Orn Free Taa/Legends

Orn Free Taa was a corpulent Rutian Twi'lek who served as the senator of Ryloth during the waning years of the Galactic Republic.

Biography


A former tax collector, Taa was a senator during Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum's time in office, succeeding the controversial Chom Frey Kaa. He continued to represent Ryloth in the thirteen years of the rule of Chancellor Palpatine.

Like Kaa, he differed from the normal Twi'lek in that he had four headtails instead of the normal two&mdash;in Twi'lek culture this may have been seen as a sign or power or virility. In addition, he had three fingers and a thumb instead of the normal four fingers and thumb of most other Twi'leks. He also had the sharpened teeth that were apparently common for Twi'lek males.

He was the leader of the Rim faction of senators; as such, he advocated lessening the Republic's interference in local affairs. He was the senator who nominated both Mas Amedda for the position of Vice Chair and Palpatine for the position of Chancellor.



Taa was a member of the Allocations, Appropriations, and Loyalist Committees. A Militarist in the Separatist Crisis, he was one of the biggest supporters of the Military Creation Act, which was counter to the Twi'lek's cultural disdain of violence. However, he approved of an attempt by Palpatine to negotiate with Count Dooku just prior to the outbreak of the Clone Wars.

He was assisted by a number of aides throughout his career, including a white Twi'lek male, a Lethan Twi'lek female, Pampy, Supi, a protocol droid, a Human male and a Human female. It is likely that the females were more for show than for administrative assistance, though the Lethan held the title of Associate Planetary Representative.

Despite his senator status within the Republic, he was known to keep in the company of Jabba the Hutt during the Boonta Eve race on Tatooine; however, his relationship with the Hutt is unknown and may be a one-off occasion.

Behind the scenes
Orn Free Taa has one line of dialogue in Revenge of the Sith. He utters "Watch It" to Jar Jar Binks when the Senator seems to either be in his way, or bumps into him at the Senate Chamber.

Orn Free Taa's appearance in The Phantom Menace video game is only a brief cameo. When the player, controlling Qui-Gon Jinn, falls into Jabba Desilijic Tiure's beast pit, Orn Free Taa is seen standing next to Jabba. Once the player begins fighting Jabba's beast, Orn Free Taa vanishes.

Appearances

 * Cloak of Deception
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace game
 * Star Wars Republic: Honor and Duty
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones novel
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novel
 * Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:7:02
 * Star Wars Republic 61: Dead Ends
 * Star Wars Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
 * HoloNet News — A Galaxy Divided
 * Holonet News — Rodia Supply Lanes Attacked by Pirates
 * CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 15:01:15 Edition
 * Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 15:3:02
 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith comic
 * Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 14:7:02
 * Star Wars Republic 61: Dead Ends
 * Star Wars Republic 63: Striking from the Shadows
 * HoloNet News — A Galaxy Divided
 * Holonet News — Rodia Supply Lanes Attacked by Pirates
 * CIS Shadowfeed Dispatch 15:01:15 Edition
 * Republic HoloNet News Core Edition 15:3:02
 * Yoda: Dark Rendezvous
 * 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 comic