Bespin/Legends

Bespin was a gas giant on the Ison Corridor. It was also a major source of tibanna gas, which was refined for production and transport in Cloud City. It was home to several million individuals, including Humans, Ugnaughts, and Lutrillians.

Overview
The planet Bespin was a gas giant that was about 118,000 kilometers in diameter. Like most gas giants, it had a solid core made of metal (in this case, rethin) followed by layers of metallic gases. Most of the layers of gas were poisonous, and the pressure and temperature were far above what a Human could tolerate. But from approximately 150 to 180 kilometers down from space, there was a habitable layer known as the Bespin Life Zone. This layer had an oxygen atmosphere with temperature and pressure suitable for Human life. It was in this layer that Cloud City was located. Like most gas giants, Bespin had a number of moons. It had a 12 hour day, and completed a revolution around its sun about every 14 years.

History
The planet was first colonized in 1,989 BBY when Lord Ecclessis Figg first commissioned Cloud City, to be built by the Incom Corporation at the same time. The planet had its own Jedi Enclave. During the New Sith Wars, the Brotherhood of Darkness captured the planet.

In 22 BBY, the planet served as a refuge for children orphaned by the Clone Wars, but it was soon conquered by the Confederacy itself. It was a great loss for the entire Galactic Republic; the Confederacy had secured the Tibanna gas refineries that were the main source of energy for the Republic's turbolasers aboard capital ships.

The Millennium Falcon, by Han Solo's admission, just barely made it there from the Anoat system with only a back-up hyperdrive.

Lando Calrissian, the previous owner of the Millennium Falcon, served as Baron Administrator of Cloud City and provided well-paying jobs for the Ugnaughts until the Galactic Empire took over. The Imperial garrison was commanded by Captain Hugo Treece.

When Han Solo along with Leia Organa, C-3PO, and Chewbacca came to Cloud City to escape from the Empire, they walked into a trap set up by Darth Vader, which Lando was forced into aiding. Han Solo was frozen into Carbonite and Leia Organa and Chewbacca were to remain in the city. As Boba Fett brought Han onto his ship, Slave I, Lando with Lobot's help, got the two out of Imperial controller along with blasted Threepio and tried to rescue Han from Fett but failed.

Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker dueled Vader, lost his right hand, and Vader revealed that he was Luke's father. Pinned between the choice of going with his long-lost father or dying by his blade, Luke plunged into a air vent. When he fell, he managed to grasp onto a weather vane beneath the city. In pain from his wound and his new knowledge, Luke pleaded for Obi-Wan's help, to no avail. He managed to telepathically communicate with Leia, and was rescued by the Millennium Falcon. The Falcon in turn managed to escape from the Executor when R2-D2 fixed the disabled hyperdrive.

Lando would eventually return to being Baron Administrator. However, a garrison of troops was left on the planet. Lobot temporarily ousted the garrison from the planet by tricking them into thinking Cloud City's repulsorlift pods were compromised.



Later, just before the Battle of Endor, the Alliance removed the renewed Imperial presence there by leading Rogue Squadron and the Rebel SpecForce against the Empire in the Battle of Bespin. The Rebel victory secured shipment of vital Tibanna to the Rebel cause.

Eventually, Lando lost the Cloud City to Zorba the Hutt in a game of sabacc. After Zorba was ousted, Lando turned governance of the city over to King Ozz of the Ugnaughts. Lobot became administrator of the City (possibly under the authority of Ozz), although it was briefly taken over by the Empire Reborn.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, the planet remained untargeted by the Yuuzhan Vong. Unlike many planets during the war, it remained untouched and isolated.

In 36 ABY, the planet was plagued with Tibanna tappers. Jaina Solo and Zekk were assigned to investigate. It was eventually discovered the stolen tibanna was being used for the Killik nest ships constructed in the Tusken's Eye.

In 40 ABY, along with Adumar, Commenor, Fondor and the Corporate Sector Authority, Bespin became allied with Corellia in an attempt to challenge the benefits of membership in the Galactic Alliance, during the Second Corellian Insurrection.

Economy
The main economy on Bespin was the mining of tibanna gas. Tibanna gas was a very important resource used by both the Alliance and the Empire for powering weapons. When supercharged, the gas could fire a bolt of energy, resulting in the blaster shot. Most of the settlements on Bespin were mining colonies, such as Lando Calrissian's facility in 4 BBY.

Behind the scenes

 * In the early story conferences for The Empire Strikes Back, Ketbrae (also known as Kettlebrae) was a gas giant. It eventually became Bespin.
 * Marvel Star Wars 56: Coffin in the Clouds indicates that Bespin is the home planet of the Ugnaughts, and has a habitable surface.

Appearances



 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
 * Cloak of Deception
 * Boba Fett: Crossfire
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * The Hutt Gambit
 * Rebel Dawn
 * Star Wars: Rebellion
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Empire at War
 * Star Wars: Battlefront II
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
 * Lady Luck
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
 * Moment of Doubt
 * Thank the Maker!
 * The Emperor's Trophy
 * Payback: The Tale of Dengar
 * Shadows of the Empire
 * Battle of the Bounty Hunters
 * Marvel Star Wars 56: Coffin in the Clouds
 * Marvel Star Wars 57: Hello, Bespin, Goodbye
 * The Bounty Hunters: Scoundrel's Wages
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * A Wookiee Scorned
 * Problem Solvers
 * Zorba the Hutt's Revenge
 * X-wing: Rogue Squadron
 * The Secret Tales of Luke's Hand
 * Star Tours
 * Tall Tales
 * Jedi Search
 * Children of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen