Arbeloa

"I am the last of our people. I broadcast this warning in the hope that it will reach somebody. Anybody. The Yuuzhan Vong are coming."

- Arbeloa

Arbeloa's species were exterminated by the Yuuzhan Vong around 25 ABY&mdash;prior to the Battle of Artorias&mdash;during the Yuuzhan Vong War. He was the sole surviving member of his species following a one-sided engagement against the Vong. Arbeloa was able to transmit a message warning others of the threat of the Yuuzhan Vong before being taken captive. His transmission was intercepted by the crew of the Pythea whom he relayed his story to. However, they were killed during a dogfight with Yuuzhan Vong vessels before they could warn Artorias. Later, Arbeloa joined forces with the Artorian princess, Kaye Galfridian, and other slaves in a revolt on their slaveship, the Tsam P'ah.

Early life
"We were warriors&hellip;we were brutal, we were ruthless. Our children were taught to fight from the moment they could stand."

- Arbeloa

Arbeloa lived on a primitive feudal world in isolation to the rest of the galaxy. A warlike people, his civilization valued martial skills from infancy and their scientists disdained medicines in favor of war matériel. His people regularly hunted and subdued various fierce animal species. Consequently, they believed themselves to be strong and impregnable to any threat. They possessed primitive semi-industrial technology including tanks.

In 25 ABY, the extragalactic Yuuzhan Vong species launched an invasion of the known galaxy. While undercover Yuuzhan Vong operatives infiltrated Belkadan and Rhommamool, the main invasion force captured several Outer Rim worlds including Dubrillion, Destrillion and Dantooine, thereby forcing the New Republic and Jedi into retreat.

Around the time of the Battle of Dantooine, a potent Yuuzhan Vong invasion force landed on their world and waged war on the warrior species. Despite their valor and arsenal, including tanks, they were easily wiped out by the onslaught of Fire Breathers. These deadly war beasts had flexible proboscises that spewed streams of gelatinous flame and pores that exhaled anti-laser aerosols. Arbeloa's species was quickly exterminated as the Yuuzhan Vong pacified their homeworld.

Captivity
"Hope this recording is received.''" "''"

- Arbeloa and Sarkkin

Only Arbeloa survived, and was taken captive aboard a Yuuzhan Vong slaveship, the Tsam P'ah. During his captivity and despite his captor's intense hatred of mechanical technology, Arbeloa was still able to transmit a signal into space which was eventually picked up by the two-men crew of the exploratory ship Pythea&mdash;the Chiss Panha and her Wookiee companion Sarkkin. Having intercepted the signal, the warrior related the nature and culture of his species before going to warn them of the depredations of the Yuuzhan Vong.

Arbeloa's species had been devastated in the attack; he urged recipients of the message to flee the oncoming Yuuzhan Vong invasion force while they still could, as attempting to fight the species was futile. Given that Panha's species, the Chiss, had fought the Yuuzhan Vong before, she understood the nature of their threat to the galaxy. Picking up the presence of a Yuuzhan Vong fleet near them in hyperspace, they powered up the Phythea and fled to the nearest world, Artorias, in an attempt to warn the Artorians.

However, they were pursued by Yuuzhan Vong vessels. The Chiss explorer attempted to communicate with Artorias but the message was intercepted by an advance infiltrator who ensured that it did not get through. After fighting off a Yuuzhan Vong boarding party, the two friends drove their starship into the prow of the Yuuzhan Vong cruiser, immolating themselves and their vessel.

During his captivity Arbeloa also met the Artorian princess, Kaye Galfridian, whom he initially derided as deserving to be bound to a tree due to her perceived collaboration with the Yuuzhan Vong officials. Later, Arbeloa joined forces with Galfridian and other slaves to stage a revolt on their slaveship.

Behind the scenes
On February 7 2009, the official Star Wars website announced that Dark Horse Comics would be releasing a new comic series titled Star Wars: Invasion, revolving around the events of the Yuuzhan Vong War, which itself had been the focus of Del Rey's nineteen-book New Jedi Order series. The comic was released in July of the same year, with two eight page previews released online in the months of May and June, respectively, as a prelude.

Arbeloa was introduced in the first of these installments, Star Wars: Invasion 0, Part 1, which was was released on May 8. This same issue also introduced Chiss explorer Panha and her companion, the Wookiee Sarkkin. His role in the series was brief since he did not appear in the second half of the sixteen page comic and was only mentioned. In the comic, the warrior was drawn by artist Colin Wilson and colored by Wes Dzioba.

On July 14 2009, the official Star Wars website released details on a new issue titled Star Wars: Invasion 4: Refugees, Part 4. The comic cover showed the unidentified warrior standing behind another protagonist, Kaye Galfridian, leading to the assumption that Arbeloa would play a role in future issues within the series. He was also named in this issue.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Invasion 0, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Invasion 2: Refugees, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Invasion 3: Refugees, Part 3
 * Star Wars: Invasion 4: Refugees, Part 4
 * Star Wars: Invasion 5: Refugees, Part 5
 * Star Wars: Invasion 6: Rescues, Part 1
 * Star Wars: Invasion 7: Rescues, Part 2
 * Star Wars: Invasion 8: Rescues, Part 3