Zygerrian

Zygerria is a picturesque world with fortress-capped mesas that extend above windswept plains. Graceful brezak creatures catch the wind currents and soar effortlessly from butte to butte. The beauty of the planet hides the fact that Zygerria's cities were all built upon the backs of slaves. For thousands of years, Zygerria supplied slave labor the the galaxy; the Zygerrian Slave Empire became wealthy and powerful, as did those who exploited their chained subjects. After the Jedi Knights cracked down on the slave trade, Zygerria diminished. Its old fortresses and slave markets are still impressive edifices, though their luster has faded from time. Some Zygerrians are actively plotting a return to the old ways, and are finding eager allies in the Clone Wars.

Highly durable freighters used by the Zygerrians, these blocky transports often have their spacious storage bays outfitted for live cargo. Primitive yet powerful thruster engines sit on articulated boom arms that extend from the ship's primary hull. Though the ship's hold can carry dozens of miserable passengers in appalling conditions, the vessel can be competently operated by a single pilot.

The Queen of Zygerria, Miraj Scintel longs for a return to glory for her people. Ages ago, the Zygerrian Slave Empire stretched across many sectors, supplying luckless labor to unscrupulous masters in the galaxy. Scintel takes advantage of a Republic distracted by war to grow the slave trade, allied by the Separatist Alliance. When Anakin Skywalker goes undercover to infiltrate Scintel's court, and discover the whereabouts of a vanished colony of Togruta artisans, the wily Queen takes interest in him. She sees in Anakin a prize to own and overpower, and uses her seductive charms to her full advantage.

Atai Molec is the ruthless prime minister of Zygerria who will do whatever it takes to bring his homeworld back to its former majesty. He also serves as Captain of the Guard, leading the royal sentinels sworn to protect the Queen and enforce Zygerrian dominance over their slaves. Despite his rank, Molec often took a hands-on approach. He has been known to personally prowl the markets on foot, vigiliant for any inklings of rebellion, and he delights in breaking slaves himself, brandishing the Zygerrian electro-whip with unrivaled cruelty.

A proud Zygerrian, Darts D'Nar longed for the days when Zygerria was once again an influential power in the galaxy. He believed that an alliance with Count Dooku and the Separatists was a step in the path towards rebuilding this former glory, though he was often impatient at the Count's indirect means. To D'Nar, power not flexed is power wasted. With relish, he supervised the conquest of Kiro, and the forced relocation of thousands of Togruta colonists. A powerfully built Zygerrian, Darts D'Nar was a master of the electro-whip.

The Confederacy of Independent Systems, also known as the Separatist Alliance, was a collection of star systems and corporate titans that left the Republic and fought for independence against the Republic’s clone armies and Jedi Knights. The charismatic former Jedi Count Dooku was the Alliance’s political leader, while its military power came from credits and assets donated by powerful galactic trade groups. No one suspected that the Alliance was actually a tool of Darth Sidious, who had engineered the Clone Wars as part of a Sith plot to rule the galaxy.