Covallon

"This is a case in which we were able to exploit the Empire's nonacceptance of alien species. In treating aliens as lesser beings, many Imperials became incapable in seeing unusual alien life-forms as intelligent. Indeed, vuv Tertarrnek's work would be much more difficult&mdash;perhaps impossible&mdash;with more enlightened foes."

- General Airen Cracken on the Covallon spy Dælar vuv Tertarrnek

The Covallon were a bestial sentient species rarely seen away from their homeworld. The descendants of a swift predatory quadrupeds, the Covallon had a developed capacity for sensing others' emotions; a holdover from huting in packs. Covallon society developed to an early information technology level by the time of the Galactic Civil War, although most Covallon were comfortable with technology. The Covallon Dælar vuv Tertarrnek served the Alliance to Restore the Republic as a spy, having been given to Moff Harlov Jarnek as a pet. From this position vuv Tertarrnek fed the Alliance with strategic information on troop and fleet movements in the Tandon sector.

Biology and appearance
The Covallon were a sentient species. They were quadrupedal, having evolved from a swift plains-based predator species. They preferred to walk on all four limbs, although they were physically capable of walking upright when the need arose. On all fours, they averaged a height of 0.9–1.2 meters at the shoulder, while standing on their hind legs, they averaged between 1.8–2.2 meters. Their lower limbs ended in three-toed feet, while their upper limbs ended in four-fingered hands; the digits on both hands and feet were tipped with a sharp claw. Their hands were dexterous and capable of fine manipulation. The Covallon also had a long tail.

The Covallon were largely bald, with a pattern of darker markings across their skin. However, a thick mane of hair grew around their shoulders and upper arms. The Covallon head was bald and had a central, backwards pointing horn. They had two small ears, and a blunt muzzle with a jaw filled with sharp teeth; a reflection of their carnivorous nature. A number of thin tendrils grew out of each side of their jaws. Overall, the Covallon has a bestial appearance&mdash;at least to Human eyes.

Society and culture
Despite being an ancient species, Covallon society remained at an early information technology level. Covallon were comfortable with galactic machines and technology. They took a long view of events, preferring to wait out adversity than take premature action. They invested significant amount of time planning things before taking action. The Covallon antecedents hunted in packs. In modern Covallon, this manifested in a strong empathetic ability, enabling them to sense the emotions of others. As a consequence, Covallon worked very well in teams, functioning like a finely-crafted machine.

Covallon did not feel the need to wear clothing; however, they generally wore clothing of some sort out of protection or for practical purposes. It was common for clothed and unclothed Covallon to mingle freely.

History
The Covallon were an ancient species that evolved from quadrupedal plains predator. They developed a low-level information technology society at which point development largely plateaued. They were rarely seen away from their homeworld, and as a consequence, few beings were familiar with their species. Those Covallon that did venture forth from their homeworld often encountered condescension from more humanoid species, who viewed them more as creatures than intelligent beings.

During the Galactic Civil War, the Covallon Dælar vuv Tertarrnek served the Alliance to Restore the Republic as a spy. The Alliance arranged for vuv Tertarrnek to be given to Imperial Moff Harlov Jarnek, ruler of Tandon sector, as a pet. Jarnek was unaware of the intelligence of vuv Tertarrnek and became very fond of his "pet". vuv Tertarrnek accompanied Jarnek almost everywhere, including high-security conferences. From this position, vuv Terkarrnek obtained confidential information relating to troop and fleet movements within and through the sector, and top-priority codes. vuv Tertarrnek then relayed this information to the Alliance in coded bursts from a long-range tight-beam communication hidden within Moff Jarnek's palace on Spirador. In 4 ABY, Jarnek was arrested by Luke Skywalker, a representative of the Alliance to Restore the Republic.

Behind the scenes
The Covallon were created by Stephen Crane for the West End Games sourcebook Cracken's Rebel Operatives, published in 1994. It contained one illustration of a Covallon, drawn by Mike Vilardi.