Orn Free Taa

"Need I remind you that it is I who leads our people in the Senate!"

- Orn Free Taa, to political rival Cham Syndulla

Orn Free Taa was a male Twi'lek who represented his homeworld of Ryloth in the Galactic Senate during the waning years of the Galactic Republic. Because he was content with amassing riches for himself on Coruscant, Taa was very unpopular on Ryloth. During the Secessionist Movement, Taa joined the Loyalist Committee, which supported the Republic's leader, Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine, against the growing threat of Count Dooku's Confederacy of Independent Systems. Despite his professed loyalty, Taa was corrupt and self-indulgent, which made him a perfect incarnation of everything the Confederacy considered rotten about the Republic. When the Galactic Empire was formed Taa retained his position in the Senate and more importantly to him his wealth.

The Clone Wars
Taa was among the senators present in Chancellor Palpatine's office suite when Padmé Amidala arrived home safely to the Senate following the attack on the landing platform. He was later present in the Senate when Jar Jar Binks pushed for Palpatine to have full emergency powers. Taa represented Ryloth in the Republic Senate; he was a trusted advisor to Palpatine and a perfect symbol of corruption in government as he was extravagant with his spending and lived in utter luxury. When the Separatist Alliance invaded Ryloth, Taa contacted King Katuunko of Toydaria in efforts to receive aid to help the people on his planet. When the Republic fleet broke through the Separatist blockade, Taa arrived on Ryloth where he came into conflict with his rival Cham Syndulla over what to do with the occupation. When the Separatist troops were defeated and Wat Tambor was arrested, Taa waved at the crowds and settled his arguments with Syndulla.

When Duchess Satine Kryze of Mandalore travelled from Sundari to Coruscant in order to represent her planet in te Senate she invited several senators and allies to accompany her on the aircraft. The senators included Kin Robb and Tal Merrik. Taa was present in the luxury suite where Duchess Satine rejected any statements made by Taa while he tried to push her towards joining the Republic. Taa then calmed Obi-Wan Kenobi and Satine while they argued over the war and reasons to fight. He dined alongside the other members of the party where he urged that they not talk about politics. During the Attack from the metallic probes Taa was very frightened and cowered away from the table with his aides. The senator then calmed down and sat back down at the table where he happily ate his favourite meal, however he was horrified when Kenobi rendered with the final metallic probe. When the Separatist alliance attacked he ran from the dining suite. He survived the events.

When Cad Bane and several other bounty hunters took over the Republic Senate Taa rushed to Palpatine's office suite to inform him of the trouble. When Bane contacted Palpatine and told him of his deal, the bargain being that the Republic release Ziro the Hutt and in return the Senators trapped be relased as well. Palpatine decided to comply with Bane and sent Taa down to the prison with the treaty, he was not happy with the thought of being at the prison. With Ziro even stating "You look so unhappy!". Taa was however very happy when the senators where free again. During the bill that promoted further funding for the war speaker for the opposing campaign Bail Organa was injured meaning he was unable to attend and speak. This led to a large delay for the speech, during the delay Mee Deechi pushed for the voting to start. Taa agreed with this notion and vocally ecpressed his opinion, when Padmé Amidala stepped forward tot he speech Taa looked very surprised at a partisan volunteering to make the speech. However, when Amidala gave her moving speech Taa was visually impressed and clapped loudly.

When Palpatine was rescued from Grievous Taa was among the Senators who greeted him on the landing platform. He stood int he second row and was quick to walk back inside, Taa was pleased that Palpatine returned.

Rise of the Empire
When Palpatine declared the first ever Galactic Empire Taa was present in the Senate. Taa also continued to loyally serve under the Emperor's dictatorship thus keeping his wealth and heavy self indulgence. Taa was however little more than a puppet delegate, serving under Moff Delian Mors and willingly taking part in the exploitation of his home world. However Taa was still happy as he retained his wealth and luxurious habits die to being a supporter of the Empire. After previously allying himself with his rival Cham Syndulla during the Clone Wars, he now found himself at war with him. As head of the Free Ryloth movement, Syndulla carried out a series of attacks against the imperial occupation forces on Ryloth, which gained the attention of the Emperor and his apprentice Darth Vader.

After the attacks by the Free Ryloth movement began to slow the spice production on Ryloth, Taa was summoned for an audience with the Emperor. Now openly afraid of Palpatine and his apprentice, Taa feared the worst as he optimistically tried to reassure the Emperor that the Twi'lek security forces and Moff Mors would have the situation under control. Palpatine dismissed Taa's assertion and informed him that he had come to a decision. Taa was relieved to hear that the Emperor's decision was to accompany him and Vader on an official visit to Ryloth to investigate the matter personally. The senator expressed his reluctance to return to Ryloth, but Palpatine assured him his presence would reassure the people they were truly part of the Empire.

Vader surmised that Taa was loyal to the Empire, though he would put his own interests first, Ryloth's interests second, and the Empire's third.

Personality and traits
Orn Free Taa was a Republic Senator and later an Imperial Senator who represented his home world of Ryloth. He was known for his greed and putting himself first, the people of Ryloth second, and the Empire third.

Taa was obese and favored food over most things which was uncommon for most Twi'lek's because of their limited food sources on Ryloth. For unknown reasons, Taa had four head tails instead of the average two. He also had only three fingers and a thumb unlike most Twi'lek's who had four fingers and a thumb. He was known to be disliked by most of his people on Ryloth, presumably because of his wealth and greed. Taa was known to have only female aids who aided him in the senate.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith
 * Lords of the Sith

Non-canon appearances

 * Disney Infinity 3.0