Evacuation of Rychel

"Your primary objective is to locate civilians and get them to an evacuation ship."

- Jedi Master Lar Le'Ung

The Evacuation of Rychel was a military offensive against the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong species undertaken by a joint New Republic and Jedi Order task force. Occurring in the first year of the galaxy-spanning Yuuzhan Vong invasion, the battle originally began as an evacuation effort of the planet Rychel under the leadership of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, whose Knights were called upon by the New Republic to help minimize the civilian casualties Rychel was suffering while the Yuuzhan Vong laid siege to the planet. Skywalker oversaw the exodus of as many of Rychel's citizens as possible while the New Republic Navy, commanded by Pau'an Master Lar Le'Ung and Padawan Finn Galfridian, engaged the Yuuzhan Vong forces in battle.

Complimenting the onslaught of their hordes of Chazrach slave warriors were two Yuuzhan Vong monstrosities known as Tu-Scart and Sgauru, which were were capable of emanating fear into the Rychel populace, as well as the New Republic rescue force. Many of their company fell victim to the combined ferocity of the Chazrach and siege beasts, but when Master Le'Ung attempted to rally his soldiers against the creatures, he was killed by the Vong Commander Tsalok and fed to Tu-Scart. Galfridian briefly assumed the Pau'an's role as commander until Master Skywalker gave the signal to retreat after the evacuation ships had been filled to capacity. As they prepared for departure, Galfridian noticed a small boy which led him to more survivors which Finn helped evacuate. Before he could assist them, however, he was confronted by Commander Tsalok.

Background
"The Yuuzhan Vong have launched an attack against the planet Rychel. The Jedi have been asked to aid in the evacuation."

- Unidentified Jedi to Luke Skywalker

In 25 ABY, the galaxy fell victim to a sudden and unexpected invasion by the Yuuzhan Vong, an extra-galactic species bent on expanding their empire through conquest via genocide of all in their path. The preliminary phases of the Vong war effort saw many worlds decimated, while others had their populations enslaved. Among those worlds whose people were massacred and landscape ravaged was the defenseless Artorias, but the timely intervention of a small New Republic task force led by Jedi Master Luke Skywalker performed a successful evacuation of some of the planet's citizens.

Shortly after the Yuuzhan Vong's appropriation of Artorias, Commander Tsalok of the invasion fleet led his forces in a blitz on the planet Rychel. In response, the New Republic again enlisted the aid of Master Skywalker and the Jedi Order to oversee the flight of Rychel's natives, while avoiding as many civilian casualties at the hands of the Yuuzhan Vong as possible. He was joined by Pau'an Jedi Master Lar Le'Ung, and Prince Finn Galfridian, whom Skywalker had rescued from subjugation on Artorias and taken as a Padawan in light of the young boy's Force-sensitivity.

Deteriorating situation
"We have reports that the Yuuzhan Vong are using a slave species&mdash;called the Chazrach&mdash;which have been bred by the Yuuzhan Vong to be killing machines."

- Lar Le'Ung's briefing on the plight of Rychel



Skywalker, Le'Ung, and Galfridian arrived in Rychel's orbit on board one of several Bulwark-class battlecruisers that comprised part of the New Republic Naval fleet sent to engage the Yuuzhan Vong. Master Le'Ung briefed his fellow Jedi and the Republic troopers on Rychel's planet-side situation; the invaders' ground forces consisted of coufee-armed Chazrach slave warriors, as well as two enormous siege beasts that were laying waste to everything in their path. Paramount was the Republic's determination to preserve the lives of Rychel's citizens; to this end, Master Skywalker devised a plan wherein he would marshal as many of the noncombatants as possible towards the evacuation ships in preparation for departure from the planet. Meanwhile, Master Le'Ung and Padawan Galfridian were charged with leading a contingent of Republic troopers in battle against the Yuuzhan Vong forces to divert the enemy's attention from Skywalker's rescue efforts.

Evacuation crafts ferried the Republic and Jedi teams to Rychel's surface, where they witnessed the two siege creatures, Tu-Scart and Sgauru, corralling the natives in preparation for their slaughter. Master Skywalker immediately leaped from his vessel and descended upon the gathering Chazrach, scattering nearly all of them with a powerful blast of Force energy. While Skywalker tended to the prisoners, Le'Ung and Galfridian joined the Republic troopers as they promptly opened fire on the disoriented Chazrach. Air support was simultaneously deployed in the form of T-65XJ X-wing starfighter squadrons, which began an assault on the siege beast Tu-Scart. The creature was more than a match for them, however, and downed several fighters without suffering any significant damage from their initial attack. One ship crashed perilously close to Master Le'Ung and his forces, which decimated innocents, Chazrach, and Republic troopers alike.

Realizing that their weapons were having little to no effect on the siege beast, many of the Republic troopers began to panic and retreat. It was then that Le'Ung and Galfridian discovered that Tu-Scart was projecting fear towards it foes; with his lightsaber ignited, the Pau'an then began to rally his troops while reminding them of their mission: to distract the enemy long enough for the evacuation ships to collect as many of Rychel's people as possible. To the Jedi's disadvantage, the Yuuzhan Vong manifested no presence within the Force; the inability to perceive his foe was Le'Ung's undoing, as Tsalok caught him unawares and impaled him with his amphistaff. Tsalok ensured the Pau'an's death by hurling his body into the maw of Tu-Scart, the sight of which renewed the paranoia previously felt by the Republic Forces. Padawan Galfridian's resolve was also shaken, but he nevertheless retrieved the fallen Master's lightsaber, and roused the troopers yet again to continue their forward press against the siege creatures. They were repelled long enough for Master Skywalker to round up the last of the civilians, and load them into the evacuation ships.

Unexpected developments
The order to retreat was given by Luke Skywalker, Republic troops began to pull out. However, they were delayed momentarily by Tsalok, who tore through their ranks in pursuit of the two Jedi. Several Chazrach happened upon and prepared to kill a cornered family, but as Galfridian dispatched them and prepared to lead them to safety, he was confronted by the Yuuzhan Vong commander. The two engaged in a brief duel, before one of the Vong warbeasts, Sguaru, leveled the building in which they fought.

Aftermath
Though the New Republic had successfully managed to liberate many of Rychel's inhabitants, the death of Master Le'Ung had been a grievous loss to the Jedi.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Invasion 2: Refugees, Part 2
 * Star Wars Invasion 3: Refugees, Part 3