Battle of Helska IV

In 25 ABY, during the initial stages of the Yuuzhan Vong War, forces of the New Republic and the Praetorite Vong fought the Battle of Helska IV on the icy fourth orbital of the Helska system. Upon entering the galaxy from an extra-galactic source, the Praetorite Vong, who were the first units of the Yuuzhan Vong to be used in their invasion, proceeded to establish a base on Helska IV. However, the New Republic learned of the Praetorite Vong's existence after the invaders committed numerous atrocities, prompting a trio of principal Republic personnel—former smuggler Han Solo, politician Leia Organa Solo, and Jedi Master Luke Skywalker—to assemble a task force whose greatest asset was the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Rejuvenator.

Although the New Republic strike force held the upper hand at first, it was soon beset by thousands of enemy coralskippers that executed maneuvers perfectly with each other due to the telepathic capabilities of the Praetorite Vong's yammosk war coordinator. As a result, the Rejuvenator was soon lost, and the New Republic's forces retreated. However, the New Republic forces soon returned to Helska IV to finish what they had started, using shieldships that they had acquired to focus the yammosk's energy back at the planet and evaporate the ice, which would cool the planet. The plan succeeded, with the low temperatures causing a Mezzicanley Wave, which in turn caused Helska IV to shatter apart and destroy most of the Praetorite Vong forces there. The disastrous outcome for the Praetorite Vong forces at Helska IV ended their invasion of the galaxy, though more Yuuzhan Vong units would soon follow their lead and engage the New Republic.

Text and facts from the “Battle of Helska IV” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.