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For other uses, see Balmorra.
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"Balmorra is home to the largest weapon manufacturing plants in the galaxy. Half the munitions used in the last war originated on this world."
Warren Sedoru[2]

Balmorra was a factory world that was located within the Balmorra system, situated in a strategic position between the Colonies and the border of the Core Worlds. Due to its intense industrial manufacturing, it was known as one of the most important foundry worlds in the Republic's space, where some of the most advanced weaponry and battle droids were constantly produced throughout most of the planet's history.

Description[]

Since Balmorra was very rich in iron and other minerals, it gradually became one of the most recognizable factory worlds in the galaxy. Large parts of Balmorra's surface were covered in industrial wastelands, which still contained most of the earliest assembly lines and refineries on the planet. Although manufacturing weaponry was the primary source of profit for the Balmorran economy, the planet's atmosphere suffered greatly from the high levels of pollution which were emitted from the countless industrial plants.

Wide plains and urban areas were also located on Balmorra's surface, like the planet's capital Bin Prime. The Balmorran metal parasites which feasted on metals in these urban areas were a long-term problem for the Balmorran government. The Balmorra flu was also presumably from the world.

History[]

The world began as a colony of Humbarine. Due to slow interstellar travel and communications, it was one of several colony worlds that declared their independence.[8]

During the settlement of Balmorra, while the Republic was still in its infancy, Balmorra quickly established itself as a haven for renowned weapon and battle droid manufacturers. While determined to remain independent of the Republic, they became strong allies supplying the Galactic Republic and the greater galaxy with advanced droids and weapons.[10]

Republic era[]

"Technically, Balmorra's not a Republic world, just a Republic ally. But the Empire didn't care."
Tai Cordan[2]
Markaran Wastes

The landscape of Markaran Wastes on Balmorra.

Balmorra joined the Galactic Republic prior to the Indecta Era. During the Alsakan Conflicts, it supported Coruscant.[6]

Balmorra was the site of a battle during the Hundred-Year Darkness. In that conflict, Leviathans bred by the Dark Jedi splintered the Jedi barricades on the planet.[11] During the Great Galactic War the reconstituted Sith Empire resolved to seize Balmorra due to their military manufacturing plants and strategic location close to the Core Worlds. The Republic immediately sent soldiers to prevent that from happening. As the Great Galactic War continued and the Sith Empire's control continued to spread, the strained Republic began removing forces from Balmorra for redeployment to more important conflicts. This continued until the Treaty of Coruscant was signed.[10]

The Republic base designated 11A had been established on Balmorra and was still under Republic control until the Treaty was signed. The commander of the base, General Buryn was assigned to leave the base with his troops as per the terms of the Treaty. General Buryn wanted to fulfill his orders, but the Jedi Fortris Gall insisted that the Republic team that was held captive by the Sith, Demolitions Squad 419, had to be freed first. The Jedi travelled to the Troida Military Workshop, where the soldiers were held hostage, without Buryn's permission.[12] Buryn chose to remain on-planet after the Treaty's enforced deadline and waited for Fortis. Master Orgus Din soon joined the General and Jedi Fortis, to convince them both to leave the planet in an attempt to prevent further battles with the Sith, and to begin following the terms of the Treaty.[13]

Camp Traken-4

A military base on Balmorra during the Cold War

Following the treaty and the beginning of the Cold War, the Republic was forced to officially end its support for Balmorra. However, a small underground Republic force was left on the planet to aid in a resistance against the remaining Sith Empire. Despite this, most Balmorrans shared the view that they had been abandoned by the Republic. Surprisingly, the remaining underground resistance prevented the Sith Empire from ever taking complete control of the planet. A number of years after the treaty was signed, with the fragile brokered peace between the Sith Empire remaining, the Republic began reintroducing Republic forces to the planet. While the Balmorrans were receptive to the assistance, their resentment of being abandoned in the past remained. At the same time, the Sith Empire attempted to escalate their presence on the planet in a further bid to claim Balmorra's battle droids and weaponry.[10]

Sometime during the Eternal Empire's invasion of the galaxy, Prince Arcann and Thexan of the Eternal Empire led an assault on Balmorra. The Eternal Flagship swiftly knocked out Balmorra's planetary defense system, allowing the twin princes to capture the world's weapon factories intact. The Eternal Empire then placed a Star Fortress around the planet in command of the Exarch Malforia. Malforia was then kidnapped by the spymaster known as the Shroud, who later had the Star Fortress destroyed, leaving the planet temporarily free from Eternal Empire oppression.

At one point, the planet was the headquarters of Rigorra the Hutt.[14]

Prior to the Clone Wars, Balmorran corporations were part of the Techno Union, which produced B1-Series battle droids on the planet. The planet initially refused to secede when the war erupted. However, when the Republic tried to close the Techno Union droid factories, Balmorra eventually joined the Confederacy of Independent Systems.[7] The planet seceded from the Galactic Republic in 22 BBY and was given a fleet of Lucrehulk-class battleships to defend it. Balmorra was also the headquarters of Balmorran Arms, which manufactured SD-6 Hulk infantry droids.

Imperial era[]

"Okay, Beltane—you've proved your point. What do you want for those new droids?"
"You can have them
cheaply, Sedriss—Balmorra wants freedom, no more, no less. Once we are free, we'll sell you arms on a contract basis…if we choose to."
―Executor Sedriss QL and Governor Beltane, following the Battle of Balmorra[5]
Balmorra surface view

Balmorra's surface with Bin Prime seen from orbit, ca. 10 ABY.

Under the New Order, Governor Hinch Beltane ran the planet and oversaw production there. During the reign of Galactic Emperor Palpatine, the Balmorrans manufactured weapons for the Imperial Army, maintained strong ties to Kuat Drive Yards, and were the primary builders of the AT-ST walker, All Terrain Armored Transport, and the bulk of the Empire's other armored and ground vehicles.

The Balmorrans longed for independence from the Galactic Empire, wishing for a free market on which to sell their vaunted weapons technologies. Although there was mutual good feeling between the Rebel Alliance and the natives of Balmorra, liberation would have been impossible, as the planet was well-defended and isolated from the other planets held by the Rebels.

Instead, the Alliance launched a hit-and-run sabotage effort, using the cover of the night to go undetected by Imperial sensor arrays. It was not until Luke Skywalker and Rogue Squadron had demolished much of the weaponry under construction in the yards that any kind of serious retaliation force was launched.[3]

By 4 ABY, the planet had become an Imperial fortress world. Balmorra remained under Imperial control until at least 6 ABY.[8] Years later, the planet was liberated by the New Republic following the Battle of Endor, and it remained independent for years. Balmorra was brought back into Imperial service during the Emperor's reappearance, but following Palpatine's supposed death near Da Soocha, the rebellious Balmorrans began arming the New Republic.[5]

Battle of Balmorra

Balmorra's capital is attacked by forces under Maximilian Veers.

In retaliation, the planet was attacked by a force under the command of Military Executor Sedriss QL, including Shadow Droids and SD-9-series battle droids. After suffering surprising losses at the hands of Balmorra's SD-10 battle droids and new Viper Automatons, Sedriss called off his attack in exchange for a shipment of the molecularly-shielded droids.[5]

Later history[]

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Senator for Balmorra offered any planet ground-based turbolasers and planetary shield generators in exchange for protection by a fleet during a panicked session of the Senate.[15]

During the Second Galactic Civil War, elements of the Confederation Fleet attacked Balmorra in their push to reach the Core Worlds. This resulted in the Second Battle of Balmorra.[9]

Behind the scenes[]

The PC video game Star Wars: Rebellion mistakenly places Balmorra in the Sesswenna sector (a misspelling of the true Seswenna sector) of the Galactic Core. The Seswenna sector is canonically located in the Outer Rim Territories.

Appearances[]

Eaw Balmorra

Balmorra during the Galactic Civil War

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

External links[]

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