Hylo Visz

"So what do you know about Hylo Visz?''" "I've heard the name. She was some big-time spacer, wasn't she?" "You could put it that way, if you're partial to understatement. [&hellip;] ''She broke the Mandalorian blockade at the Hydian Way. You know, the one that strangled Coruscant and dashed a full-scale Jedi assault. And it wasn't out of the goodness of her heart, either. Credits were involved, a lot of them."

- Gault Rennow and the Great Hunt champion

Hylo Visz was a female Mirialan who lived during the Great Galactic War between the Galactic Republic and the resurgent Sith Empire. She was born on the Colonies world of Balmorra, but later became a refugee when the Empire raided the planet. Her father was killed during the attack, and she and her mother were forced to flee the world alongside hundreds of other Balmorrans. Her mother died of illness while their transport made a stop on the Hutt-controlled moon of Nar Shaddaa, and Visz was left to fend for herself as an orphan. In her youth, she joined a band of similarly orphaned children but ultimately found herself working as a mechanic in the Hutt Cartel's shipyards in Nar Shaddaa's Undercity. Visz soon found that her true calling was piloting and was able to work as a freelancer for several years before being officially hired on by the Hutt Cartel as a smuggler. In her beloved ship, the Crimson Fleece, the Mirialan made a name for herself as a proficient and talented privateer, but during a delivery to the Rendili Vehicle Corporation on Corellia for Barrga the Hutt, she lost the Fleece in a corporate ambush. Visz survived the incident and was able to escape Corellia aboard an experimental Vanguard starship stolen from the Rendili facility.

In the aftermath of the Corellia incident, the Mirialan decided that she no longer needed to work for the Cartel, and so abandoned her home on Nar Shaddaa and took to the stars for new adventures. During this time, she began an on-again, off-again relationship with the Devaronian criminal Tyresius Lokai and eventually became the leader of an independent smuggling ring. In the last decade of the war, Visz gained galactic renown as the smuggler famed for leading the attack that broke the Mandalorian blockade of the Hydian Way. The oppressive blockade had been crippling the Republic's economy and ability to wage war, and the Mirialan saw the crisis as an opportunity for incredible profit. With the Hutts bankrolling the gambit, Visz, Lokai, and her band of smugglers organized a fleet that engaged and scattered the Mandalorian vessels, clearing a path for their freighters to deliver much-needed goods to the Core Worlds. With the aid of the Republic Navy her plan was a success, and following the battle she was rewarded for her efforts and recognized as a hero within the Republic.

Visz quickly claimed her fortune and retreated from the public eye, but found new troubles when Lokai absconded with all of her earnings. When the Hutt Cartel sought to recoup their investment in the breaking of the blockade, Visz was forced to go into hiding in Republic space. With the assistance of fellow smuggler Zale Barrows, she made her way to the Republic penal colony on the hidden Outer Rim world of Belsavis. There, she was interred in a stasis chamber for over a decade. Around 3,643 BBY, towards the end of the Cold War, Visz's former lover and partner, Tyresius Lokai&mdash;now operating under the pseudonym "Gault Rennow"&mdash;tracked the Mirialan to Belsavis and freed her from her bonds. Although the Devaronian attempted to make amends, Visz was still upset over his betrayal and the two went their separate ways. She eventually managed to come to terms with Rennow's actions and agreed to take him back.

Early life
"This isn't Nar Shaddaa, Musk. They have rules here."

- Hylo Visz

Hylo Visz was a Mirialan female born on the factory world of Balmorra in the Colonies region shortly before the start of the Great Galactic War. She lived on the planet with her mother and father, the latter of which was employed as a droid designer in one of Balmorra's many development labs. The war began in 3,681 BBY and gradually swept across the galaxy, engulfing world after world as the revitalized Sith Empire advanced towards the Core Worlds of the Galactic Republic. Due to its reputation for prolific weapon and droid manufacturing, Balmorra was one of the Sith's many targets. Although the Republic made a commitment to defending the people of Balmorra, the Empire's assault on the world was relentless. Visz's father was killed in the initial raid on the world, and hundreds of other Balmorrans were forced from their homes. Hylo and her mother were among the refugees that fled the planet aboard transport ships bound for more peaceful regions of the galaxy.

Despite escaping the carnage of the war on her homeworld, Visz's hardships were far from over. While the refugee transport made a short stop on Nal Hutta's city-moon of Nar Shaddaa, her mother was afflicted with a severe illness that she eventually succumbed to. The refugee transport departed Nar Shaddaa without Visz, leaving her behind as an orphan on the dangerous, crime-infested moon. The young Mirialan survived however, and joined with a gang of similarly orphaned alien younglings who operated out of Nar Shaddaa's Undercity alleys. The orphans stole and scavenged for a living until the gang was eventually disbanded. Many of the children Visz had once run with were either killed or went to work for the Hutts as hired muscle, but Hylo escaped both fates through her talent as a mechanic.

For years she worked as a mechanic in the cargo docks and shipyards owned by the Hutt Cartel in the Undercity. Although she spent much of her teenage life repairing machines, Visz found her passion when she first piloted a starship. She resolved to make a career out of it, and saved every credit she earned in order to purchase her own vessel. She eventually reached her goal and used her money to buy the freighter Crimson Fleece, an old wreck of a ship that, while difficult to maintain, became Visz's prize possession. Thereafter the Mirialan began hiring herself out as a captain, hoping to attain the notoriety necessary to be hired by the Hutt Cartel as a smuggler. During this time, Visz accepted a contract from the Sith Empire, but quickly learned that the Sith cared very little for the well-being of freelancers. Although she survived the operation, Visz vowed never to work for the Empire again.

Working for the Hutts
"This is my ship, and I'm in charge."

- Hylo Visz

As Hylo Visz continued in her career, she became increasingly notable for her repeated successes and obvious talent as a smuggler. She owed much of her abilities to her belief in what she called the "Invisible Law of the Universe"&mdash;her theory that major issues were always foreshadowed by minor problems. The theory was derived from her experiences in smuggling, as well as the deaths of her mother and father. The day prior to his death, her father's landspeeder had broken down, and just before she contracted her severe illness, her mother had stained her favorite robes. Visz believed the events were all connected, and that if no minor problems arose, she had no reason to fear that a major one would. The "Invisible Law" granted her a confidence that, when combined with her connections among Cartel-employed mechanics, eventually earned her the notice of the Hutts.

As an employee of the Hutt Crime Cartel, Visz ran black market goods, contraband, and people across the galaxy. Over the years that she worked for the Cartel, she continued to foster her reputation for success, and was trusted by a majority of the Hutt crime lords. Although the Hutts were her primary employers, Visz began accepting corporate and government contracts at some point during the Great War. It was not uncommon for the Republic to offer contracts to smugglers, but the Empire had pressured most legitimate pilots into refusing to run goods for the Republic. Visz however, embraced the danger presented by running supplies for the Republic Military, as she was sympathetic toward its efforts. She preferred to work on government contracts rather than those from the Cartel, and she eventually resolved to leave the employ of the Hutts and work exclusively for either the Republic or corporate interests.

The debacle on Corellia
"I should have known Musk would react this way. I might be playing right into the catastrophe I'm trying to avoid."

- Visz, on the Corellia operation

While she was planning to leave the Cartel behind, she was contacted by Barrga the Hutt, who needed her to run a shipment of experimental ion drives to Corellia. Visz was told that the drives were to be delivered to a Republic contact for usage in military wares, and that she would be accompanied on the run by two of Barrga's enforcers&mdash;the Nikto known as Musk and his Weequay partner, who were assigned to ensure that the Mirialan would not double-cross Barrga. She and the two enforcers departed Nar Shaddaa aboard the Crimson Fleece, with the Mirialan hoping the run would be the last job she would do for the Cartel. En route to Corella, she examined the drives to ensure they were legitimate&mdash;she wanted no part in the operation if Barrga was attempting to cheat the Republic. Visz concluded that the drives were real, and returned to the cockpit to sit with Musk. Much to Visz's chagrin, the Nikto spent the trip complaining about Barrga's business acumen and the inner politics of the Cartel while the Weequay sat quietly in the rear of the ship.

They eventually reached the Corellian system, and while heading towards the planet itself, Visz became particularly annoyed with Musk. She decided not to bother arguing with the Nikto, and instead focused on landing on Corellia. After transmitting her identification and clearance codes to an orbital security station above the planet, Visz reprimanded Musk for attempting to power down the hyperdrive generator. Because her experience in the field had taught Visz to never leave her hyperdrive unprepared for a swift escape, she always ensured that the generator was on standby during operations. Her seemingly strange demands drove Musk out of the cockpit, but the Nikto returned after an extended wait in Corellian orbit. Although he demanded that Visz ignore the laws and protocols of the Corellian Security Force and land on the world without proper clearance, his anxiety was sated when the orbital security station granted the Crimson Fleece permission to land at the Rendili Vehicle Corporation's corporate facility on the planet's surface. She was surprised by the fact that she was delivering to a corporate facility instead of a Republic Military spaceport, but Visz accepted the clearance and took the Crimson Fleece in for a landing on Rendili's landing pad A-17. After a quick check of the Fleece systems, the smuggler disembarked her ship and emerged onto the landing pad, where she was met by a protocol droid that informed her that she actually was not cleared to land on A-17 and that she would need to move her ship. After some argument, the droid agreed to verify her clearance, but took an especially long time to do so. During the wait, Visz remained on the landing pad to enjoy the fresh Corellian air, but was startled when she noticed an ominous silence which meant the hyperdrive generator had been deactivated. Rushing back into the Fleece, Visz accused Musk of directly contradicting her commands and deactivating the hyperdrive, but quickly realized that the Nikto was not to blame.

She hurried back into the cockpit where she found that the hyperdrive indicator had gone dead. Although Musk suggested it likely just needed recharging, Visz recognized its failure as something much more ominous&mdash;a sign of impending danger according to her Invisible Law. The Mirialan pieced this event together with the strange greeting from the protocol droid and the surprising order to land at the corporate facility and concluded that the operation was a trap. As she attempted to get the Crimson Fleece airborne and off Corellia, Musk, who was still operating under Barrga's directives, demanded that she keep the ship on the ground and continue with the job. The Nikto placed the barrel of his rifle against the back of Visz's neck, forcing the smuggler halt the launch sequence. After a short scuffle, Visz drew her own blaster pistol from her holster and attempted to take control of the ship back from Musk. She disarmed the Nikto and began to pull him out of the cockpit, but was stopped when confronted by Barrga's Weequay enforcer, who smashed the butt of his rifle into her face. Visz was rendered her unconscious but awoke a short time later to hear the Weequay and Musk discussing her abrupt betrayal of Barrga's orders. While still acting as if she were still unconscious, Visz listened as Musk argued over whether or not to kill her. They ultimately decided to finish the job and take her back to Barrga. They dumped her body in the second cargo bay of the Crimson Fleece and left the ship to continued the operation; luckily for Visz, her dangerous profession had motivated her to install escape hatches in the cargo bays of the Fleece in case of an emergency. Once Musk and the Weequay had left her alone in the hold, the Mirialan sneaked through one such hatch and emerged outside the ship. While the Mirialan hid behind cargo containers, a Rendili businessman, accompanied by the protocol droid she had met with earlier, emerged from the facility to deliver the payment for the drives. Musk and the Weequay accepted the credits and completed the transaction before returning to the Crimson Fleece and preparing for liftoff.

As Visz ran through different scenarios to board the Crimson Fleece once more and reclaim her ship, Musk and the Weequay took off from the Rendili Corporate facility, leaving the smuggler stranded on the landing pad. However, shortly after the Fleece began to speed away, the ship exploded. Visz discerned that she was correct and that the whole operation had been a trap, with the Rendili representatives having wired the cases of credits with explosives. Despite a degree of heartbreak at the loss of her ship, Visz realized that she had been correct about the signs of impending danger and survived as a result. Believing she was now safe to operate in confidence until more signs arose, the Mirialan took time to rest and relax on the landing pad. She stayed there until nightfall and then decided to make her way into the facility. Once inside, Visz explored various hallways until she emerged into a construction garage, where she donned a pair of overalls and a welding helmet to disguise herself. Before continuing through the facility, Visz stopped to check a holo-terminal for information on the facility's layout, but found only the layout for the building she was in, Building A. To her surprise, she also discovered information on something called the "Vanguard project." Visz researched the term and found that the Vanguard was an experimental starship created by the Rendili Corporation for the Jedi Order, and the first of these vessels was slated for a test flight on landing pad A-23 atop the facility.

Visz decided that stealing the Vanguard was her best option for escaping the facility, and so made her way into an elevator that would transport her to A-23. Upon arriving on the uppermost level of the Rendili building, she found that she was actually in A-23's observation room, where she was confronted by a businesswoman who demanded to know why a low-level mechanic was in an area reserved for clients and executives. Visz lied, claiming that she had been sent to A-23 to check on the Vanguard's alluvial dampers. The woman allowed her to pass, and the Mirialan made her way onto the landing pad. Upon seeing the Vanguard, Visz was awe-struck, as she had never seen a vessel so advanced. She boarded the ship and entered the cockpit to begin launch procedures, but stopped in horror when she snagged the leg of her overalls against some instrumentation while hopping into the pilot's seat. The snag tore through her suit, which Visz took as a negative omen. Despite her common intuitive reaction to such instances, she decided that she had come too far to turn back now, and that she had to continue with her plan to steal the ship.

She began the Vanguard's startup sequence, relieved to see that it was a basically standard starship control configuration. There was, however, one vital component missing&mdash;the ignition for the sublight engines. As she began a frantic search for the ignition, Visz heard footsteps ascending the boarding ramp. To avoid detection, she hid behind a chair in the rear of the cockpit as a man swept into the ship and sat himself behind the pilot's station. While he began the startup procedure, Visz glanced around her chair and was able to discern from his clothes and hair that he was neither a professional pilot nor a military man. She slid out and grabbed the welding mask she had used as a disguise in a plan to use it as an ad hoc weapon. Before she struck, however, she realized that the man in the pilot's seat was in fact a Jedi. Visz attempted to weigh her options, but her probing was cut short when the Jedi noticed her and spun around. Acting on reflex, Visz slammed the mask into the man's face, knocking him unconscious. She removed his limp body from the pilot's chair and prepared to kill him, but reconsidered after seeing that his wounds matched her own that she sustained from the Weequay. Visz instead lowered the Vanguard's boarding ramp and dragged the Jedi out of the ship. Before once again boarding the vessel, she blessed the unconscious man with a kiss on the forehead for good luck. She then re-entered the Vanguard and lifted off in the swift and nimble ship. She escaped the Rendili facility and fled into Corellian orbit, from which she jumped into hyperspace, bound for Nal Hutta and Nar Shaddaa. Upon arriving in Hutt Space, Visz realized that everyone would believe that she perished with the Crimson Fleece, and that if she were to return to Barrga, she would have no way to explain the events that had transpired on Corellia. She resolved to forge her own path as captain of the Vanguard, and began by leaving Nar Shaddaa behind. She decided to go to Ord Mantell instead to visit an old friend.

Breaking the blockade
"With the Republic willing to pay any price for raw goods, Hylo's plan was simple: break the Mandalorian blockade."

- Jedi Master Gnost-Dural

Visz continued to live as a smuggler throughout the Great War. She eventually rose to prominence in the smuggling community and became the leader of an independent smuggling ring. During this period, she forged a close relationship with the Devaronian scoundrel Tyresius Lokai, and the two engaged in an intermittent but passionate love affair. They ultimately terminated their romantic relationship but remained friends and business partners in their professions as smugglers. Together, they faced a new opportunity two decades into the war, when the Empire sponsored the rise of a new Mandalore to lead the legendary Mandalorian warriors. This new Mandalore's debt to the Empire resulted in an alliance between the Sith Empire and the warrior clans that posed a formidable opposition to the Galactic Republic. This alliance led to the Mandalorian's staging of a blockade of the Hydian Way, a major hyperspace lane that linked the Core Worlds with the Colonies region and distant Outer Rim Territories. The blockade strangled this pathway and prevented the flow of goods and military wares, greatly hindering the Republic war effort and allowing the Sith to make considerable inroads in their warpath. The galactic economy was also severely burdened by the conflict, as raw materials from the outer reaches of the galaxy were prevented from reaching worlds closer to the Core.

In 3,661 BBY, the Galactic Senate successfully lobbied for the Jedi Order to intervene in the blockade. The Jedi were soundly defeated during their assault on the Mandalorians, and the Republic continued to suffer under the crippling offensive. As under-provided and under-protected Republic worlds on the Outer Rim began to fall to the Sith, starvation ravaged the lower levels of the Republic's capital world of Coruscant. By 3,660 BBY, prices for raw goods had risen dramatically, and the Republic was willing to pay in order to survive. Visz saw the crisis as an opportunity for profit for herself and her smuggling companions, and so devised a plan to break the blockade and deliver much needed goods to the Core.

In the bowels of a Nar Shaddaa cantina, the Mirialan and her Devaronian companion summoned their smuggler comrades to discuss the possibility of breaking the blockade and claiming the payment for food goods. Among them was the enthusiastic young captain, Zale Barrows, with whom Visz would form a good friendship. The group of bandits reached an accord and moved to set their plans in motion. Funding for Visz's scheme came from the Hutt Cartel, which agreed to bankroll the operation provided that they receive a considerable return on their investment. With her fellow smugglers in tow, Visz led a convoy of large freighters to the Outer Rim, where they were filled with raw materials from across the region. The vessels, now packed with goods bound for Coruscant, were then directed towards the Mandalorian picket line on the Hydian Way. When the freighters were less than a parsec away from the Mandalorian forces, they halted. Because the Mandalorians were distracted by the freighters, they easily fell victim to a surprise ambush orchestrated by Visz. She and many other smugglers in small vessels and starfighters emerged from hyperspace and engaged the Mandalorian cruisers in a large space battle. Although the smuggling ships had the element of surprise and the advantage of speed, Visz's small militia was still outmatched. Fortunately for Visz, the Republic Strategic Information Service received information of the battle and dispatched starfighters and corvettes from nearby star systems to aid the Mirialan and her band. With the addition of the Republic reinforcements to the battle, the Mandalorians were soon defeated.

Unlucky in love
"You could say that run was the height of her career, but that's only because she dropped off the scanners not long after. Most think the Hutts were behind Hylo's disappearance, but anyone who knew her could tell you they'd have better odds winning a marathon. No, she's still out there, somewhere."

- Gault Rennow

Following the battle, Visz brought freighters filled with raw materials into Coruscant, where she was greeted as a hero by cheering crowds. The Mirialan was generously paid for her goods &mdash;well above market value &mdash;and left Coruscant as an incredibly wealthy woman. Although a medal ceremony was organized in her honor, Visz, who had accomplished her objective, neglected to attend. The Republic officials who so appreciated her initiative were taken aback by her sudden departure but widely accepted her fame and did not object to her high fees, which ultimately amounted to both a payment for the goods and a reward for breaking the blockade picket line.

She fled Coruscant alongside Lokai, and the two of them agreed to split their earnings. However, the Devaronian was a consumate thief and con artist and found himself unable to comply with a legitimate business deal. Instead, he absconded with the money and abandoned Visz to recoup her losses. About a year after that, she fell into obscurity and rumors spread that she had been killed after double-crossing the Hutt Cartel. This was far from accurate, however. She had indeed been confronted by the Hutts, who were looking for a return on their investment into the breaking of the blockade. As Lokai had stolen all of her earnings, Visz was unable to fulfill her debt and was forced to go into hiding in Republic space. With the help of Zale Barrows, the young smuggler captain-turned-Republic admiral who had participated in the blockade run, Visz was able to avoid the Hutt's retribution. She cut a deal with her old friend, who agreed to take her to take her to the hidden Republic penal world of Belsavis, which hosted a massive prison complex for Imperial and Mandalorian war criminals and other monstrosities. There, Visz was interred in a stasis chamber that kept her in suspended animation and hidden from the galaxy for over a decade.

While she slept, the rest of the Republic fondly remembered and reacted to her heroic operation on the Hydian Way. It granted the war effort against the Sith Empire a much needed reprieve and furthermore allowed the Republic to continue its struggle for survival for seven more years, after which point the Sacking of Coruscant forced an uneasy peace. The sacking and subsequent Treaty of Coruscant were later partially attributed to Visz's success, as the Empire's failed plan to freeze the Hydian Way led them to adopt more risky and desperate strategies. During the Cold War that followed the Treaty of Coruscant, the Mandalorian's blockade of the Hydian Way and Hylo Visz's success against it was recounted by Kel Dor Jedi Master Gnost-Dural in the Jedi Archives on Tython, as well as in his wartime journal. In the years following the great war, Hylo Visz's sidearm was available to war heroes.

It was not until approximately ten years later, around the end of the Cold War, that knowledge of Hylo Visz's survival resurfaced. Lokai, who had lived comfortably for many years, changed his name to Gault Rennow and began working alongside the bounty hunter Champion of the Great Hunt competition. The time spent with his new partner motivated Rennow to make amends for his past misdeeds&mdash;specifically, for having robbed and abandoned Visz. Around 3,643 BBY, the Devaronian discovered his ex-lover's fate by tracking down Zale Barrows and Quan, another smuggler who had participated in the blockade run. He eventually discovered Visz's prison tomb on Belsavis and released her from stasis; the Mirialan, who had not been conscious and had not aged since her internment, was initially confused but quickly became furious upon realizing that it was Lokai who had freed her. She was prepared to kill her former partner, but ultimately decided not to attack. The two parted coldly, with Visz fleeing the world to return to the galaxy at large.

Her anger eventually subsided, and she contacted Rennow to establish a new relationship. She agreed to take him back, provided he could prove to her that she meant more to him than he meant to himself. The Devaronian eagerly accepted the offer, fully turning a new leaf in his life while Visz began a new chapter in her own.

Personality and traits
"It was at this critical hour that a Mirialan smuggler named Hylo Visz recognized an extraordinary business opportunity for her and her partners."

- Gnost-Dural

Hylo Visz was an opportunist, taking an occupation which relied heavily on the current state of galactic affairs. She began this lifestyle as a street urchin in the alleys and sewers of Nar Shaddaa. Alongside a gang of orphans, the young Mirialan committed minor crimes in order to survive on the harsh moon. As she grew older, she hoped to maintain a more stable income, and so became a mechanic for the Hutt Cartel. Despite her talent in the repair and enhancement of machinery, Visz's true passion was in piloting. She dedicated herself to the goal of purchasing a ship and becoming a smuggler for the Cartel, and saw her dream realized after several years of committed labor. While on Corellia, Visz's opportunism gained her ownership of a new and advanced starship, the Vanguard. After leaving the employ of the Cartel, her ability to seize golden opportunities shined once more during the blockade of the Hydian Way, by taking what was seen a crisis by most as a chance for her own personal gain. Although the Mirialan fought for the Republic, she was primarily interested in the wealth that would be granted to her when she arrived on Coruscant with the much needed goods she carried.

During this time, Visz was leader of a band of smugglers. The group was directed by Visz to create a diversion for the Mandalorian armada, as well as take part in the main assault on the Mandalorian vessels. She viewed the crisis on the Hydian as a business opportunity not only for herself, but her comrades as well. Aside from the monetary reward for her success on the Hydian Way, Visz apparently was unconcerned with other forms of compensation. Even after being hailed as a hero by the starving people of Coruscant, she decided not to attend a medal ceremony held to honor her victory and her contribution to the Republic war effort. She instead collected her earnings and ventured far from the galactic capital, apparently retreating from her fame.

The Mirialan attributed much of her success as a smuggler to her ability to identify and read what she believed to be omens. Highly superstitious, she based many of her choices and actions on these omens&mdash;a habit rooted in her youth and the deaths of her parents. She firmly believed that all major disasters could be avoided by recognizing smaller issues that occurred beforehand, and dubbed this belief the "Invisible Law of the Universe." When she didn't see any minor problems, Visz acted with confidence and was widely triumphant. She also placed heavy consideration on the value of luck, and refused to kill the Jedi in the Rendili facility for fear of receiving years worth of bad fortune in return. Her refusal to deactivate her hyperdrive while planetside was also the result of her reliance on luck, as was her choice to always carry a blaster by her side.

Visz sympathized with the Galactic Republic during the Great War, and held a sincere respect for members of the Jedi Order. After an unpleasant contract with the Empire, the smuggler vowed never to work for the Sith again, and actively operated against Imperial interests during her assault against the blockade. Prior to leaving Hutt employ, she had already begun to accept Republic contracts, but operated independently of the government during the Hydian incident.

On her forehead and cheeks, Hylo Visz was adorned with traditional Mirialan tattoos in triangular shapes. At some point, she had dyed her short, black hair so that it would have red highlights, which was fashionable on Nar Shaddaa.

The Crimson Fleece
"There's another part I'll need to replace soon."

- Visz's thoughts on several aspects of the Crimson Fleece

The Crimson Fleece was an aged freighter purchased by Visz during her teenage years. The Mirialan flew the ship for years and performed countless enhancements and renovations on the vessel. Because of its age, Visz was unable to buy any of the Fleece original parts for repairs, and so cobbled together pieces from other vessels to serve in their place. As she was often alone, the smuggler came to see her ship as less of a vehicle and more of a friend, who was always by her side. She was so intimately familiar with its workings that she could identify any potential problems by simply listening to its systems run for a period of time. Although she knew she would eventually have to replace the vessel, Visz refused to do so until necessity dictated otherwise.

She eventually performed so many upgrades to the Fleece that the ship would be valued at three times the amount she had originally purchased it for. She understood, however, that she would never be able to sell it for that much, and so kept the ship during her journey to Corellia. Over her years as a smuggler, Visz had added personal, after-market features to the ship that aided her in her professional pursuits. One such feature was the addition of escape hatches in the ship's cargo bays. The smuggler used one of these hatches to escape the Crimson Fleece moments before it was destroyed in the skies over Corellia. The destruction of the ship caused Visz great distress, as she had invested incredible amounts of time and money into the Fleece and saw it as her ticket to freedom.

Vanguard
"The Vanguard still needs its test flight."

- Hylo Visz decides to leave the Hutt Cartel

The Vanguard piloted by Hylo Visz was the first of its class. The ship was developed by the Rendili Vehicle Corporation in compliance with a contract for the Jedi Order. The ship was intended to be piloted by Jedi in the Great Galactic War, but was instead stolen by Visz during her escape from the Rendili facility.

The ship was incredibly advanced for its time, and included all the features and enhancements of modern vessels. The Vanguard's exterior was sleek and adorned with a silver and red hull that sloped towards two rear thrusters which propelled the ship. The cockpit was in a hammerhead orientation, similar to the bridge design of Republic Thranta-class warships, but was situated horizontally instead of vertically. The interior lounge was filled with state-of-the-art accessories and amenities, including a holocommunications terminal and red swivel seats. The cockpit was outfitted with a traditional starship piloting set-up, save for two features&mdash;backlit controls to allow for low lighting in the cockpit, and a thruster ignition knob which was located under the dashboard instead of its usual placement in front of the pilot. The cockpit had a pilot and copilot station, as well as two seats in the rear corners to allow for more passengers.

Behind the scenes
"I'm glad to see people like Hylo as much as I do. She's definitely become one of my favorite characters, and I hope to tell more of her story as time goes on."

- Robert Chestney, on the positive response to Smuggler's Vanguard

Hylo Visz was created for the LucasArts massively multiplayer online game, Star Wars: The Old Republic. The Old Republic is a follow-up to the highly successful Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series. The character was elaborated upon in the second installment of the Galactic Timeline, an in-universe account of the events surrounding the Great Galactic War available on the Star Wars: The Old Republic website. The timeline is narrated by Jedi Master Gnost-Dural, whose voice is provided by actor Lance Henriksen.

Visz's character was greatly expanded upon by Robert Chestney in his short story The Old Republic: Smuggler's Vanguard, which was published exclusively on StarWars.com on March 25, 2010. Chestney later stated on the Star Wars: The Old Republic community forums that Hylo Visz would be featured in the game, but in limited role only. He also stated that he was interested in authoring more stories about the Mirialan smuggler. With the release of the game in December 2011, players were able to obtain Hylo Visz's sidearm through crafting skills.

Appearances

 * Timeline 1: Treaty of Coruscant
 * Timeline 2: The Mandalorian Blockade is Broken
 * Star Wars: The Old Republic
 * Star Wars: The Old Republic