Zillo Beast/Legends

The Zillo Beast was a non-sentient reptilian species endemic to the planet Malastare. In ancient times, these gargantuan creatures preyed on the native indigenous Dugs. However, the Dugs gradually gained the upper hand and gradually eradicated the Zillo Beasts through various means including drilling for fuel in their habitats. By the time of the Clone Wars, it was widely believed that the creatures were extinct though it was rumored that at least one had survived.

During the Battle of Malastare, the Galactic Republic deployed an electro-proton bomb which immobilized a substantial Separatist invasion force of battle droids. However, its tremors inadvertently awakened the Zillo Beast which went on a destructive rampage. Fearing an apocalypse, the Dugs demanded that the Republic exterminate the beast which the latter reluctantly agreed. Seeking to obtain the creature for scientific research, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker covertly arranged for the beast to be immobilized by a stun tank which would appear to kill it.

This action succeeded in both rendering the Zillo Beast unconscious and appeasing the Dugs who believed it to be dead. In return, the Dug Council and the Republic ratified a Treaty of Malastare that allowed the Republic access to the planet's fuel reserves. The Zillo Beast was shipped to the galactic capital Coruscant for scientific study but escaped after arrival, putting the lives of millions of residents at risk and forcing the Jedi into action.

Characteristics
The Zillo Beasts were gargantuan creatures that dwarfed most other objects including landspeeders and other living organisms in both size and mass. They had a roughly serpentine body with a long tail that trailed behind its form. It uniquely possessed a third arm protruding from its back. Its plate-like armor was highly impervious to explosives, blasterfire and even lightsaber strikes.

Despite these advantages, one flaw in its protective armor was a small unprotected gap between the plates which allowed some attacks to penetrate and harm the creature. On one occasion, this gap gave enough space for a well-placed energy beam from a stun tank to incapacitate the beast; rendering it unconscious.

History
The Zillo Beasts were once the dominant species of the planet Malastare and preyed on the indigenous sapient Dugs in ancient times. Over time, the Dugs began drilling their world for fuel which gradually culminated in the near extinction of the species due to a loss of habitat. The ancient Dugs were known to have cataloged a list of weaknesses in the creatures, including their vulnerability to fuel, which was flammable.

Eventually, it was believed that the species had been eradicated, though it was prophesied that one such creature still survived and would emerge in the future to destroy them. Thus, the Dugs passed down a manuscript through the generations in order to prepare their descendants for such a day. During the Clone Wars, Malastare faced the threat of a Separatist invasion in 22 BBY which sought access to its substantial fuel reserves.

In response, the Galactic Republic dispatched a sizeable army of Clone troopers to secure the key Republic world's fuel reserves and to recruit the Dugs as allies. This mission was overseen by the Jedi Order which sent Jedi Master Mace Windu and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker to lead the campaign. However, the sheer number of battle droids on the planet led to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine authorizing the deployment of a new superweapon&mdash;the electro-proton bomb. The weapon successfully obliterated the droid army but awakened the last remaining Zillo Beast, which wreaked havoc on the battlefield.

Panicked, the Dugs made preparations to slay the creature and demanded that the Republic assist them. Otherwise, Malastare would not ratify the treaty that would allow its fuel reserves to be used for the war effort. However, Master Windu refused to support this action since he regarded this as the murder of an innocent life-form. Despite his protestations, the Chancellor publicly supported the action but secretly sought to capture the beast alive for scientific research.

A scientific adviser close to him intended to study the Zillo Beast's impervious hide. At the suggestion of Skywalker, Palpatine agreed to conduct an elaborate attack designed to stun the Zillo Beast using particle cannon fire which would penetrate the gap in its armor and render it unconscious. Once stunned, the Zillo Beast would appear dead enough to appease the Dugs and allow for the signing of the treaty. Once in a coma, the creature was to be transported to an undisclosed peaceful world in the Outer Rim.

However, the Dugs were already prepared to slay the creature and began dumping fuel into the pit where it was located in order to kill it. This act only agitated the beast to emerge from its pit and it wrecked untold devastation on both the Dugs and Republic forces. However, the use of the Stun tank's power beam enabled the Jedi to knock out the creature.

With the treaty signed, the Zillo Beast's body awaited transportation but Chancellor Palpatine ordered a change in plans. Instead of being taken to its secret Outer Rim destination, the scientists wanted the specimen studied in a contained environment. Thus, it was agreed for the creature to be taken to the galactic capital Coruscant, where preparations were made for its arrival.

Behind the scenes
The Zillo Beast first premiered in "The Zillo Beast", an episode in the second season of the The Clone Wars television series. It's name is likely a reference to Godzilla.