Pyke Syndicate

"A powerful part of the spice cartel. Their criminal activities had allowed them to almost completely control the production of raw spice, used to create a powerful drug."

- Former Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, on the Pyke Syndicate

The Pyke Syndicate, also known as the Pyke Family, was a spice dealership that operated in the criminal underworld from their homeworld of Oba Diah. They also participated in the crime raids on Mandalore to start the Death Watch rule on said planet.

History
"We know you've been forming an army.''" "Were you expecting us?" "''Underworld's a small community. I have no desire to oppose you. We come to join you."

- Lom Pyke to Darth Maul, leader of the Shadow Collective

The Pykes were responsible for ensuring the flow of spice from Kessel to Coruscant, utilizing smugglers and freighter captains to carry out Kessel Runs to ensure spice deliveries. Prior to the invasion of Naboo, Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum sent Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas to engage the Pykes in negotiations with the Galactic Republic regarding the Pykes' monopoly on the spice trade. At the behest of the Sith Lord Darth Tyranus, however, the Pykes killed Sifo-Dyas.

Years later, during the Clone Wars, the Pyke Syndicate allied themselves with Darth Maul and his Shadow Collective; the Pykes were eager to join after Maul had coerced the Black Sun into joining the alliance. Along with Black Sun, and at the behest of Maul and Death Watch, the Pykes staged an attack on Mandalore, allowing Death Watch to intervene as so-called defenders of the people. With the government of Mandalore unable to manage the crisis, Death Watch successfully took over Mandalore.

Later, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi arrived on Oba Diah, hot on the trail of Sifo-Dyas. After admitting that the Pykes had indeed killed Sifo-Dyas, Lom introduced the Jedi Knights to Valorum's former aide Silman, who the Pykes had kept in captivity as insurance. Shortly afterward Tyranus arrived on Oba Diah with the intention of keeping the Jedi from discovering the truth behind Sifo-Dyas' demise. Tyranus killed Silman and engaged the Jedi and the Pykes in battle, killing Lom and escaping.

Marg Krim became the leader of the Pyke Syndicate following Lom's death. When the Black Sun leader Ziton Moj proposed merging the two crime syndicates, Krim rejected the offer. In retaliation, Moj ordered the kidnapping of Krim's wife Tezzka Krim and their children Vram and Laalee. Krim was unable to rely on his Pyke Syndicate subordinates for help because several of his underlings contested his leadership of the organization. In response, Krim enlisted the services of two independent bounty hunters&mdash;the former Sith apprentice Asajj Ventress and the undercover Jedi Master Quinlan Vos&mdash;to rescue his family. Ventress and Vos succeeded in rescuing Krim's family from the Black Sun fortress on Mustafar. However, Black Sun retaliated by launching an attack on the Pyke Syndicate's stronghold on Oba Diah.

The Pykes remained loyal to Maul's Shadow Collective even after he was taken prisoner by Darth Sidious, and their representative Fife met up with the Sith Lord on Ord Mantel with the rest of the criminals and warriors. The Pykes defended the Black Sun stronghold during an ensuing Separatist attack, but not without some casualties. Following this, Fife and Ziton Moj both voiced concern over the likelihood of Maul's plan against his former Master succeeding, but were told they would be paid nonetheless. Soon afterward the Pykes came under attack by a Separatist armada, and after losing a significant number of ships, Fife informed Maul's lieutenant Rook Kast that their partnership was finished as they no longer saw any financial incentive.

Behind the scenes
The Pykes were developed by George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars. They were first introduced in "Eminence", an episode in the fifth season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Before the cancellation of The Clone Wars TV series, a four-episode arc was to follow Ahsoka Tano after her decision to leave the Jedi Order. The arc was to show some of her first adventures in the Coruscant underworld where she met a scoundrel named Nyx Okami, who she developed a close relationship with, but she was to be challenged by the Pyke Syndicate in the process, reason for which she would had to resist her Jedi teachings for her own safety. The storyline, however, went unmade when the series was untimely cancelled.

Appearances

 * Darth Maul, Part II
 * Darth Maul, Part III
 * Darth Maul, Part IV
 * Dark Disciple
 * Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part One
 * Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part Two
 * Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part Four
 * Dark Disciple
 * Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part One
 * Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part Two
 * Darth Maul—Son of Dathomir, Part Four