Cha'a

Cha'a were a small orange-scaled reptilian species, known for their cunning natures. They were part of galactic society for many thousands of years. One of the most famous Cha'a was the Merchant Lord Ssk Kahorr, who lived during the Great Hyperspace War. Other notable Cha'a included three Jedi students who trained alongside Jacen and Jaina Solo.

Biology and appearance
"The best way to enjoy one's success is to know how hard it is to earn. I didn't devour my hatchling-mates for nothing, you know."

- Ssk Kahorr



Cha'a were a delicately scaled reptilian species, of predominatly orange coloration. Above their wide set slitted eyes, a line of horns ran along the top of their heads and continued down their backs. They had long snouts with sharp teeth and a long, dexterous tongue. Cha'a were carnivorous, using their sharp teeth to consume live wabbas, shortly after they hatched. These teeth were sometimes also used against Cha'a hatchling-mates, determining the dominant members of each clutch of eggs. Cha'a were bipedal, with each limb ending in three clawed digits.

Cha'a were a technically proficient species, designing spaceships such as the Cha'a drone ships and droids such as the message pod. The design of their drone ships featured distinctive designs with large ornate figureheads integrated into the design. One such ship was the Zeta Five which was destroyed on an untested hyperspace route that passed too close to the star Primus Goluud.

History
"Wily, ambitious, untrustworthy—though the Cha'a can be counted on to look after their own interests."

- Hovrak, Diversity Alliance advisor

Cha'a were active in galactic life from the times of the early Galactic Republic. Spread across the galaxy, Cha'a were known to live on urban worlds such as Empress Teta and well as the mining colony of Goluud Minor.

One powerful Cha'a in that era was Ssk Kahorr, head of a trading fleet of drone ships. As a representative of his species, Kahorr was a ambitious individual, willing to take risks in his business, such as using the newly found Goluud Corridor hyperspace route to assess the mining colony. When the route proved unstable and destroyed his cargo-ship Zeta Five, he had the Navigators' Guild representative Shodon Ko killed and paid bounty hunters to hunt down the route's discovers, Dav and Jori Daragon. This ruthlessness and competitiveness likely evolved from the practice of consuming hatchling-mates.

Cha'a continued to be part of the Galactic community into the New Republic era, where three Cha'a hatchling-mates underwent training at Luke Skywalker's Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4. They helped defend the Praxeum from the assault by the Second Imperium, hiding in the murky jungle rivers to ambush Dark Jedi.

As a species, Cha'a were also targeted by the Diversity Alliance as possible recruits. Hovrak identified them as being wily, and ambitious, traits beneficial to the Alliance, although it is unclear if any joined as the Alliance was defeated shortly afterwards.

Behind the scenes
The Cha'a were created by Kevin J. Anderson in the Old Republic era comics Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith and The Fall of the Sith Empire. Their only other appearances have been in the Young Jedi Knights series, co-written by Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta.

Appearances

 * Tales of the Jedi: The Golden Age of the Sith
 * Tales of the Jedi: The Fall of the Sith Empire
 * Young Jedi Knights: Jedi Under Siege
 * Young Jedi Knights: Diversity Alliance