Black Spire Outpost (BSO), commonly known as Black Spire, was an outpost on the planet Batuu on the edge of the Outer Rim Territories. It was one of the last stops before Wild Space and the Unknown Regions. The outpost was named for the giant petrified trees that towered over it, and one in particular that was colored black, the Black Spire.
The emblem of Black Spire Outpost
Black Spire Outpost was located on the planet Batuu in the Outer Rim Territories and was considered one of the last stops before Wild Space and the Unknown Regions. Its name was derived from the petrified remains of ancient trees turned into gray and brown stone spires that were large enough to tower over the outpost, with the eponymous Black Spire standing out due to its black hue and smooth texture reminiscent of volcanic glass.
Black Spire Outpost
Before the invention of hyperspace travel, Batuu was a busy stop for travelers to trade or refuel as they passsed through the Outer Rim or journeyed into Wild Space. However, with the rise of the hyperdrive and new hyperspace routes that bypassed the planet, it instead became home to those who did not want to be found. The outpost evolved into a thriving spaceport for smugglers, rogue traders, and adventurers traveling between the galactic frontier and uncharted space. Eventually, Chandrila Star Line began operating luxury cruises in the region for travelers who sought adventure and comfort on their expeditions.
In 232 BBY, Jedi Initiates Kai Brightstar, Lys Solay, and Nubs of the Tenoo Jedi Temple traveled to Black Spire Outpost with Jedi Padawan Celesta Kami of the Batuu Jedi Temple. While in search of tools to purchase for Kami's master, Carver Drow, the group found property developer Ozon Nimbee presenting to Black Spire residents on potential developments. Nimbee sought to construct buildings with unobstructed views of the Batuuan skies, which would necessitate cutting down very spires central to the outpost's identity. Despite of the refusal of the outpost residents, Nimbee tested using sabotage droids to cut down several spires near the outpost. The Jedi, witnessing the test, confronted Nimbee, who was berated by the townsfolk. Believing the only way to get buy-in for his plans was to cut down the spires within the outpost without permission, Nimbee released a swarm of his buzz droids on Black Spire Outpost. The Jedi and townsfolk fought the swarm of droids, destroying many of them. Soon, Drow arrived to destroy several more with his lightsaber and the Force. One droid, however, escaped notice before completely transecting the spire overlooking the milk stand. As the upper portion of the enormous spire fell, the Jedi used the Force to prevent it from crushing the milk stand and set it gently on the ground nearby. At some point, the fallen spire was placed upon its base once more, leaving behind the evidence of the clean cut.
Din Djarin and Grogu in Black Spire Outpost
In 10 BBY, the pilot droid L3-37 questioned Lando Calrissian's ability to make the Kessel Run when, according to L3-37, he could not successfully fly the Millennium Falcon from "here to Black Spire" without her. Following the war against the Pykes, Daimyo Boba Fett and Master Assassin Fennec Shand traveled to Black Spire on a mission with the aim of finding recruits for the Fett gotra and tracking down members of the Pyke Syndicate. The Mandalorian Din Djarin and his foundling Grogu also traveled to Black Spire at some point.
In 34 ABY, the outpost attracted beings who sought to avoid the expanding reaches of the First Order and its conflict with the Resistance, which had erupted into a war. One such being was the Weequay smuggler Hondo Ohnaka, who brought the modified YT-1300 light freighter named the Millennium Falcon to the outpost and established Ohnaka Transport Solutions, a shipping company that was a front for his smuggling operations. Based out of Docking Bay 5, the company frequently recruited flight crew members among the outpost's new arrivals.
The human mercenary Bazine Netal had been hired to search for the Millennium Falcon and purchase it from whomever had it in their possession. At Oga's Cantina, the smuggler told her stories of his history with the ship to stall for time as a Yarkoran sabacc player secretly contacted Mahjo Reeloo, who owed Ohnaka a favor after an incident in the Undervaults of Gwongdeen. Netal paid Ohnaka for the Falcon and delivered it to Beixander 9, where Reeloo posed as Netal's contact to accept delivery of the ship before returning it to the outpost. Ohnaka notified Chewbacca, a Wookiee and the ship's former co-pilot, that the Falcon was safe from Netal's employers. Though Ohnaka continued to use it for his business, he also expressed certainty that the ship would continue to aid "the good guys."
A view of the outpost
Ancient ruins just outside of the outpost housed a Resistance base around that same time. Eventually, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren arrived at the outpost and took command of the First Order garrison, having learned that Rey was with a group of Resistance fugitives on Batuu. A battle between the factions took place in the outpost and above the planet.
The population of Black Spire Outpost was around four to five hundred sentient beings by the time of the Clone Wars, although the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker observed that it did not appear large enough to support a population of that size. By the time of the Galactic Empire, the outpost was populated by humans, Darshi, Jablogians, and Shistavanens.
A map of the outpost in 34 ABY
The Black Spire, from which the outpost derived its name, was located near the center of the outpost.
Batuu's Spaceport as seen from Seezelslak's Cantina
Concept art of the outpost
At the D23 Expo on August 15, 2015, The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger first announced that the company would be building a Star Wars-themed land in Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California and in Disney's Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The announcement stated that these lands would be fourteen acres in size, making them the largest single land expansions in company history. The two attractions announced for the land included a ride that puts guests behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon and a ride that throws guests into the middle of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. it was also announced that the lands' setting would be on a yet-to-be-seen planet on the edge of the Outer Rim Territories, just before Wild Space. During the Q1 FY17 Earnings call for The Walt Disney Company on February 7, 2017, Iger announced that the new lands would open in the year 2019. During the "Star Wars and Disney Parks: A Galaxy in the Making" panel at Celebration Orlando, Asa Kalama of Walt Disney Imagineering stated that what they were building would be canonical.
A map of Disneyland's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
During Galactic Nights, a set of promotional trading cards were issued that gave some hints at what would be found on the attraction regarding Black Spire Outpost. On the front depicted certain scenes of what's likely to occur, such as an encounter with Kylo Ren, bargaining with Dok-Ondar, Hondo and Chewbacca agreeing to a deal, among others. On the back depicted part of a nine-panel map depicting the various locales of the outpost as well as some details about the specific locations. Eight of the cards also had a phrase in Aurebesh describing the location which, thanks to a Twitter user named Nick Tierce, was revealed to say in full "At the edge of the galaxy so far away, black was the spire that called me to stay, a beacon for drifters forgotten and lost, the spire summoned those broken and tossed, come stay here forever or just pass on through, the spirit of the black spire will forever change you".
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