Rampa III, commonly known as Rampa, was a heavily industrialized planet in the Corporate Sector, which had a landscape so barren and polluted that drinkable water was an extremely precious resource. The need for water set up a thriving smuggling route known as the Rampa Rapids between Rampa III and nearby R'alla, which had an abundance of clear, refreshing water.
Description[]
Located in the Outer Rim Corporate Sector, Rampa III was located a short jump off the Solenbaran Merchant Route, connected to R'alla by a route called the Rampa Rapids. By the era of the Galactic Civil War, Rampa III was arid and polluted, and was constantly riddled by drought.[1]
History[]
As of the Imperial Period, Rampa III had become heavily industrialized, dotted with Corporate Sector Authority labor camps and factories. The Authority made it a practice to send prisoners and the sector's least fortunate to Rampa III, and the planet's landscape had become extremely polluted, with very little drinkable water. As such, a bustling smuggling trade sprung up between Rampa III and nearby R'alla, which was well-known for its sweet, clear water. That run, known as the Rampa Rapids, was heavily patrolled by both Authority gunships[1] and the native Rampa Skywatch,[2] and was known for being highly perilous.[1] Many smugglers cut their teeth running water to Rampa III, including a young Han Solo, who ran the Rampa Rapids during his early career.[3] Gunrunner Tiv "Poke" Pocarno was less successful than Solo, as the Captain of the Broken 'Spanner, in a futile effort to pay back a sizable debt to Reuss VIII crime lord Torel Vorne, botched a smuggling run to Rampa III and died penniless.[4]
C-3PX once completed a hit on Rampa III following a hit on Bonadan.[5]
Behind the scenes[]
Rampa was first mentioned in Han Solo's Revenge, a novel written by Brian Daley and released in 1979.[2]
The 2009 reference book The Essential Atlas later identified the planet as Rampa III. Additionally, it created the Rampa Minor system to differentiate Rampa 1 and Rampa 2 from Rampa III, establishing that they are not in the same system.[1]
Appearances[]
- Han Solo's Revenge (First mentioned)
- Han Solo and the Lost Legacy (Mentioned only)
- The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial (Mentioned only)
Sources[]
- A Guide to the Star Wars Universe
"Star Maps: An alternative to the Star Wars™ Astrogation Gazetteer" — Voyages SF 8 (Unlicensed)
"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, How I Wonder Where We Are" — Voyages SF 13 (Unlicensed)- Han Solo and the Corporate Sector Sourcebook
- A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded
- Platt's Starport Guide
- The Essential Guide to Characters
- Cynabar's Fantastic Technology: Droids
- Stock Ships
- Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Official Star Wars Fact File 138 (WAS 1-4: Waste Disposal)
- The New Essential Guide to Droids
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia
- The Essential Atlas (First identified as Rampa III)