Kessel

Han Solo rose from an impoverished childhood on the mean streets of Corellia to become one of the heroes of the Rebel Alliance. As captain of the Millennium Falcon, Han and his co-pilot Chewbacca came to believe in the cause of galactic freedom, joining Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa in the fight against the Empire. After the Battle of Endor, Han faced difficult times in a chaotic galaxy, leading to a shattering confrontation with his estranged son Ben.

Quay Tolsite is the director of the Pyke Syndicate’s operations on Kessel, which would be an enviable job except for the damaging effects of the planet’s noxious atmosphere on Pyke bodies. Tolsite carries a ring of code keys required to access key systems in the mining facilities.

During the Clone Wars, the Pykes became the galaxy’s preeminent spice dealers, gaining control of mining operations on Kessel and funneling illicit substances to Coruscant’s most influential crime families. The Pykes’ stronghold is Oba Diah, but they are a powerful presence on nearby Kessel. Pyke sentinels keep a close watch on miners sentenced to extract spice and coaxium from Kessel, as well as on the smugglers hired to ferry these valuable cargos to offworld purification plants and refineries.

Pykes sentinels supervise prisoners working in the mines of Kessel, prevent smugglers from absconding with spice, and guard against incursions by rival gangs. Kessel’s corrosive conditions require sentinels to wear radiation-resistant lead smocks and use blasters that are cheap to replace.

Coaxium is a rare form of hypermatter that is essential for faster-than-light travel. Starships’ hyperdrive reaction chambers are coated with a thin layer of coaxium, which is energized to allow passage into hyperspace. Unrefined coaxium is mined on worlds such as Kessel, but is dangerous to transport. Highly volatile, it explodes if jostled or allowed to get too hot.

The Pyke Syndicate’s Kessel operations are run from a control center overseen by Quay Tolsite. To save credits, Tolsite has assembled a staff largely of droids, which monitor the miners’ output. Tolsite controls his mechanical charges with restraining bolts.