Alzoc III

Description

Alzoc III was a world dominated by ice and snow. Its landscape was characterized by vast, frozen wastelands, punctuated by numerous deep valleys and mountain ranges. Powerful, frigid winds regularly swept across the planet, frequently resulting in intense snowstorms. The Valley of Blizzards was particularly notorious for this phenomenon. The surface was also dotted with several frozen lakes. During daylight hours, the sunlight reflected off the snow-covered terrain could be intensely blinding, capable of causing retinal damage to many species. Conversely, nights on this moonless planet were plunged into complete darkness.

Aside from the sentient Talz, there was very little wildlife present on the planet. The snow slug was the only species commonly observed on the surface; this slug-like creature, equipped with large teeth, moved through the snowfields with its mouth agape, capturing prey within its cavernous mouth and leaving a trail of melted snow in its wake. Imperial bioengineers considered utilizing the snow slug in an experiment aimed at creating bioweapons, but the project ultimately proved unsuccessful. Another animal native to Alzoc was the torsk. The t'landa Til Teroenza was known to possess a sculpture of a torsk carved from lapis. During the Imperial occupation, shaak were introduced to the planet as livestock. They were raised by a Food Commissioner who oversaw the distribution of supplies on the planet.

The planet's flora included a species of fir tree that grew sparsely across the landscape. Muftak, an orphan who was born on the desert world of Tatooine, experienced recurring dreams of his homeworld, which he interpreted as a form of genetic memory. These dream-memories depicted lush and vibrant jungles, adorned with enormous bell-shaped flowers of various colors hanging from the foliage. Within these flowers, reservoirs of rich nectar formed. In his dreams, the Talz consumed this liquid, which was full of marvelous rippling flavors, through their proboscis. While these dream-memories did not align with the environment of Alzoc III during his lifetime, it is possible that they reflected an earlier period in the planet's history.

History

Pre-Imperial era

Approximately 30,000 BBY, the Rakata held dominion over the planet, controlling a significant portion of the galaxy through their interstellar Infinite Empire. It was during this era that the creature known as Gharj was unleashed upon the native Talz, leading them to worship the beast and its Rakatan masters. With the collapse of the Empire five millennia later, the Rakatans retreated to their homeworld, leaving behind little evidence of their reasons for departing.

A Talz individual was observed off-world as early as 3993 BBY on the planet Korriban. Around the same time, a Talz served as a member of the Jedi Covenant's Shadows. During the Cold War between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire just over three centuries later, many Talz participated in the Republic's military efforts on the frigid planet Hoth, and near the end of the Cold War Alzoc III and the Sujimis sector were represented in the Galactic Senate by Senator Tal Teff. The world was also visited by the Yuuzhan Vong during their early reconnaissance missions around 29 BBY; some of the natives were captured for experimentation by the extra-galactic invaders. Prior to the rise of the Galactic Empire, some Talz lived and traveled off-world, with individuals living on Maramere, Lamaredd, Questal, and Esseles, where Bama Vook worked as a test pilot for Trinkatta Starships. A sizable community of Talz also resided on Orto Plutonia, leading to conflicts with the Pantorans from the orbiting moon. Perhaps the most notable off-world Talz during this period was the Jedi Knight Foul Moudama, though few knew of his origins. He fought as a General in the Clone Wars and was killed while protecting the Supreme Chancellor.

During the Clone Wars, the planet was considered to be within the territory controlled by the Hutt crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Following the Battle of Ryloth, Alzoc briefly became a point of interest for both sides of the conflict. The bounty hunter Cad Bane had stolen a Gravitic Core from a Munificent-class star frigate in orbit above the planet, causing the ship to be destroyed by an explosion of the other core it was carrying. The core was intended for use in a new Separatist superweapon, designed to have the capacity to collapse a star. The frigate crashed on Alzoc, where the gravitic core created a gravity anomaly, causing the ship's wreckage and ice debris to float in the air near the crash site. Shortly thereafter, Jabba informed the Republic of CIS activity near the planet, hoping to punish the Separatists for passing through his territory without payment. The Jedi High Council soon dispatched Jedi Masters Aayla Secura and Luminara Unduli to investigate the report.

Accompanied by a detachment of the Grand Army of the Republic led by commanders CC-5052 and CC-1004, the two Jedi arrived at Alzoc, deploying several AT-TEs to the planet's surface. However, by that time the crash site was already being visited by the Confederate assassin Asajj Ventress, Dark Acolyte of Count Dooku. To maintain the secrecy of the new gravitic weapon, Dooku instructed his agent to eliminate all evidence of the incident and leave no survivors. Upon the arrival of the Republic forces at the crash site, both the Jedi and the clone troopers were astonished by the sight of massive ice formations and numerous starship components floating freely in the air and decided to investigate the vessel. They were engaged by many battle droids dispatched by Ventress to keep the Jedi occupied, while she went about setting the remains of the ship for self-destruct in order to destroy all evidence of the new superweapon's existence and eliminate the Republic forces. After finding the ship's data recorder, Secura and Unduli were able to uncover a record of the ship's last moments, as well as access the ship's manifest, learning about the existence of the gravitic weapon. After narrowly escaping the ship before it exploded, the Jedi were ambushed by the Dathomirian assassin. After a brief duel, the two Jedi Masters overpowered the Dark Acolyte, trapping her under a bulk of ice. Unduli then ordered the clones to make contact with Coruscant to report the results of their mission to the Jedi Council. The discovery of the new weapon later helped the Republic destroy the CIS superweapon in a battle on Behpour.

Galactic Empire era

Although Imperial scouts discovered the planet at some point before 18 BBY, they realized that the majority of the Talz were unaware of galactic civilization. Their society was primitive, relying on simple tools to construct shelters from the cold. Recognizing the potential of the untapped labor force represented by the Talz, the discovery was intentionally omitted from the Galactic Registry to circumvent Senate regulations concerning the treatment of primitive peoples. Instead, the Empire enslaved the species, with the indirect assistance of the professional Quarren slaver Borun Call. They then established vast mines, forcing the Talz to work under harsh conditions. In addition to ores that were shipped to major shipyards, the Imperials also discovered valuable [Alzoc pearls](/article/alzoc_pearl] on the planet. Obo Rin, an Imperial sentientologist, described their presence as protective, citing the need to prevent offworlders enslaving the primitive species. In reality, the Empire restricted access to the planet and prohibited the Talz from leaving their world to maintain a monopoly on this resource. To further this goal, the Empire offered a 5,000 credit bounty for the capture or execution of any Talz found offworld.

The Talz endured immense suffering under Imperial occupation, being worked to death in the mines with minimal rations. This situation improved briefly under the supervision of Imperial officer Pter Thanas. Reasoning that overall efficiency would increase if the Talz received more food, he increased their food allotment. Profits did improve, and the Talz demonstrated their gratitude by saving his life when he nearly fell into the mines. However, six months later, his reforms were reversed by a new colonel. When a Talz headman requested a return to the additional rations, the colonel ordered his village destroyed. Despite Thanas's objections, the village was destroyed, and Thanas was sent to Bakura for his insubordination.

Despite their efforts to isolate Alzoc III from the galaxy, the Imperials were not entirely successful. The criminal Zann Consortium became aware of the planet and attempted to extort the Imperial Food Commissioner there to gain access to the planet's profits. Some Talz also managed to escape the planet, finding refuge in fringe communities such as the Artists' High Commune on Mrlssi, on frontier worlds such as Feriae Junction Ryloth and Tandankin, or by taking advantage of Imperial-free zones such as The Wheel casino and Void Station. Not all the escaped Talz chose to remain hidden; some opted to fight against the Galactic Empire. One joined the Rebel Alliance as a fighter pilot in 3 ABY, while another sought to incite rebellion on his home world. He successfully convinced a group of adventurers to accompany him back to Alzoc III and lead a revolt. Those he recruited had to contend not only with the Imperial presence, but also with Talz collaborators; some of the natives chose to cooperate with the Imperials in suppressing their own species in exchange for special favors. Gar, in particular, resisted the adventurers' attempts at insurgency. While this attempted revolution was ultimately unsuccessful, the Talz finally gained their freedom shortly after the Battle of Endor; due to the significant defeat there, Imperial leaders consolidated their forces throughout the galaxy, withdrawing them from many Outer Rim holdings, including Alzoc III.

New Republic era

The New Republic Senate did not discover mention of the planet until 7 ABY, when it was found in secret corporate files. Re-discovering the planet, the New Republic introduced the Talz to many other species. Mining continued on the planet under New Republic supervision, with the Talz taking ownership of the mines. They began to develop a system of trade with offworlders, although they interacted with their trading partners guardedly. Talz leaving their world was still rare during this period, although some did so. Some of these travelers were captured by the Imperial warlord Zsinj for use in his experiments. His scientists pumped the beings full of chemicals in order to stimulate their rage centers. One such individual was released by Castin Donn and killed a number of his tormentors before being killed himself.

In 12 ABY, the planet was visited by the Eye of Palpatine, an Imperial battlemoon, which had been dormant for 30 years. Originally commissioned by Emperor Palpatine to destroy a Jedi enclave on Belsavis, the battlemoon had been disabled by the Jedi Knight Callista Ming before it could be activated. When it was restarted by the dark Jedi Irek Ismaren, it carried out its programming written years earlier, which included clandestinely gathering an aggregate of two stormtrooper companies from a number of Outer Rim worlds where they had been stationed decades earlier. Unable to find the long absent stormtroopers, the slowly deteriorating DZ-70 fugitive tracker droids of the Eye of Palpatine took aboard whatever bipeds they could find. As such, when it stopped at Alzoc III, it took a number of Talz aboard, attempting to indoctrinate them as stormtroopers. The battlemoon was prevented from completing its mission by the Jedi Master Luke Skywalker and two of his trainees, who had also been conscripted by the starship while stranded on Pzob. Skywalker managed to evacuate all the inhabitants off the starship, with aid from the Talz, before one of his companions self-destructed it. Skywalker later ensured the Talz were returned to Alzoc III.

The ice planet was again visited by Imperial-aligned forces when the Empire Reborn, a splinter movement, established a small outpost there. The movement was led by former Procurator of Justice, Lord Hethrir, who while in office had overseen extensive slaving operations throughout the galaxy. It is possible that it was in this capacity that he established a presence on the ice planet. Rumors of the Imperial activities there reached Mon Mothma, head of the New Republic Intelligence Service. She hired the mercenaries Kyle Katarn and Jan Ors to investigate; posing as cargo haulers delivering goods in their starship, the Raven's Claw, Katarn infiltrated the base from within one of the cargo containers. However, the Imperial forces became aware of his activity, and took Ors captive; she had landed the Raven's Claw in another hangar bay to wait for Kyle. Despite the outpost being defended by stormtroopers, probe droids, and lightsaber-wielding members of the Reborn—warriors artificially imbued with The Force—Katarn, a former Jedi himself, was able to rescue Ors and escape the base. It is likely it was later destroyed by a proper New Republic force.

As Alzoc III became more established in the galaxy, new opportunities opened up for the Talz. One youngling went on to train at the Jedi Praxeum on Yavin 4 among such Jedi luminaries as Jaina Solo and Lowbacca. Aj Koenes would train as a water specialist, later working for the Senate Select Committee for Refugees (SELCORE) in terraforming Duro during the Yuuzhan Vong War. Talz also traveled to worlds such as Phaeda, Vaynai, and Lok.

Inhabitants

The Talz, tall, fur-covered bipeds, were the only sentient inhabitants of Alzoc III. Typically standing around 2 meters tall, their strength, coupled with the large claws on their hands, gave them a formidable appearance. The Talz were well-suited to their planet, possessing a thick layer of white and gray fur that insulated them from the cold. Their most distinguishing feature was the presence of four eyes on their head, an adaptation to the planet's environment. The smaller pair was used during the day, when sunlight reflected intensely off the snowfields. The larger pair was reserved for the deep darkness of night, when the moonless sky provided virtually no light. A small proboscis extended from beneath their eyes.

Despite their intimidating appearance, the Talz were peaceful individuals. Their docile nature made them particularly susceptible to Imperial control. Acting against their inherent nature caused significant stress, often leading to psychosomatic illnesses. Talz society was structured around strong family and extended family bonds, which ensured resources were distributed equitably for the benefit of the community. They spoke the language Talz, and upon being introduced to galactic society, they could understand Basic, but were unable to speak it due to the anatomy of their proboscis. This limitation could be overcome through the use of vocabulators or protocol droids.

Locations

Alzoc III mines

The Galactic Empire established extensive mining operations on Alzoc III to exploit the planet's vast, untouched ore deposits. The open-pit mines penetrated deep into the red, rocky soil of Alzoc III, cutting into its crust. These mines were equipped with mechanical conveyors to transport the ore, but the Talz slave miners who worked there never emerged from the pits. They were forced to work until they were injured or died, a common occurrence due to the lack of medical care or safety precautions in the mines. To replace deceased or incapacitated miners, the Imperials periodically pushed young Talz over the edge of the pits. Their thick fur was considered sufficient to mitigate the damage sustained from such falls. The mines were abandoned by the Imperials when they withdrew from the planet.

Empire Reborn outpost

The Empire Reborn outpost was a sprawling, multi-story structure, surrounded by several outlying towers and a small, circular landing pad. In addition to this, it also contained at least two other interior hangar bays. It was protected by a large deflector shield generator housed within a three-story circular chamber. The outpost was staffed by Imperial officers, stormtroopers, and Viper probe droids. At least one member of the Reborn was stationed there when Kyle Katarn infiltrated the outpost.

Behind the scenes

The initial appearance of the Talz occurred in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, but their homeworld remained unnamed until the publication of Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races by West End Games in June of 1989. Following this, their planet was featured in numerous supplementary materials, encompassing both the Essential Guides and products from Wizards of the Coast. Players first explored this planet in the demo version of Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast (subsequently integrated as an unlockable level in the Nintendo GameCube and Xbox versions). Alzoc III also appeared in the Star Wars: Empire at War video game, along with its expansion pack, Forces of Corruption, and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes video game. Notably, the Star Wars: Empire at War mission depicts the Empire's victory over a substantial Rebel fleet near the planet, offering the option to obliterate the planet using the Death Star. Consequently, certain elements of this mission are considered non-canon due to inconsistencies with established continuity. The Alzoc III mission in Forces of Corruption serves as an optional side quest within the Zann Consortium campaign. Alzoc III receives mention in the BioWare–LucasArts video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, where Republic-aligned Talz stationed on Hoth cite their homeworld as a factor in their comfort on the ice planet. In the narrative Play It Again, Figrin D'An: The Tale of Muftak and Kabe (August 1995), as mentioned earlier, the orphaned Muftak had vivid dreams of his home planet as a thriving jungle from an early age. His friend Momaw Nadon, an Ithorian botanist, reassured him that these were "[r]acial memories, no doubt, to guide you when you emerge from your cocoon." These visions contrasted with the established environment described in Galaxy Guide 4: Alien Races. This discrepancy was later retconned by Daniel Wallace in The Essential Guide to Planets and Moons, which posited that Muftak "imagined" the planet's terrain, and that "no one had the knowledge to correct him." The extent of this uncorrected misconception remains unclear. It's possible that the memories pertained to an earlier phase in the Talz's evolutionary history and are no longer accurate. Alternatively, Muftak might have encountered these plants in enclosed environments. It's known that certain ice planets harbored distinct ecosystems within subterranean caverns, such as Hoth (visible here), suggesting the dreams could have been misinterpreted. The most recent depiction of Alzoc III from orbit, featured in the New Essential Guide to Alien Species (October 2006), showcases extensive green regions on the planet, implying that it may not be entirely frozen.