The Askar Trace was a hyperlane that traversed numerous sectors within the Mid Rim, connecting the Leritor and Lannik systems. This route was initially mapped thousands of years prior to the Battle of Yavin and experienced frequent changes in ownership throughout the galactic timeline. Shortly before the conclusion of the Clone Wars, Senator Bail Organa and Jedi Master Yoda utilized this pathway during their voyage to the planet of Utapau. Subsequently, the Askar Trace became the setting for several conflicts during both the Noolian Crisis and the Yuuzhan Vong War.
The Askar Trace, a hyperlane, cut through the Slice region of the Mid Rim, linking the Leritor and Lannik systems, and historically defined the Coreward boundary of Bothan Space. By 0 ABY, the Askar Trace extended across the Yucrales, Likasha, Hertae, Tandon, Noolian, and Lannik Space sectors. Along this hyperspace route were situated the Leritor, Nexus Ortai, Galboron, Bresnia, Lanos, Dressel, and Lannik systems.
This hyperlane, which intersected with the Reena Trade Route near the Nexus Ortai and Galbaron systems, and the Bothan Run at the Lannik system, shared its designation with clan Askar, the Bothan group responsible for discovering the planet Dressel two hundred years before the Battle of Yavin. Around 25 ABY, the average population within the systems between Nexus Ortai and Lannik ranged from 500 million to 1 billion, while Nexus Ortai and Dressel each housed between 1 and 10 billion inhabitants. In contrast, the systems located between Leritor and Nexus Ortai had an average population of 100 to 500 million.
The Galactic Republic conducted exploration in the region where the Askar Trace would eventually be established between 20,000 BBY and 15,000 BBY. The route itself was established sometime after 3996 BBY but before the Mandalorian Wars, which spanned from 3976 BBY to 3960 BBY. During the latter stages of the New Sith Wars, which occurred from 1004 BBY to 1000 BBY, the Askar Trace primarily resided within territory either contested by or independent of the Republic and its Sith adversaries, although a portion of it was situated within firmly Sith-controlled areas.
During the Clone Wars between the Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Askar Trace was located within the operational area of the Republic's Thirteenth Army, which was tasked with engaging Separatist forces. At that time, a segment of the Trace, extending from the Leritor system beyond the Nexus Ortai system, was within space under Confederacy control.
Following the Commerce Guild's acquisition of Ukio during the Clone Wars, a map of the galaxy displayed at a facility managed by Magistrate Passel Argente of the Corporate Alliance featured the Askar Trace. In 19 BBY, immediately prior to the end of the Clone Wars, Alderaanian Senator Bail Prestor Organa and Jedi Master Yoda traveled along the Askar Trace aboard Organa's starship during their voyage from the Mid Rim planet Kashyyyk to the Outer Rim Territories world of Utapau.
During the Noolian Crisis, an 18 BBY phase of the Reconquest of the Rim—a conflict in which the newly-formed Galactic Empire sought to establish dominance over Separatist holdouts and other opposition within the galaxy's outer regions—Aqualish forces launched attacks against the Empire along the Askar Trace, seizing Galboron and other planets. Ultimately, Imperial forces led by Captain Par Lankin triumphed over the Aqualish in the Battle of Galboron.
From 26 ABY to 27 ABY, as part of their invasion of the galaxy, the extragalactic Yuuzhan Vong species initiated assaults along the Askar Trace, capturing the Lannik, Dressel Nexus Ortai, and Leritor systems. All four systems remained under Yuuzhan Vong control until at least 27 ABY. By 137 ABY, the entire Askar Trace was located within the territory of Darth Krayt's Galactic Empire.
The Askar Trace was initially depicted in The Essential Atlas, a 2009 reference book authored by Daniel Wallace and Jason Fry. The hyperlane made its first actual appearance in The Clone Wars: Act on Instinct, a webcomic written by Pablo Hidalgo and published on StarWars.com during the 2009–2010 second season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series. Its name was first established in Stay on Target, a 2014 roleplaying sourcebook published by Fantasy Flight Games as part of the Star Wars: Age of Rebellion roleplaying game system.