Dedication of the Starlight Beacon

"This station will be a symbol of the Republic in the Outer Rim. A place where we will celebrate our union, and help each other to make it grow. It will send out a signal, for anyone in this sector to hear, at any time. The beacon. The Beacon of the Republic. The sound…of hope."

―Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh^[6]

The dedication of the Starlight Beacon was an event that launched the Starlight Beacon, the culmination of Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh's Great Works. Starlight Beacon was part of Soh's efforts to expand the Galactic Republic's presence in the Outer Rim Territories. The ceremony was delayed by several developments including the Great Hyperspace Disaster and the resulting Emergences, which were instigated by the Nihil pirates.^[6] The ceremony was almost foiled by the pirate prince Cyrus Vuundir, who stole the dedication plaque.^[3] Despite these obstacles, the ceremony proceeded as planned, with senior Jedi and Republic figures making speeches.

Prelude[]

Designed to stand as a symbol of the Galactic Republic's promise of peace and hope in the Outer Rim Territories, the space station heralded everything that Soh wanted her administration to stand for. The dedication was almost postponed after the Great Hyperspace Disaster and its subsequent Emergences, a series of hyperspace catastrophes caused by the Nihil marauders that forced the Chancellor to close travel lanes in the Outer Rim. Starlight Beacon was informally opened to the public at this time in order to treat victims of the tragedies with its medical facilities. After an intervention from a joint task force of Republic Defense Coalition and Jedi forces, however, the formal dedication went on as planned^[6] in the year 232 BBY.^[5]

Prior to the ceremony Prince Cyrus Vuundir, who was also secretly the pirate Taborr Val Dorn, attempted to steal Starlight Beacon's dedication plaque. He tricked the Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay and Nubs into giving him a tour of the facility. After discovering Taborr's presence, the three Jedi pursued him through the station. Following a climatic confrontation, Taborr managed to escape capture by threatening to harm Vuundir, whom he claimed his gang had taken hostage. Due to this and previous encounters with other Jedi, Vuundir gained a better appreciation of his Jedi adversaries and began to question his double life.^[3]

The ceremony[]

The ceremony was attended by delegates from across the galaxy, including many members of the Jedi Order. Speeches were given by the Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh,^[6]^[3] Grand Master Yoda,^[3] Queen Consort Thandeka of the nearby planet Eiram,^[1] and Jedi Master Avar Kriss, who had been named marshal of the station by Grand Masters Pra-Tre Veter and Yoda. The dedication culminated with every Jedi raising their lightsabers to the stars, symbolically representing the light that the Beacon would spread across the Republic.^[7]

Aftermath[]

Following the ceremony, newly elevated Jedi Master Elzar Mann was struck with a haunting Force vision that saw the deaths of himself and his Jedi comrades. Alone, Mann's thoughts on that day went from beauty and hope to that of terror and fear.^[6]