Vanquo

Vanquo, a world where mining operations occurred, provided resources for Taris, a nearby ecumenopolis, and was situated within the Meerian sector of the Outer Rim. Located in a system bearing the same name, Vanquo was within reach of other planets, including Suurja and Jebble. Characterized by its rocky, mountainous terrain and covered with forests and trees, Vanquo was a challenging world with a severe winter. On cloudless nights, the sky above Vanquo displayed a stunning array of stars, with at least one green moon visible from its surface.

In 3976 BBY, the Mandalorian Neo-Crusaders, under the leadership of their leader, Mandalore the Ultimate, embarked on a campaign to create an empire by conquering independent planets in the Outer Rim, far from the attention of the Galactic Republic. After accumulating a significant amount of territory, Mandalore advanced toward the Core, challenging resource-rich planets near Taris, including Vanquo. As one of the planets affected by the Mandalorian expansion, Vanquo was integrated into a Republic Navy defensive line known as the Jebble-Vanquo-Tarnith line, where intense, deadlocked combat took place during the early stages of what became the Mandalorian Wars.

By 3964 BBY, Vanquo, now featuring numerous mining camps, had become a destination for many refugees displaced by the Mandalorian crusades. Despite the looming Mandalorian threat, mining operations continued as usual across Vanquo. In that year, Vanquo was visited by Zayne Carrick, a wanted fugitive accused of the massacre of his Jedi classmates on Taris, and his crew as they attempted to evade Jedi pursuit. Utilizing Carrick's Force abilities and the convincing impersonation of Jedi Master Q'Anilia by his Arkanian Offshoot friend Jarael, the group successfully persuaded the staff of a mining outpost that the Mandalorians were attacking. The crew abandoned the camp, leaving it and its resources to the fugitives in need. However, the Mandalorians, commanded by Commander Rohlan Dyre, initiated their actual attack shortly afterward with a large paratrooper landing, while Carrick and his friends were still gathering supplies—although Jarael was mistaken for a real Jedi and was captured, the others were able to escape.

Mandalore the Ultimate and his lieutenant, Cassus Fett, personally directed the battle, primarily as a diversion to draw Republic forces and pave the way for Mandalore's main advance toward Taris. On the opposing side, Captain Saul Karath led the Republic forces aboard the battleship Courageous. While the mining camps on the night side of the planet were being captured and an orbital blockade was being established to enable the Mandalorians to attack the major settlements on the day side, a significant space battle unfolded over Vanquo. The Vanquo offensive proved to be a major success, as the left flank of the main Republic fleet was drawn to Vanquo, clearing the path to Taris, and the Mandalorians ultimately seized control of the planet. Throughout the conflict, Vanquo became a stronghold that the Republic was unable to breach.

Following the Mandalorian Wars, Republic heroes Revan and Malak embraced the dark side and led a new Sith Empire against the Republic. Although Vanquo never became part of Sith territory, in 3956 BBY, the Sith launched an offensive toward Taris, resulting in a Sith victory and the complete destruction of the planet, an offensive that originated from Vanquo. During the later years of the Galactic Civil War, Vanquo's region of space fell under the control of Imperial Warlord Zsinj's empire. During the Yuuzhan Vong War beginning in 25 ABY, the extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong invaders attacked Vanquo after their successful conquest of Bandomeer. The Yuuzhan Vong were victorious in the battle and continued their offensive toward the Core. By 137 ABY, Vanquo was within the domain of Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire.

By the time of the Mandalorian Wars, Vanquo was overwhelmed by a large influx of refugees fleeing the impending Mandalorian threat, many of whom had arrived from nearby battle zones, such as Jebble and Suurja. With Vanquo already hosting a substantial population of miners at camps scattered across the world, many of these desperate, hungry refugees attempted to steal from the miners' supplies. Additionally, there was a civilian population primarily residing in several major settlements on the opposite side of the planet from the mining camps.

During the Mandalorian Wars, numerous mining camps were spread across one side of the planet, situated within Vanquo's natural mountainous landscape. A communications network connected some of the mining settlements, with an official Republic channel providing essential information to the outposts. On the other side of the planet were several major settlements, along with an aid station frequented by refugees fleeing the Mandalorian attacks.

The planet Vanquo made its initial appearance in Knights of the Old Republic 7, a comic authored by John Jackson Miller and published in 2006. The planet was also featured in the subsequent issue of the Knights of the Old Republic series—in both appearances, Vanquo was illustrated by Dustin Weaver. Vanquo was mentioned in several other Knights of the Old Republic issues and stories based on the comic series. Additional information regarding Vanquo and the Vanquo system was provided in The Essential Atlas and its online supplement, as well as its entry in The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia.