preview in " Star Wars Insider 45 " . After The Walt Disney Company bought Lucasfilm Ltd . in 2012 , it was announced in 2014 that the Expanded Universe continuity would be discarded in order to explore new storylines , thus making " Vector Prime " along the other novels of " The New Jedi Order " non - canonical . According to the Holocron continuity database keeper Leland Chee , Chewbacca ' s death in " Vector Prime " was a key factor in the decision . Cover gallery . This is a gallery of the different cover variations of " Vector Prime " .