Shimrra Jamaane

From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.

Shimrra Jamaane was the Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong during their invasion of the Galaxy. While Shimrra was the official leader of the Yuuzhan Vong, he had actually become a puppet of his jester, Onimi. Being the last Yuuzhan Vong to possess a connection to the Force, Onimi used mind control to bend Shimrra to his will. During the Second Battle of Coruscant, Shimrra was beheaded in a duel with Luke Skywalker, and Onimi was killed by Jacen Solo.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life and ascension 1.2 The eighth cortex 1.3 The turn of the tide 1.4 The tyrant 1.5 Death of a Dread Lord 2 Physical appearance 3 Personality and traits 4 Behind the scenes 5 Appearances 6 Sources 7 Notes and references

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and ascension

Shimrra was a member of Domain Jamaane, one of the few Domains not confined to a single Caste. He was originally a member of the Intendant caste by birth, though he was feared for his prowess in combat. He had a twin brother, which was a rare event in the Yuuzhan Vong culture and that made both the brothers candidates for the next Supreme Overlord.^[1] To limit the pool of rivals, and ensure a great destiny, he killed his brother at the age of seven as an example of his strength—and also as an early warning of his viciousness. He strongly disagreed with Supreme Overlord Quoreal's decision to avoid the Galaxy after the discovery of Zonama Sekot by Supreme Commander Zho Krazhmir. Gathering loyal Domains, he launched a coup, and usurped and killed Quoreal, thus beginning preparations for a Yuuzhan Vong invasion. However, it would take some time for the rest of the Yuuzhan Vong convoy to complete the trek through the Intergalactic Void. During that time, Shimrra would suppress all available information regarding Zonama Sekot, and was able to subtly manipulate the Yuuzhan Vong religion by using his supposed connection with the gods to secure his power base. However, some of Quoreal's followers managed to remain hidden, planning to reemerge when the time was right.^[2]

[edit] The eighth cortex

Shimrra claimed that the Gods had also granted him a vision of the Eighth Cortex of the Shaping Protocols, which would grant the Yuuzhan Vong the power to conquer the Galaxy. In truth, the Cortex was almost completely empty, and Shimrra was soon forced to look for new avenues. The protocols of the Eighth Cortex were too rigid to allow experimentation, and the Master Shapers Yal Phaath and Ch'Gang Hool were too conservative to allow for any type of change. They did, however, appear to have condoned the efforts of Master Shaper Taug Molou in creating the Vagh Rodiek, and Mezhan Kwaad also implied that Shimrra condoned her heretical actions on Yavin 4. However, when Mezhan was killed and her apprentice Nen Yim was banished, Shimrra sent Onimi to follow and observe her—Shimrra was interested to see if she was willing to defy the Protocols to make new advances. Claiming that the Protocols were taken from Yun-Yuuzhan by Yun-Harla, and from there to Yun-Ne'Shel, Shimrra said that new protocols had been made available to him, but that Nen Yim would have to labor for it. After offering the resources of his household to her, Nen eagerly accepted.^[3]

[edit] The turn of the tide

After the conquest and Terraforming of Coruscant into Yuuzhan'tar, Shimrra brought his vessel to the planet, and it was made to be his Citadel. He then commanded Warmaster Tsavong Lah to slow the assaults to allow the Warrior caste time to replenish their ranks. At the same time he refused to launch a full scale investigation into the Jeedai heresy which had begun to infect the workers of the lower castes on Yuuzhan'tar. Meanwhile, he executed Hool for his incompetence over his inability to control the World Brain, and began killing more Shapers as they failed to gain control of the situation. During the troubled time that was being experienced on Yuuzhan'tar, Executor Nom Anor brought forward information that the New Republic had taken refuge in the Deep Core—he believed that if the Yuuzhan Vong moved quickly, then they could wipe out the enemy and easily bring an end to the war. Confident of success, Shimrra granted Warmaster Lah five battle groups, convinced that his position would be secure.^[4]

However, the Battle of Ebaq 9 saw the Yuuzhan Vong utterly defeated at the hands of the New Republic—Warmaster Tsavong Lah was killed during the fierce fighting, and the battle witnessed a large portion of the Yuuzhan Vong fleet destroyed. In a bold act to shore up his steadily weakening position, Shimrra ordered the Yuuzhan Vong to resume the offensive, including an invasion of Imperial Space, and to begin an all out purge of the Jeedai heretics. He also called for the skin of Nom Anor, with the apparent intention of wearing it as a cloak. He then escalated Supreme Commander Nas Choka, a more conservative commander than Lah, to the position of Warmaster.^[4]

[edit] The tyrant

As the war dragged on, Onimi began to lose his control over Shimrra, who became increasingly unstable: he was constantly attacking the followers of the prophet Yu'shaa, and murdering scores of suspected followers of the Jeedai heresy. For a time, Yu'shaa, who was actually the exiled Nom Anor, arranged for the Priestess Ngaaluh to act as his spy in Shimrra's court.^[5] With the information that Ngaaluh provided Yu'shaa, the heretics were able to stage a number of successful raids against their Yuuzhan Vong enemies—the fact that the heretics were continually one step ahead of Shimrra, led him to believe that he had a traitor in his court. This led to several whole Domains being wiped out, but finally, Shimrra realized that he had been deceived by Ngaaluh.^[6] The damage, however, was already done and the heretics were now organized into a cohesive and structured rebellion. Following the increasing attacks of the rebels, even Shimrra's closest supporters began to question the Overlord's ability to rule. Sensing this, Shimrra had Qelah Kwaad create the Slayers, a group of deadly and specially bred priest-warriors, who were capable of healing almost immediately when struck and wielded deadlier variants of the standard amphistaff and coufee. The Elite of the Yuuzhan Vong denounced their creation as heresy, but when they saw how dangerous they were, they ceased their complaints. However, as a favor to the Elite, Shimrra allowed his proclamations and decrees to be analyzed by a quartet of seers, one from each of the four ruling castes. The Royal Seers, however, could do little more than pray for the Gods kindness, as Shimrra was ultimately seen as the only link to the Gods.^[7]

However, Shimrra still had other problems—Commander Ekh'm Val, who had rediscovered Zonama Sekot, was executed to prevent the living world from becoming public knowledge. Many, though, heard of it. When Nom Anor informed Shimrra that he was on Zonama Sekot, he offered to destroy it in exchange for a pardon—Shimrra agreed, and took Anor into his confidence. It was then that Shimrra revealed to Anor his true motives for having launched the invasion of the galaxy—despite the belief of the entire Yuuzhan Vong species that the war had been an effort to appease their gods through bloodshed, a maddened Shimrra declared the contrary—that for having been cut off from the Force and forsaken as they crossed the Intergalactic Void, the Yuuzhan Vong were in actuality amidst a self-destructive crusade to defy the will of the gods and to exact revenge upon them.^[8]

Seeking to remove the Galactic Alliance before the living planet returned, Shimrra declared that the Warriors were to launch an attack on Mon Calamari, in an attempt to end the war before Zonama Sekot reappeared. However, the Warrior caste disagreed with this as they were already stretched to their limits. To placate the Elite, Shimrra ordered a massive sacrifice of one thousand Alliance prisoners at the Place of Sacrifice—however, the Shamed Ones disrupted the ceremony and managed to rescue three hundred captives. In savage retaliation, Shimrra executed three thousand Shamed Ones in the Place of Bones. Each died while either praising Yu'shaa or cursing Shimrra and the Yuuzhan Vong Elite. Following this mass execution, Shimrra noticed that his support among the Elite had began to wane. Concerned about the effects that another massive battle could have, and fearful that the gods were angry over the spoiled sacrifice, Warmaster Choka requested more time to prepare before pressing the war. Shimrra, however, dismissed his concerns by telling Choka that his fleet would win, and that he would become a legend.^[2]

[edit] Death of a Dread Lord

When Zonama Sekot arrived in the Yuuzhan'tar system, the Yuuzhan Vong Empire—and Shimrra's control—began to crumble. Several entire Domains refused to come to Yuuzhan'tar's defense, for fear that they would be ordered to attack the fabled world of Zonama Sekot. At the same time the heretics, believing Yu'shaa's prophecy had come to pass, began to revolt against the Elite. The Quorealists, feeling vindicated that Quoreal was right, began spreading information about Zonama Sekot that Shimrra had been trying to suppress. Fortunately for Shimrra, Nas Choka and most of the Warrior caste reminaed loyal to their Overlord.^[7]

Believing Zonama Sekot to be the embodiment of the Yuuzhan Vong's gods, an increasingly insane Shimrra began to make plans to destroy the living planet. Knowing that Sekotan and Yuuzhan Vong lifeforms were similar, he ordered the Slayer ship that had been infected with the Alpha Red virus at Caluula to crash into Zonama Sekot, which would then infect and kill the living planet.^[7]

However, Sekot revealed that it had granted the Jedi its living vessels, showing that it had given its favor to the infidels. Worse, the Galactic Alliance Defense Fleet entered the system, with the intent of retaking Coruscant and bringing about an end to the war. Declaring that the heretics had given them to the Galactic Alliance, Shimrra granted Prefect Nom Anor half of the Citadel's forces to wipe out every Shamed One on Yuuzhan'tar. Shimrra, however, had regained control of the World Brain, and ordered it to begin making the planet uninhabitable. Shimrra apparently suspected defeat, so he decided that if he couldn't have Coruscant, then no one would. Luke Skywalker, accompanied by Jaina and Jacen Solo, reached Shimrra's coffer, where they fought a massive battle against the Slayer bodyguards. Unbeknown to Shimrra and his Jedi enemies, Onimi had begun using his power to coordinate the Slayers and to cause the Citadel to quake—despite Onimi's efforts, one by one the Slayers were killed by the Jedi.^[7]

While Jaina pursued the fleeing Onimi, Shimrra managed to knock out Jacen and proceeded to duel with Luke. Luke, already exhausted from the previous battles, struggled against the Supreme Overlord and Shimrra's Scepter of Power wrapped itself around Luke. As Luke struggled against the amphistaff, Shimrra deflected a revived Jacen's saber throw and revealed that he possessed Anakin Solo's lightsaber. Shimrra intended to kill Luke with his nephew's own lightsaber, so that the Jedi might feel the pain his Warriors had to suffer in fighting living vessels. At that point, Luke released his hold on the amphistaff to push away Shimrra's wrist, allowing the Scepter of Power to bite him. While Shimrra laughed that one more thrust would kill the Jedi Master, Luke pulled the lightsaber from Shimrra's massive hand with the Force. Severing the Scepter of Power, Luke drove the two lightsabers into Shimrra's neck and beheaded him. Like a marionette with its strings cut off, the Dread Lord's massive body fell with a tremendous crash, discarded by the real mastermind, Onimi.^[7]

[edit] Physical appearance

Shimrra Jamaane was both physically impressive and a frightening sight to behold. He was heavily built and imposingly tall, even by Yuuzhan Vong standards—this was attributed to the Shapers of Domain Jamaane. His head was enlarged and modified to resemble that of a Yuuzhan Vong deity, and his eyes were replaced with mqaaq'it implants, which shifted color depending on Shimrra's mood (though they were usually the color that represented anger). His head also bore countless ritual scars, leaving many who saw him to feel that Shimrra's face was merely a massive, unhealed flesh wound. All ten of his fingers were removed and replaced with the fingers of ten different carnivores. These modifications were intended to cause Shimrra to resemble Yun-Yuuzhan, and simply looking at him caused instincts of worship for some Yuuzhan Vong.^[3]

[edit] Personality and traits

Shimrra's personality was unpredictable. He was known to have been rather fickle, favoring one person this day and another the next. He also had an uncontrollable rage that could spring forth at any time—he executed Master Shaper Ch'Gang Hool because he was unable to gain control of the World Brain, and executed entire Domains for merely being suspected for having sympathy for the Jeedai heresy.^[6]

He also ordered an attack on Mon Calamari in seeming defiance of rational goals. However, Shimrra appeared to have some measure of introspection—he seemed genuinely curious about from where the heretics learned their doctrine. He was also adept at playing on the passions of Yuuzhan Vong Elite, being able to incite them into a frenzy with just a few words (though this may have been caused by Onimi).^[7]

[edit] Behind the scenes

Despite what the artwork in The New Essential Chronology showed, when Luke Skywalker crossed the lightsabers in their duel, Shimrra's Scepter of Power should have already be slashed to pieces, as described in the The New Jedi Order series.^[2][7]

[edit] Appearances

• Boba Fett: A Practical Man (Mentioned only)
• Dark Tide II: Ruin (Indirect mention only)
• Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial (First mentioned)
• Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse (Mentioned only)
• Balance Point (Mentioned only)
• Edge of Victory I: Conquest (Mentioned only)
• Edge of Victory II: Rebirth (First appearance)
• Star by Star
• Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream (Mentioned only)
• Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand (Mentioned only)
• Destiny's Way
• Ylesia
• Force Heretic I: Remnant (Mentioned only)
• Force Heretic II: Refugee
• Or Die Trying
• Force Heretic III: Reunion
• The Final Prophecy
• The Unifying Force
• Dark Nest I: The Joiner King (Mentioned only)

[edit] Sources

• The New Jedi Order Sourcebook
• The New Essential Guide to Characters
• The New Essential Chronology

[edit] Notes and references

Preceded by: Quoreal Supreme Overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong (de jure) 29 BBY–29 ABY Succeeded by: Onimi