Takeover of Yarrum Tower

The Takeover of Yarrum Tower was a raid by the Ganguls that occurred in the High Republic Era. Under the leadership of Sellaccc Orryak, the Ganguls and their crew seized control of Yarrum Tower, a stronghold for pirates in the Bri'ahl sector. They forced most of the local pirates and merchants there to join their crew and work for them. The former pirate Chigg managed to escape with the help of the Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay and Nubs]], and the pirate Cyrus Vuundir/Taborr Val Dorn.^[3]

Prelude

The Ganguls were a small biker gang consisting of the Trandoshan Sellaccc Orryak, the Quarren Jooro "Speeds" Jarrot and the Anzellan Toda-Joh. They terrorized the town of Aklyrr Bend on the Outer Rim world of Tenoo until they were expelled by the Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay and Nubs around 232 BBY.^[5][4] Later, the Ganguls stole the pirate prince Cyrus Vuundir/Taborr Val Dorn's starship Iron Talon and took Taborr prisoner in the process. Taborr's associates EB-3 and Pord subsequently convinced the three Jedi younglings to help rescue their leader and reclaim the Iron Talon.^[6]

The Ganguls became perennial foes of both the three Jedi younglings and Taborr's gang, crossing paths on several occasions. They attempted to steal a well-maker drill which they planned to sell to acquire a starship. However, they were foiled by the younglings.^[7] The Ganguls subsequently acquired a frigate called Rathtar's Revenge and a droid named NX-88. Seeking to become the dominant pirate faction in the Bri'ahl sector, they attempted to steal starships on the planet Deppani but were driven by the Jedi younglings and Padawan Wes Vinik.^[8]

Later, the Ganguls recruited more pirates at Yarrum Tower, the main pirate center in the sector, and made a second attempt to steal starships from a shipyard on Variax. However, they were thwarted again by the Jedi younglings and Vinik again.^[9] The Ganguls later kidnapped the band Feb Rozo and the Sap Tap Trio in order to buy battle droids from Bulcha the Hutt. Although the Jedi younglings, Vinik and the bartender Hap managed to rescue the band, the pirates still acquired several battle droids, strengthening their capabilities.^[10]

Motivated by her hatred for the Wookiees, Orryak led the Ganguls, her reluctant cousin Daynaal and several Yarrum Tower pirates on a raid on Kashyyyk to disrupt the upcoming Life Day celebrations. They managed to shoot down the Wookiee Rudi's ship and attempted to cut down a Life Day tree. However, they were thwarted by the three Jedi younglings, a repentant Daynaal and several adult Wookiees.^[11]

The takeover

Seeking to establish the Ganguls as a major pirate faction in the Outer Rim, Orryak led an attack on Yarrum Tower using her expanded pirate crew. The Ganguls and their vassals used smoke bombs to overwhelm and subdue the other pirates in the Yarrum Tower marketplace. Having taken control of the marketplace, Orryak proclaimed Yarrum Tower as their new headquarters and told the other pirates and merchants that they now worked for the Ganguls. Joh and Jarrot supported their leader by sporting blasters, with the latter initiating the other pirates as the Ganguls' new vassals. The Rathtar's Revenge provided air support.^[3]

Their attack coincided with the Jedi younglings Brightstar, Solay and Nubs visiting the reformed Abednedo pirate–turned trader Chigg, who was serving them berries he had obtained from a jungle moon. Unwilling to work for the Ganguls, Chigg asked the younglings to help him escape. Since the Jedi's pilot friend Nash Durango was offworld, Solay convinced a reluctant Brightstar to seek the help of Taborr in escaping with Chigg offworld.^[3]

The escape

The Jedi trio approached Taborr, who was initially reluctant to help due to their mutual animosity. When Solay suggested they should work together to escape the Ganguls, Taborr initially wanted to challenge the Ganguls for control of Yarrum Tower. Brightstar managed to convince Taborr to work with them since they were outnumbered by the Ganguls and their pirate vassals. Taborr contacted his associates EB-3 and Pord, with the former informing him that the Ganguls were beginning to impound the other pirates' starships.^[3]

Since the path to the turbolift was guarded by the Ganguls' vassals, the younglings used crates to approach them with Solay acting as a lookout. During their escape, Brightstar about their mission to evacuate their friend Chigg to safety since he did not want to join the Ganguls. Working together, the group managed to sneak past the Jablogian and Nikto sentries and take the turbolift down to the ground level concourse.^[3]

The group made their way towards Taborr's ship Iron Talon. Nubs distracted the Ganguls by using the Force to drop a large rock on a nearby starship. However, Taborr decided to challenge Orryak and attacked her with his electrostaffs. This aroused the attention of Toda-Joh and Jarrot, the latter of whom trapped Nubs and Chigg with an energy net. While Taborr dueled Orryak, Brightstar and Solay dueled Jarrot and Joh with their lightsabers. Following a brief duel, Taborr managed to escape Orryak and fled aboard the Iron Talon, which took off.^[3]

The Ganguls gained the advantage over the Jedi younglings, with Solay being the one left standing. However, the Ganguls' victory was short-lived as the Iron Talon returned on a strafing run and fired laser shots above the three pirates. This distraction allowed Brighstar and Solay to free Nubs and Chigg from the energy net. Together, the four escaped aboard the Iron Talon with the help of EB-3 and Pord. Despite the Jedi and Taborr's escape, Orryak reassured her lieutenants that they had won their prize: capturing Yarrum Tower.^[3]

Aftermath

Following their escape, the Jedi younglings and Chigg traveled from Yarrum aboard the Iron Talon. Though Chigg and Brightstar expressed gratitude to Taborr, the young pirate said that he only chose to do good things his way. Following the loss of his business on Yarrum Tower, Chigg started a new fruit stall in Tenoo's Kublop Springs marketplace. He also befriended the local restaurant owner Hap, a friend of the Jedi younglings.^[3]

Having established court at Yarrum Tower, the Ganguls sought tribute from the other pirates. The Comet Runners and their leader Corr Taldaan convinced Orryak to raid Vuundalla, the homeworld of Prince Cyrus Vuundir, who was secretly the pirate Taborr. During the raid, the Ganguls stole the royal family's jewels and raided a nearby village. Vuundir confronted the Ganguls in their throne room, revealing his alter ego Taborr and demanding the return of his family jewels. The Ganguls bested Vuundir in combat. Vuundir's Jedi friends and Nash Durango attempted to rescue him but he chose to escape on his own, embracing his identity as Taborr. Following the raid on Vuundalla, Orryak granted the Comet Runners a place among her crew.^[2]

The Ganguls later encountered the Jedi younglings Brighstar, Solay and Nubs during an attempt to steal Raxlo's harvester on Andraven. This attempt failed and the Ganguls were driven away by the Jedi younglings, Raxlo and the Andravens.^[12] Later, the Ganguls fought with the Jedi trio after the latter accidentally sent a shipment to Yarrum Tower. Orryak considered the shipment to be theirs and refused to relinquish their ill-gotten gain. The Jedi managed to retrieve the shipment and escaped offworld with the help of Durango and RJ-83. Regarding the Jedi incursion as a home invasion, Orryak swore vengeance.^[13]

Having assembled a pirate coalition consisting of the Yarrum Tower pirates, the Comet Runners and Captain Blackbolt, the Ganguls invaded the Tenoo Jedi Temple, intending to drive the Jedi away from their sector. The Jedi trainees including Padawan Vinik managed to send a distress signal before being captured. Before the Ganguls could destroy the Jedi Temple, they were attacked by several allies of the Jedi including Durango's parents, Raxlo, Padawan Celesta Kami, Princess Inara, and Taborr's gang. While the Jedi younglings and Kami disabled the Ganguls' bombs, Vinik and Taborr's gang managed to shoot down the Ganguls' flagship Rathtar's Revenge. The Ganguls and several of their vassals were captured by the Jedi, who were joined by Jedi Masters Zia Zaldor Zanna and Carver Drow. With the battle lost, the Comet Runners and Blackbolt fled, bringing an end to the Ganguls' coalition and dream of expelling the Jedi from Tenoo.^[14]

Behind the scenes

The Takeover of Yarrum Tower first appeared in the Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Season Two episode "Tower Run", which premiered on Disney+ on August 14, 2024.^[15]

Appearances

• Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — "Tower Run" (First appearance)

Notes and references