Shimrra Jamaane

Biography

Early life and coup

Born into Domain Jamaane several decades prior to the Battle of Yavin, Shimrra was a male Yuuzhan Vong. The Yuuzhan Vong, an extra-galactic species, had journeyed through the Intergalactic Void for countless years, seeking a new galaxy after devastating much of their original home galaxy in a civil war. As adherents to the True Way belief system, the Yuuzhan Vong were deeply religious, worshipping various gods, with Yun-Yuuzhan, the creator deity, being the most important. Yuuzhan Vong society was structured into castes, including the Supreme Overlord, warriors, intendants, priests, shapers, workers, and Shamed Ones. Due to their dependence on their gods, the Yuuzhan Vong placed significant importance on their priests and their god-king, the Supreme Overlord. The Supreme Overlord was believed to be the sole link to Yun-Yuuzhan, and all other Yuuzhan Vong were completely subservient to him.

Shimrra had a twin brother; they were only the third pair of twins recorded in their species' history. In the previous instances, one twin had killed the other and subsequently led the Yuuzhan Vong during critical periods. Being a twin of noble lineage, Shimrra was included in a select group of candidates for the Supreme Overlord position. As a potential Supreme Overlord, Shimrra enjoyed numerous privileges and received training in both warfare and religion. Through the efforts of Shapers, he grew to an exceptional size. At the young age of seven, Shimrra eliminated his brother, removing a potential rival for the throne and demonstrating early signs of aggression and ruthlessness.

After countless years of fruitless travel through space, the Yuuzhan Vong discovered a galaxy, which they began to explore. In 32 BBY, Supreme Commander Zho Krazhmir, dispatched by Supreme Overlord Quoreal to scout the galaxy, located the planet Zonama Sekot within it. Zonama Sekot was a sentient planet, bearing strong resemblances to the species' original homeworld, Yuuzhan'tar. Ancient prophecies spoke of a living planet that would spell doom for the Yuuzhan Vong. Consequently, upon being informed of this discovery in 29 BBY, Quoreal chose to continue searching for another galaxy. This decision made him unpopular, especially within Domain Jamaane.

It was at this juncture that Onimi, a disgraced former shaper, resolved to act. Onimi had previously learned that the eighth cortex—the highest level of Shaping protocols directly dispensed by the gods and reserved for the Supreme Overlord—was empty, contradicting established belief. Upon this realization, Onimi concluded that the Yuuzhan Vong were doomed without adaptation. He attempted to graft yammosk tissue onto his brain, but the experiment resulted in physical deformities, leading to his designation as a Shamed One and the loss of his rank. However, it also opened him up to the Force, from which the Yuuzhan Vong had been severed millennia ago. Onimi believed that after millennia of traversing the void, the Yuuzhan Vong would self-destruct without a focused enemy. Furthermore, he aspired to usurp the gods' position and believed that conquering a new home would elevate the Yuuzhan Vong to their level.

Using his powers, he commanded Shimrra to accept him as his familiar and jester. Onimi seized control of Shimrra, who then instigated a coup to claim the throne. With the support of numerous warriors, Shimrra successfully overthrew and assassinated Quoreal. He then executed many of Quoreal's staunchest supporters, along with other candidates for the Supreme Overlord position, to consolidate his power. He also suppressed any knowledge of Zonama Sekot. Having accomplished this, the newly installed Supreme Overlord announced to his people the discovery of a new galaxy, claiming it had been revealed to him in a divine dream. However, before the Yuuzhan Vong could claim the galaxy, they would need to defeat the countless beings already inhabiting it. The Yuuzhan Vong considered these beings infidels because they did not worship their gods and used machine technology, which was abhorred by followers of the True Way. Thus, before the Yuuzhan Vong could settle in the new galaxy, all infidels would need to be killed or converted, and their technology destroyed. While not all members of the species supported Shimrra and his decisions, the dissidents remained silent, knowing that opposition would be met with death. Meanwhile, as Onimi's influence grew, Shimrra's original personality diminished, though Onimi's true role remained a secret known only to him, the power behind the throne, and the true Supreme Overlord.

The invasion begins

After decades of preparation, the Yuuzhan Vong initiated their invasion of the galaxy in 25 ABY. The ensuing war started favorably, catching the New Republic completely unprepared. Hesitant to engage in total war, the New Republic focused on defending major hyperlanes leading to the Core Worlds and the Colonies, while the Yuuzhan Vong made significant gains in the first six months of the war. Under the leadership of Warmaster Tsavong Lah, they captured several planets, including Obroa-skai and Ord Mantell, shocking the galaxy with their brutality. With the galaxy in chaos, the Yuuzhan Vong continued to advance over the next two years. In 26 ABY, they captured Yavin 4, home of the Jedi Praxeum, and penetrated the Core, taking the planet Duro.

During this year, Onimi discovered the heretical shaper Nen Yim. Yim operated outside of established Shaping protocols, which normally would have resulted in her death, but Onimi brought her before Shimrra. The Supreme Overlord declared that she would serve him, secretly developing new techniques to fill the eighth cortex, providing their species with new capabilities for the shapers. In 27 ABY, Warmaster Lah implemented Battle Plan Coruscant, aiming to seize control of Coruscant, the galactic capital. The Yuuzhan Vong defeated the New Republic in the Battle of Coruscant, conquering the planet and leaving the New Republic in disarray. The New Republic later attacked Obroa-skai, believing Shimrra was visiting the planet. Although the New Republic won, they discovered that the fleet they had attacked was led by Supreme Commander Komm Karsh, not the Supreme Overlord.

In 28 ABY, Shimrra arrived at Coruscant aboard his flagship, a specialized Koros-Strohna worldship. The ship landed amidst tens of thousands of Yuuzhan Vong gathered to celebrate their leader. The ship became Shimrra's Citadel, housing the Supreme Overlord's throne room. Shortly after landing on the planet—now renamed Yuuzhan'tar, after the Yuuzhan Vong's original homeworld—Shimrra convened a meeting in his throne room with the Elite, the leaders of the four main castes. He reprimanded Tsavong Lah for the heavy casualties suffered during the capture of Coruscant and for failing to adapt to new techniques used by the New Republic. He also questioned Executor Nom Anor, who had served as an advance spy, about the government of the galaxy's other beings, finding their tolerance and democracy novel and foolish. After interrogating Anor, he spoke with Master Shaper Ch'Gang Hool, who was overseeing the planet's terraforming. The effort was plagued with failures, and when Hool admitted fault, Shimrra, in a fit of rage, ordered his execution.

Shortly after this meeting, Shimrra attended a ceremony dedicating a temple to the creator god Yun-Yuuzhan. The Yuuzhan Vong planned to execute over a hundred captives from the Battle of Coruscant, many of whom were senators or military officers. However, before the ceremony could begin, the Square of Sacrifice was filled with waste inexplicably rejected by the maw luur, creatures responsible for sewage disposal. Enraged, Shimrra declared the ritual invalid and ordered the captives killed without ceremony. He then held a meeting in the temple with the Elite, scolding them and questioning whether the World Brain—the creature in charge of the terraforming—was responsible for the various failures. After ordering the execution of a shaper for the ceremony's failure, he agreed to let Lah attack the New Republic soon.

At some point, the Supreme Overlord met privately with Nom Anor regarding the New Republic's movements and the Peace Brigade, a group of beings native to the galaxy who had allied with the Yuuzhan Vong, hoping to be on the winning side. Anor also brought news of Thrackan Sal-Solo, a Corellian politician who promised to sign a neutrality treaty with the invaders and disable the Centerpoint Station superweapon if the Yuuzhan Vong spared the Corellian system. Sal-Solo, accompanied by his bodyguard Darjeelai Swan, came to meet with Shimrra. An interrogation of Swan revealed that the New Republic, not Sal-Solo, controlled Centerpoint Station. This deception greatly angered Shimrra, although he agreed to meet with the Human.

Sal-Solo was brought into the chamber, where Shimrra informed him that he had decided to accept the Human's offer, albeit with modifications. The Yuuzhan Vong would assist Sal-Solo's Centerpoint Party in seizing control of the Corellian system, after which Shimrra would govern the system. Furthermore, the Yuuzhan Vong planned not to return Sal-Solo to the Corellian system but to make him leader of the Peace Brigade at their headquarters on Ylesia. The galaxy's citizens viewed the Peace Brigaders as traitors, and Shimrra knew that associating Sal-Solo with them would discredit him and keep him under Yuuzhan Vong control. When informed of the changes to his plan, Sal-Solo attempted to negotiate, but his words only angered the Supreme Overlord. Infuriated that someone he considered scum would speak to him as an equal, Shimrra ordered Sal-Solo removed from his chambers and sent to Ylesia.

The Supreme Overlord later convened a meeting with Anor and Lah in his private chamber. Anor had gathered evidence indicating that the New Republic had fled to the Deep Core moon of Ebaq 9, and the three planned a surprise attack that Anor believed would break the New Republic's resistance. However, the battle was a trap set by the New Republic, resulting in Tsavong Lah's death. After the battle, Shimrra met with the Elite in his throne room, informing them that the defeat was merely a test from the gods. Vowing revenge on the infidels, he also declared Nom Anor a traitor, placing a death sentence on his head. Around this time, Shimrra began to slip from Onimi's control, as the Shamed One became preoccupied with the Trickster Goddess Yun-Harla, whom he blamed for his downfall.

The tide turns

Following the Battle of Ebaq 9, the war continued to worsen for the Yuuzhan Vong. As Nen Yim's efforts to develop new Shaping protocols remained fruitless, Shimrra grew increasingly angry. This was partly due to the recent Jeedai heresy led by the prophet Yu'shaa, secretly Nom Anor in disguise. The Jeedai heresy was a rapidly expanding movement of Shamed Ones who worshipped the Jedi as saviors and condemned Shimrra as the "Rainbow-Eyed Enemy," the being who kept them enslaved. Around this time, Shimrra received a report from Commander Ekh'm Val. Val had discovered a mysterious planet and brought back a starship from that world with Yuuzhan Vong vessel characteristics. Upon hearing details of the apparently living planet, Shimrra recognized it as Zonama Sekot. To prevent others from learning of its existence, he had Val killed, his name erased from the records, and his vessel, the Noble Sacrifice, destroyed. In this way, he successfully suppressed knowledge of Zonama Sekot, securing his power.

Much to the Supreme Overlord's displeasure, Yu'shaa remained at large in the Coruscant Underworld, and the heresy continued to spread. Several members of his court, such as Prefects Ash'ett and Drosh Khalii, were found guilty of heresy because several members of their households were believers in the Jeedai movement. Based on this evidence, Shimrra, in a rage, had the Prefects and their families killed. However, the evidence had been planted by the Priestess Ngaaluh, a secret follower of Yu'shaa. Nom Anor sought revenge on his enemies and orchestrated their downfall; Ash'ett and Khalii were innocent of the charges against them. Unbeknownst to Ngaaluh and Anor, Shimrra suspected the evidence, finding it too perfect.

The Supreme Overlord began his own investigations and interrogated the Yuuzhan Vong heretics planted in the Prefects' homes. When confronted, the terrified heretics confessed that they had merely been placed there, effectively exonerating the Prefects. When Ngaaluh accused Prefect Zareb of heresy and presented the evidence before the Elite, Shimrra questioned the leaders of the various castes. After successfully intimidating several of the most powerful beings in the Yuuzhan Vong Empire, Shimrra turned on Ngaaluh. He revealed that he had learned she had fabricated the evidence and ordered his guards to seize her. However, the Priestess committed suicide by poison before they could stop her.

Shimrra refused to restore the dead Prefects' honor, claiming they would serve as a powerful warning to those who opposed him. The Jeedai heresy, he vowed, would be stopped, and its members killed. Later, Onimi showed Nen Yim the starship that Ekh'm Val had brought to the Supreme Overlord. The ship was of Sekotan origin, and while examining it, Nen Yim discovered its similarities to the Yuuzhan Vong's yorik-et fighters. When Yim revealed her discovery to Shimrra, he ordered her to develop weapons that could be used against such vessels if the Yuuzhan Vong encountered them in battle. Despite seeking weapons against similar ships, he claimed that the planet where the ship originated had been destroyed, wanting to keep knowledge of Zonama Sekot from spreading among his people.

Dissidence and intrigue

Shortly after Nen Yim began studying the ship, she fled from Shimrra's Citadel with the assistance of several Jedi and dissident Yuuzhan Vong. In her absence, Shimrra promoted Shaper Adept Qelah Kwaad to the rank of Master Shaper. During his questioning of Kwaad, she suggested that Master Shaper Ahsi Yim, who had assisted Nen Yim, had been involved in Nen Yim's disappearance. An irate Shimrra then had Ahsi Yim killed. Not long after this, he received a message from intendant Phaa Anor. Anor informed the Supreme Overlord that he had been contacted by Nom Anor, who claimed to have crucial information for Shimrra.

Shimrra communicated with Nom Anor using a villip. The former Executor informed Shimrra that he was on Zonama Sekot along with Nen Yim and the Priest Harrar. Shimrra declared this impossible, stating Zonama Sekot's destruction. Anor instructed him to contact Harrar, knowing Shimrra couldn't find him on Yuuzhan'tar. Shimrra, realizing his deception was exposed and that others knew about Zonama Sekot, felt fear. Nom Anor proposed using his villip as a tracer, allowing Shimrra to dispatch a fleet to annihilate the planet. Shimrra hesitated, aware of Zonama Sekot's resilience. However, Nom Anor guaranteed sabotage, ensuring the Yuuzhan Vong could obliterate it, which swayed the Supreme Overlord. If Anor succeeded, Shimrra—unaware that Anor was Yu'shaa—vowed to pardon him and welcome him back into his court.

Ushk Choka commanded the Red Qurang, which was dispatched to retrieve Nom Anor to Yuuzhan'tar. Before Choka's arrival, Anor sabotaged the planet as promised; however, his efforts did not succeed in destroying Zonama Sekot. Shimrra, unaware of this failure, elevated Anor to Prefect status. Meanwhile, the Supreme Overlord's spies reported rumors that many Yuuzhan Vong were losing faith in him due to the war's changing tide, believing he had fallen out of favor with the deities. Determined to crush any rebellion, he convened a meeting with the Elite, warning them of the consequences of treachery. He also blamed the Elite for recent defeats, accusing them of disloyalty to him and, therefore, to the gods. As the Supreme Overlord berated the Elite, Onimi, as was his custom, followed him around and recited rhymes.

After reprimanding his subordinates, Shimrra unveiled his ten Slayers, warriors equipped with unique weapons and biot technology. The court viewed them with disdain, calling them abominations, due to their fusion of priest and warrior castes. When Supreme Commander Chaan questioned the wisdom of creating the Slayers, Shimrra ordered him to select ten warriors to fight against them. To the astonishment of the assembled crowd, two Slayers defeated Chaan and his ten warriors.

Following the public audience, Shimrra met privately with Nom Anor, revealing his belief that the Yuuzhan Vong's true enemy was not the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances—the New Republic's new name—but the gods. The Supreme Overlord believed the gods were angered by the Yuuzhan Vong's independence. Shimrra felt the Yuuzhan Vong had grown strong enough to survive without their gods, even to seize their power. Believers in the gods—the majority of Yuuzhan Vong—threatened Shimrra's plans to usurp the gods' power, but he remained confident in his manipulation skills. However, by this point, Onimi's visions of power and his own hatred of the gods had driven him completely insane.

Three days after the Battle of Caluula, which resulted in the capture of thousands of infidels, many Yuuzhan Vong, including the Supreme Overlord, gathered at the Place of Sacrifice on Yuuzhan'tar to ceremonially execute the prisoners. Before the ritual could commence, however, a mass of Shamed Ones attacked, freeing some of the captives. This skirmish, signaling the growing strength of the Jeedai heresy, enraged Shimrra, as the movement threatened his authority. He ordered the roundup and execution of three thousand Shamed Ones in the following days, regardless of their belief in the heresy. Eventually, he managed to persuade the wayward World Brain to perform its duties properly, instead of sabotaging projects it was supposed to oversee. With this achieved, the terraforming of Yuuzhan'tar finally proceeded without issue.

The emergence of Zonama Sekot

Shimrra later commanded Nas Choka to assault Mon Calamari, the Galactic Alliance's new headquarters. Despite Choka's reservations, the Supreme Overlord insisted that the attack was necessary to appease the bloodthirsty gods, especially Yun-Yuuzhan. Three days later, a fleet under Choka's command departed from Yuuzhan'tar. Shimrra and the Elite witnessed the departure, with the Supreme Overlord imploring Yun-Yuuzhan to assist the fleet in its mission to destroy the infidels on Mon Calamari. By this time, many had lost faith in Shimrra's leadership and believed the gods no longer favored him, causing him to be widely reviled.

The Yuuzhan Vong initiated their assault on Mon Calamari and gained an advantage over the Galactic Alliance fleet. Suddenly, Zonama Sekot materialized in the sky above Yuuzhan'tar. Nas Choka ordered a retreat to Yuuzhan'tar, instructing the Yuuzhan Vong ships already there to resist attacking the strange planet. The sudden appearance of Zonama Sekot—proclaimed by Yu'shaa to bring about Shimrra's downfall and the Shamed Ones' salvation—created chaos on Yuuzhan'tar. Shamed Ones rioted in joy, while many higher-class Yuuzhan Vong felt fear and confusion.

After the planet remained in space near Yuuzhan'tar for several days, Shimrra called for a private meeting with Nom Anor. The Prefect admitted his earlier failure to destroy the world, but Shimrra claimed he did not blame Anor, instead blaming the gods. The Supreme Overlord explained to Anor that he believed the gods had saved Zonama Sekot and brought it to Yuuzhan'tar. He stated that if they could destroy it now, the Yuuzhan Vong would win the war. To prevent the gods from intervening, Shimrra ordered Anor to instruct all priests to cease worshiping any god except the Trickster, Yun-Harla. He believed that if they focused all rituals on her, Yun-Harla would become arrogant, provoking the jealous gods to attack her, initiating a war among themselves. Shimrra felt this would be payback for the suffering the gods had inflicted on the Yuuzhan Vong during their journey through the Intergalactic Void. While the gods were distracted, the Yuuzhan Vong would destroy Zonama Sekot.

Shimrra later met with the Elite, mocking them for their cowardice before revealing his awareness of the rumors about his unfitness to rule. Shimrra also revealed his knowledge of Zonama Sekot, whose existence he had previously denied, and claimed to have dispatched forces to find it after his coup. However, as they had failed to locate the legendary living world, Shimrra stated that he had questioned if it was merely an invention of Quoreal's, born of cowardice. He believed the appearance of Zonama Sekot was a final test by the gods. Shimrra also claimed that his prayers to Yun-Harla had provided a solution.

During a brief skirmish on Caluula with Galactic Alliance forces just days prior, all Yuuzhan Vong and their biots on the planet—as well as several other life-forms—had become ill and died. Shimrra deduced that this was due to a chemical weapon developed by the Alliance. One ship had returned to Yuuzhan'tar, where it was quarantined in the atmosphere to prevent further infection. The Supreme Overlord planned to crash the ship on Zonama Sekot, releasing the pathogen, infecting the planet, and ultimately killing it. Shortly thereafter, an armada led by Choka was dispatched to Zonama Sekot with the mission of infecting the planet.

The concluding conflict

Supreme Commander Laait later interrupted Shimrra's meditation, informing him that Nas Choka had a message. A Galactic Alliance fleet had blocked the Yuuzhan Vong's path to Zonama Sekot. Although Choka's forces had breached the enemy lines, Zonama Sekot had launched its own defense: living ships. This news stunned Shimrra and all the Yuuzhan Vong present. When several priests questioned Shimrra's judgment, the Supreme Overlord had his Slayers execute them to prevent his tenuous hold on power from weakening further. In response to the musings of High Prefect Drathul and High Priest Jakan, he declared that the heretics were responsible for the appearance of these infidel vessels.

To resolve the issue, Shimrra placed half of the warriors in his Citadel under Nom Anor's command, tasking him with executing every heretic on Yuuzhan'tar. Fearing defeat, the Supreme Overlord also convinced the World Brain to ignite fires across Yuuzhan'tar's surface, hoping to make it uninhabitable. Meanwhile, the Battle of Yuuzhan'tar raged on, with Galactic Alliance vessels clashing with Yuuzhan Vong ships above Yuuzhan'tar. Simultaneously, the Yuuzhan Vong attempted to crash the infected vessel on Zonama Sekot, which was currently in-system near the planet Muscave.

Galactic Alliance soldiers and Jedi landed on Yuuzhan'tar. Three Jedi penetrated the Yuuzhan Vong's defenses and entered Shimrra's Citadel. In his private quarters with Onimi and fifteen Slayers, Shimrra awaited their arrival, concealing the lightsaber of the Jedi Anakin Solo, who had perished during the Mission to Myrkr two years prior, within his robes. Soon, the trio arrived at Shimrra's private dwelling. There, the Jedi—Luke Skywalker, Jacen Solo, and Jaina Solo—engaged the Slayers in combat.

Despite Onimi's use of his powers to manipulate the Citadel, constantly disrupting everyone's balance, the Slayers failed to defeat the Jedi. Luke Skywalker, in particular, launched a fierce assault. Shimrra joined the fight, wielding his Scepter of Power, a special amphistaff. He engaged Skywalker in single combat while the remaining Slayers battled the Solos. The Supreme Overlord gained the upper hand, ensnaring Skywalker with his amphistaff. The Jedi was also bitten by the creature, spreading poison through his body. With Skywalker at his mercy, Shimrra drew Solo's lightsaber from his robes.

As Shimrra moved to decapitate Skywalker, the Jedi used the Force to pull the weapon from the Supreme Overlord's grasp. With the Yuuzhan Vong distracted, Skywalker quickly shattered his Scepter of Power and then severed Shimrra's head, ending his life. Meanwhile, Jacen and Jaina Solo pursued Onimi to the Citadel's private yorik-trema escape vessel, where the Shamed One revealed himself as the true Supreme Overlord, having controlled Shimrra for decades. Jacen Solo killed him, and shortly after, the Yuuzhan Vong fleet over Yuuzhan'tar—which had failed to destroy Zonama Sekot—learned of Shimrra's death. For the first time in their history, the species was without a Supreme Overlord, their link to the gods. Furthermore, because Shimrra had eliminated all potential successors, the Yuuzhan Vong had no one to assume his mantle and lead them. Completely lost without their ruler, the species surrendered. Soon after, the Sekot Accords were signed, stipulating that the Yuuzhan Vong would destroy all their weapons, abandon their warlike ways, and settle on Zonama Sekot—which the Jedi had discovered was a seed of the original Yuuzhan'tar. With this, the war concluded.

Character traits and disposition

Onimi controlled Shimrra for the last six decades of his life, using his Force abilities to bend him to his will. During his time as Onimi's puppet, Shimrra was known for his cruelty, his desire to protect his power, and his ability to manipulate others. Though the Yuuzhan Vong were a violent species, Shimrra was known to be more vicious than most.

Shimrra sought to exterminate all infidels, believing it was his duty as demanded by the gods. He was ruthless in this quest, and by the end of the Yuuzhan Vong War, over one-third of the warrior caste had perished. Despite reprimanding Tsavong Lah for wasting his troops, Shimrra willingly sacrificed a large number of Yuuzhan Vong to achieve his goals, namely the conquest of the galaxy.

He detested the Jeedai heresy, denouncing its followers and leader, Yu'shaa, and was willing to kill all members of the households of two Prefects simply for having heretics in their homes. Even after it was proven that Ngaaluh had planted the heretics, Shimrra refused to restore the reputations of the deceased intendants, stating that their deaths would serve as examples. Shimrra's hatred for the heresy was so intense that he had Zareb killed after Ngaaluh accused him of heresy, even though he had already determined that the Priestess was falsifying the evidence.

As the Yuuzhan Vong's Supreme Overlord, Shimrra was considered the species' sole connection to the most important god, Yun-Yuuzhan, granting him near-unlimited power over his people. He led all castes, commanding everything from the warrior caste's efforts to the priests' worship. Shimrra cherished his power and went to great lengths to protect it after overthrowing Quoreal, including killing thousands of heretics and anyone who opposed his will. Shimrra suppressed all knowledge of Zonama Sekot, and killed Ekh'm Val for discovering the planet during the Yuuzhan Vong War to prevent others from learning about the world that supposedly foretold the Yuuzhan Vong's doom. He also concealed the emptiness of the eighth cortex from his species for decades, knowing that its revelation would greatly weaken his authority.

For much of his life, Shimrra wielded total control over the Yuuzhan Vong. Ruling with an iron fist, he frequently disregarded the advice of his advisors on the Great Council. The Supreme Overlord intimidated his species into submission, becoming known as ruthless and terrifying. Other Yuuzhan Vong feared him, and even Warmasters trembled in his presence. Additionally, Shimrra had an uncanny ability to sense others' thoughts, thanks to Onimi's Force-sensitivity. The Supreme Overlord's apparent omniscience led High Prefect Yoog Skell to warn Nom Anor never to even consider lying to Shimrra. Shimrra was also skilled at manipulating others and adept at political intrigue. Onimi subtly influenced other Yuuzhan Vong using his Force powers, making it appear as though Shimrra had the mysterious ability to affect others' minds, enhancing his reputation as a terrifying, omniscient leader.

To further enhance his image as an omnipotent vessel of the gods, Shimrra equipped both his public and private thrones in his Citadel with dovin basals—creatures capable of generating gravitational fields. These dovin basals created the illusion that those approaching his throne were walking uphill, making the mere act of approaching the Supreme Overlord seem like a monumental task.

Unlike most Yuuzhan Vong, Shimrra did not believe in the gods, instead seeking to overthrow them, much like he had overthrown Quoreal. Under Onimi's influence, Shimrra developed a hatred for the gods and declared war on them. He believed the Yuuzhan Vong had surpassed them and were ready to take their place. Shimrra thought the gods feared this and conspired to destroy the Yuuzhan Vong. He believed the appearance of Zonama Sekot in 29 ABY was merely a test. By destroying Zonama Sekot, he felt the species would prove themselves and force the gods to surrender.

By 29 ABY, Shimrra had become completely insane. Despite his ability to intimidate and manipulate others, many Yuuzhan Vong had lost faith in him. His declarations that the gods, not the Galactic Alliance, were the Yuuzhan Vong's true enemy were met with skepticism from the Elite, a group that was normally greatly fearful of him. However, some had heard rumors of Zonama Sekot, and as the war worsened, their faith in Shimrra faltered, with some believing the Yuuzhan Vong were better off under Quoreal. Prefect Nom Anor and High Prefect Drathul were two members of the Supreme Overlord's court who had lost all confidence in Shimrra by the time of the Battle of Yuuzhan'tar. Anor believed Shimrra no longer provided stable guidance for the Yuuzhan Vong, and that the species was lost.

To maintain the facade that Shimrra was the Supreme Overlord and Onimi was merely his jester, Onimi had Shimrra abuse him in public. This prevented anyone from discovering that Onimi was the power behind the throne. Although many wondered why the Supreme Overlord kept a Shamed One as his familiar, they did not question Shimrra directly. As Supreme Overlord, Shimrra was frequently addressed as "Dread Lord," "Great One," or "Fearsome One," among similar titles.

Physical Description

Yuuzhan Vong shapers modified Shimrra, causing him to grow to an immense size. Luke Skywalker noted that the Supreme Overlord was the largest Yuuzhan Vong he had ever seen, and Nom Anor observed that he towered over the Elite during meetings. The hau polyp creatures that formed his throne would occasionally rupture due to the strain of supporting the Supreme Overlord's massive frame. Shimrra had slender limbs and a large head, with his torso and head covered in brands and tattoos honoring the gods. He wore gray robes made from the flesh of Steng, a rebellious Yuuzhan Vong Warmaster from millennia ago.

Shimrra had mqaaq'it-implanted eyes that constantly changed [colors](/article/color-legends], though they were most often red. His eyes glittered when he was angry, intimidating anyone under his gaze and making them feel as though their mind was being read. Nom Anor feared the Supreme Overlord's eyes, finding their frequent color changes unnerving.

Behind the scenes information

Shimrra Jamaane was created for The New Jedi Order, a nineteen-book series published by Del Rey between 1999 and 2003. The character was conceived during initial meetings between several authors and Lucas Licensing editors, who outlined the series' overarching progression. At this early stage, James Luceno, then a consultant who later authored three of the series' novels, suggested the concept of the Supreme Overlord being a mere "puppet ruler."

Shimrra was first mentioned in Luceno's The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial, published in 2000 as the fourth novel in the series. He was subsequently mentioned in several other novels, playing the role of a major villain controlling events from the background and serving as the driving force behind the invasion. He first appeared in Greg Keyes' The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory II: Rebirth, published in 2001. Shimrra's true role as Onimi's puppet was hinted at in The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way, and the character's importance grew near the series' end, with a major role in several books, culminating in the final novel, The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force. Written by Luceno, this final installment revealed Shimrra's role as a figurehead for the apparent jester Onimi.

After The New Jedi Order concluded, Shimrra was mentioned in several novels and reference books. He was first identified as "Shimrra Jamaane" in Luceno's novel, Millennium Falcon, published in 2008. Both The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory I: Conquest and Legacy (2006) 44 incorrectly spell his name as "Shimmra."