Topic: The Caridan

[Cimter]

INFO: Carida was a planet of the Colonies region of the galaxy, near the Perlemian Trade Route, and the homeworld of the Caridan race.


RACE: Caridan
HEIGHT: 2 Meters Tall
SKIN: Light tan
DISTINCTION: Spindly arms and legs, squarish faces, three digits, and hooves
LANGUAGE: Caridan

HOMEWORLD:
Carida, is a high-gravity world covered in everything from rocky mountains and frozen ice fields, to rain forests full of carnivorous plants and deserts. As such, this planet was the perfect training ground for combat in difficult terrain. It was an exporter of food, and was ruled by the Council of Merchants, which later shared power with a military administration.

It was the site of a major military training facility, the Academy of Carida, established by at least 5,007 BBY. This facility was converted willingly by the population to an Imperial training center and was home to the Empire's most important stormtrooper program, along with several hundred B3 ultra battle droids. The planet remained loyal to the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars and was an adamant supporter of the Galactic Empire until the bitter end.

The planet also had numerous rancor on it that had been transplanted from Dathomir. They were often used for training exercises, pitting stormtroopers or Imperial vehicles against them. The planet was also the site of the Battle of Carida, between forces under Grand Admiral Thrawn and ships of the Zann Consortium

The MT-AT "Spider Walker" was developed and manufactured here. General Veers also tested the first AT-AT there. Carida was also the homeworld of Admiral Kendal Ozzel.

Carida's Mascot Moon had the Academy's logo carved on its surface. In 5–10 BBY, Mako Spince attempted to remove it using antimatter, but instead of achieving this goal, the moon was destroyed.

The Destruction of Cardia
The planet was destroyed in 11 ABY by Jedi Kyp Durron, under the influence of the spirit of Sith Lord Exar Kun, by using the Sun Crusher, a superweapon that fired missiles into a star and caused it to go nova. Beforehand, Kyp requested information on his brother Zeth who had been forced into the stormtrooper program. The Caridans falsely told him Zeth was killed in a training maneuver and in a rage, Durron fired a resonance torpedo at the system's sun. Kyp announced they had two hours to evacuate before their world was destroyed, and just before it happened, Dauren alerted him that Zeth was still alive. Many Imperials evacuated from the planet.

As Kyp raced to the surface to find Zeth, the sun collapsed and exploded in two massive shockwaves. Kyp, in his armored vessel, watched in horror as the first wave killed every living being on the planet, and as the second wave cracked the planet in half.

BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:
The Caridan were a mammalian species of Carida. Average Caridans stood over 2 meters tall and possessed dense musculatures due to Carida's high gravity level. They spoke Caridan and most also spoke Basic.

CULTURE AND HISTORY:
Caridan society was structured around a mercantile culture led by an active market and Caridan owned industrial firms. In fact, the Caridans were widely known for their appraisal and bartering skills.

The Caridans cooperated with the Galactic Republic and later the Galactic Empire in the operation of the Academy of Carida. The Empire's xenophobia ignored the Caridans outside the Imperial compound, although tensions grew after the Battle of Yavin.

Many Caridans vanished from the galaxy with the destruction of Carida at the hand of Kyp Durron. The few Caridans that survived were off-world as traders, New Republic operatives or fringers. Notable Caridans included Imperial Ambassador Furgan of Carida.

APPEARANCES:
Carida Backs Military Creation Act—HoloNet News Vol. 531 52
Boba Fett: Maze of Deception
Boba Fett: Hunted
Jedi Search (First appearance)
Dark Apprentice
Champions of the Force
Star by Star (Mentioned only)

SOURCES:
The Jedi Academy Sourcebook
The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons (Carida entry)
Carida: Heavy Duty on Wizards.com (article)
The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia

I would like to thank Wookieepedia for this info.