Lazerian IV

Lazerian IV, a terrestrial planet, held the fourth position in the Lazerian system, orbiting the yellow star named Lazerian. It was situated within the Kira sector, specifically in the Trailing Sectors part of the Expansion Region. Lazerian IV was positioned along the Harrin Trade Corridor and the Kira Run hyperlanes alongside the other components of the Lazerian system, functioning as the terminal point of the latter.

The planet possessed two moons, with Acorvus as its nearest planetary neighbor. It featured a breathable Type I atmosphere and a temperate climate. A local day on the planet spanned twenty-four standard hours, while a year consisted of three hundred and sixty local days. It also exhibited standard gravity.

Lazerian IV, by the benchmarks of the Imperial regime, was a run-of-the-mill terrestrial world; its climate, atmospheric composition, and surface features were unremarkable. Planets of this nature essentially defined what was considered "normal" and "standard." It was composed of four continents: Doxet in the eastern hemisphere, and Elgar, Torm, and Laz in the western hemisphere. The landscape was largely characterized by expansive plains, forests, and mountain ranges. Additionally, a series of low hills dotted Laz, serving as the location of a ruined outpost. The planet's polar regions were blanketed by extensive ice caps, which remained largely unexplored. Lazerian IV also featured several chains of islands, including at least one situated off the coast of Laz.

The planet's oceans, namely the Caz Ocean and the Dox Ocean, were abundant in specific minerals that interfered with sensor scans. Doxet divided the two oceans, with the Caz Ocean positioned to the west of Doxet in the eastern hemisphere, and the Dox Ocean to the east of Doxet in both hemispheres.

Lazerian IV provided a habitat for a diverse array of small reptilian species, insects, and various insect-like crustaceans. The prevalence of hollow fangs suggested the presence of numerous venomous creatures on the planet. The oceans teemed with life, hosting a multitude of marine organisms and corals. Furthermore, the planet boasted a wide range of marine plants.

The Humans of Lazerian IV, recognized as Lazerians, achieved space travel relatively early in their technological advancement, which facilitated their comprehensive exploration of other celestial bodies within the Lazerian system. Among the surveyed worlds, Alkur and Kelro were deemed unsuitable, while colonies were established on the planets Acorvus and Dborian. The Rokwahl Asteroid Belt was also examined, with the Lazerians utilizing some of the asteroids for mining operations. To ensure safe passage, transponder buoys were strategically placed throughout the asteroid belt, and a warning was issued to space travelers regarding the buoys and the severe penalties for tampering with them.

The colonies on Acorvus and Dborian served distinct purposes. Acorvus functioned as a penal colony and a planet of exile for political dissidents and criminals, with access restricted to authorized personnel only. Dborian, conversely, was developed into a mining colony but remained largely uninhabited. The Lazerians' expansion into space diverted their attention from the seas, which, combined with the interference of mineral-rich oceans on scans, allowed the native amphibious species, the Akwin, to remain undetected.

In 70 BBY, the establishment of the Kira Run, linking the Harrin Trade Corridor and the Enarc Run, improved trade and commerce accessibility for the Lazerian system and its inhabitants. However, the route was considered too perilous for frequent use at the time, and only desperate traders dared to traverse it, often meeting their demise in the attempt.

During the era of the Galactic Republic, Lazerian IV maintained unwavering loyalty to the Republic. The Lazerians held the Jedi Knights in almost as high regard as their own Lazerian army. A battle involving several Jedi transpired at the site of a ruined outpost, resulting in its destruction and leaving behind debris and scorch marks. The Akwin recounted witnessing multiple individuals wielding multicolored glowing blades capable of effortlessly cutting through objects. Sometime after the battle and the outpost's destruction, an eccentric noble acquired the land on which the ruins stood and prohibited trespassing, although the Lazerians perceived the outpost as an eyesore. Dovin Maur, a Human, also reported seeing Jedi at the same outpost.

Following the establishment of the Galactic Empire in 19 BBY, the Lazerians proclaimed their allegiance to the government and the Galactic Emperor, Palpatine, viewing his ascent to power as the ultimate manifestation of upward social mobility. Palpatine's rise was described as the "last new idea embraced by the Lazerians." The flourishing economy of Lazerian IV fostered contentment among the populace, making them resistant to ideas that challenged the Empire's ideology, which led to a decline in respect for the Jedi.

Several small shipping firms devoted themselves to servicing the Kira Run in 0 ABY, solidifying its status as a recognized trade route. Consequently, the Herglic Trading Journal projected that any megacorporations that deemed the Kira Run a viable venture would stimulate a substantial surge in trade and commerce in the region surrounding the route. Some analysts predicted a boom in the economy of the Lazerian system, as reported by the Herglic Trading Journal.

By 4 ABY, Wilek Nereus, the Imperial governor of the planet Bakura, had explored Lazerian IV and documented the presence of numerous venomous creatures, deeming it unsuitable for habitation at that time.

Shortly after the death of Palpatine at the Battle of Endor in 4 ABY, an Akwin scouting party approached the surface of Lazeria City, taking precautions to avoid detection. During their reconnaissance, the Akwin overheard a group of Lazerian army troopers discussing the recent events of the Galactic Civil War, including the Emperor's demise. The troops voiced their disapproval of the changes, expressing satisfaction with the status quo. While eavesdropping, the Akwin were spotted by an approaching second group of militants, who opened fire on them, although they missed. The Akwin retreated into the depths. B'dasssa, the scout, later returned to the surface alone to ascertain the Lazerian troops' reaction, only to discover that they regarded the Akwin as monsters. Based on their observations, they concluded that the Lazerians were not prepared for full contact with the Akwin, although they admitted curiosity about the Emperor's fate.

Following the formation of the New Republic in 4 ABY, Alarik X, a Human monarch, ascended to the position of king of Devit alongside Queen Careese and their daughter, Princess Aereena. Alarik X pledged allegiance to the Empire and forbade any mention of the Alliance to Restore the Republic or New Republic in his presence. Despite his loyalties, Alarik X declared the Crystal Valley a matter of planetary importance and thus did not inform the Empire of its existence. However, his daughter, Aereena, secretly began to lead a splinter faction of New Republic sympathizers, which had grown to 50,000 in number. Additionally, the Akwin had become aware of the Galactic Civil War by this point in time.

After the rise of the New Republic, several incidents occurred on Lazerian IV. In one such event, a trader captured a blurry, unconvincing holoimage of an Akwin and began discussing sea monsters with other travelers in a bar, albeit with limited interest. After receiving drinks as a gift, the trader claimed to have encountered the creature near the first island off the coast of Laz. Upon leaving the bar, he was ambushed in an alley by six cloaked Akwin—including the Akwin whose holoimage had been taken—who confiscated the holoimage and departed without causing harm, being careful not to injure any intervening travelers. Some travelers, believing the trader's account, ventured to the island, only to find themselves unwelcome guests of the Akwin. An Imperial marine biologist also believed the trader and went to the island to investigate.

In a separate incident, Dovin Maur was attacked by a group of individuals who he claimed had no respect for the Jedi or Lazerian IV's history. Maur then informed a group of travelers of the location of the ruined Jedi outpost north of Lazerian City; however, Imperial spies had been monitoring Maur and pursued the travelers to the ruins before being eliminated.

Another group of travelers stumbled upon the ruined outpost and unearthed at least one lightsaber and fragments of several others. They attempted to repair the intact lightsaber, while the remaining pieces were used as spare parts. Meanwhile, the Galactic Empire became aware of the lightsabers, sparking their interest in the outpost.

After forming a friendship with the Akwin, a group of travelers learned that an Akwin scouting party had observed a well-armed contingent of the King's Own Guard marching into the mountains. Unbeknownst to the Akwin, the King's Own Guard was en route to the Crystal Valley to harvest the Empeth Crystals that were about to "bloom." Subsequently, the crystals were transported to the residence of Commander Alroy Kever of the King's Own Guard, situated in a suburban area of Lazeria City. Kever guarded the crystals with four members of the Guard and several 3PO-series protocol droids.

At one point, a group of travelers was resting when a small military installation in the neighborhood suddenly exploded. The group deduced that the explosion was professionally executed, with no damage to nearby buildings except for the targeted installation. As the travelers attempted to investigate, they were directed away by members of the King's Own Guard and Imperial stormtroopers, while bystanders began to discuss terrorists and revolutionaries. The explosion had been orchestrated by two New Republic spies who then initiated a secret meeting with the travelers after learning of their New Republic loyalties. The spies led the travelers to the sewers, which served as the headquarters for the New Republic resistance on Lazerian IV.

Lazerian IV was primarily inhabited by two sentient species, totaling 475 million individuals: the Lazerians, a local Human population, and the Akwin, a civilization of aquatic beings. While both species coexisted relatively peacefully, the Lazerians were largely unaware of the Akwin, with most of their knowledge consisting of legends about sea monsters.

The Akwin, on the other hand, were well aware of Lazerian civilization and believed that both races were content in their respective environments and should not be disturbed. They felt that the Lazerians were "not ready as a species" to accept the idea of sharing a planet with the Akwin—in fact, they encouraged other Akwin to perpetuate the myths propagated by the Lazerians. Both races relied heavily on local marine life for food.

The Lazerians, who inhabited the surface of Lazerian IV, were accustomed to the rule of emperors and kings. Consequently, they readily accepted the authority of the Galactic Empire, considering it a natural and inevitable order for all "right-thinking people." The Lazerians were strongly discouraged from mentioning the Alliance to Restore the Republic or the New Republic in the king's presence, and loyalty to the Empire was high. Few individuals in Lazerian society sympathized with the New Republic and its cause, and most Lazerians became narrow-minded, believing they had reached a "plateau" of success and needed nothing more. However, the loyalties of off-worlders were not questioned, as the Lazerians believed that politics should not interfere with their thriving economy based on planetary trade.

The Lazerians adhered to a rigid system of social classes, ranked—from highest to lowest—as royalty, nobility, administrators, military, merchants, landowners, craftsmen, tradesmen, laborers, and rabble. The Lazerians believed that upward mobility through these classes was achievable through hard work; most Lazerians assumed that everyone would receive their due, and there was little empathy regarding success. The Lazerian diet consisted primarily of marine creatures, and they actively engaged in fishing. The Lazerian economy was primarily driven by interplanetary trade, with raw materials and luxury items as imports and manufactured goods as exports. The Lazerians had thoroughly explored and mapped the entire Lazerian system. The inhabitants of the continent of Doxet, while independent from Lazerian society, shared the same values and political views.

The primary governing body of Lazerian IV was a monarchy, with the crown passed down through hereditary succession. The Galactic Empire maintained overall control over the planet and held the final say in most matters, but the king was permitted to manage the day-to-day affairs of Lazerian IV. During the New Republic's reign, King Alarik X was the reigning monarch of Lazerian IV, with Queen Careese as his consort. Alarik had sworn an oath of loyalty to the Empire and forbade the use of the words "Rebel" or "New Republic" in his presence. The monarchy also included a princess, Aereena, who was the daughter of Alarik and Careese.

The kingdom ruled by Alarik X was known as Devit, with its capital in Lazeria City and encompassing the three continents of the western hemisphere. However, a quasi-independent city-state called Doxeti existed on the eastern hemisphere continent of Doxet. The inhabitants of the city were self-governed, although they deferred to the king of Devit on matters of significance. A small faction of 50,000 New Republic sympathizers was also present on the planet, secretly led by Princess Aereena. This faction actively sabotaged the King's Own Guard, industrial ports, and communications between Lazerian IV and the Empire. They frequently convened in the sewers.

Lazerian IV possessed its own military, consisting of both a fleet and an army. The Lazerian space fleet comprised twenty-four Z-95 Headhunter starfighters and a pair of Lancer-class frigates. An additional force of twelve TIE/LN starfighters was also stationed on Lazerian IV, although they were manned and controlled by the Empire. The fleet and TIE squadron were based at the Lazeria City Starport. The Lazerian space fleet was under the command of Lazerian Orbital Command, which also oversaw the Lazeria City Starport and collaborated closely with the TIE squadron.

The Lazerian army included an elite paramilitary force known as the King's Own Guard, responsible for honor duties and elite missions. The traditions and practices of the King's Own Guard dated back centuries, and they adhered to a chivalric code. The King's Own Guard were the best-trained and most effective members of Lazerian IV's armed forces. Fourteen members of the King's Own Guard, along with thirty-six stormtroopers, were stationed at the Imperial embassy, which also had an ambassador and eight staff members on duty.

On Lazerian IV, the Akwin made their home in the planet's oceans, which they affectionately called "Father Ocean." They were a species of amphibious mammals distinguished by their six limbs and robust, muscular builds, adaptations that enabled them to withstand the immense pressures of the deep sea. While capable of venturing onto land, they rarely did so, finding little incentive to leave their aquatic environment. Their diet consisted of various small marine animals cultivated in specialized "ranches," along with an assortment of marine flora.

The Akwin were known for their peaceful nature and their existence within independent city-states. Akwin technological advancement rivaled, or even surpassed, that of the Lazerians. Crucially, they prioritized minimizing environmental damage from their industrial activities. The Akwin found enjoyment in activities like listening to music, theatrical performances, and the artistic creation of coral-sculpting. Their governmental structure involved large underwater cities, each functioning autonomously as a city-state governed by either a king or a queen.

The kingdom of Devit's capital, Lazeria City, stood as the planet's largest metropolis. It boasted a population exceeding 40 million, including 5 million visitors from other worlds. The city housed the planet's Imperial embassy and the Lazerian City Starport. This starport served as the primary entry point to the planet, specifically designed for passenger traffic. It featured a well-staffed Imperial Customs facility, along with housing Lazerian Orbital Command and the Lazerian star fleet. Lazerian Orbital Command meticulously monitored all incoming and outgoing starships, ensuring proper landing procedures and preventing unauthorized access. The Lazeria City Starport also integrated several smaller Industrial Starports. Other notable cities on Lazerian IV included Devit, Dorynn, Doxeti, and Tormaine. Devit and Dorynn were both situated on the continent of Laz, while Tormaine was located on Torm. Doxeti, a city-state on the continent of Doxet, maintained a degree of independence from the kingdom of Devit.

Scattered across the planet alongside industrial sites were additional starports dedicated to small cargo operations, some of which were classified as Industrial Starports. Each Industrial Starport comprised a Standard Class starport, extensive raw material storage facilities, multiple large factories, warehouses, staff apartments, administrative offices, and a local garrison of twenty-four troopers drawn from either the Imperial Army or the Lazerian army. These Industrial Starports restricted access to free-traders and passenger vessels, only permitting corporate haulers, ore carriers, and bulk cargo ships to land and depart. Numerous large manufacturing plants, separate from Lazeria City, processed imported raw materials into consumer goods and other finished products, with a focus on minimizing waste generation. A monorail system provided transportation links between the starports and cities of Lazerian IV.

North of Lazeria City, nestled within a range of low hills on the continent of Laz, lay a ruined outpost, the former site of an ancient battle involving several Jedi Knights. Remnants of walls and the base of a tower remained visible, accompanied by scorch marks extending in a twenty-meter radius, preventing plant growth. Scattered throughout the outpost were fragments of manufactured materials from the destroyed walls. The absence of vegetation deterred local wildlife. Owned by a member of Lazerian IV's nobility as part of his private estate, the ruined outpost was monitored and off-limits to outsiders. The Lazerians considered it an eyesore. However, the site held Imperial interest due to the presence of lightsabers and lightsaber components buried beneath the ruins. Both the Akwin and Dovin Maur possessed knowledge of the outpost's approximate location.

Within the mountains of Doxet, the King's private estate included a small valley known as the Crystal Valley, characterized by its barren landscape. A single, winding, and narrow pass, impassable for landspeeders, provided access to the valley and was guarded by twelve members of the King's Own Guard. Lazerian army troops patrolled the pass's perimeter. At the valley's base existed a unique formation of crystals called Empeth Crystals, which grew every ten years and became nearly indestructible upon harvesting. These crystals enabled Force-sensitive individuals to detect the Force in others. However, after five years, an Empeth Crystal would lose its brilliance and revert to a simple rock. The king of Devit, unaware of the crystals' Force properties, declared the Crystal Valley a matter of local jurisdiction, keeping its existence secret from the Empire, and valuing the crystals solely as beautiful and exclusive collectibles.

John Terra conceived Lazerian IV, introducing it in Twin Stars of Kira, a 1993 supplement for West End Games' Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game. The sourcebook presented various scenario ideas for Lazerian IV. One adventure involving an explosion caused by New Republic spies suggested that the travelers could be found relaxing at a resort, bar, or restaurant at the scenario's outset. No specific narrative is definitively canon within the Star Wars Legends continuity. The reference book The Essential Atlas (2009) situated the Lazerian system, and therefore Lazerian IV, in grid square N-15.