Jerne, a planet characterized by its desert landscape, resided in the Kanz sector of the Outer Rim Territories'. The Jerni species, native to Jerne, had vanished by the time the Galactic Empire established its military presence there, with Jerne City H.Q. serving as their base of operations. This militarization occurred not long before 3 ABY. During this time, the Sith Lord Darth Vader set a trap for the Rebel Leia Organa. He disseminated datatapes that falsely indicated the presence of the Eternity Crystal, a powerful artifact capable of winding back time, on Jerne. This ruse also ensnared Luke Skywalker, another Rebel. Intrigued, the Rebels traveled to Jerne in pursuit of the crystal, only to be shot down by Imperial forces.
Following their crash and initial capture by the Empire, the Rebels found themselves in the hands of a new faction: a local group of guerrillas commanded by a pirate named Meeka Reen. These guerrillas displayed a keen interest in Skywalker and Organa's arrival and pressed them to reveal their reasons for being on Jerne. Reen feigned an agreement with the Rebels, secretly intending to seize the crystal for herself. The Rebels and guerrillas then proceeded towards Adony Station, the supposed location of the Eternity Crystal. After a brief encounter with Imperial stormtroopers, Reen betrayed the Rebels, entered the ruins that Organa recognized from the datatapes, and was subsequently killed by explosives planted by Vader. Skywalker and Organa survived this ordeal, escaping the Jerne system aboard an Imperial scout ship.
Jerne was a planet with a desert environment, situated within the Jerne system in the Kanz sector's portion of the Outer Rim Territories in the New Territories. Two moons orbited the planet, and their light caused the sand dunes of Jerne to shimmer.
Jerne, a world characterized by its arid landscape, was originally the homeworld of the sentient Jerni species. However, by 0 ABY, the Jerni had long disappeared from the planet, their once-great empire largely forgotten. Humans later colonized Jerne after the Jerni's decline, utilizing it until it was almost destroyed. The Galactic Empire then recently established a military presence on the planet, leading to widespread rebellion.
Between that year and 3 ABY, the Sith Lord Darth Vader hatched a scheme to draw the Rebel Leia Organa to Jerne, with the intention to kill her. He planted datatapes aboard a starship for the Rebels to discover, which alluded to the existence of a time-controlling Jerni artifact known as the Eternity Crystal. Unknown to everyone but Vader, the crystal was a fabrication, a mere illusion designed to lure the Rebels. Luke Skywalker discovered the ship, and after Rebel scientists deciphered the tapes, Skywalker fell into Vader's trap, traveling to Jerne with Organa a month later.
Upon the Rebels' arrival in the system, they encountered several TIE fighters that, surprisingly, shot them down, causing their ship to crash on Jerne. After the Imperials placed Skywalker and Organa aboard their Reconnaissance Troop Transporter, they were swiftly ambushed by guerrillas, who opened fire on the Imperial stormtroopers. While the Imperial Captain Ryko Vant managed to escape, the pirates eliminated all of the troopers and captured the two Rebels and their droid, R2-D2.
The guerrillas brought their prisoners to their leader, Meeka Reen, who was more concerned with the whereabouts of Vant than the captives themselves. Vant had used a jetpack to reach Jerne City H.Q., the location of Jerne's Imperial [military](/article/imperial_military-legends] headquarters. Upon entering his office, the captain found the Sith Lord Darth Vader awaiting him, expressing his disappointment. Although the Sith was surprised that Vant had captured the Rebels, he anticipated their eventual escape. Vader dismissed Vant's plans to locate the Rebels, already aware of their destination: Adony Station.
Meanwhile, Skywalker explained his intentions to Reen, who was surprised and questioned why anyone would be interested in Adony Station. A subordinate of Reen's, Skutch, discovered that R2-D2 had a electronic trace attached to him, prompting Skywalker to quickly reveal the truth about the ship, the datatapes he had found, and the Eternity Crystal they sought. Reen expressed skepticism but secretly coveted the power that the Eternity Crystal could grant her.
Reen planned to let Skywalker and Organa lead the way, intending to eliminate them either upon finding the crystal or if they were found to be lying about its existence. The following day, after gathering supplies, the guerrillas and Rebels traveled to Adony Station, noting its lack of reinforcements. Despite its emptiness, both Reen and Skywalker felt uneasy. The Imperials who were present opened fire upon realizing they had invaders. After an intense battle in which Reen lost six soldiers, all the stormtroopers were defeated. Recognizing the location from the image tapes, Organa took charge, pointing out the entrance to the ruins where she believed the Eternity Crystal was located.
Reen then betrayed the Rebels, instructing Skutch to ensure they were far enough away to avoid interfering. She used a grenade to breach the ruins, but a bomb planted by Vader detonated, killing Reen and her associates and burying the Rebels under rubble. As Vader and Vant arrived to assess the situation, Skywalker used his lightsaber to free himself and Organa. Distracted while discussing his plan with Vant, Vader failed to notice the Rebels' escape, allowing them to throw a proton grenade at the Imperials. The explosion killed Vant and left Vader alive but stunned, allowing the Rebels to escape on an Imperial scout ship.
Millennia before 0 ABY, the Jerni established an empire on Jerne. However, only a few ruins remained, and Human colonists later utilized the planet, nearly destroying it. By that time, a group of Human guerrillas led by Meeka Reen had become prominent. Imperial stormtroopers and officers also resided on the planet. A written and spoken language shared the planet's name.
Meeka Reen and her pirates were based in a cave-like location within a mountain. The Imperials on the planet were stationed at Jerne City H.Q., which consisted of a few buildings and defenses. Besides the city, a small Imperial outpost was located at Adony Station, which had minimal reinforcements to lure the Rebels. Adony Station was later destroyed, leaving behind a large crater.
Jerne's first appearance was in the comic story "Dark Knight's Devilry," authored by Steve Moore, illustrated by Alan Davis, and initially published by Marvel Comics in the 153th issue of The Empire Strikes Back Monthly in January 1982. The reference book The Essential Atlas from 2009 placed the Jerne system, and consequently the planet, in grid square N-4.