Yuuzhan Vong

The Yuuzhan Vong are a race of sentient beings created as a threat for the New Republic in the Star Wars New Jedi Order series of novels. They are the only alien species to originate outside the Star Wars galaxy. The Yuuzhan Vong are a race of religious zealot masochists. They genetically engineer and grow all of their organic technology and view mechanical technology as blasphemy. They endeavor to improve their physical capabilities through organ grafting which is also a social status. Yuuzhan Vong with the most modifications are treated better than those with none or whom the modifications have failed to work on. Notably, the Yuuzhan Vong are not included in the Force, something the Jedi have found very mysterious, since all living things are supposed to have, in some way or another, a Force energy signature from other species. Unable to use the power of the Force, they developed their own version, known as Vongsense. While not as accurate or powerful as the Force, it does allow a Yuuzhan Vong to sense danger and its rough direction.

Society Description
The Yuuzhan Vong function in a caste system. They range from the powerful one-person Supreme Overlord caste to the lowly oppressed Worker caste. Below is a list of the major castes. Their economic system isn't really mentioned, but appears to be a command economy, and their political system is obviously a form of theocracy or autocracy.

Supreme Overlord
The highest caste is the one-person Supreme Overlord who commands all the other castes. The current title holder is Supreme Overlord Shimrra. Only the Supreme Overlord has direct communication with Yun-Yuuzhan, the Supreme and Creator God of the Yuuzhan Vong.

The Shaper Caste
The shapers are the scientists who supervised the biotechonology of the Yuuzhan Vong. Together with the priests, the shapers observe arcane rituals in the development and use of organic technology. The shapers rank very highly in Yuuzhan Vong society and ranks of the shaper caste include Master Shaper, Shaper Adept and Shaper Initiate.

The Priest Caste
The priest caste has considerable power in this rigidly theocratic society. The members of the priest caste serve the many lesser deities that rule the Yuuzhan Vong. There are several sects, each for the worship of a different Yuuzhan Vong deity. Ranks of the priest caste include Most-High Priest(ess), High Priest(ess), Priest(ess), Seer and Novice.

The Warriors Caste
The warrior caste served as the armies of the Yuuzhan Vong and was one of the largest castes. They are well trained and deadly and are more aggressive than other Yuuzhan Vong. Ranks of the warrior caste include the Warmaster, Supreme Commander, Commander, Subaltern and Warrior. Notable warriors include Tsavong Lah, Warmaster of the Yuuzhan Vong. Their chief weapon is the amphistaff, which resembles a deadly serpent capable of spitting venom or coiling around foes. The warriors are devotees of the Slayer, Yun-Yammka, and seek honour in combat. They wear the living Vonduun crab armour which is capable of resisting blaster fire or lightsabers.

The Intendant Caste
The intendant caste works to keep Yuuzhan Vong society functioning and is responsible for the Yuuzhan Vong economy.It is in charge of matters of commerce, bureaucracy, trade and the management of the sizable slave work force employed by the Yuuzhan Vong Notable intendants include Nom Anor, the deadliest enemy of the Jedi. Ranks of the intendant caste include High Prefect, Prefect, Consul, Executor and Attendant.

The Worker Caste
The worker caste is the largest yet lowest caste and serves mainly as servants, slaves and labourers. The worker caste includes ; Shamed Ones, Yuuzhan Vong whose bodies have rejected the organic implants and modifications; Yuuzhan Vong born into the worker caste ; Yuuzhan Vong who have failed to succeed in other castes and species that have been conquered such as the Chazrach, a  reptillian race from the Yuuzhan Vong galaxy and Shaped Slave races from the Star Wars galaxy such as Rodians shaped to be the worker caste. Slaves and the so-called Shamed Ones (fallen members of society) are technically part of the worker castes, but even they are treated with contempt even by their fellow workers.

History
The Yuuzhan Vong are refugees from a distant galaxy. Their homeworld was destroyed so long ago that its name has been forgotten. Their homeworld was a sentient planet and almost all their technology was organic. They were a peaceful species living as symbionts with their homeworld until they were subjugated by a technologically advanced species. Eventually the invaders were driven back and the Yuuzhan Vong struck back fiercely, conquering the invaders and in the process becoming warlike. They then subjugated other alien civilizations in a crusade to rid their galaxy of technology including the reptillian Chazrach, which became slave soldiers. After that, they fought among themselves in several civil wars that destroyed their homeworld and ruined their entire  galaxy. The Yuuzhan Vong then left their galaxy in massive Koros-strohna World Ships and travelled to another galaxy in a journey that would take about a thousand standard years.

When the Yuuzhan Vong discovered the Star Wars galaxy, they also found the living world Zonama Sekot. They attacked Zonama Sekot but the living world defeated them and Old Republic Jedi Vergere offered herself in exchange that Zonama Sekot be left undamaged. The Yuuzhan Vong accepted her, and Vergere lived with them for 60 years. During this time, she revealed information about the galaxy while learning their secrets. Also during those years, the Yuuzhan Vong remained hidden from the galaxy though they sent a number of Intendants to scout the galaxy. A notable Intendant assigned to this task was Nom Anor. After the Galactic Civil War which saw the New Republic defeat the remnants of the Empire, the Yuuzhan Vong saw their chance to invade the weakened galaxy.

On the distant world Rhommamool, the invaders through Nom Anor disguised as the leader of the Red Knights of Life stirred up rebellion between Rhommamool and its neighbour Osarian. The same agent was also responsible for infecting Mara Jade Skywalker and a hundred others with a fatal Yuuzhan Vong disease. As a result, elite Praetorite Yuuzhan Vong take over Helska IV and bring down Serndipal's moon upon the planet killing millions including the famous Wookie Chewbacca. The Yuuzhan Vong also encountered the Jedi whom they considered the worse of a galaxy of infidels.

The Yuuzhan Vong then began attacking worlds in their path with much ease. Bimmiel, Dantooine, Dubrillion, Obroa-Skai are among the many worlds captured while Ithor is turned into a fireball and rendered inhabitable. Then arose the problem of refugees from shattered planets that the government could not ignore. The Government begins to blame the Jedi for starting the conflict with the aliens. Knowing that the Jedi were their worse enemies, they offered the galaxy a ceasefire in exchange that the Jedi be handed over to them.Then in a shock tactic, the invaders launched an attack on the other side of the galaxy at the planet Fondor which was close to the capital Coruscant itself. During the Battle of Fondor, the Yuuzhan Vong suffer heavy losses when Centrepoint Station was fired by Han Solo's cousin Thrackan Sal-Solo.

The Yuuzhan Vong eventually struck a deal with the Hutts that allowed them to pass through Hutt Space unmolested. But the Hutts were betrayed, and there worlds were attacked. The Peace Brigade, an organization which supported the Yuuzhan Vong was formed through Yuuzhan Vong agents. This organization also helped the Yuuzhan Vong capture Jedi. Then on Yavin 4, Yuuzhan Vong of the oppressed Shamed Ones came to admire the Jedi after a shamed Vong Vua Rapuung helped Anakin Solo rescue Tahiri Veila and as a result, a heresy is formed that infiltrate all levels of Yuuzhan Vong society particularly the underclass. With Coruscant rapidly becoming surrounded, the Yuuzhan Vong create fearsome Voxyn beasts that hunt force sensitive individuals. A Jedi strike team lead by Anakin Solo then destroys the Voxyn breeding facility though most of the team is slain including Anakin Solo. On Coruscant, the Yuuzhan Vong capture the planet after a long battle and had it terraformed and renamed Yuuzhan'tar.

Following the conquest, the New Republic was reorganized as the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances (or Galactic Alliance or GFFA for short)and Borleias becomes the capital world. The terraforming of Coruscant is sabotaged by the Jedi Knight Jacen Solo. The Galactic Alliance, having moved to Mon Calamari, prepares to attack the weary Yuuzhan Vong. The Alpha Red Project, which would destroy the Yuuzhan Vong and their organic technology is destroyed by Vergere. The Yuuzhan Vong are lured into the Deep Core moon Ebaq 9, and the task force is destroyed. There, Tsavong Lah is slain by Jaina Solo and Vergere sacrifices herself to eliminate the rest of the invaders.

In the Force Heretic series of the New Jedi Order novels the Galactic Alliance heroes Han Solo, Leia and Twin Suns Squadron heads out to find powerful allies while the Jedi Luke Skywalker begins a mission to find the legendary living planet Zonama Sekot. The Jedi stumble upon a Yuuzhan Vong attack against the Imperial Remnant and help fight the invaders off, thus gaining a powerful ally. Meanwhile, the Yuuzhan Vong Nom Anor disguised as the prophet Yu'Shaa begins stirring up the heresy on Yuuzhan'tar formerly Coruscant posing as a Shamed One after fleeing the wrath of Supreme Overlord Shimrra for suggesting the disastrous Ebaq 9 mission and gains many followers among.

Luke's team then heads into Chiss space to obtain information on the Unknown Regions and hopefully Zonama Sekot. Meanwhile, Han and Leia's team heads to Bakura, where they thwart a Ssi-Ruuk invasion. The Jedi search the Chiss libraries for their missing planet. Later, the Jedi locate their Zonama Sekot, but so too have the Yuuzhan Vong. Sekot drives off the attackers as the Jedi land on its surface. Meanwhile Han Solo and Leia attempt to bring a communication station to the Unknown Regions back online while the Jedi negotiate with the living world to help them in the war.

In The Final Prophecy, Yuuzhan Vong operatives steal one of Zonama Sekot's organic starships and the Shaper Nen Yim discovers that Sekotan technology is similar to Yuuzhan Vong technology and that her people have gone terribly astray. Nom Anor disguised as Yu'Shaa along with Nen Yim and the priest Harrar arrive in Zonama Sekot where they find out that many of the species from their galaxy are found on the planet. A plot by Nom Anor to destroy the living world is foiled. In The Unifying Force, Han and Leia rescue hundreds of high-ranking Alliance prisoners facing sacrifice to the enemy's gods. The Galactic Alliance prepares a fleet to defend Mon Calamari from the invaders while another Alliance fleet engages the Yuuzhan Vong at Coruscant. In the end, Supreme Overlord Shimrra is slain and the Yuuzhan Vong lose the war. They surrender and are placed under the living planet Zonama Sekot's jurisdiction.

Zonama Sekot is revealed to be the seed of the long-dead original Yuuzhan Vong homeworld. One of the surrender terms the Galactic Alliance placed before the Yuuzhan Vong was that they were to help rebuilt Coruscant. The Galactic Alliance moves its capital to Denon though it would be moved to Coruscant again after the rebuilding is complete. The Yuuzhan Vong invasion was the most devastating crisis the galaxy had faced. The cost of the actions of the Yuuzhan Vong was very dear to the Star Wars galaxy. The number of deaths over the known galaxy that resulted from the invasion was estimated at about 365 trillion sentients. That would be equal to 61 thousand Earth-type worlds with a population of 6 billion each.

Technology
The Yuuzhan Vong (sometimes incorrectly abbreviated Vong, which implies insult) use only living things, from ships to weapons to everyday objects. They hate droids, machines, electronics, and anything manufactured. Some common weapons that they use are listed below.

Weapons

 * Amphistaff
 * Blorash Jelly
 * Plasma Eel
 * Thud Bug
 * Coufee

Planetary vehicles

 * Rakamat
 * Fire Breather
 * Tsik-Seru
 * Tsik-Vai
 * Vangaak

Space Fighters

 * Coralskipper (Yorik-Et)
 * Grutchin
 * Yorik-Vec Assault Cruiser

Space Vessels

 * A-Uek Iiluunu Fighter Carrier
 * Chuun M'arh Frigate
 * I'Frii Ma-Nat Corvette
 * Kor Chokk Grand Cruiser
 * Koros-strohna World Ship
 * Matalock Command Cruiser
 * Miid Ro'ik Warship
 * Sh'rip Sh'pa Spawnship
 * Suuv Ban D'Krid
 * Uro-Ik Glu'ta Battleship
 * Uro-Ik V'alh Battleship
 * Uumufalh Gunship
 * Vua'spar Interdictor

Support Craft

 * Yorik-trema Transport Carrier
 * Yorik-Ta Escape Pod
 * Yorik-Stronha Spy Ship

Other Technology

 * Dovin Basal
 * Villip
 * Voxyn
 * Yammosk

Deities
The Yuuzhan Vong are devoutly religious and have many gods, citing their gods' desires as the reasons for their merciless conquering.

Yun-Yuuzhan
Yun-Yuuzhan, the creator, is the most powerful deity of the Yuuzhan Vong religion. He sacrificed most of his body parts to create the lesser deities and the Yuuzhan Vong galaxy. Only the Supreme Overlord has direct contact with him.

Yun-Harla
Yun-Harla is the Trickster, the Cloaked Goddess and Goddess of deception and aggression. Having learned this information, members of the GFFA had their top pilot, Jaina Solo, codenamed "Trickster" and "Goddess" to terrorize the Yuuzhan Vong invaders, who would believe they were fighting the living form of one of their most powerful deities.

Yun-Yammka
Yun-Yammka is the Slayer and the god of war. He is worshipped by the warrior caste.

Yun-Ne'Shel
Yun-Ne'Shel is the Modeller and oversees natural life cycles and is worshipped by the shaper caste.

The Lover Gods
Yun-Q'aah and Yun-Shuno are the Lover Gods and twins. They prevent all relationships outside castes.

Yun-Shuno
Yun-Shuno has a thousand eyes and watches over and speaks for the Shamed Ones, which are shunned by every other Yuuzhan Vong deity.

Culture
Yuuzhan Vong culture is unique from the rest of the galaxy.

Music
The Yuuzhan Vong have also developed music as with most sentient species, although, as with the rest of their technology, their instruments are bioengineered from living matter. One notable and widely used instrument consists of a pair of long-limbed crustaceans with their limbs locked in an extended position. These are connected to the body of an enormous drum-shaped creature by tendons which portrude, like translucent harp strings, creating both resonators and a sounding board. The ethereal, other worldly sounds created by these living instruments accompany Yuuzhan Vong priests during their rituals.

Notable Yuuzhan Vong

 * Nom Anor, he is a member of the Intendant Caste and his duties included espionage. He is responsible for half of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the Star Wars galaxy and is one of the New Jedi Order's deadliest enemies.


 * Supreme Overlord Shimrra, the current Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong.


 * Onimi, Shimrra's jester and a Shamed One. Onimi was a former Master Shaper and Supreme Overlord who added Dovin Basals to his brain, which made him powerful though that also made him "shamed". Seeing a chance of redemption, Onimi made Shimmra, an Intendant his puppet and ruled from behind the scenes.


 * Nen Yim, she is a Shaper. She travels to the living world Zonama Sekot with Jedi master Luke Skywalker, where she learns that the peaceful living world Zonama Sekot is a seed of the original Yuuzhan'tar and that her species have gone terrily astray.


 * Tsavong Lah, Warmaster of the Yuuzhan Vong. Tsavong Lah is another of the New Jedi Order's deadliest enemies. He is hideous, with many organic implants into himself. Tsavong Lah died during the Battle of Ebaq, during a duel with Jaina Solo