The primary starfighter of the Yuuzhan Vong, the coralskipper often proved to be a match - more than a match - for the New Republic starfighters sent into combat against them.

Like all Yuuzhan Vong craft, the yorik-et coralskipper was a bioengineered organism, bred and crafted from yorik-coral. The yorik-et was formed into a rough aproximation of a starfighter, though it appeared to have more in common with an asteroid or a similar hunk of rocky debris. The design was not as streamlined as manufactured fighters - coralskippers followed a basic template, though some shapes differed slightly due to their organic nature - though they were by no means ugly vessels. The triangular craft possessed a natural beauty no New Republic fighter could achieve, despite their deadly nature.

Coralskippers were manned by a single Yuuzhan Vong pilot, who sat in the cockpit located amidships. The pilot was protected by a mica-like transparency, though this was not to give the pilot a view of the battle - their eyes were covered by their cognition hood. This organic device was actually part of the coralskipper, and allowed pilot and ship to communicate together. While wearing the cognition hood, the pilot could feel what the coralskipper felt, and both could speak to each other in their shared tongue. Thus, the ship itself could relay tactical information to the pilot, negating the need for a sensor array.

The cognition hood was also used to inform the pilot if the yorik-et was injured, tired or hungry. Being a living creature, the coralskipper suffered from these conditions, though this was not seen as a weakness. Injuries could be healed by the coralskipper itself, though serious wounds required an extensive rest - though such an injury could leave the yorik-et with a scar for life. As New Republic ships were refuelled before entering combat, coralskippers were nourished before engaging the enemy. Coralskippers 'ate' molten rocks, which also provided ammunition for their weaponry.

Coralskippers carried two weapons in battle. The first, and primary, weapon, was the volcano cannon. This appendage, which sprouted from the tapered nose of the yorik-et, fired plasma globs at enemies. When a coralskipper neared an enemy, its cannon would open and erupt like a volcano - hence the name. The molten rock was capable of burning right through a New Republic starfighter. The firing appendage also propelled the craft, using the opposing force of the magma release to push the yorik-et. However, the coralskipper's second weapon also provided propulsion, as well as defences for the vessel.

The dovin basal was located at the front of the craft, though it was barely visible tucked beneath the firing appendage. Resembling a disembodied heart, the dovin basal was able to generate a miniature black hole, by manipulating gravity in the area around the coralskipper. Any weapon fired at the craft would get sucked into the gravitic field, rendering it harmless. However, the dovin basal had to direct its black hole, so it could be overwhelmed by multiple or staggered shots. If a laser penetrated the coralskipper's yorik coral hull, it would probably kill the craft.

Dovin basals also acted as the Yuuzhan Vong equivalent of the hyperdrive, latching onto gravitic fields to drag the fighter through space. However, as with short-range New Republic ships, coralskippers were often carried into battle. Larger craft such as the miid ro'ik warship and the worldship featured thin tendrils arrayed along their sides. Coralskippers attached to these arms, and were pulled along with the transport. They also provided extra propulsion, being able to grab onto gravity fields to aid in moving the larger craft.

The New Republic first encountered the coralskipper over Helska 4. Kyp Durron and his squadron fought the fighters, though the entire squad - save Kyp - was destroyed by the ruthless yorik-et. The New Republic soon learned how the coralskippers were so effectively coordinated in battle - a yammosk. The creature, based on Helska 4, sent telepathic commands to the coralskippers, organizing them like no New Republic squadron ever could. Yet when the yammosk was killed in a subsequent engagement, the coralskippers floundered, having relied entirely on the war coordinator's guidance. More yammosks were quick to arrive, and the tables turned again.

Throughout the war, both Yuuzhan Vong and New Republic developed new tactics in starfighter combat. The coralskippers could be taken down by low-powered laser fire - which overloaded the dovin basals - or finished off with a powerful proton torpedo. Later, coralskippers were used as projectile weapons, flinging themselves directly at their targets during the Battle of Fondor. Coralskippers were present during the epic final battle over Coruscant, though the ships were grounded when Zonama Sekot attempted to sue for peace. The war ended, thus negating the need for coralskippers as combat vessels - save for the few owned by those who refused to surrender, determined to fight to the bitter end.

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Page created: 03 April 2004