Topas dosLa

"Such responsibility for such a young age. I am, well..." "Impressed, Liege?''" "''Yes, that word will do.""

- The liege and Destor

Topas dosLa was the Overliege of Ukio when it seceded from the Galactic Republic in 22 BBY. During the Clone Wars he welcomed padawan Tyzen Xebec during the inspection of the planet's energy shield. During the carrying out of the Separatist's Project Instinction, he was driven mad; he had saved the crops from lack of sunlight only to be destroyed by the trampling of gigauns instead. Demanding answers, dosLa violently smashed the controls of an Ukian worker's work station with his staff. Later, he resigned, and made his last order for the clones to leave Ukio.

Secession and readmittance
"Many of the worlds that we service, our neighbors, have already seceded. It is most prudent for us to continue serving them as best as possible. Furthermore, removed from the burden of Republic tariffs and bureaucracy, we will actually see a rise in efficiency and, eventually, profits for our farmers."

- Overliege Topas dosLa

Topas dosLa, a male Ukian, ruled the agriworld Ukio as Overliege during the Separatist Crisis. In 22 BBY, he and several other leaders of worlds in the Abrion sector chose to secede from the Galactic Republic, and join the fledgling Confederacy of Independent Systems. The choice was made by dosLa primarily due to the fact that many of the worlds that Ukio serviced had already seceded, and he felt it was prudent for Ukio itself to continue providing those services. In addition, his world would be free of the Republic tariffs, and the Overliege looked forward to an increase in productivity from Ukio's farmers. Shortly thereafter, dosLa was persuaded by Grand Master Yoda of the Jedi Order to rejoin the Republic. A personal treatise was worked out, and Ukio returned to the Republic's fold.

When the Clone Wars broke out, the Republic came to suspect that the Confederacy of Independent Systems was targeting Ukio. To that end, a task force commanded by Jedi General Keelyvine Reus was dispatched to the agriworld, to make sure that the Ukian defenses would hold. Overliege dosLa and his assistant, Destor, waited for an inspection team at a landing pad. Destor checked the security, and when he was sure that the area was clear, dosLa welcomed the clone troopers, who were led by a Padawan, the Zabrak Tyzen Xebec. dosLa was taken aback by the youth of the Zabrak, who welcomed the Overliege personally back to the Republic. The Overliege was prompted to comment on Xebec's apparent inexperience, but Destor quickly interjected, suggesting that dosLa was impressed with the young Jedi. The Ukian was curious as to whether or not the clone troopers took umbrage at being subordinate to one so young, but their leader, Commander Ganch, revealed that they were in fact technically younger than Xebec.

The Padawan instructed dosLa to allow his men to complete a thorough and full inspection of the planetary shield generator. dosLa was only to happy to, as the Ukians were proud of their defensive technology, but when Xebec then informed him that he would be talking with the farmers and workers, the Overliege questioned the wisdom of his actions. The Padawan, however, was adamant that he would have to know the people of a given world if he was to understand it. dosLa was then led away by Ganch, and began the inspection tour. At the Ukian shield generator, dosLa expounded upon the various security measures in place that ensured that the planetary shield would permanently remain in effect. The Commander was impressed, and then startled by a herd of charging gigaun outside the generator complex. dosLa calmly explained that the creatures were harmless, and that their subsonic calls caused the Ukian grain to germinate&mdash;hence, they were essential to the ecology of Ukio.

Battleground
"You came back to Ukio to protect us. What if there's nothing left to protect?"

- Topas dosLa

The complex soon received an orbital alert, and soon, the planet fell into darkness as black, cloud like substance obscured the sun. In no time, communications were jammed, infuriating the Overlord, as they would not be able to work in darkness. Soon, a faint transmission came in from the Republic flagship&mdash;Generals Reus and Kit Fisto were in holo conference, along with Admiral Dron. Reus informed dosLa that the Confederacy had deployed an electro-magnetic and photosensitive material onto the planetary shield. The substance would cling to the shield, and follow Ukio's orbit around its sun, perpetually blocking out the sunlight. This sent the Overlord into a panic&mdash;the sensitive Ukian crops would be destroyed without the proper sunlight. Despairing, he suggested that they briefly drop the planetary shield, in an attempt to allow the cloud to disperse. Both Reus and Ganch advised against the action, as it was likely precisely what the Confederacy was after.

Angered, the Overliege rounded on Ganch, and reminded him that if the crops were destroyed, he and his Republic would have nothing left to defend. Reus consulted Captain Pharl McQuarrie as to whether opening the shield would disperse the cloud&mdash;he confirmed that such an action would prove effective. The General gave the Overliege clearance to drop a small area of the shield, the same size as the disturbance, in exactly fifteen minutes, for as briefly as possible. The timing was essential, as it would allow the Republic fleet to get in range of the Confederate presence as the shield was opened, which would in turn allow Dron's forces to prevent the enemy from penetrating Ukio's atmosphere. As ordered, dosLa had the shields dropped on schedule, effectively dispersing the cloud.

Personality and traits
"You are no longer welcome on Ukio!"

- Topas dosLa

Overliege dosLa referred to trouble makers as "riff-raff," and was loathe to have them present when he welcomed the Republic's inspection team. He also disliked his assistant Destor's glum demeanor, and encouraged him to take on a more positive attitude. When he discovered that the inspection team was to be led by a young Zabrak, he was taken aback, but Destor managed to avert any potential cause for insult. dosLa was also a curious being, as he was interested in the concept of clone troopers being subordinate to one as young as Padawan Xebec, although technically the clones were younger than the Zabrak. The Overliege was proud of Ukio's defenses, but was unsure that Xebec should interact with the farmers and workers of Ukio.

The Overliege was sent into a panic when the Confederacy blacked out Ukio's son by applying their electro-magnetic substance onto the planetary shield. He despaired when he was informed of the perpetual eclipse would have to endure&mdash;the Ukian crops were high-maintenance, and sensitive as a result. The loss of any sunlight would spell disaster for his people&mdash;a prospect that angered dosLa. He was willing to sacrifice the security of his planet by opening the shield, purely to save the Ukian crops, as he felt they were more important.

Behind the scenes
Topas dosLa was first mentioned in the webcomic The Clone Wars: Act on Instinct, written by Pablo Hidalgo and published in 2009. He had been referenced several years earlier in HoloNet News Vol. 531 52, written by Hidalgo and Paul Ens.

Appearances

 * The Clone Wars: Act on Instinct
 * The Clone Wars: Act on Instinct

Notes and references
Topas dosLa