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 trees. It was located between Kegan and Handooine.

The planet sat on the Talcene Transit which supplied cargo from the Perlemian Trade Route to the Kuthic Worlds.

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 circular patters, like huge craters, calderas, circular seas, and stirring up subterranean waters and minerals, turning the calderas into life-filled pockets on the planet's surface. Large, bulbous plants were scattered around these calderas.

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 sentient species, but with its pleasant climate (excepting soaring temperatures during summer) brought Weequay, Gran, Wroonian and Twi'lek colonists to it. These colonists lived in tiny townships which were the only form of civilization on the planet besides 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
Initially colonized by Wroonians in 6,100 BBY (the name is Wroonian for "oasis"), Saleucami came under direct control of the Techno Union three years before the Battle of Naboo. 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 Saleucami's magma tunnels to kill the Separatist Morgukai clones. This conflict also caused heavy losses on both sides.

Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Adi Gallia once led a mission to rescue Eeth Koth from General Grievous who was in orbit around Saleucami at the time. When the ship was destroyed the Jedi searched for Grievous in a forested area of the planet. This led to a small skirmish during which Clone Captain CC-7567, nicknamed "Rex," was injured. While healing, Rex also discovered a clone deserter living as a farmer with his adopted family. Rex then helped the deserter and his family with an abandoned pod containing droid commandos. 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 and a secret communications outpost on Saleucami, which were captured and eventually forcibly handed over to Tyber Zann shortly after the Battle of Yavin. Around the same time, the space above the planet was also the site of a skirmish between the Rebel forces of Renegade Squadron, led by Commander Ackbar, and Imperial troops, led by the bounty hunter Boba Fett, which led to the capture of most of the Rebels on the mission.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, Saleucami was conquered by the invaders.

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 one considers canon. In Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi pronounces Sa-LOO-ka-my, while in Forces of Corruption characters pronounce SAL-yoo-kah-mee. Col Serra pronounces is SAY-lee-OO-CAH-mee in Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. The difference could be attributed to Ewan McGregor's Scottish accent. Characters in The Clone Wars also use the Sa-LOO-ka-my pronunciation, indicating that it is likely the correct pronunciation. In The Essential Atlas, Saleucami is pictured as having a light purple surface. This is most likely an error because all other sources show Saleucami as a brownish-green planet.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Republic: Trackdown
 * Star Wars: Republic: The Siege of Saleucami
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Evasive Action: Reversal of Fortune
 * Star Wars Dark Times 6: Parallels, Part 1
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith comic
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith junior novel
 * Star Wars: Republic: The Hidden Enemy
 * 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
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
 * Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
 * Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron