Mala, situated within the Outer Rim Territories of the galaxy in the Surd Nebula, was a distant planet. It was the original world of an unclassified near-Human race distinguished by their white hair. As the Sith–Imperial War drew to a close, the inhabitants of Mala had progressed to a rudimentary iron age civilization, marked by both established settlements and a nomadic group referred to as the Schor-Goya. The One Sith selected Mala as an experimental site for a novel biological weapon, leading to the annihilation of all life forms on the planet and dislodging it from its orbital path. The only survivor of the Mala genocide was the Sith Darth Wredd, who later played a significant role in dismantling the underground One Sith network in 139 ABY.
Before its cataclysmic end, Mala was a terrestrial world boasting a breathable environment, lush forests, and rolling hills. It was inhabited by a near-Human species with white hair, whose taxonomic classification remains unknown. Additionally, it was populated by an unidentified non-sentient ungulate species, whose craniums were repurposed as headgear by the humanoids. Following the deployment of One Sith viral spores, Mala was transformed into a desolate, rocky sphere. The force of the explosion that delivered the viral spores was so immense that it ejected Mala from its orbit, turning it into a wandering planet.
In the era preceding its destruction by the One Sith, Mala had cultivated an iron-age society where swords and axes were commonplace combat tools. Some of its denizens resided in compact, permanent villages, while others, known as the Schor-Goya, lived as nomads. Clashes between the settled communities of Mala and the Schor-Goya were intermittent. The One Sith bioweapon decimated all life and civilization on Mala, sparing only the individual who would become the renegade Sith Darth Wredd.
During the period of the Sith–Imperial War, Mala had evolved an iron-age civilization, characterized by both established communities dwelling in villages and a barbarian culture embodied by the Schor-Goya. The future Darth Wredd was a Force-sensitive hunter and swordsman, celebrated as his village's champion for his defense against Schor-Goya incursions. Despite his innate Force abilities, he was unable to join the Jedi Order due to its concealment following the Massacre at Ossus in 130 ABY. Over time, he garnered respect within his community and established a young family.
Near the conclusion of the Second Imperial Civil War, Mala was invaded by the One Sith. Mala's champion confronted the Sith invaders but was defeated in battle, his sword shattered by the lightsaber of his Sith adversary. The champion of Mala was brought aboard the Sith flagship, a Pellaeon-class Star Destroyer, and yielded to the Sith. However, Vul Isen, a One Sith scientist, made the decision to utilize the planet as a testing ground for an experimental biological weapon. This weapon not only eradicated all organic life on Mala but also generated an explosion powerful enough to displace Mala from its orbit. Consequently, Mala became a rogue planet, adrift in the vastness of space.
The lone survivor of this genocide was Darth Wredd, who was apprenticed to the Sith master who had triumphed over him in combat. Despite being forced into the Sith's service, Wredd harbored a deep desire for vengeance against the One Sith and patiently awaited an opportune moment. Following the demise of Darth Krayt, the One Sith were forced into hiding, and a Galactic Federation Triumvirate, comprising the Fel Empire, the Jedi Order, and the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, seized control of the galactic capital, Coruscant. By 138 ABY, the wandering planet of Mala had entered the [Surd Nebula](/article/surd_nebula]. The inhabitants of the nearby Carreras system were unaware of its existence.
Around this time, Galactic Empress Marasiah Fel dispatched Yalta Val, an Imperial Knight, to the Carreras system to oversee the completion of a new communication array. Darth Wredd and his master intercepted and destroyed Val's ship, causing it to crash on Mala. Val and his crew were ambushed by the two Sith, with only Val surviving. Seizing the chance to rebel against the One Sith, Wredd killed his master, imprisoned Val on Mala, and assumed his identity and armor before traveling to Carreras Major.
Prior to being shot down, Val's crew had activated a commdroid. Following the ambush, it recovered his lightsaber but sustained damage. Ania Solo and Sauk discovered and repaired it, and when Jao Assam arrived to assist them, the planet's coordinates were found within the commdroid. After viewing a holo-recording of Master Val battling Wredd's Sith master, they deduced that Master Val had been replaced by an imposter. They resolved to use the coordinates to locate Mala and rescue the real Master Val. However, they were captured by the Carreras security forces, who were now under the control of Darth Wredd, disguised as Yalta Val.
After being unmasked by Jao Assam, Ania, and their companions, Darth Wredd retreated to Mala. By this point, he had gained remote control of the station and maneuvered it into Mala's orbit. There, Wredd intended to use the communications array to broadcast a live holo-message to the galaxy, during which he would execute the captive Yalta Val. However, Ania foiled his plans, successfully rescuing Val and escaping offworld with her allies and Jao Assam before the Carreras communications array collided with the rogue planet. Meanwhile, Wredd's accomplice, Dieben, also managed to flee Wredd's base before the collision. He was later rescued in an escape pod and extradited back to his home planet of Nalyd, where he was executed for various crimes.
In the meantime, Darth Wredd initiated an insurgency against the One Sith and successfully eliminated numerous Sith. He also established contact with Jao Assam, a dissenting Imperial Knight who had learned of Wredd's scheme to assassinate Empress Marasiah Fel through a Force vision. After deceiving Assam and his associates into killing the One Sith Darth Luft in the shipyards above Dac, Wredd tempted Jao with an offer to join his new Sith Order, which would adhere to Darth Bane's Rule of Two. In 139 ABY, Wredd liberated Jao from imprisonment on Coruscant and transported him to Mala. There, he recounted the tale of Mala's destruction and his subsequent enslavement by the One Sith.
Wredd also manipulated Assam into transmitting Mala's coordinates to his allies and the Imperial authorities. Wredd's strategy was to lure Empress Fel to Mala and assassinate her, thereby converting Assam to the dark side of the Force. However, the One Sith intercepted Wredd's transmission and mobilized their entire force to locate and eliminate Darth Wredd. This culminated in a massive three-way battle on Mala, which resulted in the apparent annihilation of the entire One Sith Order. Wredd also attempted to assassinate Empress Fel but was thwarted and killed by Jao and his companion Ania Solo. While Wredd believed he had successfully avenged the destruction of his homeworld by the Sith, he failed to convert Jao into his second Sith apprentice.
The planet Mala made its debut as both a plot element and a setting in Star Wars: Legacy Volume 2, a comic series by Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman, serving as the sequel to Dark Horse's Star Wars: Legacy comic series. Gabriel Hardman and Brian Albert Thies were responsible for the planet's artistic depiction, while Rachelle Rosenberg and Jordan Boyd handled the coloring.