Vanquo

"I'll tell ya, if the Mandalorians ever move on Vanquo, they'll find nothing here but people they've already seen!"

- A Vanquo miner, regarding the refugee situation on the planet

Vanquo was a mining world in the Outer Rim's Meerian sector that became the site of one of the early battles of the Mandalorian Wars. A mountainous planet, Vanquo was a resource world for the nearby ecumenopolis of Taris, and a haven for refugees from the early conquests of the Mandalorian armies. When Taris was threatened by the Mandalorians, Vanquo became part of a Republic security cordon known as the Jebble-Vanquo-Tarnith line. In 3,964 BBY, Vanquo was attacked by the Mandalorians in force, commanded by Mandalore the Ultimate and his lieutenant Cassus Fett. After a heated space battle with Republic Navy forces led by Captain Saul Karath, the Mandalorians conquered Vanquo, giving them a stronghold that they would not relinquish during the war.

Description
"&mdash;just look around. Trees. Mountains. Sky!"

- Jarael

Located in the Outer Rim Meerian sector, Vanquo was a mining world and a resource world for the nearby ecumenopolis Taris. Situated in a system of the same name, Vanquo was within traveling distance of other worlds such as Suurja and Jebble. A rocky, mountainous world covered in forests and trees, Vanquo was a rugged world with a harsh winter. On clear nights Vanquo had a brilliant starry sky, with at least one green moon visible from the planet's surface.

History
"It's working, Mand'alor. The Republic fleet's left flank has split to cover Vanquo&mdash;clearing the way for our main thrust!''" "Then the path to Taris'' is clear, at last."

- Cassus Fett and Mandalore the Ultimate discuss their attack on Vanquo

In 3,976 BBY, the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders, led by chief Mandalore the Ultimate, began to carve out an empire by conquering unaligned worlds on the Outer Rim, far from the sight of the Galactic Republic. After amassing a sizable amount of territory, Mandalore lurched out towards the Core, contesting resource worlds near Taris, including Vanquo. One of the worlds caught in the Mandalorian advance, Vanquo became part of a Republic Navy security cordon known as the Jebble-Vanquo-Tarnith line, along which heavy, stalemated fighting occurred in the early days of what would become known as the Mandalorian Wars. In 3,964 BBY, Vanquo, by now dotted with mining camps, had become a destination for many refugees uprooted by the Mandalorian crusades. Although the Mandalorians loomed, business continued as usual for the mining crews across Vanquo. That year, Vanquo was visited by wanted fugitive Zayne Carrick, accused of the massacre of his Jedi classmates on Taris, and his crew as they tried to lay low from Jedi pursuit. Using his Force talents, and his Arkanian Offshoot friend Jarael's convincing portrayal of Jedi Master Q'Anilia, the group was able to convince the staff of a mining outpost that the Mandalorians were attacking. The crew abandoned the camp, leaving it and all its resources to the hungry fugitives. However, the Mandalorians, led by Commander Rohlan Dyre, began their actual attack soon afterward with a large paratrooper landing, as Carrick and his friends were still gathering supplies&mdash;although Jarael was mistaken for a real Jedi and was captured, the others were able to escape.

The battle was personally coordinated by Mandalore the Ultimate and his lieutenant Cassus Fett, and was mainly a diversionary tactic, meant to draw Republic forces and open the way for Mandalore's main thrust towards Taris. On the other side, the Republic forces were led by Captain Saul Karath aboard the battleship Courageous. As the mining camps on the night side of the planet were seized and an orbital screen was being set up so the Mandalorians could attack the major settlements on the day side, a major space battle raged over Vanquo. The Vanquo offensive turned out to be a rousing success, as the left flank of the main Republic fleet was drawn to Vanquo, clearing the way to Taris, and the Mandalorians ended up seizing the planet. Over the course of the conflict, Vanquo would prove to be a stronghold that the Republic was never able to break. In the aftermath of the Mandalorian Wars, Republic heroes Revan and Malak turned to the dark side and led a new Sith Empire against the Republic. Although Vanquo never fell within Sith borders, in 3,956 BBY the Sith led an offensive towards Taris, resulting in a Sith victory and the complete devastation of the planet, a push that started at Vanquo. In the later years of the Galactic Civil War, Vanquo's region of space fell within the Empire of Imperial Warlord Zsinj. During the Yuuzhan Vong War beginning in 25 ABY, the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong invaders attacked Vanquo after their successful conquering of Bandomeer. The Yuuzhan Vong won the battle, and continued their offensive on towards the Core. By 137 ABY, Vanquo fell within the territory of Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire.

Inhabitants
"Caught another blasted refugee sneaking around the camp again."

- A miner on Vanquo

By the time of the Mandalorian Wars, Vanquo had become inundated with a large number of refugees fleeing the looming Mandalorian menace, many of whom had come from nearby battlegrounds such as Jebble and Suurja. With Vanquo already possessed of sizable population of miners at camps spread across the world, many of these hungry, desperate refugees attempted to plunder from the miners' stores. There was also a civilian population mainly centered at several major settlements on the other side of the planet from the mining camps.

Locations
"You want help, there's an aid station on the other side.''" "Other side? Of the mountains?'' "Of the planet, stench! Start walking if you want to beat winter!"

- Miner Zem and a disguised Zayne Carrick

At the time of the Mandalorian Wars, there were a number of mining camps spread out across one side of the planet, nestled within Vanquo's natural mountainous terrain. There was a communications system set up between some of the various mining settlements, with an official Republic channel to provide necessary information to the outposts. On the other side of the planet were several major settlements, along with an aid station frequented by refugees from the Mandalorian attacks.

Behind the scenes
The planet Vanquo made its first appearance in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 7: Flashpoint, Part 1, a comic written by John Jackson Miller and released in 2006. The planet was also seen in the next installment of the Knights of the Old Republic series&mdash; in both its appearances, Vanquo was illustrated by Dustin Weaver. Vanquo was mentioned in a number of other Knights of the Old Republic issues and stories based on the comic series. More information on Vanquo was given in The Essential Atlas and its online companion, along with its entry in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.

Appearances

 * The Taris Holofeed: Prime Edition
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 7: Flashpoint, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 8: Flashpoint, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 10: Flashpoint, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 11: Reunion, Part 1
 * The Admiral's List: Jimas Veltraa Memorial Edition
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 14: Days of Fear, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 15: Days of Fear, Part 3
 * The Taris Holofeed: Siege Edition
 * Adascorp Fiscal Period Financial Report and Outlook: Message from the Chief Executive
 * The Admiral's List: Karath Home Safely
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 49: Demon, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 49: Demon, Part 3