Atrivis sector/Legends

"Tell Fleet I still think they are heading for Atrivis to smear the army on Mantooine. If they are following standard operating procedures, they'll be moving tomorrow. If Ackbar moves fast and gets to Mantooine first, he can pop 'em as they come out of hyperspace."

- Commander Zgorth'sth

Despite being a small sector in the northern Outer Rim Territories, the Atrivis sector and its inhabitants participated in events of galactic and historic significance. From hosting an outpost of the Rakatan Infinite Empire in 30,000 BBY; to giving birth to the formidable Death Star in 0 BBY; to forming part of the most stable Imperial splinter faction, the Pentastar Alignment, between 6 and 11 ABY; to supporting the Empire-in-exile in 137 ABY; the Atrivis sector was involved in tumultuous events. Located in the New Territories, the sector was traversed by the Braxant and Relgim Run hyperlanes, and was home to several native sentient species, including the Ho'Din, Makurth, Shaliz'Na and Zeffliffl. Those civilizations, and the immigrants that joined them in the sector, were united by their fierce independence. Full exploration of the sector began in 15,000 BBY and continued through until 1000 BBY. During that period, several Ho'Din participated in the Great Hyperspace and Mandalorian Wars, while Makurth participated in the New Sith Wars.

During the Clone Wars, the independent attitude of the Atrivis sector's inhabitants manifested in sympathy for the Confederacy of Independent Systems. The Confederacy employed the notorious Pirates of Iridium to raid supply lines, and ran a research factory on Fest, but was eventually defeated by the Galactic Republic. Later, the rise of the Galactic Empire saw the sector placed under the control of Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin as part of Oversector Outer. The sector was home to some of the earliest resistance to the new, autocratic government, although its inhabitants remained disorganized and internally divided in their resistance efforts until the massacre of Mantooine led to the establishment of the unified Atrivis Resistance Group.

For two years, the Empire constructed the Death Star in the sector's Horuz system, supporting the battle station's construction with labor from penal institutions on Gree Baaker, Desolation Station, and Despayre. The Death Star repelled several assaults by the Alliance to Restore the Republic before using its superlaser to shatter Despayre, subsequently leaving the sector on a quest to brutally eliminate the Alliance leadership and cow the galaxy into submission. Armed conflict, however, continued in the sector, with altercations at Atrivis, Fest and Spefik, and as part of Operation Cobolt, contributing to the Galactic Civil War.

Following the death of Emperor Palpatine at the Battle of Endor, the Atrivis sector was included within the newly-formed Pentastar Alignment, an Imperial splinter faction led by the calculating Grand Moff Ardus Kaine. The Alignment lent forces to Grand Admiral Thrawn, who personally planned an assault against Generis that transpired only eight days prior to his assassination. The following year, the death of Kaine during Operation Shadow Hand precipitated the eventual transition of the sector into New Republic control. It remained in Republic hands for only a few, short years before it was conquered by the invading, extra-galactic Yuuzhan Vong in 26 ABY. Following their eventual defeat in 29 ABY, the Atrivis sector soon passed back into Imperial territory as part of a newly resurgent Empire. It would remain under Imperial control until after the Sith–Imperial War, when it began to support the Empire-in-exile of deposed Emperor Roan Fel.

Description
The Atrivis sector was a relatively small sector of space in the Outer Rim Territories, located in the galactic north in a region known as the New Territories. Its coreward boundary bordered the Cademimu sector, and, moving clockwise, it also bordered the Cassander, Albarrio, Relgim and Oplovis sectors. Two major hyperspace routes passed through the sector: the Braxant and Relgim Runs. The Braxant Run was the most important route in the entire northern quadrant of the galaxy, beginning at an intersection with the Hydian Way. The Braxant entered the Atrivis sector from Ketaris in the Oplovis sector and traversed the Fedje and Vuchelle systems before leaving Atrivis for the Cassander sector. The Relgim Rum began at the Fedje system, but struck out almost perpendicular to the Braxant Run, working its way through a string of Atrivis systems, with a sharp kink west at the Nam'ta system before continuing across Atrivis and into its namesake, the Relgim sector. By 25 ABY, the average population of the sector was less than 1 million per inhabited planet, with the exception of Fedje and areas around Moltok, which averaged between 1 and 10 million inhabitants.

Braxant Run star systems
The planet Fedje, at the intersection of the Braxant and Relgim Runs, was a forested world, home to many exotic arboreal life forms; these included the rare folded ear boosqueak. Humans settled Fedje, becoming known for the expansive hand gestures that accompanied their oratory. Located further down the Braxant was Vuchelle, an orange gas giant right on the three-way border with the Cademimu and Cassander sectors.

Relgim Run star systems
The Fest system was a prominent system along the Relgim Run. It contained the planet Fest, an urbanized and densely populated world with little remaining wilderness areas. It was equipped with spaceports, spy satellites, and an orbital Imperial base. Fest had a history of petty bickering with Mantooine, another Atrivis sector planet. Further along the Relgim Run was the Devon system. Members of a religious sect inhabited its fourth planet, Devon Four.

The Generis system was located further down the Relgim Run; it contained the planets Atrivis 7, Atrivis, and Generis. Generis was a world of striking natural beauty, covered with rough terrain and lush jungles. The planet had no major settlements, and was only lightly settled. Some of its locals&mdash;a mix of Humans and other species&mdash;established wilderness ranches, attracting wealthy offworlders with opportunities to hunt, hike, and raft down white-water rapids. The planet was also dotted with ruins of the ancient Rakata civilization. Atrivis 7 was also inhabited by Humans, who worked as farmers and ranchers.

Continuing along the Relgim Run led to the Markbee's Star system, containing the water world Zeffliffl. In the salty seas of its southern continent, the Zeffliffl species evolved. After Zeffliffl, the Relgim Run continued onto the Nam'ta system. It was there, in the system containing the gas giant Nam'ta, that the Run kinked westward, continuing on towards the Horuz system. The Horuz system contained the planet Despayre, two gas giants and two asteroid belts. Despayre's single continent was covered in dense jungle filled with diverse poisonous species such as the crab spider, flit and scorpion slug. Because of these attributes, the planet was turned into a prison for many of the worst criminal offenders in the galaxy.

The Mantooine system was located on the Relgim Run near to its crossover into the Relgim sector. The planet Mantooine was only lightly populated with farmers and had a long-standing rivalry with Fest. It lent its name to the classical dance piece known as the Mantooine Minuet. It was also the endpoint of cruises by the giant luxury liner Kuari Princess, which traveled down the Relgim Run between Endoraan and Mantooine.

Other star systems
The Atrivis sector had a number of other star systems that were not located on either of the two most prominent routes. The Hethar system was located on the eastern border of the sector. Native to Hethar was the gornt species. These squat creatures were a staple of the local diet and were later commercially farmed by Sullustan colonists and sold to the Imperial Navy.

Further west in the sector were the Iridium, Gibbela, Spefik and Dartibek systems. Iridium was home for a time to the Pirates of Iridium, while Gibbela&mdash;close to the Relgim border &mdash;was populated by a primitive and agricultural species of polymorphs. It was distant from even minor trade routes, and was seldom visited. The Spefik system was home to Spefik, a desolate and barren planet. During the Galactic Civil War, it hosted a Rebel base.

The Dartibek system was at the western-most extent of the Atrivis sector, at the joining of the Atrivis, Albarrio and Relgim sectors. The system contained a number of planets; one of the innermost was Moltok, which was entirely covered in trees. Although close to its sun, the planet was kept temperate by ash from volcanoes that blocked out radiation and heat. Its botanical species included the wuppa and Camba-Fruit; derivates of the latter were commercially exported. Moltok was home to two sentient species: the Ho'Din and the Makurth.

The Atrivis sector also contained the Gree Baaker system. Its eponymous planet was home to an Imperial Labor Camp for those serving life sentences. Also located within the sector was a system that contained an asteroid belt. Built within a large, misshaped asteroid in this system was Desolation Station, an Imperial construction facility that utilized slave labor. Finally, the sector contained the Shar'Ack system.

It contained the forested homeworld of the Shaliz'Na, a winged and muscular sentient species of artisans.

Pre-Republic history
"Long ago the Rakata ruled all the known galaxy; all species bowed down to us."

- The Rakata Orsaa

In 30,000 BBY, the planet Generis possessed a strong Force signature. As a consequence, it attracted the Force-based hyperdrives of the Rakatan species who were expanding from their homeworld Lehon. The Rakata forged a vast empire that united worlds scattered all across the galaxy, naming it the Infinite Empire. On Generis, they built exotic temples that would last for thousands of years. The Rakatan empire lasted for almost five thousand years before collapsing due to plague, followed by slave revolts in 25,200 BBY. Their temples on Generis eventually collapsed and were overgrown by jungle.

Early exploration
"In addition to the already-reported promotion of Saul Karath of the Courageous to Rear Admiral, the latest promotions were handed down from the Republic Navy &hellip; To Lieutenant: &hellip; Rutu of Moltok."

- The Admiral's List

Some systems within the Atrivis sector were discovered by the Galactic Republic during the Kymoodon Era, circa 15,000 BBY. New advances in hyperspace technology at this time led to exploration of pockets of space not directly connected with the territory of the Republic; in the north these included the Mantooine and Sestooine systems (the latter would become part of the Relgim sector), and spread to include the Dartibek and Horuz systems.

By 5000 BBY, the Dartibek system&mdash;which contained the planet Moltok&mdash;and other parts of the Atrivis sector were widely explored by the Republic and were considered part of the civilized galaxy. The Republic had also established a hyperlane connecting Moltok to the central territories of the Republic via Ord Cantrell, Iridonia and Vicondor. The Ho'Din of Moltok had traveled offworld by this time; during the Great Hyperspace War, Lohjoy served as a starship engineer aboard the Sith Empire starship Omen.

A number of Ho'Din also served the Republic in 3964 BBY, such as Oojoh and Rutu. Oojoh was trained as a Jedi Padawan on Taris, while Lieutenant Rutu served with distinction in the Republic Navy during the Mandalorian Wars. The extent of the widely explored area around Moltok remained largely static through this period until at least 3956 BBY.

Between 3681 BBY and 3653 BBY, the Great Galactic War pitted the forces of the Galactic Republic against the resurgent forces of the Sith Empire. As a side event of campaign, the Republic was involved in the Kanz Disorders of 3670 BBY, after which the Republic shrunk its borders to Iridonia in the north, and began reconsidering Republic membership for distant settlements and Republic enclaves. After a significant victory at Coruscant, the Sith forced the Republic to sign the Treaty of Coruscant, which effectively divided the galaxy into two spans of control. The Atrivis sector fell within the sphere of control of the Sith Empire, which compromised most of the eastern half of the galaxy. Despite the signing of the peace treaty, relations were uneasy between the galactic powers: a Cold War lasted for eleven years, before outright war returned in 3642 BBY. One year in, an independent organization on the planet Nam'ta claimed to have received thousands of diplomatic dispatches from the Galactic Republic. Its plan to release these onto the HoloNet was uncovered, and pressure brought to bear on the Nam'ta government to clamp down on the organization.

Later exploration
"My younger sister joined a religious sect on Devon Four. When they refused to pay taxes Coruscant slapped an embargo on them. When a plague struck the colony, they were going to die, every woman, man, and child. No one would do a thing."

- Sheeka Tull

The eastern portion of the Atrivis sector was not fully explored until the blazing of the Hydian Way, circa 3000–1000 BBY. The Makurth, the second sentient species of Moltok, were found off-world by at least 1000 BBY; during the New Sith Wars, the Makurth Fohargh underwent training as part of the Brotherhood of Darkness, although Moltok itself was unaligned in the conflict. Seven hundred years later, the Ho'Din almost destroyed the ecosystem of their planet, leading them to embrace botanical sciences and other less invasive disciplines in restoring their world. By 280 BBY, they had developed organic medicines that came to be exported around the galaxy. Another Ho'Din product available offworld was Ho'Din herbal tea; some combinations proved addictive to Humans.

In 124 BBY, the Atrivis sector, together with the rest of the Outer Rim and parts of the Mid Rim, was declared by the Galactic Republic to be a free-trade zone. However, in the 30s, a political faction known as the Reformists sought to roll back that liberalisation, and place taxes on many Rim trade routes. Several years before the Clone Wars would embroil the galaxy, the religious leaders of Devon Four refused to pay taxes to the central galactic government. In response, the Republic embargoed the planet, preventing any starship traffic from reaching its surface. Shortly after the embargo was initiated, an infectious plague broke out on the planet's surface. Despite the threat this posed to the planet's population, the Republic was unrelenting in its embargo. At the behest of Sheeka Tull, whose sister lived on Devon Four, smugglers broke the Republic embargo, delivering medical supplies. Sheeka Tull was later caught by the Republic and was given a deferred sentence of ten years labor.

The Clone Wars
"ATRIVIS SECTOR NODE - Sensor reports from the Atrivis sector issued by the Judicial Department confirm that a Jedi task force has thrashed the space pirates of Iridium, bringing an end to their year-long raids along the Atrivis sector routes."

- "Jedi Smash Iridium Pirates; 3 Knights Killed" news item

During the Separatist Crisis, circa 24–22 BBY, the Confederacy of Independent Systems hired the Pirates of Iridium as privateers. The pirates had been active in the Atrivis sector for a year, raiding its trade routes. They were distinguished by their use of power gems. These unusual jewels radiated an aura that disrupted starships' magnetic-shields, an ability the pirates used to great advantage during their raids. During the Separatist Crisis, they raided Republic grain and spice convoys until they were destroyed in 22 BBY by a Jedi-led Republic strike force at the Skirmish over Vuchelle.

When the Clone Wars finally broke out, the Atrivis sector was part of Confederate territory. Less than ten months into the war, they had established a research factory on Fest in which they were developing a super-metal known as phrik. The facility was discovered by Null-class Advanced Recon Commandos, and ten months into the war, the Republic dispatched the elite Omega Squad to destroy the factory. Encountering heavy resistance from battle droids, they nevertheless successfully completed the mission. By 19 BBY, the Republic had successfully recovered control of the Atrivis sector.

Galactic Empire
"In the name of the Emperor, I claim this planet as Imperial territory. Surrender and no harm will come to you."

- An Imperial officer on Gibbela

With the declaration of the New Order in 19 BBY, the Atrivis sector came under control of the Galactic Empire. The sector fell under the jurisdiction of Grand Moff Tarkin as part of Oversector Outer, although Moffs Rebus and Seerdon also had projects within the sector. The Empire made its presence known in the sector in different ways. On Gree Baaker, it established a Labor Camp where many individuals were sentenced to life imprisonment. The Empire scouted Gibbela as a possible site for colonization, with preliminary reconnaissance suggesting the native population would provide little resistance; however, when a small taskforce was dispatched to the planet, it was massacred by one such native after he polymorphed into a vicious predator. The Empire had more success in its conquest of Shar'Ack. It enslaved the native Shaliz'Na and strictly controlled alcohol imports to and manufacture on the planet. Given the Shaliz'Na addiction to alcohol, this gave the Empire significant leverage over the population. It did, however, lead to a number of Shaliz'Na leaving the planet to recover from alcoholism.

Early resistance
"The Empire is making its presence felt more and more out here in the Rim. There was that massacre on that humanoid-inhabited world&hellip;''" "''Mantooine in the Atrivis Sector."

- Jiliac Desilijic Tiron and Jabba Desilijic Tiure

Despite the Imperial presence throughout the region, the Atrivis sector was at the forefront of opposition to the New Order, due in large part to the stubborn independence common throughout much of the Outer Rim Territories. However, in its early years, the sector's resistance was fractured and lacking unity, with resistance groups scattered across many systems and divided by regional and historic rivalries. Nonetheless, this continued annoyance prompted the Empire to establish a garrison post on Mantooine to keep order in the sector.

In 2 BBY, the Mantooine Liberators resistance group overthrew this under-defended garrison and boldly occupied the premises. The Liberators were unaware of a large Imperial strike force in the neighboring Fest system, and had no contact with the Fest resistance group that could have warned them of this danger. As such, the Mantooine resistance was caught by surprise by the arriving Imperial forces and was decimated. There were also extensive civilian casualties in the battle, which as heard of as far a field as Hutt Space and came to be regarded as a massacre. The Rebel Alliance honored the sacrifice of those who lost their lives on Mantooine by casting the Mantooine Medallion, which was awarded to individuals for "exceptionally meritorious service." Years later, a Corellian Corvette was named the Mantooine in honor of the planet.

The massacre on Mantooine drove home the necessity of communication to the other resistance groups in the Atrivis sector; the Fest Resistance Group responded by forming a wider Atrivis Resistance Group (ARG) to coordinate resources within the sector. The ARG established a hidden base on an abandoned space station in the barren Generis system, where their leadership was fed information from an extensive network across the sector. This centralization made the resistance a significantly more potent force, although their continuing success also brought concerns; given their isolation from the wider resistance movement, they would have no warning if the Empire launched a massive offensive from a neighboring sector.

At this time, Senator Mon Mothma, one of the signatories of the Corellian Treaty that established the Alliance to Restore the Republic, visited the Atrivis leadership. She proposed linking the ARG into the wider Rebellion. After some deliberation, the ARG signed the Treaty of Generis, officially joining the Rebel Alliance for the duration of the Galactic Civil War. As part of this deal, an Outer Rim Communications Center was established on Generis, with a starfighter outpost to protect it. The Alliance also sent several dozen SpecForce officers to train up the Atrivis resistance. The Treaty also meant a flow of new weapons and equipment to the sector, in return for becoming a prime supplier of foodstuffs to the wider Rebellion. Within six months, the ARG transformed into a fully operational Atrivis Sector Force. Rebel units that operated within Atrivis sector included the 132nd Forward Division.

The Death Star
"The Death Star is a fearsome invention indeed. We must find a way to destroy it!"

- Rahm Kota

During this period, a crucial Imperial project was under construction in the Atrivis sector: the Death Star. This immense battlestation, designed with the capacity to destroy planets, was to be the foundation of the Tarkin Doctrine whereby the Empire would rule through fear of force. After initial construction phases in the Geonosis, Seswenna, and Patriim systems, the construction was finally moved to the Horuz system for completion.

There, it orbited the penal world Despayre for two years. The system's two asteroid belts were stripped of iron and nickel by Imperial masticators, and combined with alloys obtained from Despayre. The planet's moon, Haroon, was also mined for resources. Construction utilized convict labor, in particular, that of thousands of Wookiees. Prisoners from the Gree Baaker Labor Camp were also assigned to work duty on the station. The Empire also utilized Desolation Station to manufacture several components of its superlaser with which the Death Star would be able to rupture the core of planets, ultimately shattering its targets into pieces.

The construction of the station was kept top secret; however, its existence and location eventually leaked out to the Rebel Alliance, providing a number of opportunities for the Alliance to sabotage the construction of the station. Under the direction of Jedi Master and Order 66-survivor Rahm Kota, the former-Imperial stormtrooper X2 was dispatched to Desolation Station to prevent one of the final components of the superlaser&mdash;the tributary beam&mdash;from being delivered to the Death Star.

As the tributary beam was being stored on a transport that was protected by a defensive shield corridor, X2 was required to infiltrate the facility and deactivate the shield. Prior to deactivating the shields, X2 released some Wookiee laborers held on the station. With their help, X2 fled the station aboard a captured TIE fighter and, with cover provided by Rebel starfighter reinforcements, managed to infiltrate and gain control of the tributary-carrying transport. X2 activated the beam, using it to destroy Desolation Station. This mission set back the construction timetable of the Death Star.

Following this sabotage, the Alliance undertook an audacious reconnaissance mission to the site of the Death Star itself. Starfighters under the direction of Master Kota entered the Horuz system and engaged enemy starfighters. X2, a volunteer on this mission, was able to infiltrate a supporting Imperial-class Star Destroyer, using its weapons emplacements to strike at the Death Star.

This and other damage inflicted on the Death Star provided a small opportunity for some Rebels on board the station itself. While some set about freeing prisoners aboard the station, X2 used the partially completed superlaser to strike at the Star Destroyer he had only recently departed, destroying it completely. Having glimpsed the destructive potential of the battlestation, the Rebel strike team extracted themselves from the battle and fled the Horuz system to deliver their intelligence to Alliance High Command.

Following this strike, the Alliance launched a more substantial assault on the station, led by the Fortressa, a Lucrehulk-class starfighter carrier. Launching at least 500 starfighters, the assault was a disastrous failure, with the Fortressa destroyed early by a low powered beam from the Death Star and its fighters soon picked off by supporting Imperial forces.

Despite these attempts by the resistance to slow completion of the Death Star, the battlestation was finished soon after. Before departing the sector for the Core Worlds, the station's superlaser was tested on Despayre; in three successive blasts, the prison world was destroyed, eliminating all inhabitants. Rianna Saren, an escapee from the prison world below who had infiltrated the station only shortly before this destruction, contacted Leia Organa, a high-ranking member of the Rebellion, from the station and informed her of Despayre's destruction as well as the location of schematics of the Death Star located on the planet Danuta. Saren then fled the station to Danuta, part of a multi-pronged attempt to secure the plans to the Death Star.

Following this destruction, the battlestation left the sector; however, the Empire left some forces in the system in case any members of the Alliance came to investigate. Shortly after, two CR90 corvettes collectively compromising Ethar was dispatched to the system and captured by the Imperial forces. Further Alliance forces arrived in the system shortly after, and starfighters from Red Squadron, Blue Squadron and Gold Squadron managed to recover the corvettes.

The Death Star itself traveled to Alderaan in the Core Worlds, where its destructive power was publicly demonstrated with the destruction of that planet. It then traveled to the Yavin system, intending to destroy the leadership of the Rebel Alliance. In a climactic battle, however, the Death Star was destroyed. Grand Moff Tarkin perished along with his battlestation and control of Oversector Outer&mdash;and, consequently, the Atrivis sector&mdash;passed to Grand Moff Ardus Kaine, a brilliant theorist and strategist known for his emphasis on success through total domination.

Further conflict
"&mdash;you shoulda' seen the results of our tests on Fest&mdash;my weapons are gonna put a lot of holes in a lot of Rebel scum."

- Moff Rebus under interrogation

Despite the significant blow dealt to the Empire at the Battle of Yavin, its control of the Atrivis sector continued. As part of another Imperial project in the Atrivis sector, the Empire re-established phrik processing on Fest. The alloy was then used in the Dark Trooper Project, producing extremely strong, lightweight droid armor. Shortly after the Battle of Yavin, in which the Death Star was destroyed, the Dark troopers were tested against a Rebel base on Talay. Upon investigating, Rebel operative Kyle Katarn tracked the source of the attack to Moff Rebus, in charge of the project. Rebus revealed the phrik was being processed at the Imperial Weapons Research Facility on Fest. Traveling to the planet, Katarn infiltrated the Imperial operation, stealing a sample of phrik. The sample led Katarn to the source of phrikite on Gromas 16, and eventually led to the derailing of the Dark Trooper Project.

Further action occurred on Fest in 1 ABY, when Rebel resistance again raided the Weapons Research Facility in order to steal three All Terrain Personal Transports. While the Rebels initially broke the transports out from the Imperial facility, they required aerial cover from Rogue Squadron to make good their escape. The successful raid upset Imperial Moff Kohl Seerdon, who was in charge of the research, and in retaliation the Moff blockaded Chandrila, homeworld of Rebel leader Mon Mothma.

While these successes were significant for the Alliance, they also suffered various defeats at the hands of the Empire. An Imperial force of at least two TIE fighter wings attacked their base on the planet Spefik. According to reports, elite pilot Ranulf Trommer single-handedly destroyed the Rebel's anti-orbital ion cannons defending the base. The elite Storm commandos were also deployed in the sector on Atrivis where the rebel X-wing pilot Homack was shot down. Other Imperial counter-measures included spraying toxic defoliants across many worlds of the sector in an effort to cripple the agricultural capacity of the sector's resistance.

Sometime after 1 ABY, the Alliance launched "Operation Cobolt," a hit-and-run assault on an Imperial orbital base over Mantooine. Its twin objectives were to steal an Imperial Intelligence scandoc, and then to destroy the base, covering the theft in the process. The core of the mission involved a commando team led by Colonels Anna Seertay and Toombs. These troops were supported by starfighter forces stripped from Tierfon, Homon, Farstey and the survivors of the Tocan system defeat. The mission was a success although the resistance forces sustained some losses.

Shortly after this operation, the Atrivis resistance received a warning from a monitoring station in the neighboring Oplovis sector. Analyzing Imperial requisition records, Commander Zgorth'sth was able to predict an attack by Fleet Admiral Tzenkens on Mantooine. With this intelligence, the Rebels sprung their own trap en route, attacking the Imperial forces as they left hyperspace in the Generis system with three Alliance cruisers, defeating the Imperial forces with only minimal casualties.

In honor of the sector's contribution to the resistance, the Rebel Alliance named a Vangaard Pathfinder the Atrivis Advancer, as well as labeling a freighter group the Atrivis Day.

Isolationism
"The New Republic is still merely the Rebellion, thinly disguised as an official entity. They are outlaws, and they will continue to think and do as such. In the Pentastar Alignment, there will be no tolerance for any Rebel insurrection."

- Grand Moff Kaine

The conflicts in the Atrivis sector played out against the background of galactic conflict. In 6 ABY, on the far side of the galaxy from the Atrivis sector, the Empire and the Alliance clashed in an epochal battle in the Endor system. The Alliance proved victorious; in the process, they destroyed the second Death Star and killed the Emperor himself, leaving the Imperial fleet in disarray.

In response to these developments, Grand Moff Kaine recognized that Imperial authority could quickly crumble across the Outer Rim Territories. He moved swiftly to establish the Pentastar Alignment, an aggregation of fifteen Outer Rim sectors&mdash;including the Atrivis sector at its eastern-most expanse &mdash;that answered to his command from his capital at Entralla. In addition to Kaine as a representative of the Imperial military, the founding Pentastar Alignment Treaty was signed by Imperial governor Dekeet, Commerce Master Commissioner Raquoran of the Velcar Free Commerce Zone, and corporate representatives Wyrn Otro and Elta Besk, of Galentro Heavy Works and Dynamic Automata, respectively.

Kaine, one of the earliest converts to the Emperor's New Order, held strongly to its policy of Human High Culture, which he applied throughout his dominion. The powerful corporate entities exploited alien populations across the Alignment, funneling trade and industry profits into Alignment treasuries. With these profits, the Alignment produced a fleet of Enforcer-class picket cruisers from its shipyards in the Obtrexta sector's Jaemus system. These warships formed part of the Alignment navy, which, spearheaded from the Executor-class Star Dreadnought Reaper, was powerful enough to dissuade any challengers. Grand Moff Kaine soon became more feared throughout his realm than the distant Emperor had ever been.

As Kaine was not interested in expansionism, and showed little aggression toward sectors outside his direct control, the Alliance, and its successor government, the New Republic, largely left the Alignment alone and instead concentrated on undermining other Imperial warlords. Through until 9 ABY the Alignment maintained its stranglehold over the Atrivis sector, with the exception of the Republic retaining control of its Outer Rim Communications Center on Generis. This base was secured with the Cracken Flight Group &mdash;an elite group of RZ-1 A-wing interceptors, led by Pash Cracken and composed of pilots that had followed him when he defected from the Empire soon after graduating from the Imperial Naval Academy &mdash;except for a short period in 7 ABY, when all of the base's forces were temporarily moved toward the Core Worlds in order to cover some of the sectors formerly used by rogue Imperial warlord Zsinj.

Imperial machinations
"I thought you were out in Atrivis sector, baby-sitting the Outer Rim comm center.''" "''You're behind the times, Generis fell three days ago."

- Wedge Antilles and Pash Cracken

That year, however, Grand Admiral Thrawn returned from the Unknown Regions and rallied Imperial forces across the galaxy, including support from the Alignment's military. On the day of 44:8:19, just over four months after his initial strike at Obroa-skai, Thrawn's forces assaulted the Communications Center at Generis. Using a battle plan composed by Thrawn himself, the Imperial forces captured the Communications Center intact&mdash;along with most of the sector fleet supply depots&mdash;despite resistance from an elite Republic squadron commanded by Pash Cracken.

The Republic forces were able to sneak out most of the command staff, however, and deny the Imperials any working ships, but they nevertheless suffered a significant defeat at the hands of Thrawn. Among the Imperial casualties suffered at this battle was the stormtrooper Grodin Tierce; ten years later, Tierce was impersonated by members of the Imperial Remnant in a bid to take control of that government. Thrawn's forces later destroyed the Communications Center.

From Generis, Thrawn's forces traveled via Fedje to Ketaris, Agamar and Ithor, all within the space of two days. Thrawn's successes were not to last, however, and on 44:8:27, a mere eight days after his victory at Generis, Thrawn was assassinated during the Battle of Bilbringi. With the loss of the genius and charisma of the Grand Admiral, the Empire soon reverted to factionalism, with Kaine maintaining control of the Alignment.

The following year, in 10 ABY, a reborn clone of Emperor Palpatine emerged from the Deep Core, drawing together the splintered remains of his former Empire. Kaine was required to support the Emperor, but subsequently died during Operation Shadow Hand&mdash;a series of military campaigns directed by the Emperor. The Alignment struggled to adjust to the vacuum left by Kaine's death, but remained one of the most significant Imperial governments through into 11 ABY. The following year, it was incorporated into an Imperial Remnant under the military command of Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, formerly Grand Admiral Thrawn's second-in-command. Pellaeon remained in control of a large swath of territory, including the Atrivis sector, until 17 ABY, when he suffered a major defeat at Anx Minor. Following this, he retreated to a mere eight sectors in the west of the Alignment, relinquishing control of the Atrivis sector to the New Republic.

New Republic
"Generis has been destroyed by the Yuuzhan Vong, and Esfandia is under attack."

- A Ryn reports on the fate of Generis

The New Republic regained control of Generis and rebuilt the Communications Center. Its role was expanded from the Outer Rim to include the Unknown Regions; at the time, the only such relay center to do so. This made Generis strategically important, but it was never selected for sabotage by the Imperial Remnant, as they considered the Chiss&mdash;the dominant power in the Unknown Regions&mdash;to be too isolationist for the Republic to make any successful approaches.

In 25 ABY, the galaxy was invaded by an extra-galactic species known as the Yuuzhan Vong. The entered the galaxy from the far north of the New Territories, and advanced steadily core-ward. One invasion corridor took the Yuuzhan Vong down the Braxant Run, and assaulted and captured both the Moltok and Fedje systems as they penetrated through the Atrivis sector and beyond. By the following year, the Yuuzhan Vong were also in control of the Horuz system; however, the Generis system managed to hold out as a lone New Republic stronghold in the region.

In 28 ABY, Generis was attacked and destroyed by the Yuuzhan Vong who were called to the base by an infiltrator armed with a communications villip. The Yuuzhan Vong then proceeded to attack a similar station at Esfandia far to the west, the only other communications outpost servicing the Unknown Regions. There, Imperial Remnant Grand Admiral Pellaeon defeated the Yuuzhan Vong task force. Subsequently, the center at Generis was restored to operational capacity. The Yuuzhan Vong War ultimately came to a conclusion in 29 ABY, when the invaders suffered a series of major military defeats.

Under a New Empire
"I am, by right of birth and choice, your true Emperor! Not this Sith usurper, Krayt! It is to me that you all owe your allegiance."

- Roan Fel

Within the space of eleven years, the Atrivis sector was reclaimed by a resurgent Empire, which had expanded its borders to the edge of the Mid Rim and beyond. This new Empire slowly absorbed much of the galaxy through peaceful means, before launching, in 127 ABY, the Sith–Imperial War against the other major political power, the Galactic Alliance. By the close of this conflict in 130 ABY, the Empire had gained control of the rest of the galaxy; however, division existed within the Empire. By 137 ABY, the Atrivis sector had became part of a large portion of the New Territories that supported Roan Fel, the deposed former Emperor who had been betrayed at the conclusion of the Sith–Imperial War by his Sith allies.

Gibbelan
The natives of Gibbela were a species of polymorphs. These purple furred beings were diminutive while in their settled form, however, when angered, they transformed into vicious predators double their original size. In this form, they had sharps claws capable of rending flesh and severing limbs. This was discovered by an Imperial scouting team to its detriment. The Gibbelans were farmers, living in primitive cloth dwellings.



Ho'Din
The Ho'Din were one of two sentient species native to Moltok, and were the most prominent of the species indigenous to the Atrivis sector. They were a tall reptilian species, with dark eyes, lipless mouths and distinctive snake-like hair. After industrialization almost ruined their world, the Ho'Din focused on organic technology, living in tree villages and structures literally grown from plants. This approach was inspired by their religion, [Dinante Fli'R], whose tenets required them to be respectful to plants. Ho'Din were widely regarded throughout the galaxy as master botanists and healers. Notable Ho'Din healers included Baji and Ism Oolos. Ho'Din Jedi included Iwo Kulka and Plett. The Ho'Din established colony worlds in neighboring sectors, such as Anemcoro in the Albarrio sector.

Makurth


The Makurth were the second sentient species on Moltok. They were saurians covered in green scales with four horns on their heads. They were nocturnal carnivores, known for their terrifying scream. A number of Makurth found employment as bodyguards with the criminal organization Black Sun. One notable Makurth was Fohargh, who trained with the Brotherhood of Darkness during the Light and Darkness War.

Shaliz'Na


The Shaliz'Na were a native to the planet Shar'Ack. They had large wings&mdash;reaching wingspans of over 3.5 meters&mdash;which terminated in talon-like fingernails. They were covered in light down and had black hair growing on their heads. They had Human-like facial features. The Shaliz'Na were addicted to alcohol. During the administration of the Empire, they were enslaved and tight controls were maintained on both locally manufactured and imported liquors. The Shaliz'Na Tyric left his homeworld, eventually joining the Rebel Alliance along with the rest of the crew of the Menagerie.

Zeffliffl
The Zeffliffl were a species from the world Zeffliffl, the fourth planet of Markbee's Star, and appeared to be multi-humped stacks of dark green seaweed. The leaf-like beings lived in shallow seas, and when traveling offworld, they periodically sprayed themselves with salt water to keep themselves hydrated. Their language sounded like leaves swirled through water. A group of the species traveled to Crseih Station to seek healing from the Waru. There, he successfully healed their ailing member.

Immigrated species
Beyond its indigenous inhabitants, many exotic species called the Atrivis sector home. Around 30,000 BBY, the Rakata utilized Force-based hyperdrives to unite widely spread worlds into the Rakatan Infinite Empire. One such world was Generis, where they constructed large temples. However, after five thousand years of galactic dominance, plague caused the collapse of the Infinite Empire, and the species later became extinct. Their temples collapsed into ruins overtaken by the jungle, leaving no clues for later settlers as to how or why they died out.

During the administration of the Republic, Humans occupied many of the Atrivis sector worlds, including Mantooine, Fest, Iridium and Atrivis 7. Some notable Human inhabitants of the Atrivis sector included Travia Chan, the Alliance Commander-in-Chief for the sector. One of the original founders of the Fest Resistance Group, she continued working at the Generis base until its conquest in 9 ABY. Chan's Chief of Staff was Loom Carplin, a survivor of the original Mantooine cell. Also from Mantooine was the Human Brandei. Rather than joining the resistance movement, he rose to a high rank in the Empire, commanding the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Judicator. Sullustan colonists also settled in the sector on the planet Hethar.

A diverse group of species passed through the sector as tourists aboard the Kuari Princess, a luxury liner that traveled the Relgim Run through The Maelstrom. Many aliens were also brought to the sector and imprisoned on the planet Despayre, and later used as slave labor in constructing the first Death Star. These included Brigians, Cereans, Givin, Gungans, Pho Ph'eahians, Mirialans, Wookiees, Ugnaughts, Zelosians, Twi'leks, and Ithorians. Various individuals were also forcibly transported to the Gree Baaker Labor Camp and to Desolation Station.

Behind the scenes
Paul Murphy created the Atrivis sector for the West End Games sourcebook, Rebel Alliance Sourcebook, first published in 1990. Murphy used the sector to illustrate possible structures for sector resistance groups. This publication placed three planets&mdash;Fest, Generis and Mantooine&mdash;in the sector and provided a number of anecdotal stories relating its struggles against the Galactic Empire. The sector was also mentioned in a number of other West End Games' products, but given little expansion at that time.

The short story A Certain Point of View, written by Charlene Newcomb and published in Star Wars Adventure Journal 8, mentioned the "Generis sector." Given the prior placement of Generis in the Atrivis sector, and no further mention of a Generis sector, this is interpreted as an alternative name for the same sector. The novel, Children of the Jedi, written by Barbara Hambly and published is 1995, mentioned the Atravis sector. While it is possible this was originally a misspelling of this sector, subsequent sources such as the Star Wars Encyclopedia treated it as a distinct entity.

The Atrivis sector was one of the many sectors included in the computer game, Star Wars: Rebellion, released in 1998. Rebellion placed ten planets in the sector; an additional nine from those previously established. However, Rebellion contradicted numerous sources in some of its placements. As such, Leland Chee, Keeper of the Holocron, has stated that when Rebellion placements conflict with other existing canon placements, Rebellion is overridden. In the case of the Atrivis sector, this applies to three worlds, Tibrin, Togoria, and Trammis III. Tibrin and Togoria have been placed in the Mid Rim, while Trammis III has been placed in the Centrality. This left six new planets receiving placements in this sector: Nam'ta, Despayre, Moltok, Spefik, Fedje and Zeffliffl. In its internal encyclopedia, Rebellion also misspelled the sector name on a couple of occasion, spelling it as both "Artivis" and "Artivas."

The next significant mention of the Atrivis sector occurred in an article on the HoloNet News website, published in 2002, which detailed a Republic strike against pirates operating in the sector. This article placed Vuchelle in the sector, as well as implying a connection with the planet Iridium. The sector received another mention on the HoloNetNews website, as well as in the Clone Wars-era novel, Republic Commando: Triple Zero, written by Karen Traviss and published in 2006.

Further planets were not added to the sector until the release of the seminal work, The Essential Atlas, co-written by Daniel Wallace and Jason Fry and published in 2009. This publication included a map of the Atrivis sector, which confirmed Iridium's location, as well as adding Devon, Gibbela and Hethar to the sector. The Atlas also significantly expanded available information on the sector, providing details on its location, exploration, population density, and political history, including its incorporation into the Pentastar Alignment, a reference back to material originally published by West End Games in Star Wars Adventure Journal 3 in 1994.

Following the publication of the Atlas, StarWars.com published an Online Companion. Its first update included an appendix that included sector placements for many star systems; information that was not included in the original publication. This appendix placed Gree Baaker and Shar'Ack in the Atrivis sector. Additional updates to the Online Companion included a sector map of the Outer Rim Territories, which reveled the patchwork of sectors the Atrivis sector was part of, and, later, the addition of newly published or previously omitted systems to the appendix. The June 1, 2010 update placed Desolation Station within the sector, incorporating several events from Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron into the sector's history.

Travel times
Star Wars: Rebellion provided hyperspace travel times between each of the planets in its version of the Atrivis sector, and between them and Coruscant. These are reproduced in the table below, although it is unclear whether they are to be treated solely as game mechanics or may have some canonical value.

Appearances

 * Republic Commando: Triple Zero
 * Rebel Dawn
 * Death Star
 * Star Wars: Rebellion
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
 * The Last Command
 * Star Wars: Rebellion
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
 * The Last Command