"Deneba Campus: Pre-Republic History"

1—Introduction

Welcome students to my classroom. This course shall endeavor to teach you the history of our galaxy before the age of the Old Republic. Nearly all records from pre-Republic era have long since vanished, but we've managed to piece together enough of galactic history to give us some idea what these ancient beings and civilizations were like.

We here at the Shadow Academy are firm believers in learning from our collective shared histories, whether it's the history of our Orders, our races, our planets, or even our entire galaxy; for it is through history that we learn not only where we've been but where we are going.

2—Formation of the Galaxy

The galaxy was formed some 7.5 billion years ago when the first star was formed in the Cularin system. That star, Morasil, was later joined by a white dwarf star named Termadus to form the binary star system we know today. Over the next several billion years many new stars formed and planetary systems were created. This process slowed down approximately 5 billion years ago with the formation of the Yavin system. At this time most of the Core and Rim stars had been created, though there were still new stars forming from time to time.

The earliest known civilization in the galaxy was created in the Rafu system by a race known as the Sharu. The Sharu created many technological wonders, including plastic pyramids and the Mindharp of the Sharu, a strange object that had the power to shift through different dimensions. The Sharu were thought to be extinct until recently when Lando Calrissian stumbled upon the Mindharp(exact date 4 BBY) and it was activated. This caused the Sharu to come out of their hiding place and once again take up residence on their planet, quite an alarming event for the human inhabitants that had been on the planet for almost a billion years after the Sharu vanished.

The only other major event in this phase of the galaxy's history was the formation of the Osean system 2 billion years ago. This system is nothing more than a series of asteroid belts, what makes it unique is the manner in which it was formed. The Osean system is believed to have been in a phase of planetary formation when a rogue star passing through the galaxy got too close and it's gravity field disrupted the formation process destroying any planets that may have been in their infant stages and creating the unique and abnormally large asteroid fields we see today. It is also at this same period in time that the Sullustans begin to evolve into an intelligent species in the subterranean depths of Sullust.

3—The Killik

The Killik were an advanced insectoid race that originated on Alderaan. They were an ancient race who also colonized Alsakan and claimed to have created Centerpoint Station and saw the creation of the Maw. The Killik were a fairly peaceful species that lived in large colonies known as hives. Around 35,000 BBY the Killik were driven from the planets Alderaan and Alsakan by an unknown force, many theorize they were fleeing from the Rakata who had come to enslave them as they had countless other species.

4—The Infinite Empire

The Infinite Empire was one of the first major powers in the galaxy. The Rakata, or Builders, were a race of amphibious humanoids that developed on the planet Rakata Prime in the Rakata system. The Rakata rose to prominence by developing unique technology that harnessed the power of the Force. The Rakata are also known to have created the earliest forms of energy shielding and, some believe, the first hyperdrives.

The Rakatan hyperdrive was fueled by the Force itself which limited the usefulness of the system. The drive could only travel to planets it could perceive through the Force, as such the Rakatans became conquerors rather than colonizers as the Force powered drive could only perceive planets that already contained enough life to create a presence in the Force.

At it's peak Rakatan civilization formed the Infinite Empire which dominated known space for thousands of years. Using their Dark side fueled technologies the Rakata had enslaved hundreds of developing species, including the Duros and Humans. The Rakata are believed to have sewn the seeds of life across the galaxy inadvertently as they ferried these enslaved species to other worlds in their Empire.

At the height of their power the Rakatan Infinite Empire had enslaved 500 planets, the population of the Empire numbered some 10 billion Rakata and over a trillion slaves of varies species. Notable species under the rule of the Infinite Empire were the Sith of Ziost, the Noghri of Honoghr, native Correllian species, the Wookiees of Kashyyyk, and the Selkath of Manaan. It is also believed that the Rakata defeated the other advanced species of the period which include the Killiks of Alderaan and the Sharu of the Rafa system.

It was during this time of expansion and enslavement that the Rakata created the Star Forge which would later by used by Darth Revan and Darth Malak to create the vast Sith armies that battled the Old Republic immediately following the Mandalorian War. The Star Forge was a great factory that was fueled by the Dark side of the Force and the nearby Rakata star. Using the Force along with the heat, energy, and matter it pulled from this star it was capable of creating virtually anything; starships, weapons, and even droids to fill the Rakatan army.

The size of the Star Forge was extraordinary for its time. Capital ships could easily move between the gaps of the three fins that radiated outwards from the central spherical structure. Though it had no visible means to dock with large vessels many fighter craft and smaller freighters were able to dock at bays located on each of the three fins.

The Star Forge had very little defensive weapons, only a few turbolasers near its hangar bays, the entire defense of the structure rested on the incredibly massive ability it had to create ships. The interior was capable of creating droids for defense and there were several heavy blast doors within the facility that could be closed to thwart and attack. It was also protected by a force field generated from Rakata Prime below that could disable a ship. Once disabled ships would become locked in the gravity well of the planet and slowly lose their orbit until they crashed into the surface below.

After thousands of years of supremacy the Infinite Empire began to crumble. The Star Forge itself was corrupting the minds of the Rakata as it was increasingly used as a conduit to channel the Dark side of the Force. This influence caused the Rakata to wage a civil war upon themselves that lasted for many years. Just as they were recovering from the civil war the Rakata began to suffer from a deadly and rapid spreading plague.

The plague brought the Infinite Empire to its knees and killed untold millions of Rakata, but a worse fate awaited those who survived the initial plague. The plague later began to cause the Rakata to lose their connection to the Force and left them with no clues as to the source of their decreasing sensitivity to the Force. Rakatan scientists worked feverishly to find a cure for the plague but none were successful. The Rakata even began to believe the plague was created by an enslaved species since it only effected the Rakata and no other species. In it was revealed that a mysterious mutation in the plague had caused the Rakata to lose their connection to the Force.

As the amount of Rakata who could use the Force dwindled at an ever increasing rate they lost the ability to control their own technology and were forced to rely on less advanced devices that didn't depend on the Force. Sensing their masters were weak the various slave species begain to revolt on many planets. This eventually lead to the complete collapse of the Infinite Empire in 25, 200 BBY.

After their empire collapsed the Rakata retreated to Rakata Prime. No longer able to use the Force the Rakata quickly reverted to a barbaric and cruel society. Warlords fought for control of the planet and very nearly destroyed it on many occasions. Eventually the surface of the planet became so polluted and war torn that the Rakatan civilization was forced under the ground with only the priest caste remaining on the surface to protect their ancient temples and safeguard the knowledge of their technology and history. In time the Rakata were purposely erased from the records of those they enslaved and the Infinite Empire faded into galactic history.

5—The Hutts and Xim the Despot

The Hutt Empire was an ancient empire with an unknown date of creation and was mainly based in the Outer Rim of the galaxy with a few scattered Mid-rim territories. The empire was governed by a body known as the Clan of the Ancients which was later known as the Hutt Grand Council which ruled from the Si'Klaata Cluster. This empire rose to power in the void between the collapse of the Infinite Empire and the rise of the Old Republic. While the Infinite Empire had ruled through domination and military might and later the the Old Republic would rule though political power, the Hutt Empire ruled by economics by controlling the trade routes.

The Hutts came from the planet Varl in a binary solar system, they worshipped their twin suns, Evona and Ardos as gods. Varl was a lush forest planet that was eventually destroyed. The Hutss claim the planet was destroyed when a black hole devoured Evona and Ardos then collapsed, but it is believed they destroyed the planet themselves with civil wars.

After the loss of Varl the Hutts colonized a planet called Evocar and displaced the native people through uncanny business sense, even evicting them from their own planet. The Hutts renamed their new home Nal Hutta, meaning Glorious Jewel in Huttese and it would later become the capital of the Hutt Empire. Nal Hutta has a single moon, Nar Shadaa, also known as the Smuggler's Moon. Today Nar Shadaa is a well known hub for villiany of all sorts.

Neighboring the Hutt Empire was the Tion Hegemony ruled by a cruel and merciless human named Xim the Despot. Xim's father was a prince in the Hegemony and carved out his own Kingdom which he called Cron from the Livien League which had previously ruled Tion. When he died control of the Kingdom passed to Xim, who unlike his father was nothing more than a pirate and a thug.

Xim greatly expanded his kingdom between 25,130 BBY and his death in 25,100 BBY. His most noted conquest was the present day Corporate Sector. Many believe the lack of native life in the Sector upon it's founding was due to Xim's practice of casting his enemies into space and mass murdering entire populations.

Xim's decline began 25,105 BBY when he set his eye on the riches of the Hutt Empire. Xim attacked the fleets of Kossak the Hutt, a major warlord of the Hutt Empire. In the 1st Battle of Vontor ones of Xim's fleets were completely destroyed by Kossak. Over the next 5 years Xim and Kossak would trade victories as they fought for control of the Si'Klaata Cluster.

Xim's last defeat came in 25,100 at the 3rd Battle of Vontor when Kossak and his allied conscripts completely destroyed Xim's fleet and war-droids. Kossak had allied with, or enslaved depending on the source, the other species in the Si'Klaata Cluster, the Nikta, Klatooinians, and the Vodran.

The combined might of Kossak and his new army defeated Xima and he is presumed to have died. Following the victory the Treaty of Vontor was signed between the Hutts, Nikto, Klatooinians, and Vodran which set the Hutts up as the overlords of the other 3 species and the eternal rulers of the Si'Klaata Cluster. Xim's demise also led to the end of the Tion Hegemony, after his passing it split into competing kingdoms that routinely warred with one another.

6—Conclusion

100 years after the Hutts defeated the Tion Hegemony the Old Republic formed after a series of wars known as the Unification Wars that spanned most of the known galaxy. The seat of the Republic was set up on Coruscant and this body would rule the galaxy for the next 25,000 years. Eventually I may lecture you on the Old Republic, but not today. I hope you paid attention because you're now going to be tested on this lecture.

Information for this course was researched using Wookieepedia.