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Kenari

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"There were no survivors on Kenari. What happened there was not your responsibility, you were a child. Let it go."
―Maarva Andor, to Cassian Andor[10]

Kenari was a forested planet located in Mid Rim Territories' Perkell sector. It was devastated by commercial mining operations by the Galactic Republic that left tribes of orphaned children the only survivors. Kenari was the homeworld of Cassian Jeron Andor, originally named Kassa. Continued mining efforts from the Galactic Empire caused a mining disaster believed to have killed all present, prompting the world's abandonment and prohibition.

Description[]

"Kenari. Mid Rim. Abandoned after Imperial mining disaster. Mining. Everyone died. Abandoned and considered toxic. Imperial prohibition."
―Ferrixian Xanwan reads public information about Kenari[7]
Kenari-CLNE

Kenari was located at the outer edge of the Mid Rim.

Kenari was a terrestrial planet[3] located in the Kenari system,[1] a small star system[6] at the edge of the Mid Rim Territories[11] far from the attention of the Core Worlds.[3] It lay within the Perkell sector, in an intersection of the Mid Rim[1] and New Territories regions,[2] with coordinates Q-7 on the Standard Galactic Grid.[1]

With a Type I atmosphere[4] breathable to humans and various other species,[7][8] the world hosted lush jungles,[3] meadows,[8] and mineral deposits, rich in valuable natural sediments and various elements.[3] Although Kenari was once an idyllic haven,[8] mining operations ripped open the surface and devastated the environment, leaving behind massive open pit-mines on the surface. The planet continued to be exploited and was later deemed toxic after much of its resources had been extracted.[5] Among Kenari's fauna were Versimillipedes[7] and snails.[8]

History[]

Outside interest[]

In 228 BBY,[12] during the High Republic Era, Czerka Corporation acquisition negotiator Romila Kaveh visited Kenari with the hopes of convincing the locals to allow Czerka to establish gas mines. Around the same time, members of the carnivorous plant-like Drengir species, including their ruling Great Progenitor, also arrived on world. Unaware of the Drengir presence, Kaveh spoke with a small group of weary Kenari guides via a translator named Tolor Patewick. A xenophobic individual who cared little about nature, Kaveh was frustrated by the Kenari's inability to speak Basic and did not care for the planet's ecosystem, only considering the world "backwater." Although Kaveh insisted that the mines would be built with the highest environmental standards, the Kenari knew that she was lying and that the corporation would only make a mess like they had on other planets. Kaveh still tried to insist that Czerka had progressed since then, but the Kenari refused Kaveh's offer and said they'd rather give the rights to gas mining to the Galactic Republic, who had sent a team there the week before.[8]

Drengir-CGSWG

The Drengir, which briefly took refuge on Kenari

As Kaveh warned that the Republic's regulations could always change with new leadership, the group heard loud rustling in the bush, which they soon realized was being caused by several Drengir heading toward them. While the Kenari struggled to fight the monsters, causing many of them to be eaten, Kaveh and Patewick were chased to the edge of a steep ridge. Cornered, the Drengir attacked Kaveh, eating her alive. After their feast, the Drengir retreated to a clearing in a forest to photosynthesize. Soon the Great Progenitor revealed that one of the people they ate had an electronic device on them, meaning that others could arrive. She decided that they needed to leave the planet, but promised to return there and feast once it was safe. Due to the rarity of lush, pleasurable worlds like Kenari with relatively unarmed organic life, worlds which the Drengir usually tried to stay on as long as possible, some of the Drengir were disappointed. The Drengir then left on their ship the Innovator for the planet Kashyyyk. Although they hoped to keep Kenari as world to often indulge in and return to, the Drengir were defeated on Kashyyyk by the Jedi.[8]

Environmental collapse[]

"Suddenly the rebellion is real for you? Some of us live it. I've been in this fight since I was six years old! You're not the only one who lost everything. Some of us just decided to do something about it."
―Kassa, known by that time as Cassian Andor, explains his life to fellow rebel Jyn Erso[13]
KenariMines-TWBM

Extensive mining devastated Kenari's surface.

During the later years of the Republic's reign, commercial assets of the Republic began the first mining operations on Kenari in pursuit of the valuable minerals found under the planet's crust. The mining teared into the world's surface to create dangerous pit-mines. The exploitation of Kenari left the planet scourged and poisoned, turning the once vibrant jungles and soil into a toxic wasteland, within which only[5] small tribes of orphaned[3] children managed to survive. Once the Republic took everything it believed it could, the government abandoned Kenari and declared the world off limits. The orphans made use of resources left behind by the Republic.[5]

Prior to the Clone Wars,[14] one group of the orphaned children,[5] known as the Alpha, made a life for themselves in the jungles of Kenari. Amongst them was a boy named Kassa[6]—who had survived the exploitation of Kenari[5] and later stated he been fighting as a revolutionary since the age of six[13]—and his sister, Kerri.[6]

Kassa's long adventure[]

"Maybe we should quit while we're ahead."
"Are you listening? It's safe. Whatever it was, it's burned off. Just get your mask off.'"
"Time, not gas. We said 20 minutes tops."
―Clem and Maarva Andor[9]
Kenari-crash-Andor101

The Alpha saw a Republic transpo corsair go down.

Around 24 BBY,[15] a damaged[6] Republic[16] transpo corsair[14] descended through Kenari's atmosphere and crashed in the planet's jungle. The Alpha tribe saw the starship go down from their village[6] and older members began planning[17] an exploratory mission to investigate the wreckage[18] and search for supplies there.[17] The leader of the tribe gathered a portion of the tribe together, the group painting marks on themselves.[6] The nine year old[19] Kassa joined them, advising his[6] six year old[18] sister to stay behind when she tried to go with him.[6]

The Alpha group made their way to the corsair wreckage, passing one of the expansive pit-mines along the way. When they arrived at the crash site, the tribe leader scouted ahead to an open entrance to the ship, where two crewmen had fallen. As the Alpha leader looked over the body of one at the hatch, the other crewman,[7] a Republic officer,[9] regained consciousness and shot her, firing on the other Alpha members before they killed him with darts. The tribes people then went to their leader, finding her dead. As the group mourned the fallen Alpha and took her away, Kassa chose to stay[7] and investigate the corsair.[9]

Kassas-new-parents-Andor103

Maarva and Clem Andor leave with an unconscious Kassa, and B2EMO.

Climbing into the transport corsair, Kassa explored its hallways and found more bodies and a room with consoles and control panels. Angered, the boy began trashing the room. Meanwhile, the scavenger couple Maava and Clem Andor had arrived at the wreckage, salvaging a number of fuel modules. While Clem was cautious about spending too much time at the ship, Maarva noticed the distant sounds of Kassa breaking things and had them explore ahead. The pair found Kassa, who aimed his blowgun at them. With a Republic frigate arriving in the system and entering Kenari's orbit, Maarva chose to incapacitate the boy, fearing that the Republic would punish his people. Clem disliked the idea, but reluctantly followed along. The couple return to their hauler with Kassa and their salvage. The boy regained consciousness as their ship took off.[9]

End of the Kenari[]

"There's not a lot about Kenari, sir. It's fairly obscure."
―A Pre-Mor officer, to Deputy Inspector Syril Karn[6]

Kassa was adopted by the Andors,[9] taking the name Cassian Jeron Andor[13] and growing up on the planet Ferrix.[20] All records that Maarva submitted on Cassian stated that he was from the[7] planet[13] Fest.[7] The Republic transitioned into the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY, and the new government believed more resources could be found Kenari. The Empire resumed the mining of the world until that work triggered a major mining disaster,[5] which was believed to have killed all present.[21] The world was abandoned after the disaster and labeled toxic. Placed under Imperial Prohibition, no one was allowed to land on the planet's surface. Kenari at that time was considered a fairly obscure planet that not many were aware of.[7]

Cassian felt guilty for years for abandoning Kerri at the village and began a search for his sister[16] on the hope she survived Kenari.[21] After an incident during his search in 5 BBY,[6] he became a fugitive of the Consolidated Holdings of Preox-Morlana Corporation[7] and then the Empire.[22] In the process, Maarva spoke to him about his search for Kerri, urging him to stop blaming himself for what had happened as it had been out of his control and to let go of the quest to find her.[10] Following Maarva's death, Andor would join the ranks of the growing rebellion against the Empire,[23] going on to be an captain in the Rebel Alliance. Before heading onto a mission[24] that would begin his last efforts against the Empire and his eventual death,[25] Cassian dreamed about Kerri on Kenari.[24]

Inhabitants[]

"He's got people here."
"Yeah, people who've just killed a Republic officer. It'll be open season the moment that frigate lands."
―Clem and Maarva Andor[9]
Kenari-prepare

Members of the Alphas on Kenari

Kenari was home to the human Kenari.[6] During the High Republic Era, there were several Kenari leaders of multiple groups.[8] After plunderers left disaster in their wake, Kenari was solely inhabited by small tribes of orphans.[3] One of these tribes, the Alphas lived in a village near water.[6] Many of them were armed with a blowgun, bow, or a staff.[7] This tribe used black[6] warpaint[16] and would traverse the wilderness to survey the ruins of the mining operations.[26]

Locations[]

After the devastation from Republic commercial mining, Kenari was left with mines[5] and at least one village.[6]

Behind the scenes[]

"It's your classic Lord of the Flies scenario. So they have this wild, primitive, feral kind of feel to it. And maybe that explains a little bit of older Cassian's innate wildness and rebellion."
―Michael Wilkinson describing Kenari[27]

Kenari first appeared in flashbacks throughout the three episode premiere of the first season of Tony Gilroy's live-action Disney+ Star Wars: Andor. The episodes, "Kassa," "That Would Be Me," and "Reckoning" were released on September 21, 2022.[17] Footage of Kenari was shown beforehand in the teaser trailer for the series released on the official Star Wars YouTube channel on May 26 of that year.[28]

In the anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Cassian Andor says he has been in this fight since he was six years old, and Gilroy used this line as a jumping-off point to create the planet Kenari.[29] He was very interested in weaving the origin story of the children on the planet. He knew why the mining operation was abandoned, but he did not want to get into it. There was originally a very articulated version explaining this, but it was cut for different reasons.[30] For "Reckoning,"[9] he had the idea that young Andor could leave Kenari at the same time adult Andor left Ferrix.[30]

In an effort to reflect the Kenari tribe's circumstances, which he likened to the story Lord of the Flies, costume designer Michael Wilkinson envisioned that the children crafted their clothing by using natural elements as well as chopping up and repurposing remnants and cast-off uniforms left behind by their parents. The costumes were made to look like a primitive mix of work wear the kids customized with feathers, beads, trinkets, and elements they foraged from the urban environment. These details were meant to create a mixture of modern industry with organic jungle textures.[27] Composer Nicholas Britell added rustling leaves into the Kenari recording so that the audience would hear the forest in the music. He aimed to create a wistfulness as well as a sense of loss and memory.[31]

The scenes on Kenari in the first three episodes of Andor Season 1 were filmed in England. The Kenari village in "Kassa" was constructed in the public Black Park in Buckinghamshire, where locations in the Sequel trilogy films Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens (2015) and Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker (2019) were shot. Located just north of Black Park Lake in the Alder Carr area, the village was dismantled after filming was completed. The forest scenes in "That Would be Me" and "Reckoning" were done in Winterfold Forest public park. In order to match the flora with that of Black Park, vegetation was shipped in to help dress the transpo corsair crash site.[32]

Appearances[]

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 StarWars.com Star Systems of the Galaxy on StarWars.com (current version) (backup link) (previous version) — Based on corresponding data for the Kenari system
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 StarWars.com Star Wars Galaxy Map on StarWars.com (article) (backup link) places Kenari in the area of space Star Wars: The Galactic Explorer's Guide identifies as New Territories.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Kenari in the Databank (backup link)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Kassa" establishes that Kenari had a breathable atmosphere that Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 43 Secrets of Spaceflight: Types of Atmosphere classifies as Type I.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
  6. ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 Star Wars: Andor — "Kassa"
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 Star Wars: Andor — "That Would Be Me"
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 The High Republic: Into the Light
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Star Wars: Andor — "Reckoning"
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Star Wars: Andor — "Announcement"
  11. ↑ StarWars.com Star Wars Galaxy Map on StarWars.com (article) (backup link)
  12. ↑ Star Wars: Timelines dates Starlight Beacon's destruction to 230 BBY. The implementation of the Guardian Protocols, which Star Wars: The High Republic Character Encyclopedia places in 229 BBY, took place one week after Starlight Beacon's fall according to The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight 1. As The High Republic Adventures (2023) 16, which features the Stormwall going down, takes place one year and a few months after the destruction of Starlight Beacon, it must be set in 228 BBY. The events of The High Republic: Tears of the Nameless also take place in 228 BBY per the reasoning here. As The High Republic: Into the Light states its events occur after the events of Tears of the Nameless and before the Stormwall goes down, they must also take place in that year.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 StarWars.com "Reckoning" Episode Guide | Andor on StarWars.com (backup link)
  15. ↑ Star Wars: Dawn of Rebellion: The Visual Guide establishes that Cassian Jeron Andor was twenty-seven years old during the events of Andor Season 1, the events of which are dated to 5 BBY by that same book. Cassian Andor in the Databank (backup link) establishes that Andor was nine years old when he left Kenari, which therefore took place around 24 BBY.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "On Program" — Star Wars Insider 220
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Star Wars: Andor Season One Companion" — Star Wars Insider 217
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Kerri in the Databank (backup link)
  19. ↑ Cassian Andor in the Databank (backup link)
  20. ↑ Star Wars: Dawn of Rebellion: The Visual Guide
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Star Wars: Andor — "Announcement"
  22. ↑ Star Wars: Andor — "Narkina 5"
  23. ↑ Star Wars: Andor — "Rix Road"
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Star Wars: Andor — "Jedha, Kyber, Erso"
  25. ↑ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  26. ↑ StarWars.com "That Would Be Me" Episode Guide | Andor on StarWars.com (backup link)
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 StarWars.com Dressing the Galaxy: Designer Michael Wilkinson Defines the Look of Andor's Costumes on StarWars.com (backup link)
  28. ↑ Andor | Teaser Trailer | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
  29. ↑ StarWars.com "The Education of Cassian Andor": Creator Tony Gilroy Explores the Nuance of Andor on StarWars.com (backup link)
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Sex and Revolution: ‘Andor' Showrunner Tony Gilroy on Challenging the Limits of the ‘Star Wars' Universe by Vary, Adam B on Variety (November 10, 2022) (backup link archived on November 10, 2022)
  31. ↑ ‘Andor' Composer Nicholas Britell Breaks Down His Score and Why He Incorporated Rustling Leaves by Burlingame, Jon on Variety (September 26, 2022) (backup link archived on September 26, 2022)
  32. ↑ "Galactic Britain II: Cassian's Travels" — Star Wars Insider 219
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