Loppak Slusk

"His name is Loppak Slusk, and he's the head of Exchange operations here on Citadel Station."

- Luxa

Loppak Slusk was a male Quarren crime boss on Citadel Station representing the Exchange, an intergalacitc crime syndicate. Instructed by Goto, the Nar Shaddaa crime boss, Slusk came to Citadel Station over Telos to try and integrate the Exchange into the new Telos. Making an alliance with the Czerka Corporation brought the attention of the Jedi Exile, a Jedi who happened to have a bounty on her head. When Slusk tried to collect the bounty, the Exile resisted, and Slusk's operations almost came to an end.

Biography
"All Goto sees is numbers, and since Slusk keeps a steady flow of credits going, he keeps him around."

- Luxa

Around 3,951 BBY, Slusk was instructed by his boss, the Exchange crimelord Goto, to start a new Exchange cell on Citadel Station. After the planet Telos was bombarded by the Sith Empire, the massive Citadel Station had been constructed to serve as a home for displaced Telosians as well as a base for the Telosian Restoration Project, a massive terraforming operation that would restore the surfce of Telos.

The far-sighted Goto hoped that Slusk's cell could integrate themselves into the Telosian economy before it was reconstructed. Slusk was able to successfully establish an Exchange base on Citadel Station, using the legitamate front of the Bumani Exchange Corporation to act as the Exchange's legal face. He recruited several lieutenants, including Benok and Luxa. Before long, the Exchange began conducting a number of illegal operations over Telos, including illegal arms and spice smuggling, and controlling gambling outfits.

"It is as I feared. Czerka must have made an alliance with the Exchange!"

- Chodo Habat

During this time Slusk made a deal with Jana Lorso, Czerka Corporation representative on Citadel Station. Lorso was attempting to sieze control of the Restoration project away from the peaceful Ithorians. Slusk agreed to provide extra muscle for Czerka in an attempt to harrass the Ithorians, in exchange for use of Czerka's private hangers to use in their illegal operations. This plan proved beneficial for both sides, until the arrival of the Jedi Exile.

Only a short time prior to the Exile's arrival on the station, Goto himself had posted a massive bounty on all Jedi. Slusk intended to capture the Exile and transport him to Nar Shaddaa. The Exile was arrested by the TSF, pending an investigation of the destruction of the Peragus Mining Facility (the Exile was suspected of involvement). Slusk, utilizing one of Czerka's hangers, allowed an assassin posing as a TSF agent named Batu Rem to come aboard the station. The assassin took it from there, deactivating security cameras, etc. The assassin failed however, and the Exile was later released.

The Exile obviously wanted to make trouble on the station, and put a damper on Czerka's plan. Lorso contacted Slusk, and asked him to send a band of thugs to one of the dock modules and retrieve a information droid from the Ithorians. Slusk attempted to do so, but the Exile had allied herself with the Ithorians and dispatched the assassins.

Soon after, a illegally-modified blaster carried by one of her assailants, led the Exile to Samhan Dobo, the chief supplier of black market arms on Citadel Station. The Exile subsequently shut down Samhan's operations with the help of the TSF, crippling a leg of Slusk's operations.

"Ah, you must be the Jedi." "I'm no Jedi." "Good, then it will make it that much easier to kill you."

- Slusk and the Jedi Exile

The final act of the Exile against Slusk was the infiltration of his headquarters. Despite having informed his security personnel that no one representing the Ithorians was to be admitted, the Exile nonetheless entered the offices of the Exchange. Slusk was confronted by the Exile, claiming to have come representing Chodo Habat, the leader of the Ithorians on Citadel Station. Enraged that the Exile had been able to infiltrate his headquarters, Slusk ordered his chief-enforcer, Benok, to handle the Jedi.

The Exile killed Benok and his men, and followed Slusk to his quarters. Slusk furious that the Gamorrean guarding the door to his office had given the Exile access, sent his droid bodyguards to destroy the Exile, and shut his office tight.

But not even droids could stop the Jedi. Slusk, fearful for his life, asked the Exile what he wanted. The Exile simply told him that she wanted the Exchange to lay off the Ithorians. Slusk was surprised that the Exile went to all the trouble for just a simple request, but the meeting was interrupted by Luxa. Suspicious, Slusk asked Luxa if she had been responsible for the Jedi's admittance. Luxa confirmed Slusk's suspicions, obviously intending to take power from Slusk, with the Jedi's help. The Jedi, however, tried not to get involved. Enraged that the Exile would not help her as she had planned, Luxa attacked the Exile, flanked by her Gamorrean bodyguards. Together, Slusk and the Exile defeated Luxa's coup d'état.

"Why should I do this?" "You've seen what I can do here, and know how much trouble I can make." "You have a good point; but I warn you, the Exchange is not bullied! If you push, expect to be pushed back!"

- Slusk and the Jedi Exile

The Exile once again asked Slusk to lay off the Ithorians, claiming that she had proved she could make trouble for Slusk. Slusk, seeing the Jedi's proven strength, agreed to lay off the Ithorians, but warned the Exile that the Exchange was not bullied, and when they were pushed, they pushed back.

Personality and traits
"What's wrong with your boss?" "What? You mean besides his being a typically slimy Quarren?"

- The Jedi Exile and Luxa

Slusk was very much like most Quarren. He had little regard for the intelligence of others, considering himself to be superior. This arrogance caused him much trouble, as he not only underestimated Luxa's capability for betrayal, but also the abilities and powers of the Jedi. Nevertheless, Slusk was an adept businessman, and operated the operations on Citadel Station very well, pulling in a stable flow of credits. As such, Goto held Slusk in high regard, viewing successful Exchange bosses as superior to more ruthless ones, or more tactful.

Slusk himself did not have a very large moral center, obviously due to his affiliation with an intergalactic crime syndicate. Nevertheless, Slusk was not above bribery or extortion, and did whatever he could to root the Exchange into Citadel Station, bribing officials, and assassinating other potentially troublesome targets. Slusk also did not tolerate foolishness, threatening to kill subordinates for allowing a representative of the Ithorians to enter the Exchange offices.

Slusk also held his personal saftey in very high regard, surrounding himself with a number of defenses for his own protection. Slusk was always flanked by two droid bodygaurds, similar in construction to the war-droid series. The chamber outside his office was filled with ruthless Gamorrean gaurds. Beyond that, Benok usually had a few men stationed near the door when he was away. Benok himself was Slusk's "chief of security" (or in other words, top thug). Closer to home, Slusk had to concealed turrets on either side of his desk.

Slusk wore an array of gear, typical for most Quarren at the time. He wore long blusish-white robes, with a wide metal belt going across his torso, and a short brown cape behind him that fell to his lower back. Slusk also had a sonic pistol, similar to other Quarren crime bosses, such as Saquesh.

Behind the scenes
Although the above is considered the most canonically light side ending, the following options are available to the Exile.

If the Exile is working for the Ithorians:
 * Willingly team up with Slusk, not just out of necessity.
 * Spare Slusk at the end.(Light side)
 * Kill him at the end.(Dark side)
 * Team up with Luxa as planned.
 * Turn on Luxa after Slusk is dead.(Dark side)
 * Be turned on by Luxa.
 * Decide to kill both Slusk and Luxa. (Dark side)

Alternatively, the Exile, if on the Dark Side of the Force, can ally herself with Czerka, and attempt to kill Slusk for Jana Lorso, to which Slusk feels betrayed. The scenario can be played similarly to the above encounter :
 * Turn on Luxa, and join with Slusk.
 * Spare Slusk at the end.(Light side)
 * Kill Slusk for Lorso as planned.(Dark side)
 * Kill Slusk for Lorso as planned.(Dark side)
 * Be turned on by Luxa.
 * Turn on Luxa.(Dark side)
 * Decide to kill both Slusk and Luxa.(Dark side)
 * Try not to get involved.(Light side)
 * Turn on Slusk at the end.(Dark side)

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Notes and references
Loppak Slusk