The Vermilion Birds, led by the Yellow Hand, were a pirate group that operated near the end of the High Republic Era within the Aakaash system. They were viewed as inferior copies of the Blue Dragon pirates. The Vermilion Birds consisted of approximately two hundred individuals and possessed a smuggling ship along with a number of starfighters. The Nan family villa in the Lake asteroid field was raided by the Vermilion Birds around 200 BBY, who looted the estate and abducted the Nan family's hired help.
During this assault, the pirates came across Mostima and Sean, two Jedi being held at the villa by the Aakaash system authorities. Master Mostima battled the pirates in an effort to protect the Nan family villa's innocent guests. Meanwhile, Sean, disguising himself as one of the Vermilion Birds, made his escape to a nearby forest in search of a ship to flee both the pirates and the system's authorities. Armed with a blaster and several incendiary grenades, Sean launched an attack on the pirates when he witnessed them on the verge of killing the villa's innocent inhabitants. With a mob of vengeful Vermilion Birds chasing after him, Sean ran to a starship parked a distance from the villa, and was taken in by the Knights of Silver Dawn. Under the leadership of Li Yu, the Knights welcomed Sean into their ranks, thus preventing his capture by the Vermilion Birds.