Saleucami/Legends

"I'd hoped it would be a little cooler at night once we got inside the caldera, but it looks like nothing ever cools down on this hunk of rock."

- Sian Jeisel

Saleucami was a dim, arid Techno Union world with scattered oases of plant growth. Its plant life included unusual bulbous-shaped trees. It was located between Kegan and Handooine.

Geographic features


Saleucami was a dim, arid world with scattered oases of plant growth. Its name Saleucami meant "Oasis" in Wroonian since it was the only habitable planet within a system filled with dead, uninhabitable worlds and meteors. These meteors would frequently cross paths with the planet's orbit and would bombard its surface creating huge craters and stirring up subterranean waters and minerals, turning the calderas into life-filled pockets on the planet's surface.

These craters of fertile soil were heated by geothermal vents and became the location of the earliest colonies on Saleucami. As a result, the planet became a trading post in the Outer Rim Territories. Saleucami had no indigenous sapient species though it was home to Weequay, Gran, Wroonian and Twi'lek colonists. These colonist lived in tiny townships which were the only form of civilization on the planet. Saleucami however boasted a city which also served as a spaceport. Beneath the massive caldera was a system of magma streams and geothermal vents that powered the city and provided warmth during the freezing desert nights.

History
During the Clone Wars, Saleucami was a valuable member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems and was as a result named by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine as part of a "Triad of Evil", alongside Felucia and Mygeeto.

The Confederacy used the planet's underground caverns to host cloning facilities for their own clone army&mdash;Morgukai clones trained by Anzat assassins.

Unfortunately for the Separatists, their plot was discovered by the Jedi Master Tholme and Aayla Secura. As a result, the Jedi Council sent Jedi Generals Oppo Rancisis and his second-in-command Quinlan Vos along with a task force to destroy the cloning operations on Saleucami. This would start a massive five month-long siege between the Republic and the Separatist forces on the planet. First, the Republic captured Saleucami's main city and then fought their way inward.

During the conflict, Jedi Master Rancisis was murdered by his former friend, Sora Bulq, after being distracted by Anzat assassins. Sora Bulq and Tol Skorr were later killed by Quinlan Vos and Bok was slain by Aayla Secura. The Republic forces also flooded the Saleucami's magma tunnels to kill the Separatist Morgukai clones. This conflict also caused heavy losses on both sides.

Some time shortly after Saleucami fell to the Republic, Stass Allie and Commander Neyo were patrolling the battlefield for remaining Separatist forces. They were leading a unit of BARC troopers over the plains when Order 66 was issued. Neyo and his lieutenant fired upon Allie's 74-Z speeder bike, destroying the vehicle and killing the Jedi Master instantly.

During the Galactic Civil War, Jabba Desilijic Tiure had some holdings on Saleucami, which were corrupted and eventually forcibly handed over to Tyber Zann shortly after the Battle of Yavin.

Behind the scenes

 * Saleucami being called part of the "triad of evil" by Palpatine is a reference to real-life U.S. president George W. Bush's term "Axis of Evil", which he used to refer to Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
 * The pronounciation is somewhat in dispute, depending on what you consider canon. In Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi pronounces Sa-LOO-ka-my, while in Forces of Corruption characters pronounce SAIL-oo-kay-me. The difference could be attributed to Kenobi's Coruscanti accent.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Republic 72: Trackdown, Part 1
 * Star Wars Republic 73: Trackdown, Part 2
 * Star Wars Republic: The Siege of Saleucami
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Republic: Into the Unknown
 * Star Wars Republic 78: Loyalties
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption