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.

drew==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.

Sometime during the Galactic Civil War, Lando Calrissian served as Baron Administrator of Cloud City. He helped provide well-paying jobs for the Ugnaughts, and was admired and liked by the citizens of Cloud City.



When Han Solo, along with Leia Organa, C-3PO, and Chewbacca came to Cloud City in 3 ABY 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 an 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 Kenobi'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.

In 11 ABY Luke Skywalker discovered an elderly man named Streen, who possessed latent Force abilities, living a hermit's life in the abandoned city of Tibannopolis. Streen's life among the clouds gave him unique abilities to manipulate wind, air, and communing with flying creatures. Streen accompanied Luke to the Jedi Praxeum, where he became one of the earliest students. Eventually, Lando lost the Cloud City to Zorba Desilijic Tiure 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 Confederation-Galactic Alliance War. Later in 40 ABY, Bespin joined the Confederation.

Economy
The main economy on Bespin was the mining of tibanna gas. Tibanna gas was a very important resource used by both the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the Galactic 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 3 ABY.

Behind the scenes



 * In the early rough draft of Starwars written in 1974, the planet Alderaan, which was set as a giant gas planet and the capital of the New Galactic Empire at that time, resembled Bespin in The Empire Strikes Back. And there was also a city that resembled the Cloud City on that "original Alderaan".
 * In the early story conferences for The Empire Strikes Back, Ketbrae (also known as Kettlebrae) was a gas giant. It eventually became Bespin.
 * Star Wars 56: Coffin in the Clouds indicates that Bespin is the home planet of the Ugnaughts, and has a habitable surface, though it is possible that it is meant to be a nearby moon of Bespin, and not Bespin itself.
 * In the video game Star Wars: Empire at War, Bespin cannot be destroyed by the Death Star during space combat, but can from the Galactic Map.

Appearances



 * Darth Bane: Path of Destruction
 * Cloak of Deception
 * The Bounty Hunters: Aurra Sing
 * Boba Fett: Crossfire
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * The Last of the Jedi: Return of the Dark Side
 * The Hutt Gambit
 * Rebel Dawn
 * Death Star Designer
 * Star Wars: Rebellion
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * Star Wars: Empire at War
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
 * Lady Luck
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back novel
 * 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 comic
 * Battle of the Bounty Hunters
 * Star Wars 56: Coffin in the Clouds
 * 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
 * Star by Star
 * Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
 * Exile