High Council holomap room
The High Council holomap room, alternatively referred to as the Temple map room, the Map Room, or simply the star map room, was a spacious, dome-shaped chamber situated within the High Council Tower of the Coruscant Jedi Temple. Its primary function was to provide access to and project visualizations of galactic bodies, ranging from individual star systems to comprehensive sector maps.
History
While awaiting their summons before the Jedi Council, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan, Obi-Wan Kenobi, found themselves in the Planning Center. They observed Coruscant illuminated in red, a visual representation of the perils surrounding the impending Eriadu Trade Summit, an event to be attended by Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum. As they anticipated Master Adi Gallia's arrival from the High Council Chamber, they engaged in conversation with Master Jorus C'baoth, during which Jinn reminisced about his first true impression of Coruscant from the Meditation Deck.
During periods of unrest, many Jedi found themselves drawn to the Map Room. Master Qui-Gon Jinn sought solace in the Map Room as he contemplated his decision regarding whether or not to accept the young Obi-Wan Kenobi as his apprentice. Grand Master Yoda approached Jinn, suggesting that Kenobi would prove to be a capable student and cautioning that the High Council might assign him an apprentice regardless if Jinn declined.
In 30 BBY, Sheyf Tinté Vos of Kiffu and Kiffex communicated with Masters Mace Windu, Saesee Tiin, Yarael Poof, and Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos via the holomap, reporting a disturbance at a prison complex located on Kiffex. Given his Kiffar heritage, Jedi Vos was dispatched to investigate the matter. It was later uncovered by Master Windu and Caretaker Astaal Vilbum that Anzati wraiths, drawn to the power emanating from the Dark Jedi Volfe Karkko, were the source of the problem.
Following the commencement of the Clone Wars, Padawan Anakin Skywalker, particularly when burdened with mental or emotional distress, would retreat to the chamber. There, as a form of personal meditation, he would simultaneously project a dozen maps, seeking to decipher the intricate details of the galaxy's numerous star systems. His master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, found the spectacle bewildering, unable to comprehend how such an exercise could provide solace. After the Jedi Temple Apprentice Tournament of 20 BBY, Apprentice Whie Malreaux sought refuge in the Map Room. Discovering that the previous occupant had been studying the Battle of Brentaal IV, Malreaux chose to display the entire galaxy, contemplating how the political struggles of the time paled in comparison to the grand scale of the universe. Upon Master Maks Leem's arrival, Malreaux revealed his farsight, anticipating the conversation and knowing that Master Yoda wished to see him in the Halls of Healing.
Near the conclusion of the Clone Wars, the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious was exposed to the High Council, but only when it was too late. Sidious, under the guise of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, commanded the Grand Army of the Republic to besiege the Temple and execute every Jedi within. Led by Darth Vader, the 501st Legion stormed the Temple, causing extensive damage to the ancient structure. While a small Imperial force maintained control of the Temple, the Map Room was left deserted and unused. During the occupation, the spy Eve Yarrow infiltrated the Temple's Map Room and inputted information into the system, knowing that Darth Vader would discover it and use it against a small group of anti-Imperials that she had gathered. Shortly after she concealed the information, ex-Jedi Ferus Olin located it within the file for the Bespin system and promptly deleted it.
The Temple endured for much of the Galactic Civil War, with the Council Tower, housing the Map Room, looming over Coruscant for many years. The structure was even briefly reoccupied by members of the New Jedi Order, who searched the ruined complex for any remnants of the Old Order's teachings. However, several years later, the five towers of the Temple collapsed, including the complete destruction of the Council Tower, due to the aftershocks of the Lusankya disaster. The new Order cleared the debris and constructed a small praxeum on the roof of the Ziggurat, which was also lost during the Yuuzhan Vong War.
Following the Galactic Alliance's reclamation of the planet, Chief of State Cal Omas instructed the Reconstruction Authority to rebuild the Temple as a tribute to the sacrifices made by the reformed Order during the conflict with the Yuuzhan Vong. Although the structure was rebuilt using the original blueprints, it remains unknown whether the Map Room was reconstructed or replaced within the High Council Tower.
After the conclusion of the war, Galactic Alliance Chief of State Cal Omas gifted a new Temple to the Jedi Order as gratitude for their sacrifices during the conflict. When the Reconstruction Authority rebuilt the Temple almost exactly as it had been, the Operations Planning Center was reconstructed in the same location as it had been over a decade before. It would see increased use as the Jedi High Council began holding its meetings on Coruscant. During the Dark Nest Crisis Grand Master Skywalker and Captain Han Solo were being held captive on Woteba by the Killiks after being accused of beginning the Fizz plague that was killing off their people. From the Operations Planning Center, Masters Mara Jade Skywalker and Saba Sebatyne, along with Jedi Leia Organa Solo met to discuss what action the Order should take. Joining by holoconference, Masters Kyp Durron, Corran Horn, Kenth Hamner all suggest ways of freeing the Grand Master while the two Joiner Jedi Knights Zekk and Jaina Solo argued for peace between the Order and the Unu nest. Master Hamner exclude the Jedi attending by holocomm and only spoke to the Jedi present at the Temple when he advised that the Galactic Alliance Fifth Fleet was heading to take on the Gorog nest and that the Order should use the assault as a distraction to extract the Grand Master. The situation was made easier when a hologram of Master Cilghal from Ossus announced that she had discovered the Fizz was really a strange nanotechnology built into the planet and was not sabotage by the mysterious Dark Nest.
Layout and style
The Map Room within the Jedi Temple was a domed rotunda situated hundreds of meters above the main entrance of the High Council Tower. The ceiling was draped in a delicate fabric, supported by pillars that lined the walls. Holoprojectors positioned around the chamber generated the three-dimensional maps that filled the space.
A control panel located on the wall enabled Jedi to select a planet, system, or sector from the databanks, instantly projecting the corresponding maps. These maps were rendered as three-dimensional images that rotated within the room. A gentle voice provided details on planetary geography, languages, traditions, cultures, religions, affiliations, and other relevant information that Jedi were expected to memorize prior to embarking on missions. Lacking furniture, Jedi would either sit on the floor or stand as the stars and planets swirled above them.
Following the execution of Operation: Knightfall, the chamber was left in ruins, although the holoprojector remained functional. The walls were largely destroyed, and the floor was scarred by blaster fire. A significant fissure in the broken floor offered a view of the atrium several stories below. The ceiling, equally damaged, exposed the vast, empty shaft that extended downwards from the Operations Planning Center. Ferus Olin fell through a hole in the High Council Chamber several stories above, plummeting through the ceiling of the Map Room after a duel in the tower's uppermost chamber.