Car'das

Organization

The Car'das stood out as one of the principal smuggling syndicates present in the galaxy. The Car'das smugglers typically secured the most lucrative cargo, alongside access to a wide array of resources that streamlined their smuggling operations. Rival criminal entities, such as Black Sun and the Hutt clans, resented the Car'das' capacity to operate within their territories and sought to undermine the organization. Unlike other criminal organizations that integrated smuggling as a component of their primary business model, the Car'das smugglers did not produce the commodities they transported, instead focusing on smuggling goods and information for external parties. The Car'das avoided slave trade.

The Car'das smugglers maintained control over numerous smuggling ventures across the galaxy and also participated in minor instances of piracy and other unlawful activities. While not typically considered to be violent criminals, their seasoned operatives were prepared to resort to force when necessary. The Car'das placed a greater emphasis on generating profits than on engaging in violent criminal acts. Its members were expected to possess both intelligence and courage, as Jorj Car'das had little tolerance for the unintelligent actions of fools who were swiftly expelled from the organization. Nevertheless, Jorj Car'das' avarice and ambition often permeated down to individual members, leading many to depart the organization in pursuit of personal wealth. Given that the majority of Car'das operations involved smuggling, a significant portion of its members consisted of highly skilled mechanics and pilots, although slicers, hired blasters, and other criminals were also commonly found within the organization. Its members had access to private shadow spaceports, where they could find refuge and perform repairs until the authorities' attention shifted elsewhere.

The Car'das were structured into smaller cells that operated within specific sectors and regions throughout the galaxy. While each cell functioned with a degree of independence, they remained accountable to the central organization led by Car'das himself. These cells comprised individual ships and their respective crews, with each ship maintaining its own hierarchy and commanded by a captain. The hierarchical structure among Car'das members was determined by their roles on smuggling vessels. Below the rank of captain, Car'das ranks included, in descending order, first officers, officer, and regular crewmembers. First officers could serve as assistants to captains but frequently commanded their own ships and crews, albeit under the authority of another ship's captain. Only captains reported directly to Jorj Car'das. Officers oversaw crewmembers aboard Car'das ships, operating under the direction of captains and first officers. Crewmembers encompassed various specialized roles necessary for the daily operations of the ships, such as pilots and technicians. Within the crewmembers, certain individuals held the titles of navigator and helmsman, which were primarily honorary distinctions.

Car'das smugglers utilized a diverse range of freighters and transports to execute their smuggling missions. Additionally, they employed starfighters to safeguard their bases and protect their operations, with each Car'das cell maintaining a small wing of approximately five starfighters. The most commonly used starfighter models included Z-95 Headhunters, M3-A Scyk fighters, and G1-M4-C Dunelizard fighters.

History

The rise of Jorj Car'das

The inception of the Car'das syndicate stemmed from an idea conceived by Kinman Doriana, an advisor to Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, and Force Commander Thrawn of the Chiss Expansionary Fleet. In 27 BBY, Doriana, Thrawn, and the young Jorj Car'das became entangled in the destruction of the Outbound Flight expedition in the Unknown Regions. During their brief association, the three concurred on supporting Darth Sidious' rise to power, believing it to be the optimal means of shielding the galaxy from the Yuuzhan Vong. Kinman Doriana and Thrawn resolved to establish a clandestine information network for Sidious, to be managed by Jorj Car'das. Following Doriana and Car'das' return to the known galaxy, Palpatine's aide mentored the young smuggler over several months, providing financial resources and contacts to facilitate the establishment and expansion of Car'das' information network. The network was disguised as a smuggling ring, with only Jorj Car'das aware of the organization's true objective.

Prior to the Clone Wars, Jorj Car'das presided over a smuggling ring that garnered some recognition in the Outer Rim. During the Bpfassh Uprising of the Clone Wars, Jorj Car'das was captured by Bpfasshi Dark Jedi. The smuggler was subsequently rescued by Jedi Master Yoda, who healed the young man. During this period, the smuggler developed a latent Force-sensitivity. Several months following his disappearance, Car'das resurfaced as a transformed individual, possessing precognitive abilities. Leveraging his newfound insights and intuition, he expanded his criminal enterprise throughout the Outer Rim and beyond, establishing it as one of the most significant smuggling networks in the galaxy. At some point, Jorj Car'das absorbed the organization of Booster Terrik, after the latter was dispatched to Kessel.

Jorj Car'das vanished once more in 0 BBY. Still impacted by his encounter with the Bpfasshi Dark Jedi, the man heeded Master Yoda's counsel and joined the Aing-Tii monks in the Kathol sector. After three months without any communication from Car'das, his lieutenants concluded that their leader would not be returning. Consequently, the lieutenants began to deliberate on the future of the organization. However, it soon became apparent that none of them were willing to cede control of the organization to another. Therefore, it was proposed that the organization be divided, with each lieutenant retaining their respective sphere of influence. Disheartened by the prospect of Car'das' organization dissolving, one of his lieutenants, Talon Karrde, decided to assume control of the Car'das syndicate. In a single night, Karrde eliminated or neutralized all other lieutenants and seized command of the Car'das smugglers. Despite eight separate attempts by the ousted lieutenants to dislodge Karrde, the man successfully solidified his position over the ensuing three years.

Under Talon Karrde

Following the Battle of Yavin, the Car'das established their base of operations at Tansarii Point Station, located in the Bright Jewel system. From this station, they patrolled the entire star system, providing protection against pirates to travelers and honest workers such as the Dynath Miners. In 1 ABY, a series of skirmishes with Black Sun pirates in Ord Mantell space escalated into open warfare, with Black Sun forces directly attacking Tansarii Point Station. Ultimately, Car'das pilots managed to defeat Black Sun in the Battle of Tansarii Point Station, aided by a number of intrepid star-hoppers. Around the same time, the Car'das were also engaged in a conflict with the Rak'qua, a tribe of belligerent Nautolans who had seized control of the Car'das research facility in the Bright Jewel system. Eventually, Officer Antom Moria uncovered the involvement of a local arms dealer in instigating the conflict and successfully negotiated a resolution, convincing both parties that the war was futile.

Talon Karrde's syndicate expanded considerably after the Battle of Endor. The demise of Jabba Desilijic Tiure unlocked numerous new contacts and markets, enabling the Car'das to become the most influential criminal organization in the Outer Rim. During this period, Karrde absorbed Quelev Tapper's smuggling ring, and Tapper became Karrde's second-in-command. The Car'das syndicate then became the largest smuggling ring in the galaxy, a position that Karrde kept secret to most people but his business partners. Around this time, the Car'das counted over eight hundred members and nearly two dozen ships. Over time, memories of Jorj Car'das as the original leader of the organization faded away.

Following Tapper's death on Varonat in 8 ABY, Karrde encountered a woman who would become his new second-in-command: Mara Jade. In addition to Jade, Karrde's most trusted lieutenants and associates included Aves, Dankin, Chin, Fynn Torve, Wadewarn and Zakarisz Ghent.

As the Galactic Civil War between the Galactic Empire and the New Republic intensified, the Car'das smugglers maintained neutrality in the conflict but sold information to both sides. However, Talon Karrde found himself directly involved in the war during the Thrawn campaign in 9 ABY and was compelled to align with the New Republic against the Empire. Karrde and other smuggler leaders subsequently established the Smugglers' Alliance, which played a crucial role in the defeat of Grand Admiral Thrawn at the Battle of Bilbringi. In the ensuing years, Karrde remained a significant ally of the Heroes of Yavin and the New Jedi Order.

In 19 ABY, during the final stages of the Galactic Civil War, Talon Karrde traveled to the Kathol sector, where he eventually located his former mentor, Jorj Car'das, on the planet Exocron. Karrde was seeking a copy of the Caamas Document in order to resolve the Caamas Document Crisis, but Car'das, despite possessing one of the most comprehensive information databases in the galaxy, did not possess such a copy. Nevertheless, Car'das provided sensitive information that aided in resolving the crisis.

During the Yuuzhan Vong War, the Car'das smugglers participated in the resistance against the extra-galactic invaders, while numerous other criminal organizations sided with the Yuuzhan Vong in the Peace Brigade. The Car'das and the Smugglers' Alliance fought alongside the New Republic in the decisive Battle of Ebaq, sustaining heavy losses. During the war, Talon Karrde and Car'das also assisted Luke Skywalker in evacuating the Jedi Praxeum from Yavin 4.