Wookieepedia:Featured article queue/April 25, 2011

Saadoon-Kauldi was a Force-sensitive Kadri'Ra slave who was freed by members of the Twi'lek Badawzi family. Out of gratitude, Saadoon-Kauldi became an indentured servant to the Badawzis, and he eventually parted from them on good terms. He then became a crime lord dealing with spice and formed his own criminal empire. During his career as a criminal, Saadoon-Kauldi used his resources to free as many slaves as he could. Due to this, many former slaves became willing followers of Saadoon-Kauldi, increasing his power and influence. However, many slaver guilds opposed him and lobbied to put a bounty on his head. After several assassination attempts, Saadoon-Kauldi grew increasingly paranoid. Using the Caelli-Merced Syndicate as a front, Abdi-Badawzi, a Twi'lek crime lord operating in the Socorro system, offered Saadoon-Kauldi the bulk cruiser Merkel in hopes of convincing the Kadri'Ra to move to Socorro and become his business partner. Saadoon-Kauldi accepted and moved into the Merkel in orbit over Neftali. He rarely left the ship, even though he was surrounded by allies such as the Black Bha'lir and the Socorran Navy.

Settled over Neftali, Saadoon-Kauldi made money through front companies and deals with local criminals. He helped his associates in moments of need and always showed respect for them. He was in turn widely respected both inside and outside of the Socorro system. Saadoon-Kauldi also began providing weapons to the Alliance to Restore the Republic when the Galactic Empire sponsored the decimation of the Kadri'Ra on Arapia. As the Empire was trying discredit the Kadri'Ra language, Saadoon-Kauldi refused to speak in any other language. He also tried to recruit the young pirate Drake Paulsen, but Paulsen decided to join the Black Bha'lir instead. Later, Paulsen and his allies, including the smugglers Thaddeus Ross and Tait Ransom, became wanted by the Empire for the murder of the Twi'lek Izzat. Because they were members of one of Saadoon-Kauldi's allies, the Black Bha'lir, the Kadri'Ra offered to lodge and protect Ross and Ransom.