Stark Hyperspace War/Legends


 * For the Star Wars: Republic story arc, see Star Wars Republic: The Stark Hyperspace War



The Stark Hyperspace War (44 BBY) was a conflict that pitted the Galactic Republic against the Stark Commercial Combine, led by the pirate Iaco Stark. It was also called the Stark War, Stark Conflict, and the Stark Hyperspace Conflict.

Overview
When a bacta shortage gripped the galaxy, Stark and his pirates became heroes in the Outer Rim as they sought out bacta shipments, which those worlds could no longer afford due to the skyrocketed price of bacta. These turn of events threatened to plunge the galaxy into war, and as the Jedi discussed the matters among their members, so did the Republic.

Not all believed in the severity of the bacta shortage and the intuition of certain Jedi, most notably Tyvokka, had led many to believe there was no shortage at all.

As the Senators of the Republic discussed the conflict, Senator Finis Valorum proposed that a meeting take place between the Stark Commercial Combine and a combination of Jedi, Republic, and Trade Federation representatives.

In a meeting with Senator Valorum and other Jedi Masters, Tyvokka spoke his uncertainty of the bacta shortage, and suggested that Jedi Master Tholme and his Padawan Quinlan Vos travel to Thyferra, the planet on which an apparent disaster was the catalyst for the shortage, to discover the truth.

The conference was to take place in a secret location known only to the visiting parties, and the location that was chosen was the planet of Troiken. Other Jedi Knights to accompany Tyvokka were, his apprentice Plo Koon, Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi, as well as Jedi Master Adi Gallia. When the meeting began, elsewhere in the galaxy, a bellicose Senator, Ranulph Tarkin, who strongly advocated the establishment of a legitimate Republic Army and Navy, prepared to launch into hyperspace, hoping to surprise Stark and his forces and utterly defeat them. Although the location of the meeting was to be secret, Tarkin obtained the location through clandestine dealings with a Trade Federation representative. Unfortunately, Stark learned of this, and believing the conference was just a trap to capture him, the pirate took the initiative to set a trap for the Jedi, the Senators, and Tarkin as well.

Once the meeting began, Stark ambushed the Jedi with a company of soldiers armed with powerful weapons and revealed to the Jedi and Senators his plan to deal with Tarkin's fleet. Creating a computer virus that infected all Republic ships, Tarkin's fleet was scattered across the galaxy once they entered hyperspace, some sent into planets, stars, black holes, and some right into the middle of Stark's own fleet to be decimated. Feeling he had the Jedi surrounded, Stark offered the Jedi a chance to surrender since he felt they had no other choice.

Literally turning the conference table upside down on Stark and his soldiers, the Jedi ignited their lightsabers and began to fight their way out of the trap in what became known as the First Battle of Qotile. Additionally, the Trade Federation representative demanded he be allowed to bring along a number of battle droids for protection, and during the melee activated the droids and instructed them to attack. However, the unreliable battle droids attacked not only Stark's soldiers, but also the Jedi. In the end, Tyvokka was hit multiple times by blasts from the battle droids. When most of Stark's soldiers, as well as Stark himself, had been killed or escaped, the Jedi turned to Tyvokka and his terminal injuries.

Tyvokka ordered the other Jedi to pursue Stark, and only Plo Koon remained at his side as he was attended to by a medical droid. Tyvokka's injuries were so bad that he could not survive and so he told Plo Koon that it was Adi Gallia's charge to protect Senator Valorum, as only he held the key to a peaceful resolution; it was Master Qui-Gon's charge to discover a solution to the virus that crippled the Republic's navicomputers, and finally he gave his orders to Plo Koon. Plo Koon was to rally the troops, for if they surrendered, so would the Senate. Finally, he expressed his wishes for Plo Koon to fill his empty seat on the Council,

Plo Koon would lead the Republic to victory in both the First Battle of Qotile and the Fifth Battle of Qotile. All of the five great battles of the War were fought on Troiken in the Qotile system.

Battles

 * First Battle of Qotile (first battle)
 * Second Battle of Qotile
 * Third Battle of Qotile
 * Fourth Battle of Qotile
 * Fifth Battle of Qotile (last battle)

Aftermath
As the war was fought on planets where bacta was scarce, unavailable, or prohibitively expensive, Stark soldiers suffered higher death rates than were expected, and many of the survivors bore the scars and injuries they received fighting for the rest of their lives.

Republic veterans of the war were entitled to wear a flag pin (presumably of the Republic insignia) on their clothing, signifying that they were Stark veterans. The Stark Veteran Assembly was also formed, as a congregation and advocate group for Republic veterans of the war.

The war also proved to be a training ground for pirates, mercenaries, and terrorists, many of whom put the martial skills they learned in the war to their own use afterwards. The most notable example was the militant wing of the Nebula Front.

The deaths of Tyvokka and Ranulph Tarkin opened empty seats on the Jedi Council and Galactic Senate, respectively; the former was filled by Plo Koon, while in the Senate, Eriadu's new representative was Ranulph's relative Shayla Paige-Tarkin.

In 40 BBY, Valorum would become Supreme Chancellor, thanks to heavy support by the Tarkin family. In exchange, Valorum would declare Ranulph the "Hero of Troiken", leading to a public perception of reliance from Valorum on the Eriadu-based Tarkins, and a swift rise through the Republic power structure for Ranulph's nephew, Wilhuff Tarkin.

Iaco Stark's Combine was destroyed, and he was forced underground, eventually to join the Commerce Guild. Nute Gunray would be made Viceroy of the Trade Federation, but forever deny ever seeing a Jedi in action.

The war was a major impetus for those who advocated both for the formation of a standing Republic military, and for greater Republic control of outlying sectors and their commerce, both of which views the SVA advocated.

Participants

 * "Miles Croft" (a fake identity of Tholme)
 * Jace Dallin, Republic soldier
 * Jan Dodonna, Republic officer
 * Laslo Dorits, Republic soldier
 * Nute Gunray, Trade Federation senator
 * Qui-Gon Jinn, Jedi Master
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Padawan
 * Plo Koon, Jedi Knight
 * Lope, soldier
 * Eru Matalis, war activist
 * Iaco Stark, Combine leader
 * Ranulph Tarkin, Eriadu senator
 * Tholme, Jedi Master
 * Tyvokka, Jedi Master
 * Finis Valorum, Lytton senator
 * Quinlan Vos, Jedi Padawan