INFO: Cha'a were a small orange-scaled reptilian species, known for their cunning natures. They were part of galactic society for many thousands of years. One of the most famous Cha'a was the Merchant Lord Ssk Kahorr, who lived during the Great Hyperspace War. Other notable Cha'a included three Jedi students who trained alongside Jacen and Jaina Solo.
RACE: Cha'a
HEIGHT: 3 Meters Tall
SKIN: Gold to orange
DISTINCTION: 3 fingered hands
LANGUAGE: Cha'an
HOMEWORLD:Empress Teta, formerly known as Koros Major and also called Cinnagar, was an ecumenopolis world in the Deep Core. It was named after the Koros system's ruler Empress Teta who unified the system following the Unification Wars in 5,000 BBY.
It was the capital of Teta Sector and was located on both the Koros Trunk Line and the Carbonite Run, and for a short time on the Daragon Trail. Empress Teta was the main hub of galactic civilization in the Deep Core and was also one of the few highly urbanized planets in the region to rival Coruscant itself in fashion and amenities.
Much of Empress Teta's landmass was covered by its principal city Cinnagar. Thus, many confused Cinnagar with the entire planet even in official documents. Cinnagar featured beautiful and ancient buildings which date back to the reconstruction following the Great Hyperspace War in 5,000 BBY. Since then Empress Teta began to rival the galactic capital Coruscant itself, in the Deep Core.
The remaining natural landmass was occupied by carbonite mines and what little remained of the native fauna and flora. Empress Teta was prosperous and was dominated by ornate buildings and an artistic style that made walking through its ecumenopolis a treat.
HistoryThe worlds of the Koros system were first colonized by Coruscanti via generation ships sometime prior to the advent of hyperdrive, and the discovery of rich carbonite veins there spurred the advancement of sleeper ships in exploration. Large numbers of illegal mining claimants eventually led to the declaration of ownership by the aristocrats of Teta, supported by the Republic. The subsequent Unification Wars forged the legend of the Empress that would become the system's namesake.
In 5,000 BBY, Koros Major was attacked by the Sith Empire, but defended by Empress Teta and the Jedi. However, the planet was taken over in 3,997 BBY by the Krath cult, who deflected a Mandalorian attack in 3,996 BBY.
Empress Teta was one of the few Galactic Republic member worlds in the Deep Core. As a major exporter of carbonite, it was an important member of the Galactic Empire. The planet was also one of the few worlds in the Deep Core to remain relatively multispecies despite the Humanocentrist policies of the Imperials.
The planet's location in the hard-to-navigate Deep Core made it easy to defend, and the New Republic planned to evacuate their government to the planet in the eventuality Coruscant fell to the Yuuzhan Vong. However, Senatorial opposition to the plan caused it to be shelved, and when Coruscant actually fell, the government fled to Mon Calamari. It can be assumed that even after the Yuuzhan Vong War had ended Empress Teta continued to rival Coruscant in the Deep Core, continuing with the Galactic Alliance.
BIOLOGY AND APPEARANCE:Cha'a were a delicately scaled reptilian species, of predominatly orange coloration. Above their wide set slitted eyes, a line of horns ran along the top of their heads and continued down their backs. They had long snouts with sharp teeth and a long, dexterous tongue. Cha'a were carnivorous, using their sharp teeth to consume live wabbas, shortly after they hatched. These teeth were sometimes also used against Cha'a hatchling-mates, determining the dominant members of each clutch of eggs. Cha'a were bipedal, with each limb ending in three clawed digits.
Cha'a were a technically proficient species, designing spaceships such as the Cha'a drone ships and droids such as the message pod. The design of their drone ships featured distinctive designs with large ornate figureheads integrated into the design. One such ship was the Zeta Five which was destroyed on an untested hyperspace route that passed too close to the star Primus Goluud.
CULTURE AND HISTORY:Cha'a were active in galactic life from the times of the early Galactic Republic. Spread across the galaxy, Cha'a were known to live on urban worlds such as Empress Teta and well as the mining colony of Goluud Minor.
One powerful Cha'a in that era was Ssk Kahorr, head of a trading fleet of drone ships. As a representative of his species, Kahorr was a ambitious individual, willing to take risks in his business, such as using the newly found Goluud Corridor hyperspace route to assess the mining colony. When the route proved unstable and destroyed his cargo-ship Zeta Five, he had the Navigators' Guild representative Shodon Ko killed and paid bounty hunters to hunt down the route's discovers, Dav and Jori Daragon. This ruthlessness and competitiveness likely evolved from the practice of consuming hatchling-mates.
Cha'a continued to be part of the galactic community into the New Republic era, where three Cha'a hatchling-mates underwent training at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. They helped defend the Praxeum from the assault by the Second Imperium, hiding in the murky jungle rivers to ambush Dark Jedi.
As a species, Cha'a were also targeted by the Diversity Alliance as possible recruits. Hovrak identified them as being wily, and ambitious, traits beneficial to the Alliance, although it is unclear if any joined as the Alliance was defeated shortly afterwards.
APPEARANCES:Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith (First appearance)
Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire
Young Jedi Knights: Jedi Under Siege
Young Jedi Knights: Diversity Alliance (Mentioned only)
SOURCES:The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
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