Geonosian

"You know, another thing most beings fail to realize about the Geonosians is that it's in your nature to be industrious."

- Orson Krennic

Geonosians were a winged, semi-insectoid species native to the planet Geonosis that created nests in large, spire-like colonies on their homeworld. They were nearly exterminated by the Empire at some point between 14 BBY and 3 BBY. Only a single worker drone and a sterile queen survived the Imperial sterilization of their planet, dooming the species to extinction.

Society and culture
A caste-based species separated by positions of drones and warriors, they are born into hives with each led by a queen. The queen lays eggs for the hive, and provides orders to the public leaders of Geonosis. One such queen, Karina the Great, was even able to control sentient beings, including her own kind, via the use of brain worms. Drones were capable of becoming warriors if they proved themselves worthy by successfully combating other drones in an arena. They also celebrated Meckgin, a day in which they celebrated the virtues of industry.

Naturally industrious and barbaric, they were also known to take upon construction projects from outside parties, as was the case when Baktoid Armor Workshop approached them to design factories for the Trade Federation. Productivity was key to Geonosian society, and if not kept in check with enough tasks, hives could devolve into civil war and result in the deaths of thousands of Geonosians.

History
During the reign of Archduke Poggle the Lesser, Geonosis became a member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The Separatists used the Geonosians to create the Separatist Droid Army. This eventually led to a large battle between the Galactic Republic and the Separatists on Geonosis. The Geonosians were the ones responsible for creating the plans for the Death Star.

Following the Clone Wars, the Geonosians were forced by the Galactic Empire to assist in the construction of the Death Star. When the Geonosians were unable to work out how to refine the superweapon's superlaser, the Empire brought in Galen Walton Erso to finish the job. After the Death Star's hyperdrive was operational, the Empire then sterilized the Geonosian species and their homeworld. This act of genocide exterminated all but one of the native Geonosian population.

In 2 BBY, Saw Gerrera, the Spectres, and the former Clone Captain Rex uncovered evidence that the Empire had perpetrated genocide against the Geonosian species. They also helped Klik-Klak, the sole survivor of the sterilization, to escape with the last Geonosian queen egg into the depths of Geonosis. The rebels informed Senator Bail Organa and Commander Jun Sato who believed that news of the Empire's atrocities on Geonosis would sway more worlds to the rebellion.

Behind the scenes
A termite infestation in George Lucas' house inspired the Geonosians. The basic design of the Geonosians originate from early designs of the Neimoidians which resembled B1 battle droids. The sounds of Geonosians were created from mixed recordings of mating penguins and flying foxes in Australia.

The inspiration for the Geonosians' role as the ones assigned to construct the Death Star came from a scene in the 1994 film Clerks, in which the main characters ponder over the lives of the "independent contractors" during the construction of the second Death Star.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Journeys: Beginnings
 * Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Galactic Defense
 * Jedi of the Republic&mdash;Mace Windu, Part I
 * Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Tarkin
 * Darth Vader 4: Vader, Part IV
 * "The Face of Evil"
 * Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Tarkin
 * Darth Vader 4: Vader, Part IV
 * "The Face of Evil"
 * Tarkin
 * Darth Vader 4: Vader, Part IV
 * "The Face of Evil"
 * Darth Vader 4: Vader, Part IV
 * "The Face of Evil"
 * Darth Vader 4: Vader, Part IV
 * "The Face of Evil"

Non-canon appearances

 * Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes