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Reference Book: Star Wars Saga Edition Galaxy at War

Main Article: The Ailon Nova Guard

Some societies are founded on commerce, science, or art. The people of Ailon worship fighting, and their military, The Ailon Nova Guard- is one of the finest in the galaxy.

Nearly 13,000 years ago, Ailon became a member of the Republic. Its people quickly realized that the eons of warfare they had endured on their homeworld had forged them into warriors without equal- at least, when compared to the other Species that made up the galactic confederation. Initially contemptuous of Humans, Duros, and others, the Ailon soon grew to respect the Republic's superior technology and realized that they could serve the cause of war by fighting the Republic's enemies. The Ailon Nova Guard hired out its services to the Republic's Supreme Chancellor and used the credits it earned to sustain its homeworld, allowing more Ailon to move from sustenance farming into the military.

The Ailon Nova Guard remained separate from the Republic Army. As a special combat detachment, its members saw service only when the Republic's need was great and when the Republic military had room for them in its annual budget. The Republic did away with its standing military after the Ruusan Reformation in 1000 BBY, and the Nova Guard filled the gap. However, the group could not hide its disgust with a government that had pulled out its own fangs.

The rise of the Empire suited the Nova Guard. Having fought under too-lenient Jedi commanders in Clone Wars debacles such as the Battles of Bassadro and Ord Canfre, The Ailon Nova Guard gravitated toward Emperor Palpatine. Under his orders, they slaughtered The Mandalorian Protectors at Norval II, and the Ailon High Marshal welcomed the chance to further serve the galaxy's iron-fisted ruler.

The feeling was not mutual. Emperor Palpatine and his officers sneered at these non-Humans with delusions of superiority, and they refrained from wiping out Ailon only after the act was deemed an inefficient use of the Empire's resources. Instead, the Empire kept the Nova Guard occupied by sending them on suicide missions. The Ailon High Marshal treated these assignments as great honors, believing the daunting odds to be a sign of the Imperial military's deep respect.

The Empire's scheme backfired when the Nova Guard began winning even these impossible battles. To prevent further embarrassments, the Empire dramatically cut back on Nova Guard activities, leaving the people of Ailon with no outlet but to direct their energy into the annual Ailon Military Celebrations. This string of events, encompassing parades, air shows, ceremonial duels, weapons displays, war games, and salutes to the martial traditions of other cultures, drew tourists from across The Inner Rim and allowed the Nova Guard to keep its units in top shape.

With no active combat killing off Nova Guard soldiers, the high reproduction rate of the Ailon soon swelled their military past its capacity. At its height, The Ailon Nova Guard numbered close to a billion strong. Whole regiments were reassigned solely to the task of training new recruits. After the Empire showed its weakness by losing the Battle of Endor, the Nova Guard volunteered its services to the victorious New Republic.

Setting on its former Imperial with ferocity, the Nova Guard helped The New Republic eradicate Imperial forces in The Inner Rim. As their successes mounted, the Nova Guard moved on to target the Empire's fortress worlds in The Mid Rim.

The New Republic kept The Ailon Nova Guard steadily employed, always aware that the mercenaries could turn on them at the first sign of weakness. This prediction proved true during the first years of the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion. Awed by the invaders' military might, the Nova Guard helped the Yuuzhan Vong conquer The Inner Rim.

Their actions earned the planet Ailon crippling economic sanctions in the postwar era.

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