- "I am the Eye of the Nihil, and I see the battle you're fighting. I see the Republic, trying to take away your freedom, trying to take your hard-won credits, trying to take away your way of life…they want you dead. Just for living. Just for being. Just for walking a path they don't own."
- ―Ro, to Milliko's Tempest
The Nihil conflict, otherwise known as the war against the Nihil or war with the Nihil from the Galactic Republic and Jedi Order's perspective, was a conflict that occurred in the galaxy between the Nihil, a group of anarchistic marauders from the Outer Rim, and the Republic/Jedi during the High Republic Era. The Nihil actions ranged from minor skirmishes to entire planets being raided.
Beginning in 232 BBY after the Great Hyperspace Disaster, a terrorist attack instigated by the Eye of the Nihil Marchion Ro. The Nihil believed the Republic to be encroaching on freedom and began to defend their way of life, and the refusal to provide the Nihil with representation in the Galactic Senate. The Nihil had access to mysterious routes known as "Paths" which defied conventional hyperspace logic and emerged as a significant threat. During the Battle of Kur, it was believed the Nihil were defeated, however they revealed themselves to not be destroyed when they destroyed the Valo Republic Fair.
The Jedi Order eventually forced the Nihil to scatter. In 230 BBY, however, the Nihil were able to successfully prevent the Galactic Republic from being able to reach ten full sectors of the Outer Rim Territories and secured the territory as their own. Ro then sent out a broadcast revealing himself to the galaxy.
The conflict
Opening hostilities
- "Very well. But if we stay, we stay and fight. We don't sit on our hands and hope someone gives us cause to strike back. We don't engage in the same folly that's had us on our heels all year, barely ready for each new wave of attacks, lashing out reactively instead of taking the initiative."
- ―Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus reflects on how the Jedi have handled the Nihil conflict
When the Nihil were still a relatively unknown raiding party in the Frontier, Ro orchestrated the Emergences. While the Jedi and Republic, led by Jedi Master Avar Kriss, were distracted responding to the Emergences, Ro attacked several planets such as[1] Trymant IV[25] and Elphrona.[1] During the attack on Trymant IV, Ro kidnapped Elder Tromak and Krix Kamerat of the Elders of the Path.[26] Kamerat would later join Ro.[27] The Nihil would additionally destroy a Republic diplomatic ship, the Steady Wing, stranding four kids; Jedi Vernestra Rwoh, Padawan Imri Cantaros, aspiring scientist Avon Starros, and Honesty Weft.[28] Ro ordered his forces to raid the planet Elphrona under the assumption that they would take the Blythe family hostage. Before they could take the family hostage, the family sent out a distress call to the Jedi on Elphrona. They showed up too late, as the family was already gone and the Nihil had placed mines in the ground. After disabling the mines, the Jedi chased after the Nihil kidnappers. One at a time, the Blythes were rescued until there was only Ottoh Blythe left. Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm boarded the Nihil ship were Blythe was being held. During his attempt, Greatstorm's leg was broken. Then, Tempest Runner Lourna Dee arrived and captured Greatstorm and Blythe and brought the two to Ro, who revealed that his real goal was to capture a Jedi and killed Blythe.[1]
On the planet Tanalorr, which has recently been discovered and was being discussed as a possible place to train younglings, the Nihil attacked and forced the Jedi to flee.
The Galactic Republic, aided by the Jedi, fought back against the Nihil at the Battle of Kur. Tempest Runner Kassav Milliko was sent to the Kur Nebula under a ruse by Ro and was obliterated by the faulty Path Drives on his ships. Jedi Master Jora Malli was killed in the fighting, along with Milliko's entire Tempest.[1] On Wevo, Cantaros and Weft were captured by the Nihil saboteurs but were rescued by Rwoh and Starros, who captured the saboteurs.[28] On the Amaxine Station, Jedi Master Cohmac Vitus and Wayseeker Orla Jareni fought back against a combined force of Nihil and a new threat, the Drengir.[2] The Republic and Jedi believed the Nihil to be defeated, and celebrated by dedicating the Starlight Beacon.[1]
Continued raids and the Valo Fair
Not long after, Grandmaster Yoda would lead Jedi in fighting back against the Nihil in Bright Jewel system and on the moon Quantxi,[29] as Ro began a quest to find a weapon to defeat the Jedi. Yoda would go missing after chasing after Ro.[30] Not long after, Jedi Master Sskeer would investigate a report of a Nihil attack on a Hutt ship.[31] Although Sskeer's team arrived too late to save anyone, their investigation into the attack would cause the Drengir to attack Starlight Beacon and other locations in the Outer Rim, distracting the Jedi from the threat of the Nihil and, by extension, Ro.[32]
As the Jedi, Republic, and Hutts fought against the Drengir, the Nihil would continue their raids, raiding locations such as Salissia[3] and the Halcyon.[33] As part of her great works, Chancellor Lina Soh hosted a fair on the planet Valo. The Nihil would attempt to raid Cyclor, where the Innovator was under construction, but would be repelled by Jedi Master Indeera Stokes. The fair opened on Valo and initially went well, with attendees such as Regasa Elarec Yovet, the queen of Shili, until the Nihil arrived and attacked the fair. All three Tempest Runners (Dee, Pan Eyta, and the newest one, Zeetar) led the attack and Dee herself hunted down Chancellor Soh during the battle. Jedi Padawan Bell Zettifar saved many civilians, such as Kitrep Soh, the chancellor's son, from the plummeting Innovator that was scuttled by the attacking Nihil. Former Jedi Ty Yorrick aided Jedi Master Elzar Mann in fighting off the Nihil in the streets of Lonisa City. Padawans Ram Jomaram and Lula Talisola, aided by Zeen Mrala, reestablished wider communications after they fought back against a combined force of Nihil and Drengir at Crashpoint Tower. As the battle drew to a close, Eyta dropped bombs onto Lonisa City, causing more damage and resulting in more civilian casualties as Dee finally reached Chancellor Soh, but was fought off by Jedi Council Member Stellan Gios and a handful of Togruta bodyguards. However, Soh would lose a leg and the sight of Gios holding her unconscious body would do rounds on the news.[3]
Emergence of the Nameless
Wanting to continue to their string of victories, Eyta and Dee planned another attack on Cyclor, but when Eyta arrived and found that Dee had abandoned him and let his Tempest be decimated by the Jedi and Republic. Eyta would mange a last minute escape. Not long after, the Jedi would infiltrate and attack the Nihil base on Grizal, where Loden Greatstorm was being held. During this battle, Greatstorm escaped and Ro unleashed his new weapon on the Jedi, the ancient Great Leveler, killing Greatstorm.[3] Ro and his forces would escape Grizal and Ro would paint Dee as the true Eye so as to distract the Republic. These victories helped jumpstart Operation: Counterstrike, a series of battles that caused the Nihil to scatter.[9] Historian Beaumont Kin later reflected that the Republic had failed to respond to the Nihil threat in an effective manner until significant time and civilian causalities had passed.[34]
After witnessing the Great Leveler on Grizal, Gios opened up an investigation into the incident, along with Chancellor Soh. Jedi Investigator Emerick Caphtor would lead a mission to Vrant Tarnum and would discover that the "Shrii Ka rai Ka rai" rhyme from his childhood may have connections to the Nihil and the Great Leveler.[35] Jedi Master Sav Malagán and Maz Kanata, aided by Padawans Lula Talisola, Farzala Tarabal, and Qort, along with Mrala, would defend the planet Takodana from a Nihil attack led by Kamerat, at the cost of the Takodana Jedi Temple.[36]
Joss Adren, who feared Eriadu was not quite safe from the Nihil, and Pikka Adren were dispatched to the craft to recover its hyperdrive, only to discover two life signs aboard. Their ship, the Aurora III, was then shut down in the midst of their call for backup.[37]
Legacy
- "Similarly, that government's response to aggression from a pirate group known as the Nihil was—initially at least—less than impressive and significant civilian casualties were sustained before the situation was brought under control."
- ―Beaumont Kin, The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire
Eventually, the Nihil became obsolete[38] and were defeated.[34] In 200 BBY,[39] the Jedi Padawan Sean recalled the Nihil as an illicit organization that once invaded the Galactic Republic.[40] In his book The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, Kin reflected on the Nihil conflict as the one of the High Republic government's failing points, although he still admired the High Republic Era as a time when the galaxy as a whole banded together against a menace.[34]
Appearances
Sources
- Star Wars: The High Republic Character Encyclopedia (First identified as war against the Nihil)
"Who's the Boss?" — Star Wars Insider 224- Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire (Indirect mention only)
- Star Wars: The High Republic: The Lightsaber Collection
- Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 229
- 'Star Wars: The High Republic - The Finale' and More Marvel 'Star Wars' Titles Revealed At Star Wars Celebration on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link) (Indirect mention only)
- "Launchpad" — Star Wars Insider 231
- "Charles Soule: Luminous Legacy" — Star Wars Insider 231
- Star Wars: The Acolyte: The Visual Guide
Notes and references