Malastare was a forested planet located in the Malastare system of the Mid Rim, situated along the Hydian Way. Its core was home to large reserves of Malastarian fuel, a toxic fuel found only on Malastare. It was the homeworld of the Dug species, though it was represented in the Galactic Senate by the Gran species, who had colonized Malastare. Ainlee Teem, the senator of Malastare, was nominated in the election for Supreme Chancellor during the Invasion of Naboo. During the Clone Wars, Malastare was the location of a battle between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems over the planet's fuel reserves. The battle awoke a creature known as the Zillo Beast, which the Republic successfully neutralized, leading the Dug Council to sign a treaty with the Republic allowing them access to their fuel reserves.
Malastare fuel lines
Malastare was located within the system of the same name, which occupied the Dustig sector of the Mid Rim. The world acted as a junction between the Hydian Way hyperspace route—which connected it to ZeHeth and Darkknell—and the Biox Detour, which linked Malastare to the Ring of Kafrene mining colony.
The surface of Malastare was heavily forested, and its core was home to large reserves of fuel. As a result, the native Dugs cleared large portions of land, constructing refineries to extract the fuel vital to its economy. Podracing was a popular sport on Malastare.
Doge Nakha Urus reads an ancient manuscript detailing the Zillo Beasts.
In ancient times, Malastare was plagued by Zillo Beasts, who feasted on the native Dug population. The creatures were driven to near extinction when it was discovered by the Dugs that Malastarian fuel was toxic to them. However, it was prophesied that one would eventually return, and bring an end to Dug civilization. In order to prepare their descendants, a manuscript detailing the Zillo Beasts was passed down through future generations.
In the centuries before the Imperial Era, members of the Gran species arrived on Malastare to colonize the world, only to be met by fierce Dug resistance. In the brutal Gran-Dug war that ensued, the Gran held the technological advantage, whereas the Dugs put a defense with an unrelenting ability and great resourcefulness. In the end, the conflict escalated to such a point that the Galactic Republic needed to step in and establish a ceasefire. As the Gran colonists held greater influence in the Republic than the native Dugs, the Republic all but gave the world over to the Gran during talks via the Gran Protectorate Act. Officially, however, the Gran were granted the eastern continent of Malastare, while the Republic moved the Dugs to the planet's western continent.
By the High Republic Era, Malastare had formed a joint task force with the world of Sullust, keeping order in their small sector of the Mid Rim against pirates and other similar threats. Their joint fleet included a commanding officer named Hedda Casset, who served in the JFT for over thirty years.
Over time, significant Gran and human populations migrated to Malastare. Podracing became extremely popular on the forested planet, and the city of Pixelito was the birthplace of Sebulba, who became one of the most celebrated podracers in history.
During the Trade Federation's Invasion of Naboo, Malastare was represented by Gran senator Ainlee Teem in the Galactic Senate. Ainlee was nominated as a candidate to become Supreme Chancellor after Finis Valorum was voted out of office through a Vote of No Confidence. However, senator Sheev Palpatine of Naboo was elected to fill the position instead.
At some point, a Corporate Alliance fleet, led by the brilliant Harch tactician Admiral Trench, blockaded Malastare Narrows. A dispatched Republic task force led by Wullf Yularen engaged the corporate fleet. Despite taking heavy casualties, reinforcements led by Jedi Master Kep-She allowed the blockade to be broken, and it seemingly killed Trench. Amid the Separatist Crisis, Eriadu Mining shipped lommite ore though Malastare to the Core Worlds.
The electro-proton bomb detonates, deactivating the Separatist Droid Army.
During the Clone Wars, the Grand Army of the Republic and Separatist Droid Army fought a battle over Malastare's fuel reserves. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine authorized the use of an experimental electro-proton bomb, despite the concerns of Doge Nakha Urus, the leader of the Dug Council. The device succeeded in deactivating the Droid Army, while leaving the Republic's clone troopers unharmed. However, the explosion opened up a massive sinkhole in the ground, which swallowed clones and droids alike.
While the Dug Council gathered to decide whether to sign a treaty with the Republic allowing them access to Malastare's fuel reserves, a rescue team led by Jedi Master Mace Windu descended into the sinkhole to rescue Republic troopers, finding several survivors. However, they found that the bomb had awoken the last surviving Zillo Beast, and barely escaped with their lives. Doge Urus demanded Republic assistance in eliminating the creature, threatening to cancel the treaty if they didn't. Windu declined due to the fact it was innocent and the last of its kind. The Supreme Chancellor and Doctor Sionver Boll expressed interest in examining the lightsaber-resistant plates of the Zillo Beast, believing that they could be used to improve armor for the clone army.
The Zillo Beast attacks the Republic and Dug forces.
Discovering unprotected gaps between its plates, the Republic utilized RX-200 Falchion-class assault tanks to sedate the creature, leading the Dugs to believe it to be dead. Despite plans to relocate it somewhere in the Outer Rim, Palpatine ordered it to be taken to Coruscant, so it could be studied in a controlled environment. The Malastarian council signed the treaty, granting the Republic access to vital fuel reserves.
After the end of the Clone Wars, Malastare fell under the control of the Republic's successor, the Galactic Empire. It notably housed an important communications station. Malastare was intended to be a target of the Rebel Alliance's 61st Mobile Infantry during Operation Ringbreaker, but the attack never happened as the operation was called off following the siege of Inyusu Tor. Although it was successfully targeted by Blade Squadron shortly after the Battle of Endor, the Imperial presence would remain even after the destruction of the Imperial Future Council on Akiva, and Grand General Kenner Loring would choose to entrench himself on the planet, in opposition to Fleet Admiral Gallius Rax's de facto control of the fragmented Empire.
Doge Nakha Urus and several members of the Dug Council
The internal affairs of Malastare were controlled by the Dug Council, who ruled from the Imperial palace. The council had five members, and was led by the Doge. The council was able to ratify treaties. During the Clone Wars, it was led by Doge Nakha Urus.
However, in the Galactic Senate, the interests of Malastare were solely represented by the Grans. During the Trade Federation Invasion of Naboo, it was represented by Senator Aks Moe of the Congress of Malastare.
Malastare was first mentioned in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. It was mentioned again in a deleted scene from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, released in 2002. Malastare made its first on-screen appearances in "The Zillo Beast," an episode from the second season of the 2008 animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
In the initial hardcover and audiobook release of The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness, the list of planets brought under Nihil control by the expansion of the Stormwall includes Malastare. The digital release edits the list and instead places Elrood behind the new Stormwall border.