The crackdown on Pipada was the response of the Galactic Empire to the Drabatans of the Outer Rim planet Pipada after they protested the establishment of the Empire in 19 BBY. The Imperial forces blockaded the planet and deployed swamptroopers to its surface. By 1 BBY, after one of the most vocal protesters—a Drabatan singer named Sa'Kalla— was captured and tortured, a movement was formed in her name and opposed the Empire.
The Imperial governor of Pipada attempted to stop the violence caused by the movement and brought Sa'Kalla to the Pipada Auditorium where she was ordered to convince the crowd to submit. She defied the order and was executed on stage, causing the stadium to erupt in violence, and the Drabatans killed the Imperial forces before briefly reclaiming their homeworld. Soon after, the Empire returned with reinforcements and imposed martial law. During the Imperial occupation, Pipada was harvested for its resources and most of the Drabatan species was forced to abandon the planet.
Prelude[]
After the establishment of the Galactic Empire[1] in 19 BBY,[3] the amphibious Drabatan natives of the[1] Outer Rim[4] planet Pipada protested its rule. The most vocal protester was the young and popular singer Sa'Kalla, who wrote protest songs speaking out against Imperial tyranny.[1]
The crackdown[]
The Empire responded to the protests by blockading Pipada.
By 1 BBY,[2] criticism of the Emperor went too far. The Empire responded by initiating the crackdown on Pipada, blockading the planet and deploying garrisons of specialized swamptroopers to the surface. What began as protests turned into brutal massacres. During the crackdown, Sa'Kalla was captured, and a movement was organized in her name that spread across the planet.[1]
When the violence caused by the movement began to threaten Imperial control on the planet, the Imperial governor of Pipada brought Sa'Kalla to the Pipada Auditorium in front of an audience of half a million Drabatans. Believing that they had tortured Sa'Kalla into submission, they ordered her to convince the people to submit. Sa'Kalla instead shouted for the people to resist Imperial rule and she was quickly executed. The whole stadium erupted in violence, and the enraged crowd tore Imperial security forces to pieces. The Drabatans briefly reclaimed their planet while many fled offworld. The Empire soon returned with reinforcements and imposed martial law across the planet.[1]
Aftermath[]
After the Empire captured Pipada,[1] the planet was harvested for its resources to expand the Imperial Military and satisfy its fuel needs, causing most of the Drabatan species to abandon the planet.[5] Despite the loss of Pipada, Drabatans continued to resist the Empire in ways big and small. Those who fought the Imperial forces joined resistance groups and used the war cry of "Sa'Kalla!" for the late singer.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
The crackdown on Pipada was first mentioned, though indirectly, in Pablo Hidalgo's reference book Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide released in 2016.[6] The crackdown was later identified in Dawn of Rebellion, a 2018 roleplaying sourcebook published by Fantasy Flight Games for the Star Wars Roleplaying game.[1]
Sources[]
- Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide (First mentioned) (Indirect mention only)
- Dawn of Rebellion (First identified as crackdown on Pipada)
"The Heroes of Rogue One" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 Dawn of Rebellion
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dawn of Rebellion states that Sa'Kalla's name was used as a battle cry after her death during the crackdown on Pipada. Since her name is used as a battle cry in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story—which Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of to 1 BBY—the crackdown and her death must have occurred by that year.
- ↑ Star Wars: Timelines
- ↑ Star Wars Galaxy Map
- ↑
"The Heroes of Rogue One" — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- ↑ Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide